The playful and comedic period piece, "Leatherheads," offers a little something for every viewer.
Witty dialogue pulled right from the 1920s era is dispatched in a way that keeps the plot line moving, helps touch the hearts of romantics and tickles the funny bone of fans alike.
George Clooney directs and stars in this satirical take on the history of professional football in the United States.
John Krasinski and Renée Zellweger also star in the film, acting as America's golden boy and a no-nonsense newspaper reporter, respectively.
The story begins by following Jimmy "Dodge" Connelly (Clooney), who is attempting to save his beloved sport from extinction.
When funding from the sponsors of his team is cut, Connelly comes up with a plan that, unintentionally, forever changes the way the game he knows and loves is played.
Connelly recruits Ivy League war hero, Carter Rutherford (Krasinski), who is known to draw crowds of thousands to his Princeton games.
As the sport begins to gain more recognition and respect, the relationship between Connelly and Rutherford intensifies as they vie for the attention of newspaper reporter, Lexie Littleton (Zellweger), who is looking to find the gaps in Rutherford's war hero story.
As the romantic triangle heats up, Connelly must learn to cope with new rules in both love and football.
With the help of authentically dressed extras and solid research, the film offers modern Americans a lighthearted look at the beginnings of their powerhouse sport.
Although the repartee keeps the film interesting, some casual conversational remarks that were well-known and regularly used during the time in which the story takes place may leave viewers of today scratching their heads.
In order to combat such a distraction it is helpful to know a few key words that are used throughout the film.
A "speakeasy" refers to the common underground gathering places that served as makeshift pubs and clubs during the time of prohibition in the United States, when alcohol was banned. "Jerry" is the common slang term used in reference to German soldiers of the World War 1, or "The Great War."
The film is logical in its flow, but can sometimes stray from the intended path. Despite the fact that these asides are brief, and eventually make sense in the grand scheme of the plot, they can throw the viewer off if he or she is not paying attention.
A few twists are thrown in that keep the almost two-hour long film from becoming stale, including stunts pulled by Connelly both on and off the field right before the climax of the film.
This film loosely follows the beginnings of football in America, and it is by no means an accurate account. Rather, it serves as a fictional and satirical take on how the sport evolved.
Starring: George Clooney, Renee Zellweger, John Krasinski
Rated: PG-13
Directed by: George Clooney
Lindsay's Rating: 2 1/2 stars out of 4
Richard Roeper's Rating: 2 stars out of 4
rottentomatoes: 52 percent fresht&c;
