I’ve reviewed almost hundreds of film franchises by this point, intellectual properties that see sequel upon sequel, and even prequels in some cases. They keep going, and studios keep making them because they earn a ton of box office success. However, if there is one thing I’ve realized in my time of being a reviewer, it’s that some films deserve to be a one-and-done deal. That’s perhaps how it should have been kept with Legally Blonde, a film that did not need to be a franchise, and yet was made one for no reason with the release of Legally Blonde 2.
How to Download Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blond
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The Movie Review
Elle Woods is now a famous and inspiring young lawyer on the rise at a prestigious firm. She’s juggling a tough job while planning her wedding to the love of her life. However, she stands up for their rights and is immediately dismissed when she learns that members of her cherished dog Bruiser’s family are being used as cosmetic test subjects by one of her firm’s own clients. To take control of the situation, Elle Woods makes the decision to travel to Washington and begin a court case that will be truly extravagant.
As extravagant as that plot might make it sound, it’s not even close to the definition of that word in the slightest. The first Legally Blonde was a respectable and original affair, with its snarky blonde heroine with a golden heart who conducts good deeds with kindness, empathy, and sweetness. The plot was influenced by several other classic chick flicks such as Clueless, Pretty in Pink, and whatnot, yet it wasn’t at all bad and in fact, was quite entertaining. It had a lighthearted main plot, numerous hearty chuckles, and a genuinely likable lead character.
None of those traits are there in this cash-in sequel’s shoddy writing or weak plot directed by Charles Herman-Wurfeld.
The plot actually had some promise, but the way it was carried out was terrible. The original was an entertaining film, to say the least – it wasn’t an Oscar-caliber production by any means, yet the sequel is not even close to being enjoyable. In terms of the events, it was essentially the same as the first film, which rendered it useless as a sequel. If you’re going to have the main character go through the same kind of development again, at least make sure it doesn’t take away from the character growth they already underwent.
Reese Witherspoon makes a decent effort in her comeback role despite having a subpar script. The supporting cast is lacking though, as none of them contribute much to the story in any way. Sally Field is a talented actor, yet her abilities go unutilized. Luke Wilson’s character isn’t particularly compelling either, and Jennifer Coolidge frequently overperforms which just seems annoying after a while. Regina King is a new cast member, and while she performs passably, nothing stands out. Selma Blair is absent from this sequel, but it doesn’t matter because her role wasn’t really required.
They also went extremely overboard with the aesthetic this time around. I mean, I understand that the film has a certain liking for pink, but not all courtroom cases need to have a lawyer that’s completely dressed in pink from head to toe at every given moment. It’s supposed to be a comedy film at the end of the day, not a Barbie movie, so get rid of the cliches that the film itself has created. The film’s running time is only 95 minutes (about 1 and a half hours), yet it seems much longer due to the lack of humor.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on the music, it being abysmal is perhaps the best thing that I can say about it. None of the tunes in the soundtrack stand out, I remember literally none of it even though I’ve watched Legally Blonde 2 twice for this review.
Verdict
There aren’t, in my opinion, any compelling reasons to watch this film. It’s not amusing, clever, or even humorous. These kinds of sequels are shoddy and just exist to cash in on the success of the first. Even Reese Witherspoon, who is obscenely attractive and wonderfully witty, could not save this movie from being the dumpster fire it ultimately came out as.
