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:

To friere er en for mange... spesielt når du allerede er gift med den ene...

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:

Divorce | New York City | Alabama | White Trash | Fashion Designer

Awards:

3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

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
Kevin Sussman	...	Barry Lowenstein
Thomas Curtis	...	Young Jake
Dakota Fanning	...	Young Melanie
Mark Skinner	...	Bruno
Michelle Krusiec	...	Pan
Phil Cater	...	Pablo
Michael Snow	...	Devin
Bob Penny	...	Wallace Buford
Mark Matkevich	...	Tom Darovsic
Lee Roy Giles	...	Eugene the Guard
Afemo Omilami	...	Jimmy Lee
Kevin Hagan	...	Jimmy the Driver
Dennis Ryan	...	Reporter
Jim O'Connor	...	Reporter
Leslie Hendrix	...	Reporter
Tony Rizzoli	...	Gentleman
Bob Seel	...	Bartender
Kelsey Lowenthal	...	Carrie Lee
Jen Apgar	...	Starr
Sarah Baker	...	Dix
Deborah Duke	...	Sherma (as Deborah Calloway-Duke)
Ted Manson	...	Colonel Murphy
Sharon Blackwood	...	Virgie
Suzi Bass	...	Shirleen
Don Young	...	Old Dead Soldier
Jody Thompson	...	Dead Soldier
Mark Oliver	...	Guard #2
Deidee Deionne	...	Press Secretary (as Deide Deionne)
Doug Killen	...	Catfish Festival Dancer (as Doug Johnson-Killen)
Emily Furman	...	Catfish Festival Dancer
Pete Talton	...	Catfish Festival Dancer
Kelli Franklin	...	Catfish Festival Singer
Keni Thomas	...	Catfish Festival Singer
Jeanne Arnold	...	Catfish Festival Singer
Osjha Anderson	...	Catfish Festival Singer
Charlotte Pierrepont	...	Model
Traci Ann Wolfe	...	Model
Jana Lynn Schoep	...	Model
Eddy Donno	...	Model
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kimberly Adler	...	Crowd Extra (uncredited)
LaChanda Alexander	...	New York Citizen (uncredited)
Kena Allen	...	TV Fashion Reporter (uncredited)
Gary Beck	...	Paparazzi (uncredited)
Robert Black	...	Paparazzi (uncredited)
Randy Bratton	...	Musician (uncredited)
Rich Bryant	...	Paparazzi (uncredited)
Haley Buchanan	...	Girl at the Battlefield (uncredited)
Chris Burns	...	Wedding Guest #1 (uncredited)
Brandon Carroll	...	Line Dancer (uncredited)
Doshia Darmane	...	Event Patron (uncredited)
Aimee Davis	...	Festival Patron (uncredited)
Colin Ford	...	Clinton Jr. (uncredited)
Laurie Gardner	...	Festival Dancer (uncredited)
Jason Guy	...	Photographer at the Red Carpet (uncredited)
Rodney L. James	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Ambre Lake	...	Wedding Coordinator (uncredited)
Matt Mangum	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Mary Jean McAdams	...	Wedding Guest #2 (uncredited)
Charles McClelland	...	Paparazzo (uncredited)
Matthew D. Miller	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Ernest Peterson	...	Melanie's Friend (uncredited)
Arvell Poe	...	Airline Passenger (uncredited)
Andrew Prine	...	Sheriff Holt (uncredited)
Joel Sturdivant	...	Line Dancer (uncredited)
Lori Williams	...	Country Line Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Andy Tennant

Writing credits (WGA)
Douglas J. Eboch		(story)
C. Jay Cox		(screenplay)

Produced by
Stokely Chaffin	....	producer
Jeff Diaz	....	assistant producer
Michael Fottrell	....	executive producer
Jon Jashni	....	executive producer
Wink Mordaunt	....	executive producer
Neal H. Moritz	....	producer

Original Music by
George Fenton

Cinematography by
Andrew Dunn		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Troy Takaki
Tracey Wadmore-Smith

Casting by
Juel Bestrop
Kathleen Chopin
Jeanne McCarthy

Production Design by
Clay A. Griffith

Art Direction by
Jay Pelissier

Set Decoration by
Lisa K. Sessions

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

Makeup Department
John Caglione Jr.	....	makeup department head: East Coast
Victor DeNicola	....	key hair stylist: New York (as Victor DeNicola Jr.)
Philip Ivey	....	key hair stylist (as Phillip Ivey)
Harriette Landau	....	assistant makeup artist
Sarah Mays	....	makeup department head (as Sarah Mays Roberts)
Anne Morgan	....	hair designer: show
Anne Morgan	....	stylist: Ms. Witherspoon
Susan Ransom	....	assistant makeup artist
Linda Thompson	....	additional hair stylist
Dawn Turner	....	hair stylist
Brad Wilder	....	co-head makeup department
Brad Wilder	....	makeup artist: Ms. Witherspoon
Leigh Ann Yandle	....	assistant makeup artist (as Leigh Ann Yandle-Perry)
Joani Yarbrough	....	hair department head
Wendy Bell	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Christine Domaniecki	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Susan 'Star' Orr	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Judy Ponder-Patton	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Michael Fottrell	....	unit production manager
Cheryl Quarantiello	....	unit production manager
Sara E. White	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Louis D'Esposito	....	first assistant director
Kristina M. Peterson	....	second second assistant director
Hillary Schwartz	....	additional second assistant director
Michael Viglietta	....	second assistant director
Eric Yellin	....	second second assistant director: New York

Art Department
David H. Allen	....	property master
Sharon E. Alshams	....	lead set designer
Pedro Barquin	....	head greens coordinator
Dwight Benjamin-Creel	....	property master
Wren Boney	....	key set dresser
George Capetanos	....	assistant property master: reshoots
Jessee J. Clarkson	....	propmaker
Christopher Didiot	....	set dresser (as Christopher Parr)
David Dreyer	....	set dresser
Andrew Seward Duncan	....	assistant property master
Daniel B. Foster	....	on-set dresser
Shepherd Frankel	....	assistant art director
Emily Gaunt	....	camera scenic: New York
Egan Gauntt	....	art department coordinator
Solomon King	....	greens
Bill Kolpin	....	set dresser: New York (as William Kolpin)
Tony Kupersmith	....	construction coordinator (as A.I. Kupersmith)
Johnny Land	....	painter
George A. Lee	....	assistant property master
Alba Leone	....	lead person (as Alba Domini Leone)
Alisa Lumbreras	....	scenic foreperson
Wayne Scott Miller	....	on-set dresser: New York (as Wayne Miller)
Thomas Minton	....	assistant art director
Mark Nave	....	carpenter
Robert Tate Nichols	....	set dresser
Tripp Norton	....	set dresser (as William Tripp Norton)
Michael Pisani	....	set dresser
Wayne Shepherd	....	assistant set decorator
Brian Stultz	....	head scenic artist
Lance Totten	....	set dresser (as C. Lance Totten)
Christopher 'Woody' Wdowin	....	set dresser
Alyson Wellins	....	art department coordinator: New York
Ford Wheeler	....	set decorator: New York
Chris Hunter	....	production illustrator (uncredited)
Byron K. Lovelace	....	props: New York (uncredited)

Sound Department
David A. Arnold	....	dialogue editor
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
Bob Beemer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Freddy Chancellor	....	boom operator
John T. Cucci	....	foley artist (as John Cucci)
Teri E. Dorman	....	supervising dialogue editor
Mary H. Ellis	....	production sound mixer
Matthew Harrison	....	supervising foley editor
Allen Hartz	....	dialogue editor
Suhail Kafity	....	supervising sound editor
James Likowski	....	foley editor
Howard London	....	adr mixer
Scott Millan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Nelson	....	production sound mixer: New York
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
R.J. Palmer	....	sound effects editor
Fred Peck III	....	sound re-recordist
Drew Ponder	....	boom operator
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
Todd Sayre	....	cableperson
Mike Schmidt	....	utility sound: New York
David A. Smith	....	boom operator (as David Allen Smith)
George Watters II	....	supervising sound editor
Christopher T. Welch	....	supervising adr editor
Brian Wittle	....	boom operator: re-shoots
Linda Lew	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Fletcher	....	special effects coordinator
Chris Mills	....	special effects technician
Lisa Reynolds	....	special effects assistant
Richard Terry Tjelmeland	....	special effects foreman (as R. Terry Tjelmeland)
Kathleen Tonkin	....	special effects technician
Rick Lazzarini	....	special effects: bloodhound replica (uncredited)
Robert Vazquez	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Mat Beck	....	visual effects supervisor: Light Matters/Entity FX
Joseph Brattesani	....	lead 2D artist: Light Matters/Entity FX
Cari Chadwick	....	digital artist
Mark Felt	....	compositor
Nancy Hyland	....	digital compositor: Light Matters/Entity FX
Cindy Jones	....	visual effects producer: Light Matters/Entity FX
Bill Kunin	....	Inferno artist
Sara Lee	....	visual effects
Josh Novak	....	lead compositor: main title sequence
Dave Sarbell	....	digital effects artist
Trent Smith	....	visual effects coordinator: Light Matters/Entity FX
Jana Spotts	....	visual effects coordinator
Greg Strause	....	digital effects supervisor: Light Matters
Eric Swenson	....	visual effects director of photography
Brian Bell	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Colin Strause	....	digital effects supervisor (uncredited)
Renée Tymn	....	digital compositor: Cinesite (uncredited)

Stunts
Scott Dale	....	stunts
Tim Gallin	....	stunts
Cal Johnson	....	stunt double: Josh Lucas
Cal Johnson	....	stunts
Randi Layne	....	stunts
Anderson Martin	....	stunts
Lonnie R. Smith Jr.	....	stunt coordinator (as Lonnie Smith)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jeff Becker	....	rigging gaffer
Stephen Crowley	....	best boy electric
Jeff W. Curtis	....	grip
David Ellis	....	rigging electrician
Donny Fowler	....	electrician
Brian Gunter	....	gaffer
Elizabeth Hedges	....	camera loader: new york
Petr Hlinomaz	....	gaffer: New York
Darryl Humber	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Peter Iovino	....	still photographer
Nils Johnson	....	key video assist operator: New York
Chris Jones	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Christopher Jones)
Lee Kazista	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, New York
Eric Leftridge	....	additional assistant camera
Jack McCollum	....	rigging electrician
Michael 'Flash' McDonald	....	electrician
David McLean	....	electrician
Greg Morse	....	24 frame video operator
John S. Moyer	....	camera operator: "b" camera
David Norris	....	camera operator: Wescam camera (as Dave Norris)
Bill O'Drobinak	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as William A. O'Drobinak)
Jesse Wayne Parker	....	key rigging grip (as J. Wayne Parker)
Myron Parran	....	assistant camera
Mike Pearce	....	rigging electrician
C. Alan Rawlins	....	key grip
Ted Sapp	....	grip
Riko Schatke	....	best boy grip
Chad Schroeder	....	electrician
Art Schultz	....	rigging electrician
Allan D. Smith	....	second assistant camera
C. Ashley Sudge	....	dolly grip
Steve Sudge	....	electrician
Fred Thomas	....	camera loader (as Freddy Thomas)
Joseph Thomas	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Mike Tyson	....	electrician
Zoran Veselic	....	first assistant camera
Steve Zigler	....	electrician (as Steve 'Ziggy' Zigler)
John Verardi	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Tea Aaron	....	extras casting assistant
Blythe Cappello	....	casting associate
Amy Carty	....	casting intern
Cazzey Louis Cereghino	....	extras casting assistant
Jennifer Euston	....	casting associate
Kelli Franklin	....	extras casting assistant
Chris Gray	....	extras casting
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Jeremy Pelham	....	extras casting assistant
Arvell Poe	....	extras casting: background players
Rebecca Quick	....	extras casting assistant
Nadia Lubbe Simon	....	casting assistant (as Nadia Lubbe)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kate Edwards	....	wardrobe supervisor: New York
Jody Felz	....	wardrobe assistant
Daniel George	....	costumer
Sheila Grover	....	costumer (as Sheila Gentile)
Zandra Harding	....	seamstress
Mary C. Lane	....	costume supervisor
Leigh Leverett	....	key set costumer
Nan McCulloch	....	set costumer
Linda N. Robinson	....	costumer
Marian Toy	....	assistant costume designer: New York City
Karen Young	....	costumer
Katie Novello	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Mike Bellamy	....	final colorist
Matt Evans	....	first assistant editor
Bryan Lamoureux	....	assistant editor (as Uncle Bryan Lamoureux)
Steven R. Sacks	....	assistant editor
Kurt Smith	....	color timer
Stuart Sperling	....	assistant editor
Sean Thompson	....	first assistant editor
Patrick Thornhill	....	assistant editor
Shaun Newton	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)

Music Department
Chris Cozens	....	auricle control systems
Michael Fey	....	music executive
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Joseph Magee	....	production music mixer
Nick Page	....	music consultant
Steve Price	....	score mixer
Steve Price	....	score recordist
Michael T. Ryan	....	supervising music editor
Dawn Soler	....	music supervisor (as Dawn Solér)
Nick Vidar	....	music programmer
Laura Ziffren	....	music supervisor (as Laura Z. Wasserman)
Scott Rouse	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Marc Anton	....	driver
W. Charles Arnold	....	driver
Robert Ballentine	....	driver
Walter 'Red' Bedell	....	driver (as Walter Bedell)
John Carlisle	....	driver
Howard Clark	....	driver
Jack Collis	....	driver
Keith N. Collis	....	driver
Richard F. Diez	....	driver (as Rick Diez)
Chuck Graydon	....	driver
Wayne A. Mercer	....	driver
Cindy Parker	....	transportation coordinator
J.L. Parker	....	transportation captain
Janet Perrotti	....	driver
Johnny Poucher	....	driver
Blackie Stephens	....	driver
Hank Van Apeldoorn	....	driver (as Henry Van Apeldoorn)
David Carlton White	....	electrics pre-rig driver

Other crew
Alicia Accardo	....	script supervisor
Thomas Ahlers	....	office assistant
Brian L. Aultman	....	production assistant
Nicholas R. Bell	....	production assistant: New York
Karen Beyer	....	choreographer
Tammy Blackburn	....	animal trainer
Christian Brockey	....	assistant production coordinator: New York
Russell Brown	....	assistant: Mr. Moritz (as Russ Brown)
Ricou Browning Jr.	....	water safety
Christopher S. Bryson	....	production assistant
Steve Cainas	....	production coordinator
Adam Carroll	....	production assistant
Amy Carter	....	first assistant production accountant: New York
Jan Cerwonka	....	studio teacher
Lori M. Cincotta	....	assistant: Mr. Tennant (as Lori Cincotta)
Allison Dillard	....	location assistant
Alfeo Dixon	....	assistant location manager
Gabe Doppelt	....	fashion consultant (as Gabé Doppelt)
Andrew Fiero	....	production assistant
John Findley	....	assistant location manager (as John Findley III)
Jennifer Flournoy	....	location assistant: Crawfordville
Benjamin Fretheim	....	production assistant
Michael Fucci	....	assistant location manager
Shawn Gillespie	....	second assistant accountant
Nicole Gordon	....	assistant: Ms. Witherspoon
Joanne Guthrie	....	production assistant
Mark Hagerman	....	assistant production coordinator: New York
Jalyn Henton	....	travel and housing coordinator
Marc H. Katz	....	craft service
Erica Kay	....	production coordinator: New York
Scott Kirkley	....	key set production assistant
Tatiana Komlos	....	assistant production coordinator
Laura H. Kreft	....	payroll accountant
Paul Lowe	....	medic
Larry Madrid	....	animal trainer
Lilene Mansell	....	dialect coach
Marlene Marks	....	second assistant accountant
Devin Maurer	....	production assistant
Bill McAdams Jr.	....	production assistant
Stewart McAlpine	....	production assistant
Mack McKelvey	....	craft service
Jim McKinney	....	key set production assistant: New York
Lucas Moore	....	studio teacher
Josh Nichol	....	additional location assistant
Andrea O'Connor	....	key production assistant: New York
Quincy Perkins	....	production assistant
Jennifer Radzikowski	....	location manager: Miami
Gary S. Rake	....	production assistant: New York
Mike Riley	....	location manager
Rip Russell	....	first assistant accountant
Barbara Saunders	....	location office assistant
Peter J. Silbermann	....	unit publicist
Sally Jo Sousa	....	animal trainer: dogs
Charline St. Charles	....	assistant to producer
Rozanne Stark	....	studio teacher
Regina Stewart-Heckman	....	production assistant: New York
Sheilah Sullivan	....	accountant
Stan Swofford	....	medic
Tara Tovarek	....	production secretary
Susan Van Apeldoorn	....	craft service (as Susan Van Apledoorn)
Lynda Van Damm	....	production accountant
Dana Wasdin	....	production assistant
John D. Witherspoon	....	assistant: Ms. Witherspoon
Daniela Barbosa	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Bella Cosper	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Rebecca Edelson	....	script clearance administrator (uncredited)
Jessica Lacy	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Clare Lord	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Matt Mangum	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Julia M. Sauder	....	production assistant: re-shoot (uncredited)
Frank Slaten	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Kelly Tippens	....	stand-in: Candice Bergen (uncredited)
Yori Tondrowski	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Jennifer Webb	....	production associate (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures (presents)
• Original Film
• D&D Films
• Pigeon Creek Films

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• BDG filmai (2003) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Sweden) (2002) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Italia (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cascade Film (2002) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2003) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Kitokio kino klubas (2009) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Fox Network (2006) (USA) (TV)
• Talpa (2005) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Touchstone Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Character Shop
• Entity FX
• Light Matters Inc.

Other Companies

• Air Lyndhurst Studios  score recorded at
• Angel Studios  score recorded at
• Buena Vista Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Christopher Gray Casting  extras casting
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• LA Management  talent management (uncredited)
• Lab 601  post-production facilities (Dailies)
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• Picture Mill, The  titles (as The Picture Mill)
• Pro 7  legal services
• Simon Pearce  thanks
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting New York
• Tai Audio  walkies provided by

Also Known As:

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:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Earl asks Pearl to pull the bologna cake out of the freezer when Melanie announces her engagement. This tasty item came to the film as a dish served to one of the (many) script re-writers by his fiancée, who was from Indiana. It is bologna, cream cheese and horseradish.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Andrew mentions to his mother that they will be staying at The Golden Cherry Motel. There really is a Golden Cherry Motel (it was seen in the movie Norma Rae) but it is located in Opelika, Alabama, which is nowhere near where this movie is supposed to have taken place.

Quotes:

Bobby Ray:[Opening the door to see Jake and Andrew. Obviously thinks Andrew is attractive] What's going on, Jake?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Home Alabama

Reese Witherspoon as a smart, sassy blonde? Hard to believe, I know.

I cannot envision anyone but Reese Witherspoon as Melanie, a snooty-but-lovable up-and-coming New York City fashion designer from Alabama who receives a marriage proposal from the prominent, well-bred son of the mayor of New York. Of course, this means that she must go back to the small town where she was raised to demand a divorce from Jake (Josh Lucas) - seven years after walking out on him.

Aside from being a love story, this film shows us that you cannot escape your past, no matter how hard you try. Everywhere she turns Reese's character is beset by the people and events of her youth. Old friends seem almost compelled to reminisce about their youthful escapades. She just cannot seem to get away from it. You really get a sense of how she must feel when you see her in the honky-tonk bar, surrounded by rednecks with no visible exit.

Witherspoon is right at home in the role as a smart, sassy young woman ala 'Legally Blonde'. However the real star of the show is Josh Lucas. His expressive face lends an authenticity to Jake that transcends the stereotypical former football star and produces a charismatic, likable guy who just wants to win back his girl. But if it is stereotypes that you want, they are there to be found. Most prominent is the mother of Reese's fiancé, played by Candice Bergen. She is one tough politician who is as cold as ice and predictably obsessed with her public image. Others include the independent, feminist girlfriend, the redneck buddies and a gay fashion designer.

Director Andy Tennant also likes to deal with some classic historical and societal conflicts in this movie, such as the North versus the South. In addition to numerous Yankee/redneck jokes, Witherspoon's dad (Fred Ward) is involved in the regular reenactment of a Civil War battle. Tennant also seems to be a fan of love's ability to prevail in the face of these conflicts. His film 'Ever After' has a similar theme – it deals with the struggle between nobility and commoner during medieval times. Specifically, it is about a Prince who falls in love with a peasant girl. Despite the odds, their love overcomes this obstacle.

If you like romantic comedies, you should like this film. Despite its flaws this movie is upbeat, entertaining and it comes with a lesson about the futility of trying to escape your past that might prove invaluable to some audience members.