Release Date: April 4, 2008 Studio: Universal Pictures MPAA Rating: PG-13 Genre: Comedy Director: George Clooney Writers: Rick Reilly, Duncan Brantley Cast: George Clooney, John Krasinski, Renée Zellweger, Stephen Root, Jonathan Pryce Synopsis: A romantic comedy set against the backdrop of America's nascent pro-football league in 1925. Dodge Connolly, a charming, brash football hero, is determined to guide his team from bar brawls to packed stadiums. But after the players lose their sponsor and the entire league faces certain collapse, Dodge convinces a college football star to join his ragtag ranks. The captain hopes his latest move will help the struggling sport finally capture the country's attention. Welcome to the team Carter Rutherford, America's favorite son. A golden-boy war hero who single-handedly forced multiple German soldiers to surrender in WWI, Carter has dashing good looks and unparalleled speed on the field. This new champ is almost too good to be true, and Lexie Littleton aims to prove that's the case. A cub journalist playing in the big leagues, Lexie is a spitfire newswoman who suspects there are holes in Carter's war story. But while she digs, the two teammates start to become serious off-field rivals for her fickle affections. As the new game of pro-football becomes less like the freewheeling sport he knew and loved, Dodge must both fight to keep his guys together and to get the girl of his dreams. Finding that love and football have a surprisingly similar playbook, however, he has one maneuver he will save just for the fourth quarter... The Review: I have a lot of respect for the Clooney, he's spent his time perfecting not only his craft but his persona and yet at the same time he still seems pretty fresh...and honestly how many Oscar nominees do you know of from both Return of The Killer Tomatoes and The Facts of Life? The guy has done his time in the trenches of Hollywood hell and came out smelling like a rose. There’s even an entire episode of American Dad dedicated to his downfall at the hands of Francine Smith. Which is pretty funny for me since the only Francine I know is also the biggest Clooney fan I know. Coincidence or Sweet Irony?
So when George steps a little to the left of his persona and plays a goofball screw up it’s pretty damn enjoyable and fun to watch. He pulls off the everyday guy so well that it makes his turns as characters like Danny Ocean more fun to watch...one day though he needs to co-star next to average dude mainstay Nathan Fillion for a heist caper just to round it all out. A boy can dream right?
This is Clooney’s movie all around even if he’s not the likable pretty boy hero at the center of it all. He directed it, he provides the soul of it, and most the laughs come at his characters expense. We’ll get to his character in a moment but lets talk about his eye behind the lens; the movie itself is pretty oddly paced. There’s few up and downs that stand out through the film, nothing really builds the tension up too far or dives the thick of the plot too low…just a long steady ride from kick off to touchdown. Not a bad thing really the movie is enjoyable and doesn’t take itself anymore seriously than it should or even could. It’s a movie about a bunch of jocks trying to remain boys…simple as that. I’d like to see Clooney tackle more of these period type flicks, he’s got a great eye and the film feels like he had a lot of fun doing it.
Now keep in mind as you read this that I don’t know a damn thing about football, the rules, the history, or any of that bullshit. I’m not a fan of Football, wouldn’t care if it vanished forever or stuck around till the end of time. Which I thought walking into movie might hinder my enjoyment, however the guys who wrote this movie didn’t seem too hung up on the details either or at least it doesn’t come off on screen. Just bringing that up because I know quite a few people who feel the same way and are planning to steer clear of this movie…which is a shame. Go for the Clooney stay for the Football.
The plot is pretty basic; it’s all about what makes a hero and the lengths men will go to remain boys. Have to admit I relate far too well to the latter part of that. Oh and of course there’s a girl in the middle of all that…can you imagine a Clooney movie where there wasn’t a woman in it?...well you could but I doubt George has done any gay porn (sorry Francine). As I said it’s a movie about a bunch of jocks trying to remain boys.
Ok I think we’ve covered “The Clooney” enough, lets talk about the other jock in this picture; Carter “The Bullet” Rutherford (John Krasinski) who is like Captain America come to life both on an off the field. He’s a war hero, a jock, a scholar, and gosh darn it people like him. So who better to play him that Jim from the Office? You love the guy and you hate to root against him over his pal Dodge (The Clooney)…but someone has to win the game and the girl.
Speaking of the girl… Renée Zellweger? Hmm somehow this feels like type casting, she’s played a writer (Bridget Jones ) and she’s played in a few of period type comedies (Down With Love, Chicago,), sure she can play up a vicious wit and looks the part but I had a tough time buying that both these blokes would fall for her…but I’m sure both would run the “pig in a poke” play with her. Not a horrible choice but not a perfect one either.
Even if you decide to skip on this till you can Netflix it, do yourself a favor and check out the soundtrack, it’s a one of those perfect fits..not necessarily I regards to the period but the songs just fit the film in a way few soundtracks manage to do.
Overall: A Home Run!....DOH! I mean Field Goal! Rating:
