George drop the ball! echo live YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT'S ON IN SOUTH WALES We thought he could do no wrong, but has Clooney come unstuck with this rom-com?

Byline: GAVIN ALLEN 

LEATHERHEADS

(PG, 113 mins) Rom Com *****

OH George, gorgeous George, we thought you could do no wrong.

Since he graduated from American soapdom in ER, Clooney has only rarely put a foot wrong.

In 1996 One Fine Day (hit) was followed by Batman and Robin (stinker) and since then he can be accused of making slight mistakes at worst, because even if the likes of The Peacemaker and Perfect Storm weren't classics, they still performed well enough.

He has been able to mix Hollywood glitz (Ocean's 11-13) with independent integrity (Good Night and Good Luck) as well as anyone else working.

So much is expected of his latest, and third, directorial outing because it strives to combine both those worlds.

Leatherheads is set in the 1920s when professional American football was in the doldrums.

Clooney plays veteran footballer Dodge Connelly who, realising the days of his team the Duluth Bulldogs are numbered, recruits star Princeton athlete and war hero Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski) to the squad.

Crowd attendance shoots up, as does media interest, and soon Chicago Tribune reporter Lexie Littleton (Renee Zellweger) starts sniffing around asking questions about the validity of Rutherford's war record.

Dodge falls hopelessly in love with Lexie and slowly gets jealous of the time she spends investigating his fresh-faced new signing.

At first glance Leatherheads has everything going for it - the roaring '20s setting, a sport in its infancy ripe for parody and history, and a cast that should zing it along as a screwball comedy.

But somehow, from all those ingredients, Clooney fails to bake the right cake.

So usually at home with period settings - his previous directorial efforts were set in the '50s and '40s respectively - Clooney the director isn't quite sure whether he is making a period piece, a rom-com, a sports movie or a character drama.

He seems to want it to echo the kind of Spencer Tracy/Katharine Hepburn screwball comedy pairing that sparks with pointed dialogue, but while there is undeniable appeal in the lead characters' flirtations, screenwriters Duncan Brantley and Rick Reilly don't provide enough snappy one-liners to pull it off.

Crucially, the third point of the romantic triangle, Rutherford, is a bit of a drip who never really poses a threat to Clooney's chances with the leading lady.

Leatherheads continues Clooney's fascination with celebrity culture and journalistic ethics, but the plot strand concerning Rutherford's dubious war record isn't given enough attention to thrive.

Its one saving grace is the cast, with Clooney throwing megawatt grins and Zellwegger fluttering her eyelashes, while Jonathan Pryce turns up to lend an amusingly boo-hiss bad guy.

But while Clooney the actor is on decent, if slightly hammy form, Clooney the director has lost his focus in the mud and kisses - for now.

Still, I'll be willing to bet his next film will be an absolute winner.

CINEWORLD on Mary Ann Streethas allocated 12 tickets for Echo Readers to see Leatherheads(PG)for free at a screening of theirchoice. Toclaim the tickets simply take this copy of the Echo to Cineworld's box office. Tickets will be served on a first come first served basis so get there quick.

CAPTION(S):

HELL FOR LEATHER Renee Zellwegerand George Clooneystar in Leatherheads.