Them choosing to end on her speech at graduation rather than the proposal is SO GOOD. It's about her personal growth and achievements. The relationship is just one bonus.
Warner is a real misogynistic jerk. He got waitlisted to get into Harvard Law and has the nerve to tell Elle that she's not smart enough to get an internship in the professor's law firm!
What's great about this movie is that Elle is a believable underdog, and people belittle her in realistic ways instead of just being dumb bullies. And Elle remains such a nice person though it all, this is how a strong independent woman is written. She stays herself. Also it's good that her professor is realistic too, until the scene where he hits on her, he does not seem like that kind of creep. If he did, it would have weakened Elle's character for not catching on. And Chutney is also the name of one of Santa's oldest elves who hates Santa and once stabbed him in the chest with a wood chisel.
I think the writing of the professor and the writing for Warner brings this from an A to a B for me. There was no reason for the professor to have hit on Elle except to say "men in power are gross". They could have had him fall ill or something that would have allowed Elle to take lead on the case. As far as Warner goes, instead of making him the generic bad guy give him something better. Just have him say he underestimated her and show her respect without making it about romance.
>And Chutney is also the name of one of Santa's oldest elves who hates Santa and once stabbed him in the chest with a wood chisel. LMAO I get this reference.
I'm 64 and a father of two girls and two boys. The girls and my then-wife were really excited to watch this movie and I was being my typical crotchety film-judgy self, sneering at the marketing material look of the movie and not giving it a chance, all the way through the opening sequence. I watched the movie with everyone at home (rented VHS) and absolutely loved it. Great comedy, great writing, great performances and I totally went with the feel-good vibe at the end. Really glad I gave it a chance and that everyone just ignored me for a while. This movie got a couple Golden Globe award nominations and won a whole slew of super-sweet new-millennium VHS-era awards. Deserved.
Please don't listen to the haters. Your personality is perfect for these reactions. I literally cheered out loud when I saw you were reacting to this. Thank you!!
@@ShanelleRiccio Natalie Barish 2001 Legally Blonde as Old Lady at Manicurist 1999 Inferno as Old Woman Buyer 1998 I'll Be Home for Christmas as Tom Tom Girl Darlene 1995 Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike as Marla 1992 Round Numbers as Grace I know I’ve seen her in commercials or somewhere!
A 179 on the LSAT is incredibly high. The max score is 180, and a 179 is practically impossible, especially considering Elle had really only been cramming for the exam for maybe a semester?
I’ve started to think that Elle was secretly a genius. She got a 179 but beyond that she had a 4.0 gpa at ucla while running a popular sorority and (I assume based on Elle’s character) participating in an impressive amount of extracurriculars and socializing. Then once she cracks open a book at Harvard she starts doing well despite being 2-3 classes in and knowing practically nothing about law before that.
When the Mrs. dragged me to this in the theater, I had every expectation that a dude dragged to a chick flick would have----but it was a great script despite the predictable trajectory, which need not torpedo a film. The crisp, snappy dialogue and the smart characterizations are what carry it. We know a happy ending is standard for a film like this, so the journey there and the supporting case are what make or break such films.
Reese Witherspoon's best movie is "Freeway" with Kiefer Sutherland, he's so creepy in that movie. It's a modern day retelling of "Little Red Riding hood"
Have you seen Reese in "Walk the Line"? She makes a believable June Carter and she holds her own opposite Joaquin Phoenix's Johnny Cash. She also does her own singing.
I love this movie because the prom queen from my high school (a blonde) decided that she was going to go for it and became a lawyer! No one ever thought she was dumb, though.
As someone who was born in 1993 and an aspiring law student this movie is an absolute treasure! And I’m so glad you love it as much as I do. It definitely has a special place in my heart not just because of its iconic scenes but also it’s very progressive theme of women being able to have a duality of being both beautiful and feminine and also intelligent and classy. It encourages women to challenge themselves and that women don’t have to choose between being pretty and flirty or intelligent and more modest. Truly a theme ahead of its time and of course the music was so perfect! I always get nostalgic when I hear the upbeat and feel good music back then, they just don’t make it like that anymore. Your video was so much and I loved it!
My mother was an extra in one of the wide shots, and was positioned fairly close to Reese, but ended up getting moved far away due to her being a blonde as well, so I can confirm that they took active measures to ensure the Reese's blonde hair stood out in many scenes.
If you’ve never seen Josie and the Pussycats, you have to see it. Especially if this type of movie is your jam. Underrated, and honestly the best break up soundtrack
I love that movie. It failed in the box office for the obvious reason: it was making fun of its target audience, and it went over their heads. Every other audience got the joke and loved it, but most didn't see it, because it wasn't marketed in their direction.
In 2003 she earned $15 million for Legally Blonde 2. She also earned her first Executive Producer credit for the sequel. From this point on, Reese earned a standard $15 million minimum base salary per movie.
Hey Shanelle! You're right about how awesome the writing is. One thing that amazes me about it, is just how much plot they crammed in without it being a hot mess. There's the main story of Elle following her boyfriend, but accidentally becoming a good lawyer in the process, there's the new love interest, there's the whole progression of Vivian leaving Warner and becoming friends with Elle, there's the drama of the court case itself and the defendant, then there's the whole harassment side story and all of the misunderstanding that comes from that, not to mention the entire side love story with the UPS guy and Paulette, and also her character arc where she confronts her ex and "takes the dog back" . . . like, there's a ton of story packed into this script and it all feels just right in terms of pacing, believability, acting, length of film, everything is just perfect that way. Like, totally!
- 18:10 - Witherspoon's delivery of "ME!!!", with the fist pump and the grin, is hilarious 😄 ... It also just occurred to me that both Selma AND Reese were also in CRUEL INTENTIONS. - I'd recommend JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS if you haven't seen it. Actually has clever things to say about commercialism. And ELECTION for another great Witherspoon role. - I'm surprised the writers also wrote THE HOUSE BUNNY. I assumed that Sandler or some of his entourage wrote it 🤔
I love this movie because when it first came out I had no interest in seeing it. I thought it was going to be another “dumb blonde movie.” When I finally did watch it, it was so wonderfully subversive, and it actually made me consider some of my prejudices (not against blonde, but I was definitely judging the book by the cover). If you like Jennifer Coolidge that much, I definitely recommend Austenland, even just for you for fun. I don’t think anyone has ever reacted to it, and it won’t get a lot of interest, but you would like it. Jennifer Coolidge, Keri Russell, Bret McKenzie, Jane Seymour, Georgia King, James Callis, and Ricky Whittle. It’s a brilliant cast with a really funny script and lots of leeway for improv.
I have a great idea for a new Legally Blonde movie. Elle is running for President but she needs an opponent who is equally smart and ambitious but is also ruthless. I suggest Tracy Flick, of course Reese would play both parts.
I remember this doing big business and Reese Witherspoon became very wanted. It reminded me of "Clueless" as well, especially when Cher negotiated a higher grade than initially given, her father was more proud than if she'd actually earned the grade!
Though I'm just watching this for the first time in August 2023, and this I hope (I am autistic) "reads" as the compliment I completely mean as ... you should be cast in any production of "Hairspray" because you look like the younger sister of BOTH Rikki Lake & Nikki Blonsky. Plus, since I live in Baltimore, I want to hear you sing "Good Morning Baltimore!" Love your reactions. You give me "Julia Roberts - Jules Potter" to my "Rupert Everett - George" vibes. A 100% totally cool "nice girl" chick in my eyes!!
Someone mentioned but I'm seconding it... Austenland is a must. Jennifer Coolidge's improv in it is iconic. Definitely taking something serious and making it very silly 😂
Elle is such a great heroine. She is strong from the start, and she didn't have to learn any “lessons”, she just discovered her own strengths and ambition. She began the movie with strong principles- not giving up the alibi, not telling Warner about Vivian tricking her into dressing up, and she doesn't ever judge the other women characters who are wildly different than her, like Paula. She also enevr resorts to sabotage or intentionally making Vivian look bad in order to win Warner back. Elle has real class, even if she's not as “sophisticated” as the snobby east coast people.
If you haven't seen it, Clueless is a 1995 movie with a a similar energy. Plus points for having Paul Rudd. Edit: Oh wait, just watched your trivia summary
This movie came out the summer after I took the LSATs and was about to start applying to law school so obviously I went. I was shocked at how great and clever it is and have watched it dozens of times since.
Growing up in LA I thought it was so cool that most of the scenes in the film were shot in LA primarily, but after they released the film to test audiences they were left unsatisfied by the ending production actually had to follow Reese to London where she was filming another film to finish the graduation scene. So most of the movie was filmed in Pasadena and Los Angeles, and the ending was filmed in London.
the first movie i ever saw reese in was Man in the Moon. i was so impressed by her acting at such a young age and i've been impressed with her since. she's so good in this movie and you're right, the writing is great. loved your reaction! :)
Oh you totally need to watch the musical. The whole thing is available online, I think it was filmed for an MTV event. If you like the music you’ll love the full show. The energy is just through the roof. Obviously it’d be hard to do a reaction with all the music, but it’s worth checking out on your own.
I'm so glad you're reacting to this, this movie is one of my guilty pleasures. What a great story and perfectly acted by Reese Witherspoon. It's clever and quirky and just fun.
I saw this by accident in a one screen cinema where what you watched was dictated by the time you showed up. I arrived at the wrong time, and ended up enjoying this far more than what I went to see.
I saw this film three weeks before it came out at a special preview. They had us fill out questionnaires about the film. I absolutely loved it, (and so did my fiancee at the time), and it put me in a good mood for days after seeing it. The definition of a fun film.
I appreciate how women sit through movies for guys much more now. I would not have made it through without this kind of first watch format. Thanks Shanelle
Not sure if you've already seen it, but Reese's film debut, The Man in the Moon. I saw it in the theatre, obviously had no idea who she was, but could tell immediately she was going to be great.
I remember reading interviews with Reese Witherspoon during this film's initial release where she said she saw her role in "Legally Blonde" to be her Judy Holiday/"Born Yesterday" moment. Judy Holiday was a B-list actress prior to "Born Yesterday" and decided to elevate her role (and the movie itself, frankly) as much as possible. She could have played the part as a pedestrian 'dumb blonde' stereotype but pushed to make it more. Judy Holiday came away with an Oscar for the effort she put into it. Reese looked at Elle and saw the part as her own vehicle to elevating her name and opportunities in the acting field, and it worked. While Reese may not have gotten an Oscar for her performance, the film is absolutely a cult favorite, being light & fun & intelligent & memorable. Please note, Tori Spellman was the 1st asked & turned down the role, then the script went to Christina Applegate who passed on it. Also turned down by Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, Alicia Silverstone, Katherine Heigl, Milla Jovovich, and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Reese was quite happy to make lemon chiffon cake out of what other actors had apparently only seen as stale sour lemons. I recommend you watch "Born Yesterday" (1950) even if you don't do a reaction to it on your channel. I think it's good context for the film, given that Judy Holiday approached her role in an enlightened way and Reese took a page from her to do the same. Reese and Judy were both smart enough to take a calculated step to do a better job than what was written on the page, and it made a difference.
29:33 - I've never understood people that make those kind of inane comments like _"OMG you've never seen this movie before? I don't believe you!"_ etc. Like, do people not realise that not everyone will have seen the exact same films as them or that not everyone else had the same film experiences as them growing up lol. 🤡😂 Great reaction Shanelle!
I had seen it before but now I am seeing movies anew after enjoying so many of your reactions. I was astounded by so many elements that by passed me before. A major one is the wonderful use of color here. I was so transfixed that I did not move during the whole duration (on Patreon), when it was over I realized my foot, calf and thigh had "fallen asleep". It took 10 minutes to get circulation back to normal.
Hi Shanelle..just wanted to say that I have seen quite a few videos of people reviewing movies and i just admire your way of thinking when you watch these classics..you absolutely see the depth of the characters as witnessed by your different emotions as the movie progresses...wonderful job on your reviews!...oh and P.S.. Love your laugh!..cracks me up everytime..take care and God Bless..A Sailor from Seattle
Fun fact: Harvard almost never allows filming anymore on their campus because when they allowed them to film scenes from the movie Love Story (1970), they used fake snow on the ground and it killed a bunch of trees. What I love about Elle in this movie is how she is non-judgmental, even though she's always getting judged.
Added fact: Brooklyn College was used as exterior shots for Fringe season one for Harvard. It was also used as Yale for Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. John Jay college New Building is used for interior shots of schools, hospital in Gossip Girl when Blaire came back to ask a nurse or doctor a question and Sleeping with Other People, running scene in Blacklist with the freelancer, office building in Annie with Cameron Diaz, airport scene in Chinatown Detective 2. T building section was an arts and music college in Gossip Girl. Nurse Jackie was Baruch until some time later it was exterior New Building. Elementary did a cell phone robbery scene inside too and then later as a medical lab for a robotic arm in the forensic labs.
I’ve been using ‘funner’ since i first saw this. People (uptight) would constantly let me know “that’s not a word”. I would say “that was a test, to see if we could be friends?……we can not.” Anyway, it WAS put into the dictionary and I wonder if it’s because of this movie 🤣
What a fun reaction~ I love this movie! So bright and sparkly. And the law school scenes are surprisingly accurate! Right down to the study groups and getting kicked out of class for not being prepared. You should listen to the commentary track. It's very informative and interesting!
Here in the UK, a few days ago, Reese Witherspoon was mentioned on the BBC's News Channel. It appears she is to become the first Best Actress Oscar winner to take to the CBeebies Channel's "Bedtime Stories" show, reading the book Extraordinary written by Penny Harrison. The CBeebies Channel is a BBC channel aimed at children of preschool age.
RE: Jennifer Coolidge, got multi-awards nominations this year for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS in a TV Series, from Golden Globes, SAG, etc. for her work in THE WHITE LOTUS. I hope you check it out, Thanks.
That"s how to make a good movie better! Thanks Shanelle, always better then expected. I would only be disappointed if you were not yourself. Keep it up, looking forward to your next reaction.
I really think that an underappreciated storyline here is that people just don’t take Elle seriously. It’s said again and again, from the proposal, the chat with her parents, with Warner at the party, and with Emmett and Paulette at the end. People usually take away the whole “don’t judge a book” message, but this movie is really about Elle learning to stop caring that people don’t take her seriously and to take herself seriously without sacrificing what makes her unique (like changing back to her colorful wardrobe at the end).
Fun fact: Oz Perkins, director of excellent indie horror film The Blackcoat’s Daughter and son of Anthony Perkins, helps Elle get a book from a high shelf in the star vehicle montage which she then reciprocates later when he is rejected by a rude girl he is attempting to ask out.
180 is a perfect LSAT score, so she knocked it out of the park :) Thanks for another great reaction, and I’m going to second another commenter’s suggestion that you watch Josie and the Pussycats if you haven’t seen it yet. Definitely another high energy comedy.
I saw this when it came out on vhs. This movie spent the first 15 minutes setting itself up as a stereotypical comedy and the remaining hour tearing those stereotypes down and stomping then into the dirt. And I goddamn LOVE it. I was so inundated with those girl VS girl/dumb blondes/etc attitudes in media that it was not like a breath of fresh air so much as it was like being transported to a lakeside cabin on a mountain surrounded by miles of forest and experiencing an entries world full of fresh air. I'm so happy to have gotten to see you experience it for the first time, from past movies, as soon as I saw the title I knew you would fully and knowledgeable appreciate this movie for everything that makes it great. Welcome to the sisterhood of Legally Blonde fans!
Little bit of trivia that I don’t think is widely known about Reese that may be applicable to her performance in this movie. When she was in high school she participated in the Nashville and Tennesee high school mock trial competitions and was known to be one of the top team members (as you might expect with her acting chops) for Harpeth Hall High School which for many many years was one of the top teams in the state. I ran the Nashville and Tennessee competitions for a number of years starting in 1995 when I was a young lawyer. She had just graduated from high school the year before so our paths didn’t cross but the attorneys who coached her and other teams were still coaching at the time and her performances were apparently fantastic. I am not 100% sure but I believe during at least one of the years she participated Harpeth Hall may have won the TN competition and represented TN in the National competition. Because of all of this that is what I think of every time I see this movie. In my head I envision her in the mock trial competitions. LOL
all of it...the best, review, comments, opinions....i cannot wait to see more. i looooooove this one, thank you and keep doing what you do...many of us love ur reactions.
Legally Blonde is one of my comfort films. I put it on when I'm in a sour mood and by the end, I'm instantly happier. If you can get your hands on a copy of the DVD with the commentary, I highly recommend it. They have such great insight and fun little BTS bits that I think you'll love. I also have a deep appreciation for the musical (I'm a theater kid), so to hear that you'd heard most of it just brought a huge smile to my face. You can compare the two and say that one does certain things better over the other, but I think they both do well as what they are, and to me they're both essential watches. The Legally Blonde musical was filmed for a special for MTV and you can *probably* still find it on TH-cam, if you want to give the actual production a watch! It's SO good.
I’m a fan of the musical as well and was playing the songs in my head at the moments that match up, especially the one where she wins her case in class, I had “Chip on Your Shoulder” in my head
As a man. Diving into ultra-girl world is pure comedy gold. Sorry, comedy platinum. To have a portrayal of people who plan out their wholes only to find out life doesn't go according to plan, leaves me rolling off the chair every time. Girl backstabbing, to girl sisterhood, to girl power. The arc of emotional development is complete. My other comedy favs are, "Leap Year", and "DEvil Wears Prada".
Are you freaking kidding me? I've seen this movie a million times and I didn't realize that was Velma? Why did I think she was played by Elliot Page???
Love Elle and love your reactions. You should definitely watch Legally Blonde 2. Obviously not as good as the first one, but in the world of sequels it is a very good one! I know you would love it!
This movie is one of my guilty pleasures. I normally love to watch historical type movies, but some candy is good once in a while! BTW, I highly recommend "The Best Years of Our Lives"
OH! When I was a truck driver, I brokedown in at our terminal in Richmond, VA. They put me up in hotel in Chester, VA, and I met a Linda Cardellini clone that was bartending at the "I Don't Know" Sports Bar. I opened the bar at 11 am and I stayed til 630 pm. ran up an $80 bar/food tab and she sat with me at the bar when slow to show me all the old country music that she liked which I loved. I tipped her $100 and got her phone number and she stopped by motel room (I gave her the room # if she was interested) and she came by! T?hats as far as Im going with the story..if u get my drift. lol
When I did it years and years and years ago, it’s not really a pass fail thing. I think it’s the same now. You get a score and your prospective law schools consider that score. There are so many candidates it’s really just your percentile score. Eg: 97th percentile means your mark was higher than 96% of people taking it.
Them choosing to end on her speech at graduation rather than the proposal is SO GOOD. It's about her personal growth and achievements. The relationship is just one bonus.
I'm thinking she should watch "My Cousin Vinny" now. There are some similarities to this film.
@@DavidSmith-pg1ob I would love that. That movie is *very* funny
In the broadway musical they did it even better - Elle after speach is proposing to Emmet, not the other way around! The whole thing is on YT!
@@adelardj7026 If there ever was a perfect couple, this one qualifies.
@@Ergoperidot O Mi God you guys!
Warner is a real misogynistic jerk. He got waitlisted to get into Harvard Law and has the nerve to tell Elle that she's not smart enough to get an internship in the professor's law firm!
Yes!!!! Insecure much!?
What's great about this movie is that Elle is a believable underdog, and people belittle her in realistic ways instead of just being dumb bullies. And Elle remains such a nice person though it all, this is how a strong independent woman is written. She stays herself.
Also it's good that her professor is realistic too, until the scene where he hits on her, he does not seem like that kind of creep. If he did, it would have weakened Elle's character for not catching on.
And Chutney is also the name of one of Santa's oldest elves who hates Santa and once stabbed him in the chest with a wood chisel.
Bidet!
I think the writing of the professor and the writing for Warner brings this from an A to a B for me.
There was no reason for the professor to have hit on Elle except to say "men in power are gross". They could have had him fall ill or something that would have allowed Elle to take lead on the case.
As far as Warner goes, instead of making him the generic bad guy give him something better. Just have him say he underestimated her and show her respect without making it about romance.
Klaus was a fool. Santa can't compete with Amazon.
Agreed. The casting couch scene was jarring and totally out of place.
>And Chutney is also the name of one of Santa's oldest elves who hates Santa and once stabbed him in the chest with a wood chisel.
LMAO I get this reference.
I'm 64 and a father of two girls and two boys. The girls and my then-wife were really excited to watch this movie and I was being my typical crotchety film-judgy self, sneering at the marketing material look of the movie and not giving it a chance, all the way through the opening sequence.
I watched the movie with everyone at home (rented VHS) and absolutely loved it. Great comedy, great writing, great performances and I totally went with the feel-good vibe at the end. Really glad I gave it a chance and that everyone just ignored me for a while.
This movie got a couple Golden Globe award nominations and won a whole slew of super-sweet new-millennium VHS-era awards. Deserved.
Please don't listen to the haters. Your personality is perfect for these reactions. I literally cheered out loud when I saw you were reacting to this. Thank you!!
aw thanks!! ❤️❤️
Man, I burst out laughing at "YOU BITCH" every time. Genius.
Another Reese Witherspoon comedy I really recommend is Pleasantville, one of the most unique films I have ever seen.
Just like heaven is good with Reese Witherspoon
I LOVE THAT MOVIE!
I love the older lady in the salon who says “What?!? Practically _DEFORMED?!?“_
she's too good!
@@ShanelleRiccio
Natalie Barish
2001 Legally Blonde as Old Lady at Manicurist
1999 Inferno as Old Woman Buyer
1998 I'll Be Home for Christmas as Tom Tom Girl Darlene
1995 Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike as Marla
1992 Round Numbers as Grace
I know I’ve seen her in commercials or somewhere!
The old Apple laptops with the translucent plastic are such a nostalgic blast from the past.
They still pop up once in a while in vintage computers for sale groups.
Great reaction. Legally Blonde is terrific.
A 179 on the LSAT is incredibly high. The max score is 180, and a 179 is practically impossible, especially considering Elle had really only been cramming for the exam for maybe a semester?
I’ve started to think that Elle was secretly a genius. She got a 179 but beyond that she had a 4.0 gpa at ucla while running a popular sorority and (I assume based on Elle’s character) participating in an impressive amount of extracurriculars and socializing. Then once she cracks open a book at Harvard she starts doing well despite being 2-3 classes in and knowing practically nothing about law before that.
@@ArchitectWren she was basically good will hunting but a valley girl instead of from southie lol
When the Mrs. dragged me to this in the theater, I had every expectation that a dude dragged to a chick flick would have----but it was a great script despite the predictable trajectory, which need not torpedo a film. The crisp, snappy dialogue and the smart characterizations are what carry it. We know a happy ending is standard for a film like this, so the journey there and the supporting case are what make or break such films.
Reese Witherspoon's best movie is "Freeway" with Kiefer Sutherland, he's so creepy in that movie. It's a modern day retelling of "Little Red Riding hood"
Your reaction to "ammonium thioglyclate" was priceless. It's an awesome scene.
too good!!
Another good Reese Witherspoon movie is Sweet Home Alabama. It also has Josh Lucas, Patrick Dempsey and Candice Bergen. It's directed by Andy Tennant.
I completely agree with you about The House Bunny being underrated. Finally someone who sees it the way I do!
House Bunny is awesome: “Jo-Anne”
@@dnish6673 lmao
Criminally underrated!!
Yes, a guilty pleasure.
Have you seen Reese in "Walk the Line"? She makes a believable June Carter and she holds her own opposite Joaquin Phoenix's Johnny Cash. She also does her own singing.
I love this movie because the prom queen from my high school (a blonde) decided that she was going to go for it and became a lawyer! No one ever thought she was dumb, though.
As someone who was born in 1993 and an aspiring law student this movie is an absolute treasure! And I’m so glad you love it as much as I do. It definitely has a special place in my heart not just because of its iconic scenes but also it’s very progressive theme of women being able to have a duality of being both beautiful and feminine and also intelligent and classy. It encourages women to challenge themselves and that women don’t have to choose between being pretty and flirty or intelligent and more modest. Truly a theme ahead of its time and of course the music was so perfect! I always get nostalgic when I hear the upbeat and feel good music back then, they just don’t make it like that anymore. Your video was so much and I loved it!
My mother was an extra in one of the wide shots, and was positioned fairly close to Reese, but ended up getting moved far away due to her being a blonde as well, so I can confirm that they took active measures to ensure the Reese's blonde hair stood out in many scenes.
Jen Coolidge was brilliant in Best of Show another film that you should do a reaction to.
She'll always be Stifler's Mom to me... ❤️
I love that song Perfect Day . . . it's on my iPod . . .
If you’ve never seen Josie and the Pussycats, you have to see it. Especially if this type of movie is your jam. Underrated, and honestly the best break up soundtrack
I love that soundtrack!
Oh man yeah, hope she hasn’t seen it yet! She’d love it since she loves that era of pop music/movies. I also bought the soundtrack and loooved it
THIS 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Oh, my GOD, yes!!
I love that movie. It failed in the box office for the obvious reason: it was making fun of its target audience, and it went over their heads. Every other audience got the joke and loved it, but most didn't see it, because it wasn't marketed in their direction.
In 2003 she earned $15 million for Legally Blonde 2. She also earned her first Executive Producer credit for the sequel. From this point on, Reese earned a standard $15 million minimum base salary per movie.
Hey Shanelle! You're right about how awesome the writing is. One thing that amazes me about it, is just how much plot they crammed in without it being a hot mess. There's the main story of Elle following her boyfriend, but accidentally becoming a good lawyer in the process, there's the new love interest, there's the whole progression of Vivian leaving Warner and becoming friends with Elle, there's the drama of the court case itself and the defendant, then there's the whole harassment side story and all of the misunderstanding that comes from that, not to mention the entire side love story with the UPS guy and Paulette, and also her character arc where she confronts her ex and "takes the dog back" . . . like, there's a ton of story packed into this script and it all feels just right in terms of pacing, believability, acting, length of film, everything is just perfect that way. Like, totally!
- 18:10 - Witherspoon's delivery of "ME!!!", with the fist pump and the grin, is hilarious 😄 ... It also just occurred to me that both Selma AND Reese were also in CRUEL INTENTIONS.
- I'd recommend JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS if you haven't seen it. Actually has clever things to say about commercialism. And ELECTION for another great Witherspoon role.
- I'm surprised the writers also wrote THE HOUSE BUNNY. I assumed that Sandler or some of his entourage wrote it 🤔
The "ME!!" Reminds me of her character in Election
I love this movie because when it first came out I had no interest in seeing it. I thought it was going to be another “dumb blonde movie.” When I finally did watch it, it was so wonderfully subversive, and it actually made me consider some of my prejudices (not against blonde, but I was definitely judging the book by the cover).
If you like Jennifer Coolidge that much, I definitely recommend Austenland, even just for you for fun. I don’t think anyone has ever reacted to it, and it won’t get a lot of interest, but you would like it. Jennifer Coolidge, Keri Russell, Bret McKenzie, Jane Seymour, Georgia King, James Callis, and Ricky Whittle. It’s a brilliant cast with a really funny script and lots of leeway for improv.
Elle essentially DID make the "hero's journey" (or in this case, "heroine's journey").
I have a great idea for a new Legally Blonde movie. Elle is running for President but she needs an opponent who is equally smart and ambitious but is also ruthless. I suggest Tracy Flick, of course Reese would play both parts.
I remember this doing big business and Reese Witherspoon became very wanted. It reminded me of "Clueless" as well, especially when Cher negotiated a higher grade than initially given, her father was more proud than if she'd actually earned the grade!
Though I'm just watching this for the first time in August 2023, and this I hope (I am autistic) "reads" as the compliment I completely mean as ... you should be cast in any production of "Hairspray" because you look like the younger sister of BOTH Rikki Lake & Nikki Blonsky. Plus, since I live in Baltimore, I want to hear you sing "Good Morning Baltimore!"
Love your reactions. You give me "Julia Roberts - Jules Potter" to my "Rupert Everett - George" vibes. A 100% totally cool "nice girl" chick in my eyes!!
This is a fine movie, but the aspect of it that makes it GREAT for me ... JENNIFER COOLIDGE!!!!
Someone mentioned but I'm seconding it... Austenland is a must. Jennifer Coolidge's improv in it is iconic. Definitely taking something serious and making it very silly 😂
Elle’s father is from Rom-Com Detective series “Remington Steele” and her “Guidance/Admission Counselor” from Rom-Com Detective series “Moonlighting”.
Agnes
Allyce Beasley also voiced Teacher Miss Grotke on the animated series "Recess".
And he played the father in " Charmed ". The original series.
Elle is such a great heroine. She is strong from the start, and she didn't have to learn any “lessons”, she just discovered her own strengths and ambition. She began the movie with strong principles- not giving up the alibi, not telling Warner about Vivian tricking her into dressing up, and she doesn't ever judge the other women characters who are wildly different than her, like Paula. She also enevr resorts to sabotage or intentionally making Vivian look bad in order to win Warner back. Elle has real class, even if she's not as “sophisticated” as the snobby east coast people.
Fun reaction. I agree that “The House Bunny” is way underrated.
If you haven't seen it, Clueless is a 1995 movie with a a similar energy. Plus points for having Paul Rudd. Edit: Oh wait, just watched your trivia summary
True. Clueless was about six years before this, and almost operates like a thematic prequel to this.
I LOVE "Clueless"! 😁😁
This movie came out the summer after I took the LSATs and was about to start applying to law school so obviously I went. I was shocked at how great and clever it is and have watched it dozens of times since.
The girl that plays Brooke Taylor she was on Final Destination 1 and 2
I love that she is genuinely nice despite everyone's prejudices against her because of her looks, interests and personality!
Growing up in LA I thought it was so cool that most of the scenes in the film were shot in LA primarily, but after they released the film to test audiences they were left unsatisfied by the ending production actually had to follow Reese to London where she was filming another film to finish the graduation scene. So most of the movie was filmed in Pasadena and Los Angeles, and the ending was filmed in London.
I graduated H.S. in 2001. This movie was on rewind in my VCR.... Love your channel and reactions!
aw yay! Thanks!! I knew this was going to be great!! Thanks for watching :)
the first movie i ever saw reese in was Man in the Moon. i was so impressed by her acting at such a young age and i've been impressed with her since. she's so good in this movie and you're right, the writing is great. loved your reaction! :)
Thank you!! Yes Reese is so sparkly! Such an energy and talent -loved her in Man in the Moon !!
Oh you totally need to watch the musical. The whole thing is available online, I think it was filmed for an MTV event. If you like the music you’ll love the full show. The energy is just through the roof. Obviously it’d be hard to do a reaction with all the music, but it’s worth checking out on your own.
I'm so glad you're reacting to this, this movie is one of my guilty pleasures. What a great story and perfectly acted by Reese Witherspoon. It's clever and quirky and just fun.
My guilty pleasure, too! Ha! Cheers!!
There's nothing to feel guilty about. It's a good movie
A perfect score for the LSAT's is 180 so Elle was nearly perfect since she had a 179.
I saw this by accident in a one screen cinema where what you watched was dictated by the time you showed up. I arrived at the wrong time, and ended up enjoying this far more than what I went to see.
That last courtroom scene...so Hollywood. 😎
The creepy tall student in her story group is actually Anthony Perkins (Psycho) son. It’s totally in the eyes.
I saw this film three weeks before it came out at a special preview. They had us fill out questionnaires about the film. I absolutely loved it, (and so did my fiancee at the time), and it put me in a good mood for days after seeing it. The definition of a fun film.
I appreciate how women sit through movies for guys much more now. I would not have made it through without this kind of first watch format. Thanks Shanelle
Not sure if you've already seen it, but Reese's film debut, The Man in the Moon. I saw it in the theatre, obviously had no idea who she was, but could tell immediately she was going to be great.
Such an emotional film, and she shines in it!
I love this movie so much, I'm so glad you have seen it now! Such a gem, that definitely holds up now. The music is truly iconic.
I remember reading interviews with Reese Witherspoon during this film's initial release where she said she saw her role in "Legally Blonde" to be her Judy Holiday/"Born Yesterday" moment.
Judy Holiday was a B-list actress prior to "Born Yesterday" and decided to elevate her role (and the movie itself, frankly) as much as possible. She could have played the part as a pedestrian 'dumb blonde' stereotype but pushed to make it more. Judy Holiday came away with an Oscar for the effort she put into it.
Reese looked at Elle and saw the part as her own vehicle to elevating her name and opportunities in the acting field, and it worked. While Reese may not have gotten an Oscar for her performance, the film is absolutely a cult favorite, being light & fun & intelligent & memorable.
Please note, Tori Spellman was the 1st asked & turned down the role, then the script went to Christina Applegate who passed on it. Also turned down by Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, Alicia Silverstone, Katherine Heigl, Milla Jovovich, and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Reese was quite happy to make lemon chiffon cake out of what other actors had apparently only seen as stale sour lemons.
I recommend you watch "Born Yesterday" (1950) even if you don't do a reaction to it on your channel. I think it's good context for the film, given that Judy Holiday approached her role in an enlightened way and Reese took a page from her to do the same. Reese and Judy were both smart enough to take a calculated step to do a better job than what was written on the page, and it made a difference.
29:33 - I've never understood people that make those kind of inane comments like _"OMG you've never seen this movie before? I don't believe you!"_ etc. Like, do people not realise that not everyone will have seen the exact same films as them or that not everyone else had the same film experiences as them growing up lol. 🤡😂
Great reaction Shanelle!
Jennifer Coolidge is great in Best in Show!
I like how this movie demonstrates any tidbit of information can be useful.
I had seen it before but now I am seeing movies anew after enjoying so many of your reactions. I was astounded by so many elements that by passed me before. A major one is the wonderful use of color here. I was so transfixed that I did not move during the whole duration (on Patreon), when it was over I realized my foot, calf and thigh had "fallen asleep". It took 10 minutes to get circulation back to normal.
Hi Shanelle..just wanted to say that I have seen quite a few videos of people reviewing movies and i just admire your way of thinking when you watch these classics..you absolutely see the depth of the characters as witnessed by your different emotions as the movie progresses...wonderful job on your reviews!...oh and P.S.. Love your laugh!..cracks me up everytime..take care and God Bless..A Sailor from Seattle
thank you!! means a lot!! That laugh is ever-evolving!!! haha
The movie you really need to watch is My Cousin Vinny if you haven't already. So many one-liners
Seen! LOVE IT
Another movie that I like is a more recent Jackie Chan. It's called The Foreigner. Even for his age he is still a master at stunts
I love your reaction! One of the best Legally Blonde movie reactions!
Fun fact: Harvard almost never allows filming anymore on their campus because when they allowed them to film scenes from the movie Love Story (1970), they used fake snow on the ground and it killed a bunch of trees.
What I love about Elle in this movie is how she is non-judgmental, even though she's always getting judged.
Added fact: Brooklyn College was used as exterior shots for Fringe season one for Harvard. It was also used as Yale for Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. John Jay college New Building is used for interior shots of schools, hospital in Gossip Girl when Blaire came back to ask a nurse or doctor a question and Sleeping with Other People, running scene in Blacklist with the freelancer, office building in Annie with Cameron Diaz, airport scene in Chinatown Detective 2. T building section was an arts and music college in Gossip Girl. Nurse Jackie was Baruch until some time later it was exterior New Building. Elementary did a cell phone robbery scene inside too and then later as a medical lab for a robotic arm in the forensic labs.
Your reaction at 26:28 with the Perm is the exact reaction my mom and I had. Just louder. My dad looked at us and went 'What? What happened?!'
This is an ICONIC film, and I am SO happy to see you react to it, Shanelle! Loving the rainbow in the background, too!
I’ve been using ‘funner’ since i first saw this. People (uptight) would constantly let me know “that’s not a word”. I would say “that was a test, to see if we could be friends?……we can not.” Anyway, it WAS put into the dictionary and I wonder if it’s because of this movie 🤣
When Elle says "me!" It reminds me of what she looked like/her character in Election
What a fun reaction~ I love this movie! So bright and sparkly. And the law school scenes are surprisingly accurate! Right down to the study groups and getting kicked out of class for not being prepared. You should listen to the commentary track. It's very informative and interesting!
Ohhh yes I'd be down for that commentary !!
Here in the UK, a few days ago, Reese Witherspoon was mentioned on the BBC's News Channel. It appears she is to become the first Best Actress Oscar winner to take to the CBeebies Channel's "Bedtime Stories" show, reading the book Extraordinary written by Penny Harrison. The CBeebies Channel is a BBC channel aimed at children of preschool age.
I love the CBeebies bedtime stories!!!
Such a fun movie to watch over & over. Thx&see ya😁
RE: Jennifer Coolidge, got multi-awards nominations this year for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS in a TV Series, from Golden Globes, SAG, etc. for her work in THE WHITE LOTUS. I hope you check it out, Thanks.
That"s how to make a good movie better! Thanks Shanelle, always better then expected. I would only be disappointed if you were not yourself. Keep it up, looking forward to your next reaction.
thanks Dan!!
My fave Reese movie is still "Election"
I really think that an underappreciated storyline here is that people just don’t take Elle seriously. It’s said again and again, from the proposal, the chat with her parents, with Warner at the party, and with Emmett and Paulette at the end.
People usually take away the whole “don’t judge a book” message, but this movie is really about Elle learning to stop caring that people don’t take her seriously and to take herself seriously without sacrificing what makes her unique (like changing back to her colorful wardrobe at the end).
Fun fact: Oz Perkins, director of excellent indie horror film The Blackcoat’s Daughter and son of Anthony Perkins, helps Elle get a book from a high shelf in the star vehicle montage which she then reciprocates later when he is rejected by a rude girl he is attempting to ask out.
180 is a perfect LSAT score, so she knocked it out of the park :)
Thanks for another great reaction, and I’m going to second another commenter’s suggestion that you watch Josie and the Pussycats if you haven’t seen it yet. Definitely another high energy comedy.
You have a great sense of humor and I have never not smiled from something you said in a video. Great laugh too.
Today I learned I have favourite script writers. I love all those movies you listed!
I'm a 33 year old overweight bearded straight male. I love this film, it's brilliant :)
I saw this when it came out on vhs. This movie spent the first 15 minutes setting itself up as a stereotypical comedy and the remaining hour tearing those stereotypes down and stomping then into the dirt. And I goddamn LOVE it. I was so inundated with those girl VS girl/dumb blondes/etc attitudes in media that it was not like a breath of fresh air so much as it was like being transported to a lakeside cabin on a mountain surrounded by miles of forest and experiencing an entries world full of fresh air. I'm so happy to have gotten to see you experience it for the first time, from past movies, as soon as I saw the title I knew you would fully and knowledgeable appreciate this movie for everything that makes it great. Welcome to the sisterhood of Legally Blonde fans!
Need to see Election with Reece and Matthew Broderick, its like the prequel to this character!
Your little giggle is so infectious 🥺
This was a great reaction thank you
I love this movie! I love Reese and the cast, the script is excellent. I love that her and the girl become best friends and they both drop Warner.
yes ahead of it's time right?!
I love old people. Just like small children, they have no filter. No PC for grandma, she speaks her mind 😂
Little bit of trivia that I don’t think is widely known about Reese that may be applicable to her performance in this movie. When she was in high school she participated in the Nashville and Tennesee high school mock trial competitions and was known to be one of the top team members (as you might expect with her acting chops) for Harpeth Hall High School which for many many years was one of the top teams in the state. I ran the Nashville and Tennessee competitions for a number of years starting in 1995 when I was a young lawyer. She had just graduated from high school the year before so our paths didn’t cross but the attorneys who coached her and other teams were still coaching at the time and her performances were apparently fantastic. I am not 100% sure but I believe during at least one of the years she participated Harpeth Hall may have won the TN competition and represented TN in the National competition. Because of all of this that is what I think of every time I see this movie. In my head I envision her in the mock trial competitions. LOL
Great review!! This is my guilty pleasure movie. Haha. And I was lucky enough to work on the National touring stage production of the Musical!
so jealous!! I'd LOVE to work on this show!!
You brought a new approach to me about this movie. Did not appreciate the writing before. Thanks!
all of it...the best, review, comments, opinions....i cannot wait to see more. i looooooove this one, thank you and keep doing what you do...many of us love ur reactions.
I love this movie. You are so fun and have such great energy. Your light is very bright.
aw thank you for watching!! ❤️❤️❤️
@@ShanelleRiccio of course!
Legally Blonde is one of my comfort films. I put it on when I'm in a sour mood and by the end, I'm instantly happier. If you can get your hands on a copy of the DVD with the commentary, I highly recommend it. They have such great insight and fun little BTS bits that I think you'll love. I also have a deep appreciation for the musical (I'm a theater kid), so to hear that you'd heard most of it just brought a huge smile to my face. You can compare the two and say that one does certain things better over the other, but I think they both do well as what they are, and to me they're both essential watches. The Legally Blonde musical was filmed for a special for MTV and you can *probably* still find it on TH-cam, if you want to give the actual production a watch! It's SO good.
I’m a fan of the musical as well and was playing the songs in my head at the moments that match up, especially the one where she wins her case in class, I had “Chip on Your Shoulder” in my head
As a man. Diving into ultra-girl world is pure comedy gold. Sorry, comedy platinum. To have a portrayal of people who plan out their wholes only to find out life doesn't go according to plan, leaves me rolling off the chair every time. Girl backstabbing, to girl sisterhood, to girl power. The arc of emotional development is complete. My other comedy favs are, "Leap Year", and "DEvil Wears Prada".
Jawbreaker (1999) is fucking amazing!
Are you freaking kidding me? I've seen this movie a million times and I didn't realize that was Velma? Why did I think she was played by Elliot Page???
Linda Cardellini is a modest gem of an actor. Go watch her in the short-lived "Freaks and Geeks".
they do have a similar look!! understandable!!
Great movie, and I love "House Bunny". Nice reaction.
🤣Can I get that on a coffee cup? “I love a good early 2000’s romp❤️”
Love Elle and love your reactions. You should definitely watch Legally Blonde 2. Obviously not as good as the first one, but in the world of sequels it is a very good one! I know you would love it!
This movie is one of my guilty pleasures. I normally love to watch historical type movies, but some candy is good once in a while! BTW, I highly recommend "The Best Years of Our Lives"
OH! When I was a truck driver, I brokedown in at our terminal in Richmond, VA. They put me up in hotel in Chester, VA, and I met a Linda Cardellini clone that was bartending at the "I Don't Know" Sports Bar. I opened the bar at 11 am and I stayed til 630 pm. ran up an $80 bar/food tab and she sat with me at the bar when slow to show me all the old country music that she liked which I loved. I tipped her $100 and got her phone number and she stopped by motel room (I gave her the room # if she was interested) and she came by! T?hats as far as Im going with the story..if u get my drift. lol
House bunny was hilarious and had such heart
Bend & Snap! Here we go!
I googled the passing requirements for the LSATs. 175 is just passing and 180 is a perfect score-so there's only a 5 point margin for that test
When I did it years and years and years ago, it’s not really a pass fail thing. I think it’s the same now. You get a score and your prospective law schools consider that score. There are so many candidates it’s really just your percentile score. Eg: 97th percentile means your mark was higher than 96% of people taking it.