Preamble
Girls, I heartily apologize. I meant to post this Friday evening after viewing the movie but I was just too tired.
For Those Who Want To Know - But Not KNOW
I have to tell you, that when I jumped on today and read the other reviews for this movie, I was shocked at how negative they were. While this is definitely not one of Reese's best movies, I've seen much worse - and not just with Reese. My bottom line - just in case you really want to see this movie, but you don't want any spoilers, is that this is a decent movie worth visiting during a matinee and definitely, rent it on video when it comes out. You may need a hanky for one scene and in the end, it will leave you smiling. Word of caution: don't take your husband. Paybacks are hell. :)
The Story
Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) is a girl on the move. She relocated to New York seven years earlier to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer. With a successful, high-profile show under her belt, she finds that her life is just one shade below perfect. It's not until her boyfriend of eight months, Andrew (Patrick Dempsey) proposes that she has every thing she has always wanted.
There's just one small, itsy-bitsy problem. Right after high school, she married her childhood sweetheart Jake (Josh Lucas). Thus far, he has refused to grant her a divorce. Bound and determined to get on with her perfect destiny, Melanie goes home to Alabama to get Jake to sign those divorce papers.
Going home isn't easy for Melanie. She has to remember which secrets apply to which environment. With New York people, she has to remember that she made up this childhood that never existed. God forbid that Andrew's mom, the Mayor of New York (Candice Bergen) finds out who she really is. And hopefully, her childhood friends - like Bobby Ray (Ethan Embry) and family - mom and dad (Mary Kay Place, Fred Ward) and mother in law (Jean Smart), won't ask too many questions about how she has represented herself to people in New York.
Does Melanie get to marry her New York man? Well, that's something you'll find out if you see the movie silly.
Here's What I Thought
I blame the entire lack of great success of this movie on director Andy Tennant. Why? Because he had a decent number of postive elements going for him and instead of capitalizing on those positives, he went elsewhere. Seriously, I just don't know what the man was thinking. He had so many opportunities and he screwed them up.
Let's talk about what he had, k?
Good Thing #1 - A story that would appeal to a broad audience.
The premise of the movie, which isn't brain surgery, was interesting. Many of us have been there, done that. We've made leaps and strides in our lives, improving upon where our parents ended up. Some times, we think that bigger is better instead of understanding that smaller may be just as good. Most of the times, we associate success with the acquisition of things, not necessarily the relationships we build with people.
Good Thing #2 - Actors/Actresses that are pretty likable.
Who doesn't like Reese Witherspoon. She's beautiful, perky, and smart. I'm sorry, but I have yet to see her act horribly. Her character, which was very likable, did a great job of interfacing both with her two different lifestyles.
Casting little known actor, Josh Lucas was a risk however, it was difficult not to find him and his baby blues adorable. He was able to hold his own with the veterans - Mary Kay Place and Jean Smart.
Ethan Embry is like sugar lit on the fire. That guy has a lot of spunk and energy and no matter what movie he's in, he lights up the screen.
Patrick Dempsey was smart in his role as the Kennedy-esque lawyer, Andrew. It's hard to believe that this was the same geeky guy who was on Can't Buy Me Love.
Good Thing #3: The cinematography was gorgeous - set up for the romance factor.
Oceans, mountains, fields of green and gold...all gorgeous, all romantic.
So, what did the director screw up that made this a three star movie versus a five star movie?
First, he should have capitalized on the romance. Instead, his main goal seemed to be, Let's focus on Murphy Brown and then race through the scenes as fast as possible.
Pretending that he wanted to draw in us romantics, he could have used different tactics to help us better understand their connection.
The initial flashback to childhood at the beginning - to help us understand the bond of Jake and Melanie - was great. I really wish we had seen more flashes of the past interwoven with what was going on in the story because I felt like not the entire history (or enough of it) was given to the audience. Sure, I don't need to be spoon-fed a story, I just think that this addition would have added more spice to the chemistry of Jake and Melanie.
Second, he should have better utilized Jean Smart. She was in what - three or four scenes, maybe said a handful of lines, and that was it. When she did interact with any of the characters (especially Melanie), there was quite a sparkle about her. Part of me wishes that she would have been Melanie's mother because I think that there was more of a chemistry between Jean and Reese. It would have been nice to see more than just 1 or 2 scenes between mother and son.
Given the fact that Andy Tennant's past "successes" included The Amy Fisher Story and Fools Rush In, I guess I shouldn't be surprised at his lack of direction in this film.
Sigh. I know I'm a little harsh, but despite the director, this is a cute little film.
The End
Better than The Banger Sisters. Not as good as Legally Blonde. Somewhere in the middle. Definitely worth the price of a matinee or rental.
P.S. This is rated PG-13 for language and sexual references. Personally, I don't think that 10 year olds should be seeing this film but hey, maybe I'm just a prude :).
Melanie leaves her small, Alabama town for the glamour and fame of the New York fashion world. Successful in the business and in love, her boyfriend p...More at HotMovieSale.com
Reese Witherspoon stars in SWEET HOME ALABAMA a charming romantic comedy directed by Andy Tennant. Witherspoon is Melanie Carmichael a Southern girl w...More at Family Video
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