Legally Blonde
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Movie Reviews of Legally Blonde
Movie Review: Entertaining and Intelligent
Summary: 5 Stars
"Legally Blonde" is a great movie with great, albeit predictable, characters. However, director Robert Luketic found a way to balance a current formula for box office success (pretty, young cast + quick-witted dialogue + feel-good dream achievement) with some subtler messages for the thinking people out there.
For example, as anyone who has taken the LSAT knows, Elle's whole admittance to Harvard Law is a farce. But, the movie doesn't try to make it realistic. Instead, Elle gets a forty point LSAT score boost (that would be like doubling your SAT score), somehow garners letters of recommendation, and then sends in a video essay. Luketic is reminding us to suspend our disbelief, something too often forgotten in an industry sometimes too preoccupied with spectacular special effects. In this development, we see a couple of Luketic's strokes of ingenuity. First, Elle's parents are not just rote characters like those of the movie--they're the ultimate stock characters, and discourage Elle from attending law school because it is for boring, ugly people. These characters aren't just for the hyperbole laugh, but seem to be nodding to the audience--"yeah, we realize the story line and characters may be familiar to you, but we're not going to bore you here, in fact, have a laugh at our expense." Then, Elle's video essay also has some interesting satirical elements. As the admissions committee discusses Elle's application, the frame of the film cuts off part of the television on which Elle's admission video just played. So, you see an old white dude making a decision for one of the world's most competitive programs with ONLY Elle's bikini-clad body on the screen behind him. The old men are making a case for her GPA and LSAT scores, but the cut suggests that something less academic may be influencing their decision. This scene raises several questions: First, should women be allowed to use their sexuality as a weapon when entering male-dominated spheres? Second, how aware is anyone of the factors they may be manipulating to their advantage? Elle was only behaving as she always had. And, is there a real difference between Elle's getting in on her swimsuit performance and Warner, as we learn later, getting in on his father's connections?
This is a great movie to own for its popular entertainment value, the pleasure of watching it more than once, and, if you need an excuse, scholarly excursions like those discussed above.
Movie Review: "The 'bend and snap' works every time!"
Summary: 5 Stars
"Legally Blonde" was one of the funniest films released in 2001. The film stars the very talented Reese Witherspoon (known also for her role in the 1998 film "Pleasantville") as sorority-queen Elle Woods, who majored in college in fashion merchandising. The film begins with Elle being dumped by her boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Matthew Davis), who plans to attend the prestigious Harvard Law School. Determined to be with Warner, Elle decides to take the L.S.A.T. so that she can apply to Harvard Law School herself. After studying harder than she has ever done in her life, Elle passes the L.S.A.T. and films an introductory video of herself to send with her application to Harvard Law School. The Admissions Committee at Harvard Law School approves and Elle begins her journey into a new life at Harvard. Elle's vivacious, naive, sorority-party attitude doesn't exactly fit the typical Harvard Law School student. However, after Elle meets Warner's snobbish fiancée, Vivian Kensington (Selma Blair), she is befriended by a poorly educated manicurist, Paulette Bonafonté (Jennifer Coolidge), who inspires Elle to become a more serious law student.The film takes some unexpected turns as Elle is propelled into world of jurisprudence and the court of law. Memorable scenes in the film include Elle's first law school class with Professor Stromwell (Holland Taylor), Elle's revealing costume, Elle explaining the dynamics of the "bend and snap" to Paulette, and Elle explaining perm maintenance in a courtroom. Other wonderful characters include Emmett (Luke Wilson), Professor Callahan (Victor Garber), Brooke Taylor Windham (Ali Larter), the UPS Guy (Bruce Wilson), Enrique (Greg Serano), Chutney Windham (Linda Cardellini) and a brief appearance by Raquel Welch as Mrs. Windham Vandermark.
"Legally Blonde" is an engaging and endearing comedy whose success resulted not only from a great story, but also the talents of Reese Witherspoon for making a fashion merchandising major turned law student plausible. Overall, I rate "Legally Blonde" with a much-deserved 5 out of 5 stars. I hope that its sequel to be released in July 2003 ("Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde". also starring Reese Witherspoon) will be equally as funny and further demonstrate Elle Woods' passion for the study and practice of law.
Movie Review: A little deeper than you might think.....
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is First and Foremost meant to entertain. It makes droll and not very subtle fun of several stereotypical groups of people. BUT it does so with lightness and fun and I'm sure you will be able to tell those who take themselves too seriously by their reaction to this movie. I LOVED it (no, I'm not blonde, rich, super smart, gay, a society girl, trailer trash OR a lawyer)! And I'll try to tell you why I love this movie in under 1000 words.
Reece Witherspoon portrays Elle Woods(blonde, California college girl and fashion major just looking to get married as quick as possible to the man of her dreams) with such a deft touch that one would think she IS that girl--if they hadn't seen some of her other film work. Elle loves Warner Huntington III whose plans for the future are law school at Harvard and then politics and a "serious" minded finance/wife. Beautiful Elle doesn't fit the image, so Warner dumps her---On Valentine's Day....during dinner at a lovely restaurant....where Elle Thought he was going to propose!! OOOOH....if there is one lesson guys should learn from this movie it is: Don't mess with a beautiful blonde on the Holy Grail of Romance Days or you could live to regret it.
In usual Elle fashion, she deduces that in order to 'get' her man, all she has to do is go to Harvard Law and so she proceeds to plan B. Just....Nail down an acceptable SAT, video a killer essay to Wow the admissions committee and accomplish it all without breaking a nail. Before you can say "Let's shop for whole new wardrobe" Elle is at Harvard asking for her Activities and Mixers schedule.
Favorite moment: When Elle gets chosen to be on Callahan's legal team for a high profile murder trial. You can practically see Elle changing from ditzy dreamer to determined achiever.
There are so many well crafted performers I had a harder time than usual picking favorites. However, two that really shine for me are: Jennifer Coolidge as Elle's friend and manicurist, Paulette Bonafonté and Holland Taylor's turn as Professor Stromwell. Luke Wilson was perfect for Emmett (he does 'nice, decent guy' so well)
Legally Blonde is an affirmation that people can generally do a lot of the things that are important to them. And that most are capable of doing more AND better if they will just try! It's a feel good movie that I love to watch. I highly recommend it!
Movie Review: A movie of surprising depth.
Summary: 5 Stars
I rented this video expecting a cute, mindless piece of fluff for a relaxing evening's entertainment. What I got was so much more than I bargained for. True, many of the plot twists are pure far-fetched fantasy, but the basic premise was solid, and worked a charm. The primary conflict of the story line was certainly original - New England conservatism vs Left Coast consumerism is not a motif we find every decade, much less every day, in a film of any genre, and certainly not in a comedy of this nature. The gradual maturing of a group of college graduates from widely different backgrounds, as they pursue their dreams and goals at Harvard Law School could have been an excuse for a morass of schtick and slapstick. Instead, it was a sensitive, if amusing coming of age for all the protagonists, including, in the end analysis, some of the older characters.
The acting was above average; it takes enormous skill to play a rôle like Elle Woods - intelligent, determined and resourceful while appearing a stereotypical blonde bimbo - and play it convincingly. And if some (most, actually!) of the serendipities of the plot were less than convincing, some great acting and quite exceptional dialog made up for the poor underpinnings. I'm not a great fan of Reese Witherspoon, but certainly appreciate the panache with which she pulled this one off. There were also some sterling supporting performances, notably by Selma Blair as the rival, who gradually evolves from a horsey country-clubber into a stunning beauty as the film progresses (with appropriate character development from a snooty bitch to a warm friend).
I was particularly impressed by some of the photography in this production. Pay close attention to the shadows in the poolside scene with the Woods family at the beginning of the film! Later, the private interview between Elle and Professor Callahan shows just how much can be conveyed in a handful of seconds of outstanding camera work. And the elevator scene immediately following gets my vote as one of the finest pieces of cinema photography of 2001.
There aren't many films that I would consider worth watching more than once, and even fewer that I have liked enough to want to own them. This one is going to find its way into my personal collection.
Movie Review: The Blonde UnderDog of a Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Legally Blonde is one of the best underdog movies I've ever come across. Reese Witherspoon plays Elle Woods, a Beverly Hills blonde with a fashion designing career in order and a Hawaiin Tropic belt under her . . . belt. When her boyfriend (Matther Davis) decides to dump her and go to Harvard to pursue a career in Law, Elle figures the only way to win him back and to show him up at his own game. So Elle heads off to Harvard, and certainly does show a lot of people that blonde is a whole lot more fun than people put on.Legally Blonde came as a surprise hit to Hollywood. But it's totally worthy of it's praise. The screenplay is smooth going and never hits a corny note, even with some of the characters that could have been ultra corny. Reese Witherspoon absolutely shines as Elle Woods. Jennifer Coolidge was adorable as Elle's new best friend, Paulette. Matthew Davis played the part of the rich, snobby boy to the core, and Selma Blair's change in character was flawless. She's too cute. The rest of the supporting cast all gave great performances, as well as the little Chihuahua who played Bruiser.
The Special Edition dvd is a must-have for your collection. There are two audio commentaries with film crew and Reese Witherspoon. Two features, one which goes into full detail on the movie; from the beginning of the idea to the end result. I was glad to see this instead of a 7 minute or so promotional spot which is marked as a featurette. This part of the DVD is a much watch. The other featurette is all about Reese's hair and is a fun little ditty. There are 8 or so deleted scenes, some with commentary from director Robert Luketic. Rounding out the extras are the theatrical trailer, production notes, and cast & crew bios. The picture quality is great with Elle's bright colors contrasting well with the fall colored background of Harvard. The audio is also very good.
Legally Blonde will certainly stand out from the rest, and it's all thanks to the cast and crew, and mainly, Reese Witherspoon.