NICOLE ALBERTSON
Life Editor
George Clooney proves his capabilities as a triple threat in the romantic comedy “Leatherheads” when he pulls off being the producer, director and lead actor against Hollywood hot shot Renee Zellweger and rising TV star John Krasinski. While slightly hokey at times and overdone with witty banter and classical throwbacks, Clooney does a successful job of delivering a few laughs and an overall pleasant movie experience.
Set in the 1920’s, Clooney portrays Jimmy “Dodge” Connelly, a professional football player who formulates a plan to legitimize professional football after his struggling team, the Bulldogs, has been dropped by their lead sponsor and begins to fall apart. In order to keep the bar-brawling players together and pack the stadiums with screaming fans, Dodge coaxes all-American heart throb and war hero Carter “The Bullet” Rutherford (Krasinski) to drop his Ivy League education for a career in professional football. But when a devious reporter, Lexie Littleton (Zellweger), sets out to discover the truth behind Carter’s good-boy image and the game of football changes from a battle between man and boys to an official league with rules and regulations, the team, and Dodge imparticular, is forced to decide between the rambunctious life he used to live and the legitimized life he has created.
As always, the witty, charming and dapper Clooney overwhelms the screen with his devilishly good looks, husky voice and supreme acting. While pulling off triple duty on “Leatherheads,” Clooney’s personality shows up throughout every aspect of the film. Whether through his quick scenes, playful dialogue or exaggerated skits, “Leatherheads” play-off as an extension of a scene in “Ocean’s Eleven” between Clooney and Brad Pitt. While entertaining and witty for a time, two hours of constant banter can wane off a viewer’s patience, no matter the contestants.
Coming out in his first notable movie role, ignoring “License to Wed,” Krasinski does an adorable job of holding the screen against film veterans Clooney and Zellweger. Cracking a winning smile as American war hero Carter, Krasinski does not stray far from his “Office” stardom with a dry sense of humor and likable personality that has won over audience members. But while Krasinski does a good job of maintaining his everyday-man persona, it can be hard to differentiate his Carter quarterback with his paper-crunching alter ego.
Running with the big dogs, Zellweger holds her own as the only female on screen against the foul-mouthed pigskin players. While “Leatherheads” is another exaggerated comedy much like “Down With Love” and “Bridget Jones’ Diary: The Edge of Reason,” Zellweger’s style reaches back to the good ‘ol days of “Jerry Maguire” and reminds audience members of her true talent, charm and personality on screen. Although she does fall slightly short of the sexpot vixen she is cast to portray, she adds class and substance to the light-hearted comedy. Her portrayal as stubborn and determined Littleton offers a good base for the two competing romances to conflict and duel for her affections.
As Clooney’s second and third responsibilities on “Leatherheads,” the directing and producing keep the film alive with short playful scenes as a 1920’s parody. The ragtime tunes chase Lexie and Dodge around screen in a heightened goose chase, as they get rough and tumble in barroom brawls and dupe the cops with slap-stick comedy and foolish disguises. Although it may run 20 minutes longer than necessary, “Leatherheads” succeeds with its primary goal to entertain.
Even though it is not going to be an award’s show front-runner for the 2008 season, “Leatherheads” is a fun, playful comedy full of classic Clooney attitude and sass.
04-10-2008
