Leatherheads (2008)

George Clooney and Renee Zellweger star in this off-beat romantic comedy. Clooney plays Jimmy "Dodge" Connelly, an aging star in the seemingly collapsing sport of football. Zellweger plays Lexie Littleton, a positive woman, determined to make good in the man's world of reporting. Sparks fly when Dodge's scheme to resurrect football attracts Lexie, who quickly realizes that there is a dirty little secret being swept under the rug.

I really liked Renee Zellweger's portrayal of Lexie Littleton, a hard-headed, outspoken woman who is nobody's fool it was very reminiscent of the tough women of yesteryear's Hollywood (check out Rosalind Russell's portrayal of a tough woman reporter in the 1940 film, His Girl Friday). George Clooney pulls off another good everyman role, bringing his charm and charisma to the role. I liked the way that Clooney and Zellweger bounced off each other both too independent to simply surrender to the other.

I really liked this off-beat romantic movie, which really is a blast from the past of Golden Age Hollywood. I don't hesitate to give this charming movie 5 stars!

(Review of Leatherheads)

This isn't going to be a long review. You don't have to like football to enjoy this movie, although I really do. From the first scene with a cow (that's all I'm going to say), you know this movie is going to be silly fun. It's in the spirit of John Cleese movies (the funny bantering) and O Brother where Art Thou? I didn't expect a lot of this movie when we put it in and I was happily surprised to find myself laughing though the whole movie!

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Most of the movie is snappy comedy and old-time romance. The football scenes toward the end drag but overall a fun movie to watch and enjoy.

The early 1920's is when Leatherheads takes place. Leatherheads title comes from the helmets they wore at the time hardly protecting the player's heads, but much about football has changed since then. Professional football was laughable. It showed the early team playing in a farm field with a cow chewing grass and looking mildly irritated her field was full of crazy men running back and forth. Few fans were around.

Dodge Connelly (George Clooney) is an older player (45 years old) and does not want his team, the Duluth Bulldogs, to fold like other teams are across the United States. College football is doing better than the weak professional teams. Dodge latches onto a top player Carter Ruthford (John Kasinski) who is also a national hero of the First World War. Carter is young, smart and is talked into playing for the Bulldogs for $5,000 of the gate receipts. He brings in the fans, the reporters and money. The Bulldogs are on a gravy train with him he helps pack in the fans and get bigger professional stadium.

Lexie Littleton (Renee Zellweger) is the cute Chicago Newspaper reporter (also the romantic interest of Dodge and Carter) who wants a "big" story to make her editor of a newspaper. She is ambitious, full of moxie and knows how to handle herself in a man's world of sports. The drama starts when Carter falls for her and confesses that his heroics in capturing a group of German Soldiers was sheer luck (although I thought he should still get credit). She has some guilt but prints the story and then the movie gets complicated and a little off kilter. The story line gets a bit goofy and off the point.

However the movie meanders, it was fun and enjoyable Dodge and Lexie are played in the spirit of the 1930's romantic comedies and many laughs throughout.

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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. Finding that love and football have a surprisingly similar playbook, however, he has one maneuver he will save just for the fourth quarter. The plot is not deep but flowed well. This is a light-hearted movie. And it was pulled off very well. Acting by Clooney, Zellweger, and others captured the spirit of the era, including humor, dress, and scenery. Very good directing by Clooney. Likable movie.

Want Leatherheads (2008) Discount?

LEATHERHEADS gets a wide range of reviews. I have to offer the highest honors. FIVE stars for the fun in Leatherheads. It's simply a FUN flick.

Of course there is the fantastic acting by great stars, George Clooney and Renee Zellweger. Clooney also directs this picture. Both stars get two-hands-clapping for their very realistic performances. Believable people having FUN with their jobs. Clooney as a struggling football player during the beginning days of pro football, and Zellweger as a sexy reporter (in sexy period costumes) working her way to the editor's desk. A Tribune story search of a college football star, who is also a war hero, who is going pro, will be the lead to the paper's plan of blowing the lid off the truth behind the hero's war event.

Of course with 'good-lookers' like Clooney and Zellweger, romance becomes a factor as well. You'll enjoy the banter between these 2 characters. It's FUNNY. FUN! It all takes place in delightful period scenes from the 30s/40s hotels to time-dated football fields.

For action there is bar room brawls, football (without rules), and a fist duel between the football stars, both desiring the great legged girl (Zellweger, she's HOT) from Chicago. Also see "hunk" Clooney with lipstick. Something for everyone. FUN.

The funny, special play of the day, at the end of the movie is worth a star itself. And add another for all the great photos, each telling another story, in the ending credits. Be sure you don't turn off the TV till you've seen them all. Great FUN. Just a FUN DVD event for the family. PG-13 as it includes a few nasty words.

So this is one for the viewers liking comedy, &/or romance, football, action, drama, and FUN. Pop two bags of microwave popcorn and enjoy.

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