Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Review

by David N. Butterworth (dnb AT dca DOT net)
August 15th, 2003
LEGALLY BLONDE 2: RED, WHITE & BLONDE
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2003 David N. Butterworth

** (out of ****)

    Less imaginative or engaging than its predecessor (2001's "Legally Blonde"),
"Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde" is worth seeing *only* for Reese Witherspoon's
infectious performance as peppy blonde attorney Elle Woods. Along with Witherspoon
and some of the original cast (among them Luke Wilson as her Red Sox loving fiancé) is Elle's pint-sized Chihuahua Bruiser and it's just as well, since the "plot" of "LB2" focuses on Elle's attempts to lobby for a ban on animal testing when she discovers that Bruiser's Mom is undergoing cosmetic makeovers at a company known as V.E.R.S.A.C.E. (note the periods; Elle doesn't). Harvard
educated Elle teeters on down to Washington, DC and into the employ of congresswoman
Victoria Rudd (Sally Field) where she battles congress--as well as
unsupportive
aides--in a bid to have "Bruiser's Bill" signed into law. It's all rather silly
and incredibly lightweight, with Elle's pink (and scented!) personality giving the film more appeal than it truly deserves. In retrospect I wonder how the filmmakers could possibly have dragged this flat and wafer thin idea for a movie
out for 95 minutes (but they do, "highlighted" by the tastelessly handled revelation
that Bruiser is, in fact, gay). Witherspoon nevertheless sparkles and if the film is successful you wonder what writer Kate Kondell will stretch to next time out--Elle spills hot McDonald's coffee in her lap, perhaps, or climbs atop
her refrigerator looking for Bruiser, suing the fridge's manufacturer when she slips and falls? "Good one, Senator!" This one's best waiting for the DVD when you can skip the recycled fodder and focus on the scenes in which Witherspoon
represents a bitch (so to speak). Featuring Jennifer Coolidge, Dana Ivey, and a "where are they now?" performance by Bob Newhart as Sid the hotel doorman who guides Elle up and down the Capitol steps. Like a dumb blonde "LB2" is cute, but empty headed.

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David N. Butterworth
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