Legally Blonde [DVD] [2001]

Elle Wood is a happy, bubbly, fun-loving, not so dumb blonde who decides to study law at Harvard University in an attempt to win back her boyfriend who dumped her for somone more serious. At first she is given the cold shoulder by some of the snobby students for eing too dumb (and blonde) but with a burning passion to do well, she studies like mad and soon shows them a thing or two when she wins a murder trial.

Reese Witherspoon plays the sweet, fun-loving Elle, very well indeed and brings a chirpy light heartedness to the whole film which makes the audience warm to her immediately. Luke Wilson (the brother of Owen Wilson) plays Emmett Richmond the only person not to ingnore Elle when she arrives at Harvard. Selma Blair (who worked with Reece Witherspoon in 'Cruel Intentions') plays the very snobby new girlfriend of Warner, Vivian Kensington. Finally Matthew Davis plays the two faced bone head, Warner Huntington the third, who only wants a smart 'serious', and successful girl on his arm rather than one he loves. There are many more people in the film who were equally good in their roles, but i would be here all day.

As regards extras on this DVD, there are quite a few. Theres a featurette: The Hair That Ate Hollywood, a feature length audio commentry from the director Robert Luketic, several deleted scenes, and an original theatrical trailer. So theres plenty to keep the fans happy.

Although this film is of course about blondes and their intelligence, the thing that stuck me was that there was somthing much deeper. A passion for being successful and not letting anyone stand in the way, as one of the proffessors in the film said "If you're going to let one stupid prick ruin your life... you're not the girl I thought you were". Now theres a metaphore for life.

Overall, 'Legally Blonde' really is a brilliant light hearted comedy that should not be analysised socially, legally, or sexually, but just accepted for what it is, an enjoyable movie that proves one thing; that blondes are not as dumb as people think!

Reese Witherspoon is excellent, almost an antithesis of her character in Election, but playing the ditzy blonde par excellence, lending to her role so much heart that you really are won over by her despite the West Coast affectations that have marred so many teen comedies to date. This is NOT just another teen comedy. LB is a film that can be appreciated by anyone. It has little in the way of slapstick gags that made American Pie so accessible to younger teens and actually has a very clever (if formulaic) story with hundreds of little sub plots coming and going throughout. The relationship with her ex boyfriend's new fiancee is spot on, especially the way Elle endears herself to her by the end. The filibustering in the case she finally gets to defend is also inspired to a degree.

Yes, it is predictable and unbelievable but it does not pretend to be anything but an enjoyable hour and a half romp. All of the cast do superb jobs, the jokes are spot on (especially the catiness that exists between Elle and Veronica) and it actually makes you feel good, something that many, so-called, feel-good films do not. I will be buying it and watching it for a long time to come.

At last, amid all these many dire teen comedies comes a comedy that beats all the American Pies and Road Trips and Scary Movies that Hollywood can throw at us, hands down.