Stars: Luke Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Victor Garber, Holland Taylor, Ali Larter, Alanna Ubach

Director: Robert Luketic

Summary: Blonde air-head, Elle is distraught to find out that her boyfriend, Warner, feels he has to dump her before going to Harvard University in order to fit in. She becomes so determined to win him back, she enrols at the same university and starts teaching the snobs a thing or two...

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 fiancee, 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.

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An extraordinary comic performance from Reese Witherspoon makes Legally Blondea winner. Witherspoon's Elle is a ditzy blonde forced by circumstances to metamorphose into a strong-minded and academic lawyer, without losing her strong sense of self in the process. After majoring in fashion sales, she applies to Harvard Law School to pursue the boy who jilted her, and discovers that she is smart as well as beautiful.

Much of this is standard fish-out-of-water fare, with drab "intellectuals" snubbing the colourful and well-meaning Elle. Yet feminists will be disconcerted to discover that, apparently, a life of manicures and accessorising will teach you as much about female solidarity as decades of consciousness-raising! Recruited to the defence team of a fitness guru, she takes the defendant's innocence for granted rather than feeling superior to her. Gradually, she and her ex's new fiancée build a fragile friendship that matters to both of them; Selma Blair is excellent as the snobbish vulnerable Vivienne. It might be a predictable self-help fairytale, but it's also well-observed, cute and funny.

On the DVD:the DVD is presented in 1.78:1 ratio with 5.1 Dolby digital sound as standard. The disc also comes with a wealth of features, including a documentary on the film's obsession with hairstyles--outlining the struggle to keep its heroine bleach blonde from day to day--and a bubbly commentary from Witherspoon and director Robert Luketic. There are also promos, a theatrical trailer and an optional trivia track. --Roz Kaveney

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Audio Commentary - 1. Robert Luketic - Director, 2. Trivia Track, Deleted Scenes, Featurette - 1. THE HAIR THAT ATE HOLLYWOOD, Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer, 2. Soundtrack Ad
Year:	2001
Release Date:	March 11, 2002
Runtime:	92 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	22473 D V D
Keywords:	Comedy, Blonde, General, Romantic, Legally
Genre:	Comedy