“Leatherheads” is the third movie to be directed by George Clooney, and unfortunately the worst. Set in what we’re told is the rough and tumble, rule and corporation free glory days of football (around 1925) Clooney invites us to stay a while, and enjoy the antics and indulgences of the age.

First on the menu is Lexie Littleton (Rene Zellweger), a quick thinking, quip speaking Chicago Tribune reporter. She’s as smart as a tart, only missing the sweet surprise. Next is Dodge Connolly (George Clooney), a smooth talking aged war hero, who’s inherited all of Clooney’s charm and charisma, but somehow fumbles it and leaves you wondering why?
On top of being a war hero Dodge Connolly is also a former football hero, and lost for love of the game. With all the glory of the sport going to college level football, those who play professionally are in a financial spot. Connolly convinces Princeton’s star player, Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski of “The Office”), to join his team. Thanks to this arrangement we are granted a lot of laughs, but less plot than one might expect.

When Littleton sets her aims to exposing Connolly, whom she believes is untrue with his war hero claims, romance flies. Well, it flutters. Ok - it flaps around a few times before blending in with the rest of the “zippy jazzy”background. 

Though all of the characters have all the right moves, their speech patterns are dead-on for the times, as well as their settings, costumes, and everything else that goes into invoking a period, somehow it falls flat. Yet- despite all of its flaws, “Leatherheads” is still an entertaining flick. There are moments that will leave you laughing, as well as warm up that old ticker in your chest. Personally, I’m excited to see what Clooney will direct next. After all, even Michael Jordon, when in the wrong sport, has been known to botch a game.