Sweet Home Alabama
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Movie Reviews of Sweet Home Alabama
Movie Review: America has a new sweetheart in Reese
Summary: 5 Stars
... The motion picture which affirms Witherspooon's position is "Sweet Home Alabama," a motion picture which resembles in style and simple good natured charm such previous romantic comedy hits as "Sleepless in Seattle" and "When Harry Met Sally."
I have been a longtime admirer of Witherspoon's work from the coming of age drama "The Man in the Moon," to the campy "Legally Blonde." Throughout her short career Witherspoon has demonstrated her charisma and wide range through a number of eclectic projects and once again she brings to life another interesting and downright likeable character.
Quite simply put, "Sweet Home Alabama" is the most fun I have had in a movie theater for quite some time. The script by newcomer Douglas J. Eboch and C. Jay Cox is tight and moves along at a breakneck speed, the acting is superb, the production design and costumes are impressive and realistic and the direction by Andy (Ever After) Tennant shines.
There are a number of levels to "Sweet Home Alabama" at once it is a romantic comedy, at others a fish out of water drama and at other times a commentary on small town values as opposed to surburbanized snobbery. It works on all these levels and delivers in spades on almost every aspect of production.
"I wanted to do a love story where the decision came down to a great guy or the right guy," said Tennant in the production notes for the movie.
Witherspoon stars as New York fashion designer Melanie Carmichael who suddenly finds herself engaged to the city's most eligible bachelor played with appropriate sophistication by Patrick (Will & Grace) Dempsey. All would be good and well except Melanie is already married, to her high school sweetheart Jake who refuses to divorce her.
Determined to tie up this and all the other loose ends in her hometown in Alabama, Melanie sneaks home to confront her past only to rediscover herself and the smalltown girl that she has attempted to keep hidden for several years.
For Dempsey, the movie is "a love story and a comedy - and the comedy comes from the concept of North versus the South - the city and the country - and how much the people from each region interact and how they misunderstand each other."
Familiar to the television audience as Murphy Brown veteran actress Candice Bergen provides the necessary touch of class and style as Kate, the mayor of New York City and apparent future mother-in-law of Melanie.
Many of the funniest moments in the movie come from Kate's reaction to the engagement and the stark contract between not only the North and the South, but also the high rolling fashion society of New York City and the flannel shirt, baseball hat style of down-home country folk.
Easily the most amiable characters in the movie are the Alabama natives whose genuine nature is at odds with the superficial masks worn by the metropolitan set. Bringing the roles of Melanie's father and mother to life are respected actors Fred Ward as Earl, her father and Mary Kay Place as her mother Pearl.
Well known as the secret admirer of Jennifer Love Hewitt in the underrated "Can't Hardly Wait" Ethan Embry emerges as one of the true surprises of "Sweet Home Alabama" delivering a strong mature and hilarious perfomance as Bobby Ray, Melanie's closeted gay friend. Rounding out the cast is the Emmy award winning versatile actress Jean Smart who ably carries off the role of Jake's mother, Stella Kay.
The movie has received a mixed bag of reviews from other media outlets. The New York Times unkindly referred to the film as "a ball of fluff" and Entertainment Weekly stated it was "stereotyped and pandering." More positive were the notices coming from Variety which noted the "promising charm with a heaping side portion of down-home warmth" and E! Online which hailed the film as a "light romantic comedy with more smarts than it really needs."
I would venture to say the negative reviewers missed the point of the movie, yes it does not take itself too seriously, it's a comedy after all and it pokes fun at the very stereotyped nature the Entertainment Weekly critic noted.
With an estimnated weekend box office take of $$$ million and an appeal that reportedly "crossed all demographics" the audience appears to agree and I heartily recommend this movie for anyone looking for a good dose of good natured fun at the theater.
"Sweet Home Alabama" runs 102 minutes and is rated PG-13.
Movie Review: Sweet Home Alabama: Jake, She's Coming Home to You
Summary: 5 Stars
"Why'd ya wanna marry me for any how?"..."So I could kiss ya any time I want". This line captured the hearts of others in the comedy/romance movie Sweet Home Alabama. Sweet Home Alabama takes place on the beach of Alabama. Melanie and her little boyfriend Jake are admiring the thunder storm, all of a sudden a flash of lightning scares little Melanie away, but Jake tells her not to worry because the lightning never hits in the same place twice. Although it did, then Melanie wakes up and realizes she had dreamt all of that. This was the beginning that really captured my interest in watching the movie.
Sweet Home Alabama is about a girl named, Melanie Smooter, a really southern girl, who moves to the big cities of New York in search of "a life". She changed her name to Melanie Carmichael, and got a job as a clothing designer who all of a sudden finds herself engaged to the cities most eligible bachelor, Andrew, although, this is no fairy-tale romance, she has problems waiting for her at home, one is her backwoods husband, she married in high school who refuses to divorce her. Determined Melanie returns home to Alabama to tie the loose ends in her past once and for all. But, returning home was when her past started tugging at her heartstring and what she thought she wanted just might not be what she wanted at all.
I recommend the age group for this movie to be 11 years old and up. This movie has some foul language and sexual references, which got it a rating of PG-13. Although, this movie is supposed to be for children 13 and up, I recommend it to be a little younger than that because, it really isn't that bad. My little sister was 10 years old when she first saw the movie, and apart from the foul language she had no problem with the movie, so I recommend the age group to be a little younger. Although, this is only my opinion, I'm just letting little kids have a chance to feel the Alabama loveJ.
My first stating point on why you should watch this movie is because of the story line. It teaches a real life lesson, because I'm sure most of us have gone through it. The storyline is, " When you think you want something, it may just turn out that you don't want it at all." When Melanie thought she wanted Andrew as a husband she had to go home and tie the loose ends with Jake, but when he showed up in the picture she started experiencing mixed feelings...Jake or Andrew? I would tell you whom she ended up marrying, or if she didn't end up marrying any of them, but I cannot, because then what is the point of even watching the movie?
My second stating point is because it is by far the best romantic movie I have ever seen. Not to mushy, not to gushy. It was just smooth sailing love. The movie just left you with the feeling of, "Oh my gosh what is going to happen next" you know how that feels! In fact, it leaves you with other wanderings too! That is why you need to watch it. You are relaxed while your brain gets a work out!!! Pretty cool, huh? In fact this movie is more than just the best romantic movie I have ever seen, it's my favorite movie I have ever seen!
Without a doubt, I think, no, I know you should watch this movie. Because if you don't, I will hunt you down...just kidding but you will never know whom Melanie will end up with. Will she marry Jake or will she marry Andrew??? I guess you will have to watch the movie to find out!
I would like to express my gratitude to www.hollywood.com for the picture I used in my review. Thank-you!
Movie Review: "Heart warming and Romantic-This is def. a movie to see!"
Summary: 5 Stars
"Sweet Home Alabama" is probably the sweetest movie I have ever seen. The young and prosperous, blonde, city girl, Melanie, is making a living in New York, designing clothes. She has everything she could ever want, including the engagement ring of the mayor's son. However, when wedding bells draw nearer, Melanie has to revisit her past to take care of some unfinished business, way out in Greenville, Alabama. Planning to only stay for a few days, see her parents and get down to business, Melanie becomes wrapped back up in her past and begins having second thoughts about why she left in the first place. With several changes in the events, Mel begins to understand the love she once felt for her first love, first kiss (at age 10) and first husband, Jake. She needs to get him to sign divorce papers that she has been struggling to do for the past seven years. Yet, the longer Mel stays in Alabama the harder it seems for her to remember why she wanted them signed in the first place. Torn between the simple life she once knew and the future of riches ahead of her, Melanie must choose. This movie was simple, yet perfectly constructed. It brought out all my emotions, making me laugh and cry. I was on the edge of my seat a few times wanting to yell at the screen and tell Melanie to pick Jake, for she belonged with him. This movie was very realistic. It was heartwarming and made me think a lot of the life I live. This movie was also very romantic, but not overdone. According to some people, they thought it was quiet predictable, and I do have to agree in some instances. However, sometimes that is exactly what you need; a good, old fashioned, "happily ever after" love story. Honestly, that is why I liked it so much, because the predictability of it made it realistic, which made me strongly connect with it.
The first scene in the movie began with Melanie and Jake as little kids. They were on the beach in the middle of a thunderstorm, where they had their first kiss, just as lightening struck. They realized at that moment that when the lightening hit the sand it turned into glass. This is a very sacred moment for them and the secret to the rest of the movie. Without giving away too much, the story ends the same way and with me in the audience bawling my eyes out because it was so romantic and wonderful.
I connected this movie with "A Walk to Remember." Even though their plots were very different and it wasn't the actual story lines that made me relate to them, they were both romantic, pure-hearted movies. They portrayed relationships and love in the simplest and sweetest ways. I was so intrigued by both of them because they were not dirty or repulsive. I found both of them to be a rare sighting for a Hollywood movie, which made me highly appreciate them.
I would definitely recommend "Sweet Home Alabama." I am not sure how much guys would be interested in it, but I would push girls to go see it any day. It was not only the love and romance that I liked; this movie had a great plot and build up. Nothing happened too quickly or seemed unrealistic. They did a really good job with this movie and I have to say, "It is definitely one of my new all time favorites!" If you ever get the chance you should go see it because you are missing out on a wonderful movie if you don't!
Movie Review: "Heart warming and Romantic-This is def. a movie to see!"
Summary: 5 Stars
"Sweet Home Alabama" is probably the sweetest movie I have ever seen. The young and prosperous, blonde, city girl, Melanie, is making a living in New York, designing clothes. She has everything she could ever want, including the engagement ring of the mayor's son. However, when wedding bells draw nearer, Melanie has to revisit her past to take care of some unfinished business, way out in Greenville, Alabama. Planning to only stay for a few days, see her parents and get down to business, Melanie becomes wrapped back up in her past and begins having second thoughts about why she left in the first place. With several changes in the events, Mel begins to understand the love she once felt for her first love, first kiss (at age 10) and first husband, Jake. She needs to get him to sign divorce papers that she has been struggling to do for the past seven years. Yet, the longer Mel stays in Alabama the harder it seems for her to remember why she wanted them signed in the first place. Torn between the simple life she once knew and the future of riches ahead of her, Melanie must choose. This movie was simple, yet perfectly constructed. It brought out all my emotions, making me laugh and cry. I was on the edge of my seat a few times wanting to yell at the screen and tell Melanie to pick Jake, for she belonged with him. This movie was very realistic. It was heartwarming and made me think a lot of the life I live. This movie was also very romantic, but not overdone. According to some people, they thought it was quiet predictable, and I do have to agree in some instances. However, sometimes that is exactly what you need; a good, old fashioned, "happily ever after" love story. Honestly, that is why I liked it so much, because the predictability of it made it realistic, which made me strongly connect with it.
The first scene in the movie began with Melanie and Jake as little kids. They were on the beach in the middle of a thunderstorm, where they had their first kiss, just as lightening struck. They realized at that moment that when the lightening hit the sand it turned into glass. This is a very sacred moment for them and the secret to the rest of the movie. Without giving away too much, the story ends the same way and with me in the audience bawling my eyes out because it was so romantic and wonderful.
I connected this movie with "A Walk to Remember." Even though their plots were very different and it wasn't the actual story lines that made me relate to them, they were both romantic, pure-hearted movies. They portrayed relationships and love in the simplest and sweetest ways. I was so intrigued by both of them because they were not dirty or repulsive. I found both of them to be a rare sighting for a Hollywood movie, which made me highly appreciate them.
I would definitely recommend "Sweet Home Alabama." I am not sure how much guys would be interested in it, but I would push girls to go see it any day. It was not only the love and romance that I liked; this movie had a great plot and build up. Nothing happened too quickly or seemed unrealistic. They did a really good job with this movie and I have to say, "It is definitely one of my new all time favorites!" If you ever get the chance you should go see it because you are missing out on a wonderful movie if you don't!
Movie Review: You Can't Miss Sweet Home Alabama!
Summary: 5 Stars
OK, we all know that with a love-triangle like this one, it's pretty predictable who will turn out with who in the end. But the characters, storyline, and a couple of twists make up for a great movie.Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) is a New York City fashion designer who followed her dreams to success from a single-wide in Greenville, Alabama. While she's busy designing clothes for runway models, she leaves behind her husband, Jake (Josh Lucas) in Alabama, whom she hasn't seen or talked to in seven years. She does, however, meet the rich and somewhat mushy Andrew (Patrick Dempsey), the son of New York City's mayor (Candice Bergen), whom she falls in love with.
The engagement is a great part of the movie. Andrew sneaks Melanie, who is unsuspecting and doesn't know a thing about what's going on, through several dark hallways and surprise! - right into Tiffany's, where he asks her to marry him with all the lit glasses of jewelry in front of her to choose her engagement ring from. She accepts, but insists that she must go to Alabama by herself to make peace with her family and tell them the news.
Melanie and Jake argue and fight as soon as she pulls her sleek new car beside his old rusty truck at the home they used to share and that he now solely occupies (along with a bloodhound dog). She also visits her parents Earl and Pearl Smooter - down-to-earth, practical folks (Melanie's real last name is Smooter, but she changed it to Carmichael when she moved to New York City. Actually, the name Carmichael turns out to belong to a prominent wealthy family who owned an antebellum house in Melanie's hometown). Turns out that Pearl Smooter just wanted her daughter (and only child) to get out and "do something with her life" and not marry her highschool sweetheart dropout and live in a trailer. Melanie, however, near the end of the movie, realises that that's what she wants, that's who she is, and she's not ashamed of it. This makes for some pretty humorous situations in the movie, such as her father's Civil War reenactment (when both suitors, not knowing that they're in love with the same girl, meet each other...), her and Andrew's wedding, Melanie knocking Andrew's mother out ("The South has risen again!" whoops Earl Smooter), etc. See the movie and discover that Sweet Home Alabama is actually a good, down-home, "be who you are and not someone else" kind of movie. Definitely one of my favorites. Enjoy!
-AG