George Clooney proves his versatility on and off the screen with his new screwball comedy.

Debonair Hollywood star George Clooney plays Dodge Connolly, a charming, brash football hero who 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 (John Krasinski), America’s favourite son.

A golden-boy war hero who single-handledly 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 (Renée Zellweger) sets out to prove that’s the case.

A cub journalist playing in the big leagues, Lexie is a spitfire news woman who suspects there are holes in Carter’s war story. But while she digs, the two team mates 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 fight to keep his guys together and to get the girl of his dreams.

Finding that love and football have a surprisingly similar playbook, he has one manoeuvre he saves in time for the last quarter.

Leatherheads is rated PG and is screening at Birch Carroll & Coyle.

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