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Dorian's Movie Reviews
Is it worth seeing? Reviews are presented with no cynicism, no comparisons, no biased standards, no pretentiousness - every movie is reviewed on its individual entertainment value including technical presentation.
Scale 1 - 5 |
Screenplay by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith Based on the book by Amanda Brown PG-13 |
Born blonde, beautiful, 4.0 student, president of her sorority, and engaged to a handsome social climber - is there anything more a rich girl could want? Take away the fiancé and suddenly life is too cruel. It seems the fickle social climber thinks serious brunettes make the climbing easier. She will get him back! Ella (Reese Witherspoon), sweeps up her designer poochy, buys some new swimsuits, enlists PR aplenty, and applies to Harvard Law School. That's all it takes to get in, right?
Ella is certain she can follow her fiancé, Warner (Matthew Davis), and become the serious little stepping stone he wants. But on arrival at the grand university, Ella soon discovers that Warner has wasted no time replacing her with his previous roost, Vivian Kensington (Selma Blair), the fiancée he previously dumped to university co-habit on the other coast with Ella. Love the one your with. Guess what Vivian is now studying? It seems everyone wants to be at Harvard Law these days.
What's a girl to do? Faced with a very difficult scholastic journey in a highly competitive environment, Ella flattens her flowing locks and tools onto the hard road of proving herself... to herself - that is all that matters. It isn't long before her celebrity relationships draw her into court like stringy hair to a beauty salon, and the tangles aren't easily removed.
Except for the coincidences of everyone going to the same law school, and then everyone competing for the same summer legal internship, and there are no real surprises, this movie is a hoot and harbors a good message.
I give this one four spotlights out of a possible five for the writing, acting, directing, casting, music, and costumes. It carries a PG-13 rating. Enjoy!
- Dorian
Scale:
- 5 Spotlights: The best of movie making, well worth seeing
- 4 Spotlights: Good movie for the genre; may have minor technical or story problems but they hardly harm the enjoyment; clearly worth seeing; (most movies)
- 3 Spotlights: Not bad, but has problems - worth seeing
- 2 Spotlights: Caution - a "B" movie, probably will appeal only to some
- 1 Spotlight: Caution - not recommended for any audience (will probably never be given)
Note: No half spotlights are given.
My reviews are not based much on my personal taste, or any standard besides entertainment value. I try to be as objective as possible, keeping in mind that entertainment value is very subjective and individualized. If I'm not interested in a movie I usually don't go see it, so it doesn't get reviewed. Each character, and each position in the production company might be highlighted if the contribution affected the enjoyment of the story as either outstanding or dismal and I noticed it, keeping in mind that many contributions are singularly distinguished by their seamless integration with the story, not calling attention to themselves and thereby escaping attention.
- Dorian Scott Cole
Inevitable Legal Disclaimer: The views expressed on this page are only opinions and should be regarded as opinions by the reader.
Other distribution restrictions: None