Susan Granger’s review of “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde” (MGM)
The good news is that Reese Witherspoon is back as smart ‘n’ savvy Elle Woods, recent Harvard Law School grad and soon-to-be-married in Fenway Park to a professor (Luke Wilson) who adores her even more than the Boston Red Sox. But when she’s summarily fired for defending Bruiser, her precious short-haired Chihuahua, she’s off on a crusade to ban animal testing in the cosmetics industry. It’s “Ms. Elle Goes to Washington” (complete with classic Jimmy Stewart film clips) as this fearlessly pretty-in-pink Capitol Barbie lands a job with a Congresswoman (Sally Field), who predictably betrays her, growling “I’ll get her and her little dog too,” like the wicked witch in “Wizard of Oz.” Undaunted, Elle perseveres with the help of her dauntless doorman Sid (Bob Newhart), chirping: “Is bill-writing super-fun, or what?” The bad news is that too much is recycled and derivative. You’ve already seen the best laugh (“Too Nancy…too Hillary..too Monica…Too perfect for words!”) in the theatrical trailer. Screenwriter Kate Kondell rehashes the dumb blonde humor of the original, utilizing Jennifer Coolidge as Elle’s beautician chum along with silly sorority sisters Jessica Cauffiel and Alanna Ubach as, once again, the squealing Delta Nu’s come to the rescue. Directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld (“Kissing Jessica Stein”), the only new gag is Elle’s discovery that her beloved Bruiser is gay, since he’s in love with a male Rottweiler owned by a Southern Conservative Congressman (Bruce McGill). On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde” is a sunny, sweet, summer 6 – but never underestimate the box-office appeal of a woman with a French manicure, awesome Jimmy Choo shoes and a Harvard Law degree.
