Based on a 2001
novel of the same name by Amanda Brown, Legally Blonde was the movie that made
the name Reese Witherspoon stick in my memory. The movie, to me, has her doused
in sparkles of wonder, as she outshines all of her co-stars and makes the movie
hers.
I totally
enjoyed the character Witherspoon portrayed, Elle Woods, and enjoyed the way
she was crafted. She was not written to be a blonde so dumb she couldn’t
navigate her way through life. She was blonde, but smart, goal-oriented, and a
true lady. She has this element of luck always by her side as she navigates
through life with one aim in mind in this movie: get her ex-boyfriend back.
The movie plot
is quite different from the book in some ways. But in this movie, Elle Woods is
blonde, wealthy, and a sorority girl with the brains to follow. She finished
school with a 4.0 GPA, which, for the way she talks and acts, you wouldn't
believe.
She has been in
a long relationship with her boyfriend, who also happens to be the governor's
son, Warner Huntington III.
On the day Elle expected things to be taken to the next level, she gets the shock of her life: Warner wants the relationship to end. To him, Elle may be beautiful and smart, but she will always be an obsessed fashion lady whose view of life is like that of a child. He wanted someone more focused and, to him, more serious to suit his plans for the future. Now, all the things he thinks Elle is, she is, and him leaving her and going to Harvard to get a degree is something Elle will not take. She loves Warner and is ready to do anything to get him back.
Now the movie
enters a new realm: she actually gets herself into Harvard, and the experience
makes her mature and changes her life forever.
The movie was
such a huge financial success (making over $141 million on an $18 million
budget) and threw Witherspoon into the spotlight. It also had Golden Globe
nominations in the categories of Best Motion Picture and Best Actress – Comedy.
The movie's
critical and financial success led to Elle Woods coming back for a sequel, done
two years later.
This movie is
one of the best (in my view) court dramas there is. The added comedy that comes
with this movie did not distract from the drama. I enjoyed how Woods stood up
for herself against sexual assault and used what she knew in fashion to get
ahead.
The movie’s plot is pretty predictable and follows the usual underdog story. Some of the characters, especially the supporting ones, feel more like stereotypes than fully developed people. The humor is fun, but it can get a bit too over-the-top or cheesy at times. Plus, while the message of empowerment is great, it sometimes feels a bit too simplistic, focusing more on surface-level success than actual character growth.
Legally Blonde is a classic comedy, one I would want my future daughters to see if I have any.
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