Billed as a 'romantic comedy', Leatherheads had the bar set pretty low going into it. My expecations and preconcieved notions of the genre set me up for disappointment and a shallow, trite film with little to offer other than a few sophmoric chuckles at tired and cliched circumstances.
In reality, Leatherheads is no more a romantic comedy than Jaws is a film about boating. Yes, there is romance, and yes--there is comedy but to call this film a romantic comedy sells it a bit short of its potential. The film is set in a post WWI/prohibition era, where soldiers returning from war are met with the reality that they have little education or skills outside of the military. The nation is coming off the high of victory overseas, and patriotism and nationalism are at an all time high.
The nation turns its admiration towards Carter (John Krasinski), an educated bright young hero who single-handedly saved an entire platoon. However, there is a secret that only Carter and a handful of others know regarding that day's events.
Renee Zellweger, annoying as always, and Clooney, fast-witted and cocky as always play their respective rolls well and provide some laughs along side Krasinki's relatively flat-but-functional performance. In the wake of the Iraq war, the film raises some questions of national pride and patriotism although perhaps a few years after its peak relevance. Overall, the film impressed with some good laughs, and a slightly deeper subtext than most films of its genre.