Hey folks, Harry here... I had to coax this review out of ol Liz here... I really wanted the femme perspective on this film, because I'm well aware of how the male filmgoer tends to react to Reese Witherspoon. Usually they spend at least a paragraph hating Ryan Phillipe... another paragraph lusting after Reese Witherspoon, then another paragraph railing on Phillipe again... and by that point they've totally forgotten the film. WELL, enough of that... I want a non-glandular response to the film. Someone that could just see the movie for being a movie and not wet dream material. And Liz was perfect for the mission. Reese is actually on an amazing run for me. Going from smart comedy to satire to drama... She's really quite something, and I was really curious to hear how her turn as Malibu Barbie would turn out... sounds great....
Ha! Very funny. Okey-dokey then... well I wasn't expecting too much going in. I remeber hearing something about this movie somewhere, but can't remember. I think I'll give overall impressions with some favorite scenes instead of summarizing the whole movie, since I find those type of reviews boring.
Well, the actors overall were great in this movie. I really thought Reese did a great job playing Elle, a not-so-dumb blonde. I also loved Jennifer Coolidge who plays a nail salon worker who is befriended by Elle. Selma Blair is also a great preppy girl you love to hate.
The movie has a bit of a "Clueless" vibe to it, but Elle isn't as over the top "California girl" as Alicia Silverstone's Cher. I really liked that even though she would be considered pretty and popular, she didn't treat other people like trash.
There are some really funny scenes in the movie, especically involving the pool boy, and the UPS driver who delivers packages to the nail salon. I hate to give the good jokes away.
I know it sounds hokey, but for what is ultimately a comedy, the movie has a good message: don't prejudge people based on what you think they are. There were a couple of small surprises in the movie that addressed this issue, all involving characters doing something unexpected. (Slight spoilers follow) The big lawyer/professor ends up being a sexist slimeball, another hard assed professor ends up sticking up for Elle, Vivian ends up being a pretty good person.
Warner stays an asshole and ends up with nothing. Yeah! Anyway, like I said before I don't like giving too much away.
I would highly recommend this movie. Smart jokes and happy ending.
Well, this has been a testoterone free review. Hope you liked it. You can call me Liz Jumb.
