THE CARROLL NEWS: 'Leatherheads' fails to score

'Leatherheads' fails to score
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Anne McCarthey on 09 April, 2008 08:09:00
 
Nothing brings me greater displeasure than going into a movie with high
expectations, and leaving the theater unfulfilled. It is one thing when you go
in to the theater knowing that the film will be a bust – anything
featuring Pauly Shore, the Olsen twins, or a humans plus talking animals
combination (i.e. Alvin and the Chipmunks), is a surefire indication.
It is understandable for one to have high expectations concerning George
Clooney’s newest film “Leatherheads,” a comedy about the early
days of professional football. The film has an all-star cast of Clooney,
Renée Zellweger and John Krasinski.
Yet despite its best efforts, the film seemed to just fall a little bit short.
Clooney also took on the role of director for this movie. This is
Clooney’s most recent directing attempt following his six-time
Oscar-nominated “Good Night, and Good Luck.”
The year is 1925. Prohibition is in full force across the nation. The country
has emerged victorious from World War I. The roaring twenties are in bloom. And
as Lexie Littleton (Zellweger) purrs to Dodge Connelly (Clooney),
“It’s 1925, there are no rules.”
Littleton is an ambitious reporter for The Chicago Tribune. Contrary to what
her daintily-frocked appearance might suggest, she is anything but small,
delicate and fragile. Lexie is fierce and on the prowl. She will stop at nothing
to get her news story on the hot, new football player, Carter Rutherford
(Krasinski), even if it means tapping into the use of her feminine wiles. Her
editor wants some dirt on Rutherford, college football’s new golden boy.
Rutherford is a World War I war hero for getting a group of German soldiers to
surrender, for which he was awarded a medal from the president. His politeness
and charm evoke comparisons of an older Wally Cleaver. He just seems a little
too good to be true.
Rutherford is sought out by Connelly to play for his football team, to draw
some more attraction to the otherwise unimpressive bunch. Connelly lures
Rutherford with promises of money, and points out that his spot at his
university, Princeton, and his chosen law school, Yale, will be there waiting
for him when he finishes playing. Connelly tells Rutherford that the time to
play football is now.
Rutherford joins Connelly’s team and quickly ascends to greatness and
popularity, much to Connelly’s chagrin. He is a natural athlete on the
field and a natural charmer to Littleton, who finds herself the object of
Rutherford’s affection. Not to mention, she has been the object of
Connelly’s affection from the moment he first laid eyes upon her.
Littleton and Connelly have a more entangled and complex relationship than her
courtship with the good-natured Rutherford.
Rutherford and Littleton are seen on the train rides between games chatting and
laughing. And Littleton is one of his biggest fans at the games. One night, the
night Littleton has been waiting for, Rutherford spills his guts about what
really happened the night he “got a group of Germans to surrender.”
And the truth, though not dishonorable, is nowhere near the likes of
“heroic.” Finally nabbing her juicy story, Littleton writes the
piece and takes it to print.
The Chicago Tribune’s account of Rutherford’s fraudulent heroism by
Littleton has the town up in arms. Their hero has been de-throned. Littleton is
nearly forced to resign. And everything is about to come crumbling down upon the
three protagonists. But through a fluke series of events that comes about after
one of Connelly’s long nights of bar brawls and drinking,
Rutherford’s reputation is saved, Littleton’s job is secured, and
Connelly finds the love he has been looking for all along.
This film wrapped up everything so nicely towards the end, but the middle
portion felt scattered and unsure of itself. This movie wasn’t sure if it
wanted to be funny, if it wanted to be serious at times, or if it wanted to be
about football or about love. Any way you slice it, it was a decent film with a
great cast, which is always aggravating. George Clooney’s famous charisma,
“Sexiest Man Alive” good looks, and winning sense of humor, were
just not enough to see this movie through.