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George Clooney, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski, Jonathan Pryce, Peter Gerety ... see more see more... , Jack Thompson , Stephen Root , Wayne Duvall , Keith Loneker , Robert Baker , Matt Bushell , Tommy Hinkley , Nick Paonessa , Max Casella , Mike O'Malley , Heather Goldenhersh , Marian Seldes

Good Night, and Good Luck director George Clooney pulls double duty once again in this sports-oriented romantic comedy set against the formation of professional football in the 1920s. Dodge Connelly (... read more read more...Clooney) is a brash and handsome gridiron giant who is equally comfortable leading his team in a barroom brawl or charging for a touchdown in a packed stadium. But when Connelly's team loses their sponsor and the entire league appears set to collapse, the quick-thinking jock attempts a creative late-game comeback. If Connelly can convince former college football star and decorated war hero Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski) to join the team, there may be hope for the ill-fated team after all. Back in World War I, Rutherford single-handedly forced the surrender of multiple German soldiers -- a feat that firmly established the dashing young soldier as America's favorite son. Not only that, but Rutherford's unparalleled speed makes him a valuable asset to the team. To cub reporter Lexie Littleton (Renée Zellweger), Rutherford seems simply too good to be true, and she's determined to prove that her theory is correct. As Littleton digs deep into Rutherford's past, the two teammates enter into a fierce competition for her erratic affections. Now, as Connelly's plan begins to work better than he ever could have anticipated, the rowdy sport he always loved starts to take on a whole new look and feel. In the midst of holding his team together and simultaneously charming the girl of his dreams, Connelly discovers he may be able to use the same strategies he does to win on the field to win in love. Of course, there might be a few fouls as this game enters the fourth quarter, but like every good player, Connelly knows the value of always having a secret play to fall back on before the final score is called. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

40% liked it

155,013 ratings

Critics

52% liked it

163 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: George Clooney

Release Date: March 24, 2008

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DVD Release Date: September 16, 2008

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Stats: 6,353 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (6,353)

  • danperry17
    April 8, 2012
    danperry17
    Three stars might be a little high, but I had heard such bad things about this movie that to end up liking it bumps up its rating. It's another old-timey Clooney joint, which he is perfect for, and Renee Zellweger, whose look is really not for me, plays well as a determined journ... read morealist in an age of blatant sexism. Lots of honest laughs and love, but there's a chase scene in the middle that's so campy you might want to turn it off. It's an immature work by an emerging director, but Clooney's going to keep getting better - Good Night and Good Luck showed a ton of promise. As for Leatherheads, though... it's a silly, disposable film, but fun nonetheless; I mean, how many other movies about 1920s professional football have you seen? If nothing else, it's fairly original (for Hollywood), and Rick Reilly's work on the script appears to have helped a lot.
  • phubbs1
    February 9, 2012
    phubbs1
    A lovely and amusing film which really looks the business but is unfortunatley rather dull haha. As said the look of the film is truly brilliant, the costumes and sets all look great and really stand out.
    The casting was very good, Clooney shows his quite surprisingly good prat f... read morealls and facial humour, his acting isn't topps but for this its sufficent.
    Both Krasinski and Zellweger are also good choices for the era, Zellweger has always looked as if she's been kidnapped from the era but her acting is pretty dire. Krasinski is fine but nothing special, alittle too wet really. To look at they fit perfectly yet the acting isn't too good.
    One scene where Clooney and Zellweger are escaping from a speakeasy raid by the police is pretty embarrasing really, corny, cheesy and terrible acting, it isn't much better throughout to be honest.
    The whole thing is sweet and charming but its just dull and not very entertaining with dodgy acting, the great period looks save it.
  • SirPant
    October 1, 2009
    SirPant
    I actually rather enjoyed this film. It?s been given really bad reviews, which I can't help but feel is a little unfair. The direction is great, the acting is spot on and the script is really, really good! C'mon people, it?s really not that bad!
  • tsigur
    June 8, 2009
    tsigur
    It's really too bad that this film falls on it's face as hard as it does. Clooney and, yes, even Krasinski are charming as shit and do what they can with the little material they are given. There is an underlying current in this film that I wish they would have focused more on (t... read morehe changing of sports when the "rules" got involved) and instead tried to go with a tired love story which allows Zellweger to waste my time yet again playing that way ahead of her time woman role. Either way, Clooney does know how to frame a shot and make it look pretty, with nice cinematography by Thomas Newton Sigel. It's like watching Ladykillers by the Coen Bros., you keep wanting to like it, but then just find yourself scratching your head.
  • ajaymuthecooldevils
    June 2, 2009
    ajaymuthecooldevils
    Well, I must admit that George Clooney make a weird movie to me... It can't be called as a drama movie because this movie was very light, but full of long conversation with pretty much difficult words used... While if it's classified as a comedy, it didn't make me laugh at all!! ... read moreHow ridiculous... George Clooney himself just looks very old in this old fashioned movie, while Renee Zellweger gave a performance I've been waiting for since last I saw her in her Oscar winning performance in Cold Mountain... And John Krasinski really shows some potential as a young comedy actor... Overall, the story about football really didn't interest me best because the fact that I watched this movie just not to miss Renee's performance in her every single movie...
  • liquidchick76
    April 25, 2009
    liquidchick76
    A fun little football farce with a good cast.
  • mjgildea
    April 12, 2009
    mjgildea
    I'm a big fan of George Clooney's other directorial outings but Leatherheads just didn't cut it. I applaud him for trying to make not only another period piece but a movie that echoed the classic screwball comedies of the 30s and 40s. Leatherheads has its amusing moments (the spe... read moreakeasy fight is the only one that sticks out right now) and I didn't hate Renee Zellweger as much as I thought I would or normally do. Clooney's Clooney but John Krasinski was pretty dull. I'm not a fan of sports or sports movies but I don't think my lack of enthusiasm for this movie had anything to do with that.
  • barrys
    February 20, 2009
    barrys
    Leatherheads is a romantic comedy set in the world of 1920s football, where the owner of a professional team drafts a strait-laced college sensation, only to watch his new coach fall for his fiancée. George Clooney directs his second movie and sincerely after his multi-nominated ... read moreGood Night and Good Luck, I think he came up short with this one. The story is interesting but the plot is kinda predictable and not very well developed, some situations in the movie are simply ridiculous. The cast is really good but the performances wasn't that good. George Clooney and Renee Zellweger make a very good couple. In conclusion, Leatherheads is an enjoyable movie but worth to see only on DvD.
  • deano
    November 9, 2008
    deano
    Good and enjoyable romantic comedy set in the world of 1920s American football. I can see the elements of the classic comedy style where the leads are tetchy adversaries until that sudden snap realisation that golly-gee, they actually kind of like each other, this movie is ace fr... read moreom start to finish.
  • Julie
    October 16, 2008
    Julie
    Bad plane movie #1. Oh George, what got into you?

View All Leatherheads Reviews

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper
April 7, 2008
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

Leatherheads is a romp with some great chemistry between the leads and enough laughs and surprises to keep you entertained.

Michael Phillips
April 6, 2008
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

Tragically, Leatherheads is just OK, though the film may well find an audience among those eager for a little diversion, what with the nostalgia factor and the George Clooney factor. Full Review

Richard Schickel
April 4, 2008
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

Maybe the film loses a little steam as it rolls along, but it is still puffing and tooting as Clooney and Zellweger ride off into the sunset. Full Review

Joanne Kaufman
April 4, 2008
Joanne Kaufman, Wall Street Journal

There's a jaunty score by Randy Newman, and Clooney, as always, has charm to burn, but here, he's off his game. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
April 4, 2008
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

[Has] a breezy, affable spirit, and its very casualness is something that's extremely rare in mainstream movies these days. Full Review

Claudia Puig
April 4, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

More amiable than witty and relying heavily on the likability and charm of its lead actors, Leatherheads scores more points as a retro romantic comedy than a football saga. Full Review

Peter Howell
April 4, 2008
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Clooney is now at the stage of his life and career where a flash of his playboy grin earns him enough audience goodwill to carry him over rough patches -- and Lord knows, this movie has them. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
April 4, 2008
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Leatherheads is not that good a movie, and yet it would be hard to enjoy saying anything nasty about it. Full Review

Roger Moore
April 4, 2008
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

If the real NFL had started off this tired, we'd be spending our Sundays watching jai alai. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
April 4, 2008
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

It fumbles -- early -- and never really gets back in the game. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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