Leatherheads

More than just a few numbskulls

Whenever watching an old movie with friends or family, the phrase “They don’t make ’em like they used to” can usually be heard. Well, sometimes they do make ’em like they used to. And LEATHERHEADS is one of ’em.

Professional football in 1925 was nothing compared to what it is today. Instead of wearing top-of-the-line, sponsored attire and playing in front of an audience in the thousands, you wore wool clothes, leather helmets and played in front of few. Football was only popular on the college level, and for those collegiate athletes, graduation was the end of your football career.

In LEATHERHEADS, George Clooney not only returns to directing (his previous directorial work was with CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND and GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK) but also stars as Jimmy “Dodge” Connelly, the ’25 team captain for the Duluth, Minnesota Bulldogs, a failing professional football team.

When word arrives that his team is being dissolves, Dodge reaches for the only chance he’s got to keep his team alive – by hiring the most popular young college player, hoping that his fans will follow. Dodge hires none other than most popular of all college players, the iconic WWI hero Carter Rutherford (Jim from TV’s THE OFFICE). The only thing getting in their way of pure success is a love triangle between a two-faced reporter (Renee Zellweger).

LEATHERHEADS is not only set around the time of those old classic movies that everyone love, but it is shot, written and acted out as if it was original in that time. The acting is classy and stylish. The humorous dialogue is fast, yet subtle. And the characters truly capture the spirit of the time.

If you’re a guy, you’ll love LEATHERHEADS for it’s comedic, historic football driven plot. If you’re a female, you’ll enjoy it for the charming romantic aspect and the two leading men. All around, LETHERHEADS is the fun, made-for-anyone-and-everyone movie this spring has been lacking.

Photo credit: Universal Pictures