Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

Director:

Andy Tennant

Writers (WGA):

Douglas J. Eboch (story)
C. Jay Cox (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 September 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Sometimes What You're Looking For Is Right Where You Left It.

Plot:

A young woman with a white trash background runs away from her husband in Alabama and reinvents herself as a New York socialite.

Plot Keywords:

Husband | Divorce | New York City | Alabama | Fashion Designer

Awards:

3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Reese Witherspoon	...	Melanie Smooter
Josh Lucas	...	Jake Perry
Patrick Dempsey	...	Andrew Hennings
Candice Bergen	...	Mayor Kate Hennings
Mary Kay Place	...	Pearl Smooter
Fred Ward	...	Earl Smooter
Jean Smart	...	Stella Kay Perry
Ethan Embry	...	Bobby Ray
Melanie Lynskey	...	Lurlynn
Courtney Gains	...	Sheriff Wade
Mary Lynn Rajskub	...	Dorothea
Rhona Mitra	...	Tabatha Wadmore-Smith
Nathan Lee Graham	...	Frederick Montana
Sean Bridgers	...	Eldon
Fleet Cooper	...	Clinton

Also Known As:

Melanie's Getting Married (USA) (original script title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some language/sexual references.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:IIA | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

D&D Films

Trivia:

Producer Stokely Chaffin was the one who developed the movie's concept and brought it to screenwriter C. Jay Cox to write. Chaffin, now the Senior Vice President of Productions at New Line Cinema, was raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and like Reese Witherspoon's character, she changed her name after she left the South (during her childhood, her friends and family called her by her first name, Caroline; Stokley is her middle name). Chaffin insisted that Cox visit Alabama before writing the screenplay.

Goofs:

Continuity: The length of the dark roots in Melanie's blonde hair changes frequently, and sometimes they completely disappear.

Quotes:

Wade: The law is the law and she has done nothing wrong.
Jake: I supposed shoplifting steaks from Winn Dixie's okay?
Melanie Carmichael: Oh, Oh! I took 'em back and you know it!
Jake: What about that incident of vandalism in the stockyard... totally her!
Melanie Carmichael: Like I could tip a cow... by myself!
Jake: Wade, isn't there some outstanding for whoever drove your mama's tractor into the fishing pond?
Melanie Carmichael: [horrified realizing what he meant] OH!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Will & Grace: Strangers with Candice (#6.9)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Hella Good

Glad I listened to my instinct, not the critics. A fine and funny movie!

Ever hear of the story of crying "wolf?" Most of the extra forceful reviews of "Sweet Home Alabama" are the professional and amateur reviewers that try to tell us, "stay away, this is a waste of your time, do not see it." Bull-dinkey! They are just crying "wolf" for some unknown reason. This is a fine, funny movie that relies more on an ensemble cast than just on Reese Witherspoon. The writing is smart and funny, the directing fits the comedic mood of the story, and the acting is just right. Although it is a quite different film from "Legally Blonde" and "Election", I enjoyed it just as much, and will enjoy it upon repeat viewings.

no SPOILERS here...

Critic Ebert has a good summary of the story so I won't repeat any of it here. For those who may see the film and wonder how much the small town life is exaggerated, let me tell you "not much!" I grew up in a very small southern town, and I go back on occasions for high school reunions. What is depicted in this film is pretty darned close to reality, with some license taken for making the story a bit more interesting. Pay special attention to the story with the cat, and its burned tail, and watch closely at the end. :-)

The DVD is fine but the picture is not "reference" quality. The sound is Dolby 5.1 but surround channels are not very dynamic. The "extras" has several deleted scenes, and also includes the original ending that was scrapped after comments from test screenings. They had to re-shoot and I think the eventual ending is very appropriate. The first and last scenes complement each other very well.

"Sweet Home Alabama" - a fine movie for those who enjoy a good comedy, and especially those who like Reese Witherspoon.