Legally Blonde (2001)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Robert Luketic

Writers (WGA):

Amanda Brown (novel)
Karen McCullah Lutz (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 July 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

This summer go blonde!

Plot:

When a blonde sorority queen is dumped by her boyfriend, she decides to follow him to law school to get him back and, once there, learns she has more legal savvy than she ever imagined.

Plot Keywords:

Blonde | Law | Harvard | Law School | Sorority

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 6 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Reese Witherspoon	...	Elle Woods
Luke Wilson	...	Emmett
Selma Blair	...	Vivian
Matthew Davis	...	Warner
Victor Garber	...	Professor Callahan
Jennifer Coolidge	...	Paulette
Holland Taylor	...	Professor Stromwell
Ali Larter	...	Brooke Taylor Windham
Jessica Cauffiel	...	Margot
Alanna Ubach	...	Serena
Oz Perkins	...	Dorky David
Linda Cardellini	...	Chutney
Bruce Thomas	...	UPS Guy
Meredith Scott Lynn	...	Enid
Raquel Welch	...	Mrs. Windham Vandermark
Samantha Lemole	...	Claire
Kelly Nyks	...	Arrogant Aaron
Ted Kairys	...	Gerard
Michael B. Silver	...	Bobby
Kimberly McCullough	...	Amy
Shannon O'Hurley	...	DA Joyce Rafferty
Greg Serano	...	Enrique
Francesca Roberts	...	Marina R. Bickford (as Francesca P. Roberts)
Lisa Arch	...	Boutique Saleswoman (as Lisa Kushell)
Natalie Barish	...	Old Lady at Manicurist
Cici Lau	...	LA Nail Technician
Allyce Beasley	...	CULA Advisor
Kevin Cooney	...	Head of Admissions
Ted Rooney	...	Admissions Guy
David Moreland	...	Admissions Guy
Wayne Federman	...	Admissions Guy
James Read	...	Elle's Father
Tane McClure	...	Elle's Mother
Niklaus Lange	...	Annoyed 2L
Doug Spinuzza	...	Intense Ivan Berliner
Lisa K. Wyatt	...	Jail House Guard
Jason Christopher	...	Chuck
Corinne Reilly	...	Reporter
Victoria Mahoney	...	Reporter
Lacey Beeman	...	Nervous 1L Girl
Melissa Anne Young	...	Blonde Cheerleader (as Melissa Young)
Brody Hutzler	...	Grant
Chaney Kley	...	Brandon
John Cantwell	...	Maurice
Ondrea De Vincentis	...	Callahan's Assistant
Terence Michael	...	Desk Clerk (as Terrence Michael)
Nectar Rose	...	Freshman Girl
Jodi Harris	...	Another Sister
Patricia Kimes	...	Blonde Biker
Sasha Barrese	...	Another Girl
Kelly Driscoll	...	Blonde Card Carrier
Elizabeth Matthews	...	Sorority Girl
Kennedy Stone	...	Sorority Girl
Moonie	...	Bruiser
Lily	...	Rufus
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gary Ambrosia	...	Angry Harvard Student (uncredited)
Joan M. Blair	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Ali Chen	...	Manicurist (uncredited)
Gary Castro Churchwell	...	Harvard Law Student (uncredited)
Curt Clendenin	...	College Classmate (uncredited)
Michael Cline	...	Court reporter (uncredited)
Joe Dolan	...	Courtroom Attendee (uncredited)
Mark Heidelberger	...	Harvard Law Student (uncredited)
Richard Hillman	...	College Student (uncredited)
Seth Adam Jones	...	Rowdy Student (uncredited)
John Kapelos	...	Dewey Newcombe (uncredited)
Beverly Polcyn	...	Old Dancer at Beauty Salon (uncredited)
Scott Ryan Whinery	...	Bespectacled Boy (uncredited)
Dylan White	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Jenna Z. Wilson	...	Prisoner (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Luketic

Writing credits (WGA)
Amanda Brown		(novel)
Karen McCullah Lutz		(screenplay) &
Kirsten Smith		(screenplay)

Produced by
Ric Kidney	....	producer
Christian McLaughlin	....	co-producer
David Nicksay	....	co-producer
Marc E. Platt	....	producer (as Marc Platt)

Original Music by
Rolfe Kent

Cinematography by
Anthony B. Richmond		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Anita Brandt-Burgoyne		(as Anita Brandt Burgoyne)
Garth Craven

Casting by
Joseph Middleton

Production Design by
Missy Stewart		(as Melissa Stewart)

Art Direction by
Daniel Bradford

Set Decoration by
Kathy Lucas

Costume Design by
Sophie Carbonell		(as Sophie de Rakoff Carbonell)

Makeup Department
Linda Arnold	....	hair stylist
Jenny-King Turko	....	makeup artist
Brad Wilder	....	key makeup artist
Joy Zapata	....	key hair stylist
Denise Paulson	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Roddy Stayton	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Ric Kidney	....	unit production manager (as Richard J. Kidney)
Shelly Kidney	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marcei A. Brown	....	second assistant director (as Marcei Brubaker)
Marisa Ferrey	....	second second assistant director
Josh King	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Paul Ashmore	....	stand-by painter
Ron Ashmore	....	paint foreman
Adam Austin	....	on-set dresser
Douglas Berkeley	....	set designer
Steve Borgese	....	greens person
Jon J. Bush	....	lead man (as Jon Bush)
Laura J. DeRosa	....	art department coordinator
Douglas Fox	....	property master
Lance Gunnin	....	construction foreman
Steve A. Hagberg	....	construction coordinator (as Steve Hagberg)
China Iwata	....	assistant property master
Patricia Owen	....	assistant art director (as Patty Owen)
Michael P. Sweeney	....	assistant property master (as Mike Sweeney)
Eric Bryant	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Chris Peterson	....	set dresser (uncredited)
David Scott	....	graphic artist (uncredited)
Richard Blake Wester	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Joe Barnett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Javier Bennassar	....	sound effects editor
Jed M. Dodge	....	adr supervisor
Matt Dubin	....	digital transfer engineer
Marc Fishman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
David Grant	....	dialogue editor
Michael Hertlein	....	dialogue editor
Chato Hill	....	assistant sound editor
Frederick Howard	....	sound designer
Frederick Howard	....	sound supervisor
Craig Jurkiewicz	....	foley editor
Michael Kamper	....	sound effects editor
Kevin Maloney	....	boom operator
Diane Marshall	....	foley artist (as S. Diane Marshall)
Michael Mullane	....	sound effects editor
Vince Perry	....	digital transfer engineer
Christopher Sposa	....	cable person (as Chris Sposa)
Alec St. John	....	assistant sound editor
Lucy Sustar	....	foley mixer
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist
Daniel W. Victor Jr.	....	DTS consultant (as Dan Victor)
Ed White	....	production sound mixer
Robert Getty	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Robert Jackson	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Carrie Lisonbee	....	dialogue assistant (uncredited)
Benjamin Pedersen	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Nigel Stone	....	adr supervisor: UK (uncredited)
Johanna Turner	....	transfer engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David P. Kelsey	....	special effects coordinator (as Dave Kelsey)

Visual Effects by
Lloyd Lee Barnett	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Scott Dougherty	....	digital effects producer: Cinesite (uncredited)
Christopher Grandel	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Vincent Lavares	....	digital asset manager (uncredited)
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Josh Novak	....	lead compositor: main title sequence (uncredited)
Alfredo Ramirez	....	titles compositor: Picture Mill (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Stuart Abramson	....	key grip
Tyger Belton	....	second assistant camera
Tracy Bennett	....	still photographer
Kenny Carceller	....	rigging company grip
James M. Cox	....	rigging chief lighting technician (as Jimmy Cox)
Jeffrey Ferraro	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Jeff Ferrero)
Doug Keegan	....	rigging assistant lighting technician
Josh Levy	....	video assist operator
Arnaud Peiny	....	rigging key grip
George Richmond	....	camera operator
Jonathan 'Chunky' Richmond	....	first assistant camera (as Jonathan Richmond)
Chris Scurria	....	dolly grip
Gary Tandrow	....	chief lighting technician
Paul Tilden	....	camera loader
Ron Tondreau	....	second company grip
Chris Cuevas	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Bob Gorelick	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Brian Heller	....	aerial cinematographer (uncredited)
Giles Keyte	....	still photographer: UK (uncredited)
Jordan Lapsansky	....	electrician (uncredited)
George Lozano Jr.	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Gregory W. Smith	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Gregory W. Smith	....	camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited)
Steven J. Winslow	....	camera technician: Wescam camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Dena Berman	....	casting assistant
Michelle Morris	....	casting associate (as Michelle Morris-Gertz)
Mariann H.W. Lee	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kim Carleton	....	costumer
Kim Johnson	....	costumer
Mary C. Lane	....	key costumer (as Mary Lane)

Editorial Department
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer (as Denny McNeill)
Shawn Petersen	....	post-production assistant
Alex Renskoff	....	first assistant film editor
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Valance Eisleben	....	high definition editorial services (uncredited)
Tim Vincent	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
Tony Blondal	....	orchestrator
Anita Camarata	....	music supervisor
Debbi Datz-Pyle	....	orchestra contractor
Brian Dixon	....	music recordist
Ron Fair	....	executive soundtrack producer
Dennis S. Sands	....	scoring mixer (as Dennis Sands)
Nick South	....	music editor
William T. Stromberg	....	conductor (as William Stromberg)
Paul Wertheimer	....	music recordist
Brent Brooks	....	music editor: temp music (uncredited)
Mark Eshelman	....	scoring crew (uncredited)
Jason Lloyd	....	scoring crew (uncredited)
Eric Stonerook	....	music preparation (uncredited)
Pat Weber	....	scoring technician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Daniel Canamar	....	transportation office coordinator (as Dan Canamar)
David Menapace	....	transportation captain (as Dave Menapace)
Michael Menapace	....	transportation coordinator (as Mike Menapace)
Lin C. Smith	....	driver
Mark Brown	....	driver: production van (uncredited)
Pete Newman	....	unit driver (uncredited)
Chad Wingerd	....	transportation assistant (uncredited)

Other crew
Toni Basil	....	choreographer
Eric Bryant	....	production assistant
Kevin A. Canamar	....	first aid
Sue Chipperton	....	animal trainer
Chris Corey	....	production assistant (as Cris Corey)
Valerie Espinoza	....	clearance coordinator
Tiffany Fraser	....	assistant accountant (as Tiffany Reinhard)
Rachael Lin Gallaghan	....	assistant production coordinator
Ellen Gessert	....	location manager
Nicole Gordon	....	assistant: Ms. Witherspoon
Noelle Green	....	production coordinator (as Noelle Chapin-Green)
Erin Hilkey	....	assistant location manager (as Erin Wilhelm-Hilkey)
Roger Jones	....	production secretary
Laurie Levenson	....	technical advisor: legal (as Professor Laurie Levenson)
Gary Levy	....	payroll accountant
Joey Levy	....	assistant: Mr. Platt
Asha MacLeod	....	production assistant
Lisa Mantoux	....	key set production assistant
Fiona McIntyre	....	assistant: Mr. Luketic
Scott M. Murray	....	assistant: Mr. Luketic
Michael Pendell	....	assistant: Mr. Platt
Ronit Ravich-Boss	....	script supervisor
Marci Rosenberg	....	production coordinator
Rip Russell	....	assistant accountant
Will Sandoval	....	production assistant
Ned R. Shapiro	....	additional location manager (as Ned Shapiro)
Sheilah Sullivan	....	accountant
Indira Tyler	....	assistant choreographer
Eric Winn	....	craft service
Christopher Wolfe	....	production assistant
Deborah Wuliger	....	unit publicist
Julie Adams	....	dialect coach: Selma Blair (uncredited)
Ruth Breslaw	....	production coordinator: UK (uncredited)
Doris Donnenberg	....	production coordinator: additional photography (uncredited)
Curtis Failor	....	additional lamp operator (uncredited)
Marc W. Havener	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Kyle Hutchison	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lisa Michele McTigue	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Peavey	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Stephanie Siemiller	....	photo double (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Marc Platt Productions

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM) (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Italia (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2001) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2001) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Gemini Kinomir (2001) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E. (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Netherlands Fox Film Corporation (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2002) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• Fox Network (2004) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2005) (Finland) (TV)
• Net5 (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• SubTV (2004) (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (rental)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)

Special Effects

• Howard Anderson Company, The (visual effects)
• Logical Figaments (visual effects)

Other Companies

• A&M Records  soundtrack published by
• Archion  digital storage
• Bottega Veneta  select wardrobe
• C.A.S.T. Security  security
• Casting Collective  extras casting (uncredited)
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Christina Perrin  select wardrobe
• Clairmont Camera  camera equipment provided by
• Digital Sound and Picture  sound post-production
• Digital Sound and Picture  sound re-recording
• Eagle Eye Digital Film  Avid editing facilities
• Eric Stonerook Music  music preparation
• Gala Catering  catering
• Harry Winston Inc.  select jewelry
• Howard Anderson Company, The  opticals
• Laser Pacific Media  high definition laboratory
• Moschino  select wardrobe
• NT Audio Visual  optical sound negative
• Panasonic  hi-definition projections
• Picture Mill, The  title design
• Q./VIS Inc.  hi-defiinition playback
• Signet Sound Studio  music score mixed at
• Sony Scoring Stage  music recorded at
• Studio Animal Services  animals
• TM Equipment Rentals  lighting equipment
• Video Applications  hi-definition projection systems
• Vivienne Tam  select wardrobe

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and sexual references.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | USA:PG-13 (certificate #37637) | Finland:K-3 | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:o.Al. (bw) | Netherlands:AL | Norway:A | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12

Filming Locations:

All Saint's Episcopal Church - 132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

To prepare for her role as Elle, Reese Witherspoon spent two weeks studying the behavior of sorority girls, as she did not wish to portray a stereotypical airhead sorority image. She states on the DVD commentary that they were all very kind and polite, and she enjoyed her time with them. She also observed women shopping from the café at Neiman Marcus, and attended law school for a day.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the group leaves after meeting Brooke for the first time, Elle's hair repeatedly switches from being down by the side of her face, to being behind her ear between shots.

Quotes:

Elle: I just don't think that Brooke could've done this. Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Legally Blonde: The Musical (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

You Sexy Thing

Avoids the Stereotypical and Worn Roots of Previous Girl-Power Comedies...

I didn't go into "Legally Blonde" expecting too much. I rarely go to actual movie theaters to see a film (I usually rent videos/DVDs), but I got an advance on this one, and I was kind of sad it had to be this film I was going to see, but I had been invited along with two other people to see it and I wasn't going to say "no" for no reason. So I went.

One of the persons I went with just wanted to see Reese Witherspoon in a Playboy bunny costume, so I figured I was in for another average run-'o-the-mill sex comedy. But I was very surprised with the outcome.

So many girl-power comedies these days are made just for the sake of trying to prove a point that women are equals to men (I suppose that's the message behind it--what else was "Now and Then" made for?) and/or support for women. Fortunately, the 2001 hit "Legally Blonde" is not only a pleasant surprise, but an intelligent film, as well. (Sorry, that was my main "gripper" for this review and I had to leave it in.)

Reese Witherspoon plays California sorority girl Elle Woods. Unlike other people her age that are worrying about grades in school, Elle only worries about what toilet paper is the softest. But after her boyfriend dumps her and goes off to Harvard Law School, Elle is determined to go to Harvard and get her man back. So after putting together a very shallow video for the chairmen of Harvard, they accept her into the prestige college (because of her innocent sexuality, no doubt, as we see them gaping at Elle in a bathing suit on the video), and she packs her bags and heads off to Harvard with her little dog Bruiser; as the ads say, "Boldly Going Where No Blonde Has Gone."

"Legally Blonde" doesn't give up on the plot and completely divulge into dumb blonde/sex jokes. This film not only has a funny--if ridiculous--plot, but the jokes are, surprisingly, NOT crude sexual jokes. This film is not another "Scary Movie" made for teens: It has divinely orchestrated comic timing.

Sometimes the plot gets a bit too heavy--the whole teacher-hitting-on-Elle thing is a bit stereotypical for a film like this--but in the long run it seems to break away from the typical girl-power comedy.

Reese Witherspoon tends to play the same characters a lot, but hey, if she can pull them off, good for her. I don't mind if all her characters tend to be the same (to a certain extent) because they tend to be quite funny and cute--who can't laugh at her Elle Woods persona?

The film has a very nice co-star cast: Victor Garber ("Titanic," "Sleepless in Seattle"), Luke Wilson ("Blue Streak," "Charlie's Angels"), and Selma Blair ("The Sweetest Thing," A Guy Thing"--pretty much anyTHING).

In the end, not only does "Legally Blonde" come off very funny, but also very witty, good-natured and sweet: One of the most pleasant surprises of 2001, indeed.

4/5 stars -

John Ulmer