The Nevada Sagebrush

Photo from movieweb.com

It’s official.  Hollywood is in the middle of one of the worst spring seasons in recent memory.  The worst part is, not even Hollywood golden boy George Clooney and his perky eyebrows can reinvigorate this cinematic dry spell.

“Leatherheads”is the story of how professional football came about and the two men that made it popular.

Clooney (“Michael Clayton”) stars as Dodge Connelly, the 45-year-old professional football player whose team has just been terminated due to financial problems.  Realizing that his skills are limited to football and football alone, he recruits college sensation/war hero Carter “The Bullet”Rutherford (John Krasinski, “License to Wed”).  With Rutherford also comes Lexie Littleton (Renée Zellweger, “Bee Movie”), the sly Chicago Tribune reporter who is trying to learn the truth behind “The Bullet’s”questionable war glory.

With Clooney directing, an incredibly quirky style always follows.  While “Leatherheads’”charming character is overly obvious, there is never enough content to work with.  There are five to 10 laugh-out-loud sequences in which the Fraiser-esque humor pulls a fast one on the audience.  However, an average SNL skit has the same amount of laughs in five minutes as them movie has in its two hours; usually more is needed to fill full-length motion pictures.  Maybe that’s why Chris Farley and his obnoxious act never translated into box office gold…

Overplayed more than anything in Hollywood today is the sports genre.  Occasionally “Leatherheads”plays off the usual football clichés, but being set in the ‘20s, the film often brings a new deck to the table.  Most notable is the toe-tapping era music that music legend Randy Newman created.  Ole Newman even got to show his piano-playing talents on-screen during a short cameo.  Hell, he even knocks a guy over the head with a whiskey bottle during an old-fashioned bar brawl!

On the topic of brawls, it should be pointed out that not one drop of blood seemed to be drawn during the countless fights that occur in the film.  In fact, after receiving multiple knocks to the face, Clooney remained unhurt with no bruises or blood.  Last time I checked, George is not Chuck Norris and is just another human being with flesh and bones.

Decade genre-queen Zellweger brings the film back to earth with her feistiest role to-date.  With a cocky attitude she pulls off every line with perfect timing and even manages to steal the show with her stunning outfits from time to time.  Watching her play with her boy toys, Clooney and Krasinski, is one of the film’s biggest highlights.

Sadly, none of the other Ocean’s crew make a cameo, but “Waterboy”fans will be pleased to know that the deranged assistant head coach from the Adam Sandler hit makes a cameo as a referee.  Other than that, few other actors stand out in the time they are given.

While in no way is “Leatherheads”a bad flick, it’s just disappointing when you realize an Oscar-winning, bat nipple wearing actor crafted it.

‘Leatherheads’
Release Date: April 4
Director: George Clooney
Starring: George Clooney, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG-13
Grade: C+

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