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| Movie Poster |
With this review, I slowly continue to crawl out my way from under the pile of rocks I apparently have been living in. I have been aware of the existence of this movie for years but never paid attention to it because...it looked too much of a Rom-Com for my taste. Well, I finally was forced to sit down and watch it and I have to admit, I enjoyed the movie. If you read my review for The Bromance Book Club already, you will notice this seems to be a common theme in my reviews, and I have to admit that the reading and watching of these Blockbuster books and movies have become a personal learning experience for me. But for now, let's just focus on the Legally Blonde review.
This movie is simply an underdog story, and who doesn't like a good tale of someone who fights against the odds to come out on top? But Legally Blonde takes a different approach to this common Hollywood cliché. Instead of having the main character fighting to overcome society's prejudice toward class welfare, race, or physique, this movie deals front and center with the theme of women having to deal with extra barriers because they are not considered as smart or capable as men. The movie, which is based on the book by the same name by Amanda Brown, takes on this chauvinistic preconception by selecting the most targeted victim of all "dumb people's" jokes, a blond teenager.
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| Prof. Callahan shows his true intentions |
The fact that our main character, Elle Woods, is represented as rich, young, and beautiful is critical since the movie wants us to focus on one main thing, Elle's wit and her desire to show the world she has what it takes to become a Harvard Graduate. Now, her ambition to become a lawyer starts as a way to show her idiot boyfriend, Warner, that she can also be the Future Senator Trophy Wife material, but eventually, Elle realizes that her boyfriend is just an idiot. Unfortunately for Elle, Warner is not even close to the greatest chauvinist she will have to face, that honor comes to the wolf in sheep's clothing in the movie, Professor Callahan.
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| Elle watching the football game |
Comedies like Legally Blonde, which I would compare to the movie Clueless in multiple ways, usually have good reception with young audiences. But when combined with a good underdog story, a vibrant and rising up cast, and a relatable plot (How many people went through the stress of being accepted by the college of their choosing? Even then, wondering if they are good enough to stay? etc), this movie had a good recipe for mass appeal. I wonder if the fact that the source material was based on the author's real-life story also contributed to its success, I imagine it did.
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| The Trial |
The one thing I learned about this work is to not be afraid of working on a topic or theme that is considered a cliché. Almost every these in this movie has already been done multiple times before, but the author and director gave each of these themes their own spice and turns and therefore making them entertaining and putting them in a whole new light. All of them except for one cliché, Professor Callahan being an opportunist pig. Although it is a real issue in our society and one that we constantly still see in the news, I feel at one point in the movie it started to become predictable that Callahan would do something to undermine Elle as a rising star. I think they could have tried other angles that didn't have to involve sexual harassment, and I'm not saying that doesn't happen today, I'm actually saying it happens too much but other issues could have been tackled as easily. Professional jealousy for instance, where Callahan could have noticed that Elle was taking away the spotlight from him and he wasn't going to allow that. And believe me, this is way more common in Corporate America these days.
As per the marketability of the movie, it came out on the wave of a book that was successful at the time. The prevailing themes are critical to every generation, the underdog story, am I good enough, will I prevail, will I make it to college, will I graduate college, etc. This certainly was a movie that the whole family could enjoy and that they did since it spun a successful sequel, fans are still clamoring for another sequel, and it has been a musical on Broadway for years.
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| Promotion for Legally Blonde, The Musical |
I really thought this movie was going to be a cliche like all of the Hallmark movies. I found myself asking why to a lot of Elle's choices, and the answer I came up with is the movie came out in 2001. I'm sure it still happens today, but deciding to follow a significant other to whatever college they decide to go to isn't a great idea, and it's strongly hinted at the only reason she got in was because of her looks since the scene with the committee deciding acceptance shows them all gaping at the video she sent. Now, she worked hard to get a good score on the LSAT, but it didn't sound like she'd be accepted had it not been for her looks. That today would probably cause outrage.
ReplyDeleteThat's kind of fun that you had not seen the movie before. It's always great to experience something for the first time. I had seen it many, many years back and I was thinking that the humor would not hold up - but found it to play just fine in the current day. Many of the underlying topics, like sexism in the work place and self-esteem remain topical today.
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ReplyDeleteI'll agree on that, this is definitely a 2000's movie. However, I think those corny, seemingly stupid bits of reasoning used to propel the plot forward are just something a lot of movies from this period had. It's just like watching something from a previous decade. There are just somethings that were the trend of the time. While they are unnecessary and uncalled for now, I think we can still appreciate the movie even if it's logic was a relic of its time.
ReplyDelete(Sorry the deleted comment was this one but just under the wrong account.)
I didn't recognize the plot's feminist theme. Yet, these points are excellent. Elle encounters and overcomes obstacles in the workplace with a positive attitude and an open mind.
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