by Cookie N Screen
Reese Witherspoon is a wonderful and Oscar winning actress. She has developed so much more from her young years where she may have done a "McConoughey" and stared in an abundance of pretty poor romantic comedies. Though doing those roles leaped her into our minds and she certainly garnered some acclaim for poignancy and astute acting in such films as Pleasantville (highly underrated). She earned her Academy Award by playing the real life singer June Carter and has since starred in films that have pushed her beyond excellence. Wild seems to be that career performance where we all sit back and go; “erm..wow.”
Reese Witherspoon is a wonderful and Oscar winning actress. She has developed so much more from her young years where she may have done a "McConoughey" and stared in an abundance of pretty poor romantic comedies. Though doing those roles leaped her into our minds and she certainly garnered some acclaim for poignancy and astute acting in such films as Pleasantville (highly underrated). She earned her Academy Award by playing the real life singer June Carter and has since starred in films that have pushed her beyond excellence. Wild seems to be that career performance where we all sit back and go; “erm..wow.”
However, we never really lost sight of how awesome Witherspoon was because she was Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. Or Legally Fucking Excellent as I like to call it. The story revolves around a lovely and bright lady (named Elle Woods, if you didn’t catch that) who is unfortunately dumped by her boyfriend Warner. When he leaves for Harvard and she spots the family pressure for him to marry a smart girl, Elle decides to follow him to the Law school to win him back. However, will the world of attorneys, court cases and text books prove too much for her?
If you want a film that portrays feminine characters in the way that they should. Legally Blonde is that movie. With the fun and frivolity all balanced against the cleverness, the film is filled with this genius lead character who is equal parts smart and bubbly – all at the same time. Elle Woods is an intellectual, smart and courageous character who may instigate her journey by trying to win back a man but learns important things about herself along the way. She also doesn’t start off being an idiot – able to recant difficult fashion knowledge as well as work her way into Harvard Law (not an easy feat, by the way) Elle eventually focuses her attention on being true to heart and mind. This is where the film develops, portraying a three-dimensional character who is clever, but also can enjoy certain aspects of womandom that people find vapid (which it isn’t). Along the way, she becomes friends with the girl she is supposedly pitted against, helps her friends along the way without abandoning them for the pursuit of a career and then completely turns on Warner because she no longer needs him to feel whole. Elle Woods is a vital character, especially with the lack of female centric films comparatively to men (I said comparatively!) She isn’t strong because she can beat people up, she is strong because she has different elements of her that demand to be heard . It probably helps that the screenwriters are woman - Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith.
If you want a film that portrays feminine characters in the way that they should. Legally Blonde is that movie. With the fun and frivolity all balanced against the cleverness, the film is filled with this genius lead character who is equal parts smart and bubbly – all at the same time. Elle Woods is an intellectual, smart and courageous character who may instigate her journey by trying to win back a man but learns important things about herself along the way. She also doesn’t start off being an idiot – able to recant difficult fashion knowledge as well as work her way into Harvard Law (not an easy feat, by the way) Elle eventually focuses her attention on being true to heart and mind. This is where the film develops, portraying a three-dimensional character who is clever, but also can enjoy certain aspects of womandom that people find vapid (which it isn’t). Along the way, she becomes friends with the girl she is supposedly pitted against, helps her friends along the way without abandoning them for the pursuit of a career and then completely turns on Warner because she no longer needs him to feel whole. Elle Woods is a vital character, especially with the lack of female centric films comparatively to men (I said comparatively!) She isn’t strong because she can beat people up, she is strong because she has different elements of her that demand to be heard . It probably helps that the screenwriters are woman - Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith.
Of course, the character of Elle Woods wouldn’t be complete without Witherspoon's endearing performance. She is light and bubbly whilst being fierce. She is insanely like-ably from the minute she appears on screen and commands your attention right until the end. Able to handle the funny parts and the more serious moments such as sexual harassment from one of her lecturers, Witherspoon is on point here. Selma Blair, Luke Wilson and her compardres do exceedingly well in their roles too – pulling the comedy along with comparative personalities that jell well together
I’d like to point out some highlights but frankly, every moment here is a riot (though the scene where they prove “the lover” is actually gay can be put on repeat and it’s still enjoyably....Oh, and Bend and Snap!) Transcending into stage, the spirit of the film (and indeed, the book it was based on) has lived on. Though you may have dismissed this 2001 film, I know I certainly did in my moody teenage years, Legally Blonde is a film written by women, about women and for, well, everyone!
I’d like to point out some highlights but frankly, every moment here is a riot (though the scene where they prove “the lover” is actually gay can be put on repeat and it’s still enjoyably....Oh, and Bend and Snap!) Transcending into stage, the spirit of the film (and indeed, the book it was based on) has lived on. Though you may have dismissed this 2001 film, I know I certainly did in my moody teenage years, Legally Blonde is a film written by women, about women and for, well, everyone!
What Do You Think?
What do you think of Legally Blonde?
Do you love Reese Witherspoon? Read her Essentials!
Or our review of her Oscar Nominated performance in Wild
Which is out today!
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