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It’s been said that George Clooney is the last true movie star. It’s hard to argue with that statement. Clooney embodies all the charisma, charm, swagger and glamour of the old time Hollywood movie stars. He is the face of what the industry needs more of. In a modern industry filled with one hit wonder, pretty face of the moment yet completely hollow personalities, George Clooney still brings that feeling of wonder back to the word “Hollywood” (which is a word more associated with being a heartless corporate industry). He embodies the IDEA of Hollywood, and maybe even the IDEAL of Hollywood.
Get a movie together with Clooney that happens to be a light comedy, add academy award winner Renee Zellweger, and a guy with a potentially very hot career, John Krasinski, to the mix and you’ve got something that will catch my attention if nothing else. So is Leatherheads worth your while? Sure, but not good enough to be something you’ll be thinking about next week.
THE GENERAL IDEA
The synopsis for Leatherheads looks like this: “A romantic comedy set against the backdrop of America’s nascent pro-football league in 1925. Dodge Connolly, a charming, brash football hero, is determined to guide his team from bar brawls to packed stadiums. But after the players lose their sponsor and the entire league faces certain collapse, Dodge convinces a college football star to join his ragtag ranks. The captain hopes his latest move will help the struggling sport finally capture the country’s attention. Welcome to the team Carter Rutherford, America’s favorite son. A golden-boy war hero who single-handedly forced multiple German soldiers to surrender in WWI, Carter has dashing good looks and unparalleled speed on the field. This new champ is almost too good to be true, and Lexie Littleton aims to prove that’s the case. A cub journalist playing in the big leagues, Lexie is a spitfire newswoman who suspects there are holes in Carter’s war story. But while she digs, the two teammates start to become serious off-field rivals for her fickle affections. As the new game of pro-football becomes less like the freewheeling sport he knew and loved, Dodge must both fight to keep his guys together and to get the girl of his dreams.”
THE GOOD
One of the things you can instantly tell the film was going for was not only to be set in the “old days”, to not only look like an old style Hollywood film… but they actually wrote and shot the film to feel like an old style Hollywood film. You feel like you could have been watching Jimmy Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn up there instead of a modern day cast. The dialog and exchanges had that old Hollywood and classic feel to it that you just can’t help but be won over and charmed by.
I’m still not 100% sold on John Krasinski as a potential movie star, but I will say this… he adapted and fit in perfectly with both the style and substance of the film. It really looked like he must have spent several late nights at the bar with Clooney getting tips and instruction, because the man pulled his roll off. Never too serious and yet never allowing himself to spiral into slapstick either. He was much better than I thought he would be.
Renee Zellweger is one hell of an actress, and really, she was PERFECTLY cast for this film. I wouldn’t be surprised if she studied Katharine Hepburn in “Adam’s Rib” as she played a strong spitfire opposite Spencer Tracy. As a matter of fact Zellweger’s performance reminded me of a lot of Hepburn’s fiery roles and also fit the mood of the film perfectly.
George Clooney was… well… George Clooney. This is a perfect kind of film for him and he effortlessly caries the movie the whole run time.
THE BAD
There is one giant glaring weakness in Leatherheads that just can’t be ignored. The movie is a comedy in the old Hollywood style. Well, they pulled off the Old Hollywood Style part extremely well… unfortunately they did do as good of a job with the whole “comedy” part. Don’t get me wrong, the film didn’t come off as “stupid” as many miss comedies do… it’s just that the laughs weren’t there. Oh there were a good number of “grins” and a few decent chuckles along the way, but sorrily lacks enough laugh out loud moments that define solid comedies. The movie was cute, charming and all those other nice thigns, but as a comedy it failed at the most important thing… COMEDY.
OVERALL
In general, Leatherheads is a fine movie with a terrific feel that makes you reminisce about some of those old classic 50’s Hollywood movies you’ve seen. Both charming and entertaining, Leatherheads sadly misses the mark on the comedy aspect of its intended nature which leaves you feeling a bit wanting once the end credits start to roll. I still recomend this film and appreciated it for what it was… but it also fails to live up to its great potential. Overall I give Leatherheads a 7 out of 10.
