Legally Blonde (Blu-ray) (2001)

Editor's Note 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.

	Osgood Perkins
	Holland Taylor
	Ali Larter
	Raquel Welch
	Jennifer Coolidge
	Alanna Ubach
	Matt Davis
	Luke Wilson
	Victor Garber
	Selma Blair
	Reese Witherspoon
	Linda Cardellini
	Rolfe Kent - Composer
	Amanda Brown - Source Writer
	Richard Kidney - Producer
	Kirsten Smith - Screenwriter
	Anthony Richmond - Director of Photography
	Anita Brandt-Burgoyne - Editor
	Marc Platt - Producer
	Karen McCullah Lutz - Screenwriter
	Robert Luketic - Director

Variety
"...Beaming star wattage out of ever pore, not to mention her hair, Witherspoon once again proves herself a comedienne worthy of comparison to such golden era greats as Carole Lombard and Ginger Rogers..." 07/09/2001 p.19-28

New York Times
"...[Witherspoon is] a sharp, quick-witted Doris Day....Witherspoon has the reflexes to make Elle both appealing and ridiculous..." 07/13/2001 p.E23

USA Today
"...The film bubbles along like a whirlpool tub full of bath gel....Witherspoon is the main course, and she serves justice in delicious fashion..." 07/13/2001 p.6E

Entertainment Weekly
"...Reese Witherspoon reveals interesting dark roots even as she plays golden girls..." 07/20/2001 p.43

Rolling Stone
"...[Witherspoon] stays one sharp cookie..." 08/02/2001 p.70

Sight and Sound
"...Witherspoon projects an astute mix of genuine affability and game over-exaggeration..." 11/01/2001 p.49

Chicago Sun-Times
"...Witherspoon effortlessly animated this material with sunshine and quick wit..." 07/13/2001 p.33