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Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde More at IMDbPro »

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291 reviews in total

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77 out of 110 people found the following review useful:
The horror, the horror, 11 June 2004
Author: sundogg99 from Oregon, USA

That a film sequel will invariably fail to meet the standards of its predecessor is nearly axiomatic. For every brilliant sequel like 'Aliens' or 'Godfather: Part II', there are dozens of painfully lame successors. This is hardly a surprise, yet it is our own unerring tendency to flock, lemming-like, to sequels that insures their continued existence. Sequels make money, and that's a bad thing.

Take 'Legally Blonde 2'. Please.

By way of defense, let me point out that it isn't all that easy to find a movie that will entertain two adults, a 15 year old boy, and a 12 year old girl. Our hopes weren't high when we rented LB2 a couple of weekends ago; however, we all agreed that we had enjoyed the original movie, or at least hadn't actively hated it. That perky little Reese Witherspoon – how can you not kinda like her, huh?

After seeing LB2, I will unreservedly credit it with one thing: it provided a rallying point for my often-scattered family. We were steadfast, united in our complete and utter loathing for this execrable movie. Beyond that questionable achievement, however, I'm not sure there's anything positive that can be said about this film.

As virtually every other reviewer on the planet has noted, the original 'Blonde' had some amusing moments, most of which were supplied by Ms. Witherspoon, who managed to inject the character of Elle Woods with a believable combination of ditziness and sweet charm. Also bolstering the original film was co-star Jennifer Coolidge, who played her dim-bulb shtick to perfection as Elle's beautician friend Paulette. Of course it was a by-the-numbers plot line as predictable as Oregon rain, but Witherspoon, et al played it lightly and for laughs and it worked.

The sequel, however, is an appalling mélange of preachiness, offensive stereotypes, and patently ludicrous plot devices. 'Legally Blonde' made points by taking a helium-weight, bubbleheaded rich girl and making her into a sympathetic character. In LB2, Elle is an annoying dipshit whose breathless naivete and hyperactive adventures are simply painful to endure.

There's no real point in enumerating all the faults of this movie. To do so would be to grant it more thought than evidently went into its creation. But I can't simply step away from one aspect of the film that I found both irritating and troubling. Viewers of the first film will no doubt remember Elle's Chihuahua, Bruiser. For reasons that are continually validated, I tend to hate cutesy cinematic animal sidekicks, and Bruiser was emphatically no exception. In LB2, however, Bruiser's sexuality becomes a repeated theme and convenient plot device. More specifically, we (and Elle) discover that Bruiser is…(wait for it)… gay.

Hilarity ensues, ad nauseum.

It's a damning testimony that 1) the writers of this movie were so desperate for script fodder that they came up with this stunningly lame idea in the first place;

2) that they play it so shamelessly for laughs; and 3) that certain plot twists depend on this fact. It's a stupid, stupid idea in a stupid, stupid movie.

Should I waste more of my time or yours decrying the utter waste of Jennifer Coolidge in this movie? What about Sally Field's humiliating role as Congresswoman Victoria Rudd? Bob Newhart's excruciating turn as the know-it-all hotel doorman cum political mentor. Finally, on a larger scale, should we discuss the massive suspension of disbelief that's required to even slightly believe a moment of this wretched film?

Nah.

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22 out of 27 people found the following review useful:
Jaw-droppingly awful - one of 2003's worst (*), 20 October 2003

Author: Jason Alley (samurai1978@aol.com) from Sacramento

The first "Legally Blonde", with its "ditzy girl with a heart of gold does well" storyline was basically a rip-off of "Clueless", but it wasn't bad. It had a funny central idea, more than a few solid laughs, and a really entertaining lead character. This sloppy, lamely plotted, cash-in sequel has none of those things.

Reese Witherspoon, rapidly losing any edginess she used to have, is back as Elle Woods, the pink-loving, fashion conscious lawyer. She's about to get married to her boyfriend from the last movie (played by Luke Wilson) and in trying to invite her dog's parents to the wedding (that's right, her DOG'S PARENTS - remember what I said about the movie being "lamely plotted"?), she finds out that the dog's mother is being held prisoner by a cosmetics company that is pro-animal testing.

So...Elle decides to go to Washington to take on animal testing. And I wish I was in a different theater.

What we have here is a comedy with no good jokes. Not a single one. This movie's idea of "comedy" is for Elle to find out her chihuahua is gay. And then in the very next scene, the chihuahua is wearing a studded leather vest. Sigh.

Also, it's dumb. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but there's a big difference between movies that go about being dumb in a very smart, witty way (see "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle") and a movie like "Legally Blonde 2", which is just plain dopey. The story is idiotic, characters change their minds and motivations for no reason other than to fit into where the plot is going, and everything wraps up in a way that is nauseatingly phony.

I've pretty much given up on Reese Witherspoon. Where is the cool, edgy actress that starred in movies like "Election", "Freeway" and "American Psycho"? Abducted by Hollywood to make useless, vanilla movies like this, apparently.

I, for one, would love to see her character from "Freeway" scare the living s*** out of Elle Woods.

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23 out of 33 people found the following review useful:
The Most Disappointing Sequel of 2003, 2 June 2005

Author: christian123

Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde is a very disappointing sequel as it fails to deliver the laughs. Elle Woods is now a rising young lawyer at a great firm, balancing a demanding a career with preparations for her wedding to the man of her dreams. But when she finds out that her beloved dog Bruiser's family members are being used as cosmetic test subjects by one of her firm's own clients, she stands up for their rights--and is promptly fired. Ms. Woods decides to go to Washington to take matters into her own hands. The plot actually had some potential, unfortunately the execution was very poor. The original wasn't an Oscar quality film, it was just a fun film to watch. The sequel isn't as fun nor is it fun in general. It was pretty much the same as the first movie and so it was a pretty pointless sequel. Reese Witherspoon returns and she does a good job but she's working with a weak script. The supporting cast isn't very good as none add much to the film. Sally Field is a very good actress but her talents are wasted. Luke Wilson's character isn't very interesting and Jennifer Coolidge tries to hard most of the time. Regina King is a new addition to the cast and she does an okay job, nothing memorable though. Missing from this sequel is Selma Blair, this doesn't matter though as her character wasn't really needed. Charles Herman-Wurmfeld replaces Robert Luketic as the director and does a very bad job. The running time is a brief 95 minutes though it feels a lot longer then that. The film felt a lot longer since the movie just wasn't funny. There were a few funny moments though most of the jokes this film delivered were, at best, small chuckles. Do a few funny moments redeem this film? No, this sequel is one of the worst sequels of 2003 and one of the worst comedies of 2003. In the end, this sequel may seem funny but I assure you it isn't. Rating 4.3/10, rent the original instead.

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14 out of 17 people found the following review useful:
Sucked in ways I can barely explain, 22 January 2006

Author: hannah-164 from Canada

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I had the misfortune of seeing this movie while on a wonderful trip to Greece. As the 'plot' rolled out, I sank lower and lower in my seat. I was actually embarrassed to be North American.

Consider: Elle goes on a mission to find her *dog's* parents so they can attend her wedding. No, not her dog's wedding. *Her* wedding. Now, think about that. I guess this is sort of a spoiler, except it's revealed in the first ten minutes, because it's the whole premise. Yes, that's the peak. It goes downhill from there.

I felt particularly annoyed with Reece Witherspoon. Now, she strikes me as a fairly intelligent young woman. I love most of her stuff. I enjoyed Legally Blonde I. I had high hopes. How did this happen?! Was it just about the money? Was it a bet? A dare? Dumb dumb dumb.

To be honest, I would *rather* have been attending a dog's wedding.

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9 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
One of the worst propaganda movies ever., 7 January 2005

Author: Morfeus Ivanovich from Riga, Latvia

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This movie simply fails to achieve a level of even average at any position like plot, script, directing, acting or relevant ideas. As we observe the plain and unrealistic "Blonde crusade" to Washington to achieve another stupid and purely political goal - protecting rights of animals. Well, in some time, corrupted politicans are defeated, and blondes reign supreme, although it is hard to believe they are able to actually comprehend what they were fighting for. Acting is really below average, Reese is just plain annoying, and though she's quite talented actress, the script is so bad that her talent is in vain. So, to sum up - a very bad movie. 1/10.

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17 out of 29 people found the following review useful:
Fairly enjoyable, as a cartoon brought to life with real actors., 7 October 2004
Author: TxMike from Houston, Tx, USA, Earth

There can be little doubt, this movie is an inferior follow-up to Legally Blonde. Too many characters are recycled and made to look cute, but it doesn't work as well as when it was fresh. Still, Reese Witherspoon has created in 'Elle Woods' a character that is just fun to watch. She never stays down long, always picking herself up with a fresh approach until she achieves her goal. I look at it like a 'Roadrunner' cartoon, but with real people. It is silly and implausible, but funny. In this case the 'bad guys' are the US Congress in a parody of it's habit of making backroom deals and taking care of supporters to guarantee reelection, even if nothing is done to help constituents. Elle Woods finds that animals are used to test cosmetics, and her quest is to get a law passed that will make it illegal. Nothing more than cute, funny fluff.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Yeah, the horror, 7 February 2006

Author: phred-13 from Switzerland

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This movie is so bad.. The story is so strange, there's no red line through the story. The scenes aren't credible. I'm not frequently down thumbing but when I watched this movie I was ashamed that I rent it at the DVD store. You don't believe Elle that she wants to change the law. Hausers change in her mind set is also very sudden and not credible at all. And, finally, that her dog is gay is the worst point in the movie. OK, the first part of this movie wasn't that bright either, it wasn't a smart movie but at least the story was a little credible but this one.. I cannot believe that Reese Witherspoon stands behind this movie, she even helped out as Regisseur..

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9 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
I'd rather staple my eyelids shut, 4 November 2003

Author: wildkat2001 from Pasadena, California

Okay, Seriously, if there is anything you ever do for yourself ever during your existence here on earth, please I beg, I warn and plead with you... DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE EVER!!!

I really did like the first and I rented this movie with some apprehension (I had heard the bad reviews, and wanted to see it for myself)

Now I wish I could turn back the hands of time and never have rented this terrible movie.

I would rather staple my eyelids shut than to ever have to sit thru this movie again!!!

The acting is horrendous, The jokes pathetic, and Reese Witherspoon's character is even more pathetic (if possible). You will suffer beyond belief if you choose to watch this film, if you like pain, then find another means of torture - this film only leaves you unsatisfied and red, black and blue!!!

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8 out of 13 people found the following review useful:
From Harvard Law to Washington, DC. Think pink., 19 November 2004

Author: Michael O'Keefe from Muskogee OK

Some more tongue-in-cheek legal doings from the charming blonde in pink. Elle Woods(Reese Witherspoon)with her fresh Harvard Law degree and pink pumps is fired from her law firm and heads to Washington, D.C. to lobby for a bill to ban animal testing. She puts her marriage to boyfriend Emmett(Luke Wilson)on hold as she takes a job as an aide for Congresswoman Rudd(Sally Field)hopefully for some clout and clues in learning the ways of Washington politics. Woods is also on a mission to find her pet Chihuahua Bruiser's mother. One of the highlights in this rapidly to grow stale comedy is when Woods finds out that her dog is gay.

The sassy and savvy Witherspoon carries this sequel that hardly compares to the original(2001). Field is more or less wasted. Wilson could have phoned his part in. It is great to see veteran Bob Newhart as the wily doorman. Also in the cast are: Bruce McGill and Dana Ivey. Jennifer Coolidge could have been left on the cutting room floor, sorry. Bigger, bolder and blonder...duh.

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19 out of 35 people found the following review useful:
Sweet, funny and sugary...yet has some serious messages that many people overlook..., 6 April 2004

Author: scarletminded from San Diego, CA

If you don't like offbeat silly films, you probably didn't like Legally Blonde and you most likely won't like its sequel. So stay away!

For us that do, it is a hilarious comedy. My favorite one is the tagline on the V.E.R.S.A.C.E. "think tank" (I knew they had one!) website that says: "We test makeup on animals, so you don't have to." Anyone who doesn't laugh at that doesn't have any sense of humor, or any sense at all.

As much as people think this is a silly stupid comedy, it has a lot to say. First off, even though Elle is into fashion, pink, her wedding and the like, she is smart. She discovers what is going on behind her back. She writes a bill while her co-workers are waiting for lawyers to do it. I don't think that most viewers get that Elle is a smart character, not an airheaded one. She is just a free spirit and different.

Which leads me to the next layer. In both films, Elle is the sore thumb. In a world that worships the thin, tan, blonde girls, she gets into situations where her looks don't work for her. She is put down for what she likes and who she is. She has to show people she isn't the stereotype they think her to be. That gives a good message to teenage girls who would watch the film, a much better film night idea than letting them watch Road Trip, American Pie or any other pointless teenage sex comedy, where the girl is just seen as a sex object and not a real character. This films has ideas. Elle uses her abilities, like making friends, to achieve her goals. She never changes who she is deep down for anyone. She is idealistic, not cynical or jaded, she is friendly and very sweet. More people in the world should be like her.

Then there is also the layer of animal rights and fighting for what you believe in, even if that means losing your job. Teen based films barely touch politics, but this one gives a good look inside what goes on...not intensely realistic, but it is a teen movie...one doesn't expect The West Wing here...

Not to say that LB2 doesn't have a lot of silly and even stupid humor...I love Paulette and Elle's little dog...but it also has many quick jokes you might not see if you aren't paying close attention. If you have the DVD, pause on the magazines and read them. They are great! It reminds me of movies like Airplane or Austin Powers, the jokes keep coming at you and you have to listen to the dialog closely to get the wit. It also has some repeating jokes, like the intern room reference to Elle and her friends.

I actually watched it a second time and laughed louder than the first. It is over the top, like a pink sickening sweet cookie with frosting and sprinkles over it...but it works!

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