Legally Blonde (B or 3/4 stars)
Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) thought she had it all. But when the blonde sorority queen is dumped by her wannabe-lawyer boyfriend, she decides to follow him to law school to get him back. Known more for her beauty than her brains, Harvard Law School would prove to be a huge challenge for her. But once there, she learns that she's more qualified to be a lawyer than anyone could have ever imagine, including herself. 'Legally Blonde', directed by Robert Luketic, is a fun movie. Does it have a great plot, no, no it doesn't. But a completely winning & infectious performance from Witherspoon makes the film very easy to swallow.
Having just finished her 4th year at college (where she majored in fashion), Elle has a lot to be thankful for: she's been president of her Delta Nu sorority, a Hawaiian Tropic girl, Miss June in her campus calendar, a cast member of a Ricky Martin music video, & is about to be proposed to by her tall, blue-eyed boyfriend, Warner Huntington III (Matthew Davis) ... or so she thinks. Disaster strikes when he takes her to dinner, only to break-up with her. To him, she's not the East-coast intellectual type of wife he'd be looking for when he one day becomes a senator; he even tells her, 'You're too blonde'. The nerve.
Determined to win him back, she studies, studies & studies some more til she worms her way into Harvard! Once there, she realizes that the serious East-coasters & their stuffy way of living is quite the opposite to her California valley girl ways. She finds Warner on campus, but is mystified that he's already engaged to an old prep school flame of his, the devilish Vivian (a great Selma Blair). Disconsolate, she befriends her manicurist, Paulette (the always enjoyable Jennifer Coolidge), a woman who lacks complete self-confidence. Not only does Elle use her newfound legal vocabulary to help get Paulette's dog back from a possessive ex, but she's more determined than ever to win back Warner, & prove to herself & her professors (Victor Garber, Holland Taylor) that she CAN be a lawyer.
'Legally Blonde' is akin to something like a Clueless (though inferior). Tagline: an airhead blonde heroine wins us over & overcomes social disabilities to triumph against the odds. Ta-daaaa. Witherspoon is simply superb as Elle. She's cute, funny, confident, bubbly, and ... very likeable (when you'd think a character like her would annoy the Hell out of you). Whether she's unknowingly saying something incorrect, babbling about her natural blonde hair, choosing her wardrobe for the afternoon, walking her little doggie, or laying down the law in the courtroom, you pull for her. Without Witherspoon in this role, the film would have tanked. And that's a testament to both her comedic & dramatic talent.
As a romantic comedy, the film is merely adequate. Matthew Davis is no great shakes as Warner. And Luke Wilson does the best he can in the underwritten role of Emmett. He & Elle have nice chemistry together, but nothing special. I really like the featherweight, silly, charming first hour of the film. But the last half hour or so struggles to overcome serious, gooey sentimentality. Elle has success. We're happy for her. But since so much of the movie is brainless fun, the more serious parts don't create a desired effect as well as they'd like to. There isn't quite enough substance to back-up the faux-serious tone. Still, 'Legally Blonde' gets thumbs up from me. It's a great feel-good-about-yourself film for girls. And Elle proves not only that she can be a lawyer, but that blondes really do have more fun.
Having just finished her 4th year at college (where she majored in fashion), Elle has a lot to be thankful for: she's been president of her Delta Nu sorority, a Hawaiian Tropic girl, Miss June in her campus calendar, a cast member of a Ricky Martin music video, & is about to be proposed to by her tall, blue-eyed boyfriend, Warner Huntington III (Matthew Davis) ... or so she thinks. Disaster strikes when he takes her to dinner, only to break-up with her. To him, she's not the East-coast intellectual type of wife he'd be looking for when he one day becomes a senator; he even tells her, 'You're too blonde'. The nerve.
Determined to win him back, she studies, studies & studies some more til she worms her way into Harvard! Once there, she realizes that the serious East-coasters & their stuffy way of living is quite the opposite to her California valley girl ways. She finds Warner on campus, but is mystified that he's already engaged to an old prep school flame of his, the devilish Vivian (a great Selma Blair). Disconsolate, she befriends her manicurist, Paulette (the always enjoyable Jennifer Coolidge), a woman who lacks complete self-confidence. Not only does Elle use her newfound legal vocabulary to help get Paulette's dog back from a possessive ex, but she's more determined than ever to win back Warner, & prove to herself & her professors (Victor Garber, Holland Taylor) that she CAN be a lawyer.
'Legally Blonde' is akin to something like a Clueless (though inferior). Tagline: an airhead blonde heroine wins us over & overcomes social disabilities to triumph against the odds. Ta-daaaa. Witherspoon is simply superb as Elle. She's cute, funny, confident, bubbly, and ... very likeable (when you'd think a character like her would annoy the Hell out of you). Whether she's unknowingly saying something incorrect, babbling about her natural blonde hair, choosing her wardrobe for the afternoon, walking her little doggie, or laying down the law in the courtroom, you pull for her. Without Witherspoon in this role, the film would have tanked. And that's a testament to both her comedic & dramatic talent.
As a romantic comedy, the film is merely adequate. Matthew Davis is no great shakes as Warner. And Luke Wilson does the best he can in the underwritten role of Emmett. He & Elle have nice chemistry together, but nothing special. I really like the featherweight, silly, charming first hour of the film. But the last half hour or so struggles to overcome serious, gooey sentimentality. Elle has success. We're happy for her. But since so much of the movie is brainless fun, the more serious parts don't create a desired effect as well as they'd like to. There isn't quite enough substance to back-up the faux-serious tone. Still, 'Legally Blonde' gets thumbs up from me. It's a great feel-good-about-yourself film for girls. And Elle proves not only that she can be a lawyer, but that blondes really do have more fun.