DVD of the Day #188 - Leatherheads
You know, I think football is a wussy sport, so I’m not sure why I’ve wanted to see this movie since I frist saw trailers for it. I think it was the snappy Vaudevillian dialog. When it finally came up on Swapadvd.com, I decided to give it a try. After all, I generally like George Clooney films.
This was a fun little film. Although it’s only slightly based on a true story, none of the people, teams, or events actually happened. Many years ago Professional Football was considered a joke, yet college football was supremely popular. This is mainly because pro football players had nothing else to do. No real skills or talents. It was pigskin or working a mine. This is where pro footballer Dodge Connelly comes in. He decides to get the most popular college footballer to come join his pro football team. He feels that as Carter Ruthford is not only the best player in the college leagues, but a decorated war hero to boot, this will finally make pro football a lasting sport with a faithful audience. There’s only one problem: Carter Rutherford isn’t quite the war hero he’s made out to be. The Chicago Tribune knows this and they send their best and the the truth so they send their best reporter to get the truth, expose Carter and sell a lot of papers.
The dialog is snappy and Clooney and Renee Zellweer do a great job with their characters, but at times the movie is pretty hokie and the other actors are pretty lackluster and don’t do a very good job in their roles. I really enjoyed the story, even though football isn’t my thing, and I thought it was hilarious that Clooney’s team were the Duluth Bulldogs as in Duluth, MN. It’s a beautiful town that I enjoyed visiting, but it could NEVER house a pro football team. It’s just too small.
Overall this was a fun movie to watch, but not one worth keeping. At times it’s just too cheesy for its own good, and it’s apparant the film isn’t supposed to be.
Is It Worth Keeping? No
Rating: 5.5/10
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