Director George Clooney’s “Leatherheads” may be a damn good period piece — the roaring ’20s look terrific in their jazzed-out, Prohibition-era glory — but elaborate sets and historical accuracies are one of the only things this star-fueled football movie has going for it. Because, let’s face it: Most football movies are lame.

There was “Friday Night Lights,” the story of a boring West Texas town with an obsession with high school athletes that was, well, boring. Good old “Rudy,” a film hailed by third-string athletes everywhere, was sappy as they come and a little pathetic to boot (Give it up, man. It’s just not your thing). “The Longest Yard” wasn’t too bad … until it was cruelly morphed into an Adam Sandler production. Of course, “Remember the Titans” was well-received, but it only was worth its weight in Denzel Washington. Who would have bothered watching had it starred some no-name?

The same goes for “Leatherheads,” a movie about a love triangle between aging professional football star Jimmy “Dodge” Connolly (Clooney), Carter Rutherford, a hotshot World War I hero-turned-college ballplayer (“The Office’s” John Krasinski) and Lexie Littleton (Renée Zellweger), the feisty, quick-witted reporter who’s bent on unmasking the truth behind Rutherford’s war tales.

Clooney and Zellweger channel the 1940 screwball pair of Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell (Howard Hanks’ “His Girl Friday”) — they’re good and funny, no denying that — but Krasinski plays a character who’s a bit too nice for the “bad guy” brand he’s given about halfway through the film.

That said, there’s not so much wrong with “Leatherheads” as much as there’s something missing. To succeed, a sports movie usually does one of two things: A) be hilarious, or B) not have anything to do with sports. This film is really none of the above, offering merely a tiny sprinkling of option A, along with a small scoop of option B.

Clooney’s antics, which bring to mind the actor’s turn in the Coen brothers’ 2005 hit, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” provides much of the humor in his attempts to woo Zellweger. Don’t let his roguish charm fool you, as the laughs are easily forgotten — it’s the story that reels an audience in. The narrative happens to be decent at best, and drags on for 30 minutes (but what felt like an hour) too long.

And whether it’s about love or football, who cares? So what if Clooney’s latest directorial effort (since 2005’s well-acted but rather slow “Good Night, and Good Luck”) is more romantic comedy than football movie? There’s so little to feel attached to in the picture, which technically shows more off- than on-the-field action, it just doesn’t matter. It’s a shame Clooney, Zellweger, cloche hats and a bunch of leather football helmets can’t stave off tediousness.

Also, let’s face it — most romantic comedies are lame.

With what’s available to moviegoers right now (“Superhero Movie,” “Drillbit Taylor,” “Shutter”… someone help!) “Leatherheads” could be a solid choice if you’re looking for a simple, light-hearted weekend venture. But as a film, this one will fit perfectly into Best Buy’s bargain bin of mediocre DVD titles after a middle-of-the-road theatrical run.

Adam Kohut is a journalism junior.