You can almost see the wheels turning in the minds of the “Leatherheads” creators as they formulated a plan to turn their film into a box-office hit. The older generations will love the “Roaring Twenties” setting and actor/director George Clooney (“Michael Clayton”), while the younger audiences will be attracted by the up-and-coming John Krasinski (“License to Wed”). At the same time, males will be driven by the frame of a football movie while females will enjoy the romance scenes. The result is a hybrid piece that goes a little too far in its attempts to please everyone but still manages to be pretty entertaining.

In “Leatherheads,” Clooney takes his audience back to a time of prohibition and renaissance, where Dodge Connelly (Clooney) is a star athlete in the slowly dying sport of professional football. In a last-ditch effort to save the game, Dodge decides to re-energize the sport by recruiting Carter Rutherford (Krasinski) — an electrifying, immensely popular player for Princeton — to come play for his team.

The film excellently utilizes both sound and cinematography to recreate the late ’20s. From the social and artistic environment to the dynamic culture, the movie does not miss a beat in capturing this era onscreen. The inclusion of a score infused with jazz and big bands enriches the film’s imagery and makes for a perfect final touch.

Unfortunately, this realistic quality actually ends up hurting the film at times. The overuse of dreary colors and vintage freeze frames in the form of newsreels and photographs creates the sensation that the film is dragging on.

On the other hand, the comedy in “Leatherheads” actually benefits from this old-fashioned feel. The tribute to screwball, slapstick humor common in films from this era is a welcomed change from the crudeness found in most movies today. The repeated back-and-forth banter between characters and constant brawls can grow tiresome at points, but for the most part remain amusing throughout the movie.

But then there would not be any laughs at all if it was not for the excellent performances by Clooney and Krasinski. The gentlemanly swagger of the former wholly complements the boyish charm of the latter as the two create the kind of witty chemistry needed for a film like this to work.

Although the film includes far more than just football, the writers nonetheless do a great job of developing the sports aspect of the movie. Despite the fact that the story is not at all fact-based, the portrayal of the game is very accurate to what pro football was like during this time period. The uniforms, style of play and even the crowds fittingly depict the brutality and unruliness characteristic to this sport in the 1920s. This authentic representation is largely thanks to the co-writing of Rick Reilly, an acclaimed contributor to “Sports Illustrated.”

The romance side is not quite as developed; the love triangle created between Dodge, Carter and sassy cub reporter Lexie Littleton (Renee Zellweger, “Miss Potter”) ends up being far more comedic than dramatic as a result of the film’s attempt to satisfy too many genres. There is not any real attraction among the characters, and the triangle exists solely as a set-up for other areas of the plot.

This pseudo-romantic component of the film is probably worth it, though, simply as an opportunity to have the character of Lexi. She is a perfect counterpoint to the macrocosm of masculinity that exists in the film and provides a needed feminist perspective. As Lexi, Zellweger takes command of the character and shines in her portrayal of a strong-willed woman trying to make it in a man’s world.

The result is a true throwback to films of the past. Despite being flawed at times due to an overly zealous attempt at success in numerous categories, the film still succeeds at telling a creative story in a new, “old” way. Complete with great acting and traditional comedy, “Leatherheads” is worth the trip back in time.

3 1/2 stars out of 5