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Legally Blonde (2001)
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Reviews Counted:31
Fresh:19
Rotten:12
Average Rating:5.9/10
Consensus: Though the material is predictable and formulaic, Reese Witherspoon's funny, nuanced performance makes this movie better than it would have been otherwise.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for language and sexual references
Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Jul 13, 2001 Wide
Box Office: $95,001,351
Synopsis: In the sharply funny LEGALLY BLONDE, Reese Witherspoon gives a glittering performance as Elle Woods, the natural blonde sorority queen who enrolls at Harvard Law School. When she first appears,... In the sharply funny LEGALLY BLONDE, Reese Witherspoon gives a glittering performance as Elle Woods, the natural blonde sorority queen who enrolls at Harvard Law School. When she first appears, Elle seems to be no more than the bright cousin of CLUELESS's Alicia Silverstone. Expecting her boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Matthew Davis) to propose, she is mortified when instead he says he needs somebody serious as his wife. When Elle discovers Warner's brother is engaged to a law student, she decides to go to Harvard. She studies for the LSATs, submits a video essay--in which she appears in a sequined bikini--and, miraculously, is accepted. At first, Elle is rebuked by Professor Stromwell (Holland Taylor) and is the target of snide comments from other students. But, gradually, it becomes clear that Elle is no fish out of water--she is smarter, more driven, and more likely to survive in the rarefied Harvard atmosphere than anyone else. Witherspoon gets fine support from Selma Blair as Warner's new fiancée, Jennifer Coolidge as a beautician, Victor Garber as an unscrupulous professor, Ali Larter as a client from Elle's sorority, Holland Taylor, and Luke Wilson as a lawyer fascinated by Elle's unconventional approach. The smart, witty script is by Karen McCullah and Kirsten Smith. The first-time director is 28-year-old Australian Robert Luketic. [More]
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Matthew Davis, Selma Blair
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Matthew Davis, Selma Blair, Jennifer Coolidge, Ali Larter, Victor Garber, Holland Taylor, Alanna Ubach, Osgood Perkins, Linda Cardellini, Raquel Welch
Director: Robert Luketic
Director: Robert Luketic
Screenwriter: Karen McCullah Lutz, Kirsten Smith
Producer: Marc Platt, Richard Kidney
Composer: Rolfe Kent
Studio: MGM/UA
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Release:
Jan 13, 2009
Reviews for Legally Blonde
They've devised a potentially rich premise, only to play it safe, smoothing off every sharp edge and dumbing down any acerbic point.
As an actor of distinction who's all of 25, Reese Witherspoon reveals interesting dark roots even as she plays golden girls.
Starts heading nowhere after the first half-hour, and careers and flounders badly until it gets there.
Really nothing more than Clueless redux but without the edgy, knowing wit.
Blondes may or may not have more fun, but in this one case, they certainly provide more fun.
Witherspoon is so innately likable that the film goes along pleasantly enough.
A perfectly enjoyable film, as long as you let go of a few glaringly obvious contradictions.
Doesn't offer enough occasions for real spontaneous laughter to justify the cost of a full-price ticket.
This film can't figure out where to go with its concept and increasingly unravels as it marches along.
Witherspoon effortlessly animated this material with sunshine and quick wit.
If we begin by laughing at Elle, we end up rooting for her, even when the script seems to have stopped doing anything much for her.
Latest News for Legally Blonde
September 01, 2006:
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In this week's Ketchup, "Spider-Man" teases us with an upcoming trailer of the third installment, and we've got news of several more "Spidey" flicks on the way. More...
August 30, 2006:
Anna Faris is a Centerfold!
We've been waiting for funny-gal Anna Faris to get a lead role to suit her comedic skills for quite some time now -- and I'm not talking about the "Scary Movie"... More...
April 06, 2006:
New Director in "Dallas" Country
For a while there it really looked like Fox's Dallas adaptation was going to be directed by Legally Blonde filmmaker Robert Luketic, but the guy left the project thanks to... More...
March 22, 2006:
Luketic Sits Down to Play "21"
Popular director Robert Luketic seems to have lined up his next project, despite his attachment to the long-gestating "Dallas" adaptation. "21" is based on a... More...
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