Leatherheads – Pigskin Paradise

Leatherheads     A-

Starring George Clooney, Renee Zellweger, and John Krasinski
Directed by George Clooney (Good Night, and Good Luck)
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language
Appropriate for ages 10+

The Story: In 1925, the entire professional football league was in a state of collapse.  Dodge Connelly (Clooney), a charming yet brash player is convinced that he can save the league by pulling in a big college player from Princeton (Krasinski) that is capable of filling stadiums.  Unfortunately, a cute little Chicago reporter (Zelleweger) is following their team in the hopes of bringing down the reputation of the new star player. 

The Good: From the very beginning this film comes across as a purely entertaining experience sure to put a big, cheesy smile on anyone’s face.  Clooney’s performance is every bit as good as his turn in O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and the rest of the cast backs him up just fine.  There were several occasions where I couldn’t help but laugh way-out-loud.

The Bad: The part of the plot dealing with bringing down the young player’s rep gets a bit tired and slows the pacing down considerably.  A fifteen minute trim could have made this film a classic. 

The Summary: Clooney and gang turn this intelligent sports comedy into a fun and enjoyable escapade.