Review of Leatherheads (2008) by Justine G — 06 Jan 2009

An interesting exploration in filmmaking and storytelling concepts that didn't quite achieve what they were aiming for. On the one hand, it's a romantic comedy, following the same semi-predictable formula of boy meets girl, boy likes girl, boy spends movie trying to get girl, boy finally gets girl (or flip the roles around, but it's all the same). To Clooney and his screenwriters' credit, the filmmakers attempted to tweak that concept by hearkening back to films from the classic era and transforming the same old romcom formula into a screwball farce, complete with snappy, intelligent dialogue volleyed at lightning-fast pace and some absurd, even slapstick comedic scenes. Of course, this romantic situation was set against the backdrop of the development of professional football, which should make this a (wait for it) guys' romance but then, as Clooney has consistently done in films he's directed, there is a subtle exploration of how the media can create heroes and monsters by glorifying or villifying the right celebrity. If Clooney had put more focus into any one of these concepts, the film might have been better in the end, but the fact is, thrown into a giant mixing bowl of story as they are, the result is sort of a messy goo that has its good points and its not so good points.

As strictly entertainment, the film falters. There were some laughs, but it was overall on the boring side. It's not that the jokes weren't funny; on the contrary, they might have been hysterical with better timing or better scenarios concocted for their execution. Clooney as the actor was trying to bring back some of the elements of his performance in O Brother, Where Are Thou?, only with a bit more savvy and focus on his chosen profession, but either because he should have gone a different direction or because being a comedic actor and a director at the same time is hard, he didn't quite pull it off. Zellweger did a good job as she nearly always does, giving the Lexie character a sassy, glamorous wash (Rosalind Russell is a good comparison). Krasinski played his Carter as predominantly the straight man to good effect, and some of the supporting players, like a drunken reporter played by Stephen Root, were fun to watch. For the most part, the film wasn't that funny.

There are some elements of the film that give it artistic sensibility and credibility. The cinematography and visual effects, including a sepia-hued camera tone that lent an old photograph feel, in addition to actual sepia photographs of the main characters used in the opening and closing credis, invoked a palpable days-bygone mood. There's a great visual effect of a 1920s version of downtown Chicago seen at a distance that was really cool, and the art direction, complete with automobiles and classically decorated hotel interiors, and the costume design truly helped to immerse the viewer in the period. Also, Clooney chose his soundtrack quite lovingly with some familiar and not-so-familiar but perfectly chosen ditties from the decade; the entire audio-visual experience was a cut above the rest. Unfortunately, the romance was trite and predictable and not nearly as satisfying as it could have been. The screwball element is lost on some awkward timing, and the more serious and subtle commentary on the effects of the media was buried by all the other layers that didn't quite pan out. The only effective story told was how we arrived at the football of today, with its massively complicated rule structure.

All in all, Leatherheads is cute but definitely dampered by mediocrity.