Rating: Summary: more of the same BS Review: At first, Reese Witherspoon and her estranged husband really annoy eachother. Oh boy, can you believe it!? She's a city girl, and he's a country boy. It's so wacky how they're totally incompatible! But, oh! What's this? Their differences melt away, they fall in love, and discover the true meaning of Christmas. It's like they were TRYING to be unoriginal.
Rating: Summary: Almost made me laugh, twice. Review: Summary: Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) is an up and coming clothes designer in New York who has fallen in love with Andrew Hennings (Patrick Dempsey), the son of New York City's Mayor, Kate Hennings (Candice Bergen). When Andrew proposes, Melanie has to return to Alabama to get a divorce from her original husband, Jake Perry (Josh Lucas), whom she left after she decided to abort their child. When she returns, she is forced to face her past - her parents and friends - all of the things that she has been trying to hide from her new friends in New York.What she ends up realizing is that she really is an Alabama girl and calls off the wedding with Andrew to renew her marriage with Jake. My Comments: For a romantic comedy, this movie was not funny. Let me re-emphasize that point - not funny at all. I think it was actually more offensive than anything - poking fun of Southerners. The story was very contrived, did not make much sense and was not exciting. The story left a lot of loose ends (what happens with Andrew and his mother; why doesn't Melanie get upset at Kate when she finds out that the 'reporter' that came to interview her was actually Kate's personal secretary, etc.). Perhaps the best way to describe how bad this movie really is, is to tell you what the original ending was supposed to be. Instead of having Melanie and Jake end up dancing in the bar, Jake walks into the tent where the original wedding was supposed to take place with Melanie pretending to be dead. He tells everybody that she is dead and everyone is gasping, then he reveals it is a joke. And we are supposed to find this funny? After seeing the original ending I felt completely secure in giving this my lowest rating. The only actors that were worth watching were the parents: Candice Bergen, Mary Kay Place, and Fred Ward and perhaps Melanie's homosexual friend from Alabama, Ethan Embry who she 'outs' in a drunken fit. Overall, the movie is not funny, pokes fun at Southerners, and makes very little sense. Perhaps they are hoping that they can use the 'Life seldom makes sense' ploy, but it just does not work for this one. Not worthy your time or money.
Rating: Summary: True Love prevails yet again Review: SWEET HOME ALABAMA presents moviegoers yet again with that familiar plot: True Love between an adorable couple triumphs even though one (or both) are tempted by another Hottie almost to the point of complete surrender. Several years ago, the female lead in this film might have been given to an adorably tousled Meg Ryan, but, alas, none of us are as young as we used to be. So, Reese Witherspoon plays Melanie, the up and coming New York fashion designer who's won the heart of the Mayor's son, Andrew (Patrick Dempsey). And what a Hunk Andy is! Not only is he reminiscent of JFK, Jr., but he proposes to Melanie by escorting her into Tiffany's after-hours and inviting her to pick out the engagement ring of her choice. What's a poor girl to do but say "yes"? But, before the nuptials, she must go back home to Alabama to take care of some private business, which is get divorce papers signed by her childhood sweetheart and secret husband Jake (Josh Lucas), long since estranged. Reese is sweet - a worthy successor to MR. And Lucas has that roguish handsomeness and attitude of, say, Matthew McConaughey or a very young Paul Newman. As a matter of fact, the only thing wrong with Jake, according to the scriptwriters, is that he hasn't any prospects, lives with his coon dog in backwater Alabama, plays pool with his good ol' boy buds on Saturday night, was too drunk to dance with Melanie at their wedding reception, and, well, isn't Andrew. Perhaps the best reason to see SWEET HOME ALABAMA is Candice Bergen as Kate, the Big Apple's mayor and Andrew's mother. Kate sees her son as Presidential material, so appearances are everything. She's horrified that he might actually (gulp!) marry someone so plebeian as a fashion designer. Kate's persona is acerbic MURPHY BROWN gone on to bigger things. So how do you suppose she'll react if she discovers that Melanie's parents live in a double-wide? And, speaking of parents, Fred Ward appears as Earl, Melanie's Dad. Where's Fred been since he played the unlucky Gus Grissom in THE RIGHT STUFF (1983)? Now, don't think me a complete curmudgeon. This isn't a badly done or unpleasant movie. But how many times do we have to revisit the storyline? During the film's opening scene, an 11 year-old Melanie shares a first kiss with an equally young Jake on a beach during a thunder and lightning storm. When Melanie asks Jake why he wants to marry her, Jake responds, "So I can kiss you any time I want." With a Hallmark moment like this, who could doubt the outcome?
Rating: Summary: A Cute Movie Review: I thought this movie was cute all in all but it did have some flaws too. Though I thought it was a good piece of fluffiness when you're in a light mood it could've been improved w/ just a couple of changes. The guy that played Jake was good in his role I thought and though some of the other characters did a pretty good job in this movie, many of the southern people other than Jake seemed to be a little too put-on southern and a little overexaggerated. Also some of the camera work was a little hokey (when they kissed, it did a little bit of choppy slow motion) and kind of distracts you. The story was cute though and even if I think some of the southern stuff was overdone it was still funny and easy to relate to. Even with these adjustments, I think that it was overall a very cute movie and was funny. I liked the soundtrack they chose and all of the characters in the movie made you like them for the most part. It was all in all a light-hearted and pleasant movie. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good piece of light-hearted fluff to relax with.
Rating: Summary: Wonderful Love Story Review: Reese Witherspoon continues to be one of the hottest, in more ways then one, young stars in movies. She was fabulous here playing a southern rebel who transforms herself into a New York fashion designer. When she becomes engaged, she quickly returns to her roots in an attempt to end her previous marriage, that she neglected to tell her fiance about. While not continous thoughout the movie, the laughs are still there, and were pretty huge at times. In the end, this is more of a romance then a comedy, but it plays well as both. The supporting cast was perfect, and the chemistry between Reese and both of her leading men was right on. The DVD is hardly a must-buy, however, as it contains few worthwhile extras that couldn't be watched with a rental. The movie was great, but the DVD lacks a little something to make this a five-star DVD.
Rating: Summary: its great Review: I love this movie... at first it seemed impractical, but after a few more times of watchin it i am in love. Reese Witherspoon is a doll. All of you people who wrote reviews and think this movie is rude to southerners...... GET OVER IT! There are many great jokes, and nobody really thinks of Alabama that way. Thats what makes the movie so cool. So all you southerners who cant take jokes, then I'm sorry, maybe it isnt for you, but for us "city-folk", its great. Keep 'em coming hollywood!
Rating: Summary: Hilariously cute! Review: This movie is so comical, and cute. Reese Witherspoon did a great job as well as her co-stars. I recommend this for everyone. The charaters are well portrayed and well casted. It is a cute date-movie or girls night-in movie!
Rating: Summary: Great Movie Review: I live in Arkansas so I could relate to parts of this movie. I love a movie with romance and that is funny and this had the best of both. Josh Lucas (Jake Parry) is so cute. Josh an Reese look great together in this movie. The movie was kinda predictable but I am glad she chose Jake. I can not find any flaws in this movie it is great. I have watched it 3 time and am looking to buy it on DVD. Thanks
Rating: Summary: SWEET Review: Setting- This story is of course in Alabama and some of it takes place in New York Wife- Melanie wants to be the wife of a sucessful business man but at the end of the story she relizes that her other husband is right for her. Exciting- This movie is very exciting and adventurous and Melanie tries everything to get her husband to sign the divorce papers. Everything- In Melanie's world everything is so messed up and confusing and she doesn't know what to do. Trick- Melanie keeps tricking her husband by doing all this wacky stuff such as taking his money from the bank and telling him it isn't against the law becuase they are still married.
Rating: Summary: This movie made me think...... Review: I might say this is my favorite movie of all time, but that might be a stretch. But I can so relate to Melanie. I live in Michigan and have been very fortunate. Swimming pools, fansy cars, big houses, lots of clothes, you can't beat it, until you sit on the porch on a night in the mountains of north carolina. That was my stance on the movie. It really made me think.
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