Legally Blonde (Film)

Luketic , Robert (Director). Legally Blonde.

Written by: Amanda Brown

Release date: 2001

MGM

Viewer’s Annotation:

When Warner dumps Elle, hinting that she’s too “blonde”, and then heads off to Harvard law school, Elle’s hot of his heels, determined to prove him wrong, and win him back.  But is Harvard ready for Elle Woods?

Cast:

Reese Witherspoon:  Elle Woods

Luke Wilson:  Emmett

Selma Blair:  Vivian

Matthew Davis:  Warner

Victor Garber:  Professor Callahan

Jennifer Coolidge:  Paulette

Storyline:

Elle Woods has just graduated from UCLA, she’s beautiful, is the president of her sorority, and has a boyfriend.  All she wants now is a diamond engagement ring.  But instead of popping the question, Warner breaks up with Elle because he doesn’t think she’s smart enough.  So Elle decides that when he heads off to Harvard law school, she’ll be there too.  Elle discovers that Warner is engaged—to a mean, yuppie law student.  The battle for Warner is on!  When the students get a chance to work on a real murder case, Elle finds out that she knows the defendant and is convince of her innocence.  As she works on the case, Elle grows closer to Emmett.  She finds that he admires her for more that her looks and he has confidence in her abilities.  As the film progresses, Elle works to see that justice is done without chipping a nail!  Those who judged her prematurely, both friends and foes, learn that appearances can be deceiving.

Critical Analysis:

What’s not to love about a girl getting into Harvard Law School in order to win back her boyfriend?  But for Elle Woods, fitting into Harvard is not so easy.  Warner seems more unattainable than ever with his new, prep-school fiancé, but Elle makes friends too, including the handsome young lawyer, Emmett, and Paulette, Elle’s manicurist.  When the opportunity comes for Elle a real case, everyone finds out that there’s a lot more to Elle than lip gloss and high heels.  The theme of not judging people on how they look is woven throughout the film, and the humor is cleverly done and brilliantly acted by Reese Witherspoon.

Genre

Comedy

Curriculum tie-ins

None

Rating

PG-13

Challenge Issues/Defense Ideas

Language

Sexual references

• Be ready with a copy of the library’s selection policy.
• Understand the history of challenges for this particular work.
• Be familiar with similar works in the collection.
• Refer to the film’s rating

Why I included this
Legally Blonde remains highly popular, has had a sequel made and has even been made into a Broadway musical.

Great Quote from the Movie:

Elle: “I just don't think that Brooke could've done this. Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't.”