Leatherheads

--PG-13-- Clooney followed a well established path in making this film. Most people won't recognize that because they haven't watched film from yesteryear. I have, and know that the witty dialogue and quick banter is a style that was used in the fifties, and brought to modern day audiences by the Cohen Brothers early work Hudsucker Proxy.

I dare say that most people haven't seen Hudsucker and therefore will think that Clooney was original and creative in making Leatherheads. Obviously I disagree with that assertion.

That being said Clooney and company did a wonderfully pleasant job in making this film. I may be stretching here but I think most football fans would love to see a movie about the early years of professional football. In addition to the sports aspect the aforementioned witty dialogue, coupled with engaging stars like Clooney, Zellweger and Krasinski you find that Leatherheads is quite enjoyable, albeit a bit uneven.

The overwhelming feeling that you take from this film is the fact that when it is funny it is some of the most laugh out loud hilarity I have seen since...honestly I don't have a comedy to compare it to. Mainly, because this film isn't low-brow, slapstick, or potty humor: It is smart! Something that most film goers aren't use to seeing in today's dumbing down of audiences with films such as; Austen Powers, Waterboy, Anchorman and more notably the Farrely brothers films beginning with There's Something About Mary. No this film is different...in a decidedly good way.

Now the flip side is, when the dramatic scenes begin they are extremely slow and come close to the border of boredom. We are talking about Dances With Wolves boredom.

Overall, the funny and humorous scenes overwhelm that feeling of boredom. The movie starts funny and ends funny, you just will have to endure 20 minutes scattered throughout the film of its nearly 2 hour runtime in restful sleep.



cah