SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: LEGALLY BLONDE 2: RED, WHITE AND BLONDE

"LEGALLY BLONDE 2: RED, WHITE AND BLONDE"
(2003) (Reese Witherspoon, Sally Field) (PG-13)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Mild	None	Heavy	Minor	None

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Minor	None	None	None	Mild

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Moderate	Minor	None	Moderate	None

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: A flighty but intelligent lawyer heads to Washington to push a bill through Congress that will ban animal research in the cosmetics industry.

PLOT:

Lawyer Elle Woods (REESE WITHERSPOON) is fresh out of Harvard Law School and is planning her upcoming nuptials to Professor Emmett Richmond (LUKE WILSON). A flighty but intelligent blonde, she wants to invite the mother of her dog, Bruiser, to the wedding, but doesn't know her whereabouts. A private investigator eventually leads Elle to an animal research lab where the pooch is being used for cosmetic testing.

Horrified at the discovery, Elle wants her law firm to do something about it, but since their client owns the lab and they don't take her seriously, she ends up being fired. With encouragement from Emmett and her dimwitted hairdresser friend, Paulette Parcelle (JENNIFER COOLIDGE), Elle decides to head to Washington, D.C. to change the law.

There, she gets a job as a legislative assistant to Congresswoman Rudd (SALLY FIELD) and meets her new co-workers including Chief of Staff Grace Rossiter (REGINA KING) as well as Reena Gulani (MARY LYNN RAJSKUB) and Timothy McGinn (J. BARTON), none of whom take her, her appearance or perky attitude seriously.

Nevertheless, she then sets out to convince Committee Chairwoman Libby Hauser (DANA IVEY) and conservative Member Stanford Marks (BRUCE McGILL) to join her cause. They're initially reluctant, but her charm, perseverance and creativity in breaking down their resistance eventually wins them over. They then join her in supporting "Bruiser's Bill" which will outlaw animal testing for cosmetic purposes.

Yet, when an unexpected obstacle threatens to derail the bill, Elle calls in Paulette and her friends Margot (JESSICA CAUFFIEL) and Serena (ALANNA UBACH) to help. With the aid of wise doorman Sid Post (BOB NEWHART), they set out to push their bill through Congress.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: If they're fans of the first film or anyone in the cast, they probably will.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For some sex-related humor.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: REESE WITHERSPOON plays a flighty but intelligent, determined and creative lawyer who becomes a legislative assistant in Congress so that she can help put an end to animal research in the cosmetics industry.
SALLY FIELD plays the Congresswoman who hires Elle and initially supports her bill, but then has a change of heart due to donor pressure.
REGINA KING plays Rudd's chief of staff who looks down on Elle and her bill and appears to be doing everything in her power to defeat both.
JENNIFER COOLIDGE plays Elle's dimwitted hairdresser friend who arrives to help her win over the members of Congress.
BRUCE McGILL plays a conservative congressman who joins Elle's side and supports her bill after learning that his dog is gay.
DANA IVEY plays the initially steely Chairwoman of the committee overseeing Elle's bill. She eventually comes over to Elle's side.
MARY LYNN RAJSKUB plays the Congresswoman's reserved scheduler.
J. BARTON plays another staff member who doesn't initially take Elle seriously.
BOB NEWHART plays the wise doorman who assists Elle in accomplishing her goal.
LUKE WILSON plays Elle's fiancé who teaches at Harvard Law School.; SALLY FIELD plays the Congresswoman who hires Elle and initially supports her bill, but then has a change of heart due to donor pressure.
REGINA KING plays Rudd's chief of staff who looks down on Elle and her bill and appears to be doing everything in her power to defeat both.
JENNIFER COOLIDGE plays Elle's dimwitted hairdresser friend who arrives to help her win over the members of Congress.
BRUCE McGILL plays a conservative congressman who joins Elle's side and supports her bill after learning that his dog is gay.
DANA IVEY plays the initially steely Chairwoman of the committee overseeing Elle's bill. She eventually comes over to Elle's side.
MARY LYNN RAJSKUB plays the Congresswoman's reserved scheduler.
J. BARTON plays another staff member who doesn't initially take Elle seriously.
BOB NEWHART plays the wise doorman who assists Elle in accomplishing her goal.
LUKE WILSON plays Elle's fiancé who teaches at Harvard Law School.; REGINA KING plays Rudd's chief of staff who looks down on Elle and her bill and appears to be doing everything in her power to defeat both.
JENNIFER COOLIDGE plays Elle's dimwitted hairdresser friend who arrives to help her win over the members of Congress.
BRUCE McGILL plays a conservative congressman who joins Elle's side and supports her bill after learning that his dog is gay.
DANA IVEY plays the initially steely Chairwoman of the committee overseeing Elle's bill. She eventually comes over to Elle's side.
MARY LYNN RAJSKUB plays the Congresswoman's reserved scheduler.
J. BARTON plays another staff member who doesn't initially take Elle seriously.
BOB NEWHART plays the wise doorman who assists Elle in accomplishing her goal.
LUKE WILSON plays Elle's fiancé who teaches at Harvard Law School.; JENNIFER COOLIDGE plays Elle's dimwitted hairdresser friend who arrives to help her win over the members of Congress.
BRUCE McGILL plays a conservative congressman who joins Elle's side and supports her bill after learning that his dog is gay.
DANA IVEY plays the initially steely Chairwoman of the committee overseeing Elle's bill. She eventually comes over to Elle's side.
MARY LYNN RAJSKUB plays the Congresswoman's reserved scheduler.
J. BARTON plays another staff member who doesn't initially take Elle seriously.
BOB NEWHART plays the wise doorman who assists Elle in accomplishing her goal.
LUKE WILSON plays Elle's fiancé who teaches at Harvard Law School.; BRUCE McGILL plays a conservative congressman who joins Elle's side and supports her bill after learning that his dog is gay.
DANA IVEY plays the initially steely Chairwoman of the committee overseeing Elle's bill. She eventually comes over to Elle's side.
MARY LYNN RAJSKUB plays the Congresswoman's reserved scheduler.
J. BARTON plays another staff member who doesn't initially take Elle seriously.
BOB NEWHART plays the wise doorman who assists Elle in accomplishing her goal.
LUKE WILSON plays Elle's fiancé who teaches at Harvard Law School.; DANA IVEY plays the initially steely Chairwoman of the committee overseeing Elle's bill. She eventually comes over to Elle's side.
MARY LYNN RAJSKUB plays the Congresswoman's reserved scheduler.
J. BARTON plays another staff member who doesn't initially take Elle seriously.
BOB NEWHART plays the wise doorman who assists Elle in accomplishing her goal.
LUKE WILSON plays Elle's fiancé who teaches at Harvard Law School.; MARY LYNN RAJSKUB plays the Congresswoman's reserved scheduler.
J. BARTON plays another staff member who doesn't initially take Elle seriously.
BOB NEWHART plays the wise doorman who assists Elle in accomplishing her goal.
LUKE WILSON plays Elle's fiancé who teaches at Harvard Law School.; J. BARTON plays another staff member who doesn't initially take Elle seriously.
BOB NEWHART plays the wise doorman who assists Elle in accomplishing her goal.
LUKE WILSON plays Elle's fiancé who teaches at Harvard Law School.; BOB NEWHART plays the wise doorman who assists Elle in accomplishing her goal.
LUKE WILSON plays Elle's fiancé who teaches at Harvard Law School.; LUKE WILSON plays Elle's fiancé who teaches at Harvard Law School.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of a few mild expletives, while some colorful phrases are also uttered. Some non-explicit sexual remarks and brief innuendo are present, while there's a brief running gag about two dogs being gay (with talk of "humping" and the sight of the dogs in S&M type garb, etc. - all played for laughs).
A few characters have bad attitudes, a few characters drink, and there's some material about performing tests on animals for research. Beyond that, the remaining categories have little or nothing in the way of major objectionable material. Even so, if you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Elle comments that she's making sangria for a party.
The staff makes a toast with what's presumably alcohol of some sort.
Miscellaneous people have drinks at a reception.
Sorority sisters have drinks.

BLOOD/GORE: None.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: For those who don't like animal research, there's brief footage of a dog in some sort of device in a lab.
Grace doesn't like anything about Elle and is portrayed as trying to undermine and/or embarrass her (such as making her think she's in one committee hearing, when she's really in another). She eventually changes her attitude about her.
Other staffers also initially look down on Elle, with one writing that she and her "snap" activity are stupid.
Various members of Congress don't take Elle's bill (about banning animal research in the cosmetics industry) seriously.
Rudd bows to financial pressure from a donor and changes her mind about Elle's bill. She then sets out to sabotage it (she also blames that on Grace, who's not responsible).
Marks admits that his dog is gay, says he couldn't be more proud of "the flamer" and then calls him a "sissy."

FRIGHTENING SCENES: For those who don't like animal research, there's brief footage of a dog in some sort of device in a lab.

GUNS/WEAPONS: None.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Slime dog," "Kick ass," "Holy crap," "Hello, patriots," "Oh my God, it's Capitol Barbie," "Hard ass," "Is bill writing super fun, or what?" "Give 'em hell tomorrow," "I'll be damned," "Oh, hell with it" and "Flamer" and "Sissy" (for being gay).

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): None.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): None.

PROFANITY: At least 2 asses, 2 damns, 2 hells, 1 crap, 12 uses of "Oh my God" and 1 use each of "For God's sakes" and "God" as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY: As we hear two women as they look at photos of Elle growing up, one of them mentions that she could have been a playmate by now.
We hear Paulette state that she did the bend and snap (a move from the first film that's exactly what it sounds like) last night while naked.
Paulette shows cleavage throughout the film, while Elle occasionally shows some in several scenes. Some miscellaneous women also show cleavage.
During a slide show about Bruiser having a tough life, Elle states that he ended up "turning tricks on Hollywood and Vine."
Paulette says that her grandma's stripper name, Dolly Madison, was the same as Rudd's dog.
Grace and Timothy briefly bicker and he comments on her head ending up on the lap of some Congressman. He then drops some innuendo by saying that if she was visiting his district, at least she should have gotten some legislation.
Elle and Marks' male dogs lovingly gaze at each other in the park (the film portrays it as such). Later, a person caring for both dogs says that the dogs were trying to "hump" each other and that the establishment where she works supports "healthy curiosity" (among dogs). She then comes out and says, "Your dogs are gay." Marks then asks, "Why me?" and states that he told his wife not to buy the dog in Dupont Circle (a neighborhood of Washington, D.C. with a large gay population). We later see Bruiser in a small leather outfit and Marks' dog wearing a studded collar. Even later, we see a Gay Dogs of America booth where a shirtless man (presumably gay) dances around.
Elle's friend Margo wears just a bra-like top beneath an open coat (thus we see the top).
We briefly see a faux cover of Maxim featuring Elle's two female friends dressed in skimpy attire.
Serena blurts out that she thinks Timothy is "smoking" (hot), and then grabs and plants a kiss on him. Sid then stares at Paulette's cleavage.

SMOKING: Marks smokes a pipe.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: None.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: The gay-related elements of the script (Elle's briefly seen assistant is portrayed as stereotypically gay, there's the whole running gag about gay dogs, and one sorority sister is a guy in drag or a transsexual).
Animal research, such as that done by cosmetic companies.
The film's skewed portrayal of Congress and congressional activities.
The notion that one person can make a difference.

VIOLENCE: None.

Reviewed June 26, 2003 / Posted July 2, 2003

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