LEGALLY BLONDE

reviewed by: ReelReviewz@aol.com

MOVIE BIASES: We love Reese, trailers look cute, but will this be too cute for its own good?
MAJOR PLAYERS: Reese Witherspoon (Election), Luke Wilson (Charlie's Angels), and Victor Garber (Titanic).

The trailers for the Reese Witherspoon vehicle "Legally Blonde" look like a cutesy movie that may only have one joke/leg to stand on. But thanks to a clever script and the levels of depth Witherspoon gives her surface airhead with a heart of gold, the joke's on us - "Legally Blonde" is criminally funny.

Elle Woods (Witherspoon) just might be the blondest girl in America. Homecoming queen, president of her sorority, rich Ken doll boyfriend Warner (Matthew Davis), she seems to have it all going into the summer after her senior year at college. But when Warner dumps her for a "serious" career at Harvard Law School, Elle decides that in order to win him back, she's gotta make it into Harvard Law, too. Armed with a degree in fashion merchandising, a 4.0, off the charts LSATs, and an innovative entrance essay-video, Elle bogards into Harvard Law's severe learning environment in pursuit of Warner, but ends up finding herself.

This movie is cute (in a good way) on so many levels, we've got to start at the top - Reese Witherspoon. With her uber-perky turn as the bouncy-headed, pink and fur wearing sorority fashionista, Reese has achieved REEL DEAL Crush status. Her Mary Hart-like perkiness radiates in every scene, making this movie decidedly hers. Not only is she easy on the eyes, but Witherspoon's ultimate dedication to the sweet-hearted, bubbleheaded worldview of Elle's without forgetting to layer her with integrity, honesty, and compassion is remarkable. Witherspoon's talent makes Elle's hysterical use of legal reasoning to support her pink and furry world (and vice versa) that much more comical. The supporting cast is fine. Although Selma Blair's Vivian, Warner's Harvard Law sweetheart, is a little obvious at first, she eventually settles down. Jennifer Coolidge (finally!) does a 180 on her whory vamp typecasting by playing a mousy, fumbling, shy beautician that acts as part Elle's social project and part Elle's Beantown girlfriend.

With a script by Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten Smith (10 Things I Hate About You), "Legally Blonde" benefits from energetic direction from newcomer Robert Luketic. Actually, the relationship is mutually beneficial as the script is extremely clever in its simplicity, finding fresh and inventive new ways to take that one joke premise and stretch it even more humorously. While the premise seems a little too cutesy and sweet, this movie keeps it from slipping into deep saccharine by weaving in themes of self-awareness, self-confidence, and sexual harassment along the way. The courtroom scenes are riotous and many jokes in this movie are not just obvious, but also sharp.

@@@ REELS (THREE REELS)
It's pretty hot - go give it a shot.
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BIASES: mid 20s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare
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