Leatherheads Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A football team saves itself by hiring a war hero who might not be so heroic, while their leader woos a journalist who’s trying to expose him, all set during a time when football was basically organized chaos.

🍿 Leatherheads: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Struggling Duluth Bulldogs

In 1925, Dodge Connelly captains the Duluth Bulldogs, a struggling professional football team. The league is on the brink of collapse, and Dodge needs a plan to save his team and the sport. They lose their sponsor after a game where they had to forfeit. The reason being that the home team is supposed to provide the ball but theirs was stolen by a young boy bribed by the other team’s coach.

Recruiting a War Hero

Dodge convinces Carter Rutherford, a college football star and war hero, to join the Bulldogs. Carter’s fame draws crowds and attention to the struggling pro football league. Chicago Tribune reporter Lexie Littleton arrives to investigate Carter’s war heroics after a colleague alleges that Carter is a sham. Dodge meets Lexie, only to learn her mission is to expose Carter as a fraud.

The Truth About Carter

Carter confesses to Lexie that his war heroics were exaggerated. He tells her that he fell asleep in a trench and then was surrounded by German soldiers and gave up. But they mistook him for one of their own and also gave up. Carter is hurt when he discovers Lexie’s agenda and that Dodge and Lexie are starting to show affections for each other. Spurred on by Carter’s manager, Lexie decides to publish the story. This sparks a firestorm of accusations and reprimands.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Dodge Connelly (George Clooney): The charming and resourceful captain of the Duluth Bulldogs who tries to save his team and the league by recruiting a college football star.
• Lexie Littleton (Renée Zellweger): A determined newspaper reporter investigating Carter Rutherford’s war hero story, while also navigating a love triangle.
• Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski): A college football star and war hero whose reputation is questioned, leading to complications both on and off the field.
• C.C. Frazier (Jonathan Pryce): Carter Rutherford’s conniving manager, who is primarily motivated by profit and willing to use unethical tactics.
• Coach Ferguson (Wayne Duvall): The coach of the Duluth Bulldogs
• Suds (Stephen Root): Sleepy local reporter who covers Duluth Bulldogs games
• Pete Harpin (Peter Gerety): The new commissioner of football

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Dodge Connelly: “I’m Dodge Connelly, and I’m here to tell you that football is not about rules. It’s about guts and grit and the thrill of the chase!” – This captures Dodge’s rebellious spirit and his love for the original, less regulated form of football.
• Lexie Littleton: “I’m a journalist, Mr. Connelly. I deal in facts, not fairy tales.” – Illustrates Lexie’s initial skepticism and commitment to uncovering the truth, setting up her conflict with Dodge and Carter.
• Carter Rutherford: “I guess sometimes the truth isn’t as exciting as the story.” – Reflects Carter’s realization about his embellished war story and the public’s desire for heroes.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $58,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $31,373,938
• Worldwide Gross: $41,319,039

💥 Leatherheads Reviews

Personal Review

I really wanted to love ‘Leatherheads’. The idea of a romantic comedy set against early pro football sounded great. While the film has moments of charm and the cast is likable, it never fully clicked for me. The slapstick felt forced, and the romantic storyline didn’t quite ignite. It’s a visually appealing movie, and I enjoyed the 1920s setting, but ultimately, it felt like a missed opportunity. I think it needed a lighter touch and a tighter script.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of George Clooney”
  • “Viewers interested in sports history”
  • “Lovers of screwball comedies”
  • “People who enjoy 1920s period pieces”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild language”
  • “Some scenes of violence”
  • “Brief drinking and smoking”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “Visually appealing with great period detail, ‘Leatherheads’ unfortunately lacks genuine comedic spark. Clooney’s direction evokes the era well, but the script doesn’t quite land the screwball elements. Zellweger is charming but the plot feels somewhat underdeveloped.
• IMDb User Review: “This movie tried so hard to be a screwball comedy but failed. Clooney and Zellweger lacked chemistry, the plot was all over the place, and the humor just didn’t land. Nice sets and costumes, but overall, a disappointing experience.

Audience Reactions

The 1920s atmosphere and costumes were fantastic and really made the movie visually appealing.: Viewers generally appreciated the film’s attention to period detail and the jazzy soundtrack.

Overall Consensus: While boasting a talented cast and an appealing setting, ‘Leatherheads’ struggles to deliver on its comedic promise, resulting in a mildly entertaining but ultimately forgettable film.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The script for Leatherheads was written over 20 years before the film was actually produced. George Clooney had been carrying it around for a long time, waiting for the right opportunity.”
• “George Clooney mentioned that the plot is loosely based on George Halas’s signing of University of Illinois football star Harold ‘Red’ Grange.”
• “The film’s title was originally intended to be ‘The Duluth Eskimos’, but the NFL allegedly disallowed it due to the drinking depicted in the movie.”

🖥️ How to Watch Leatherheads?

Leatherheads is available for streaming on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, where you can rent or purchase the movie. Check local listings for television airings or explore options for buying a physical copy for offline viewing. You may also find it on other streaming services that offer movie rentals or purchases.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Leatherheads, you might like these similar films:

• The Natural (1984): Shares themes of sports legends, hidden pasts, and the romanticization of a bygone era in baseball.
• Slap Shot (1977): Captures the chaotic and often humorous nature of a struggling sports team trying to gain popularity.
• His Girl Friday (1940): This film is an exemplary older film featuring fast-talking dialogue, and a strong female reporter. Both also feature a romance that develops amidst professional pursuits.

🛒 Leatherheads Related Products

• Leatherheads Movie Poster: A high-quality reproduction of the original movie poster, perfect for fans of the film and vintage sports memorabilia.
• Leatherheads: The Novelization: Relive the story of Dodge, Lexie, and Carter in this expanded novelization. Includes exclusive scenes and character backstories.
• 1920s Style Newsboy Cap: Get Dodge Connelly’s look! An authentic 1920s-style newsboy cap.
• Antique Leather Football: Own a piece of football history with a vintage-style leather football, reminiscent of the ones used in the film.

🎧 Soundtrack

Leatherheads features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Tiger Rag” – performed by Original Dixieland Jass Band (as written by)
• “Charleston” – performed by Paul Whiteman Orchestra
• “Ain’t She Sweet” – performed by Gene Austin

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

‘Leatherheads’ | Unscripted | George Clooney, John Krasinski

Ever wondered what it’s like for George Clooney and John Krasinski to interview each other? Check out this video where they answer fan questions about Leatherheads; it’s a fun, insightful look into the movie and their collaboration!

Biggest surprises from The Office book

Did you know John Krasinski wore a wig on The Office? Turns out, it was because he cut his hair for Leatherheads! I never would have guessed, but this video spills all the behind-the-scenes secrets!

THE OFFICE’S JOHN KRASINSKI TALKS ABOUT “LEATHERHEADS”

Huge Office fan? Ever wondered how Jim Halpert felt about Leatherheads? This interview dives into John Krasinski’s thoughts on the movie, and he offers up some pretty interesting insights!

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