The Film
Before Reese Witherspoon was an Oscar winner, she was Elle Woods, an airhead with a dream -- a very pink dream.
Legally Blonde was a cute comedy that managed to bank a whopping $141 million. So naturally, they milked the premise and spawned the sequel Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde.
The movie kicks off with a quick recap, as if anyone would see Legally Blonde 2 without having seen the original. Apparently, MGM thinks that could be the case, because the original has yet to get a high-def release. Lame!
Sadly, the lameness doesn't stop there. Legally Blonde 2 manages to recycle many of the jokes from the original, but around a new plotline. This time, Elle fights for a different love: her dog Bruiser. After making a push to her partners against the cruelty of animal testing, she loses her high-powered lawyer job, packs up the pink, and heads to Washington D.C. From there, we get a horrible (and horribly embarrassing) musical number, a Million Dog March, and a revelation that Bruiser is, in fact, gay.
At one point, Elle makes the claim that she needs to speak up for her four-legged friends because they can't speak for themselves. We want to speak for them too. They think this movie sucks.
The Picture
It's not just the movie that's a complete disappointment; the image on Legally Blonde 2 just isn't very good. The 1.85:1 transfer is riddled with soft shots and specks, and there's very little detail. It actually looks more like a dated '80s movie instead of the 2003 sequel to a blockbuster hit. That said, the pinks are still pretty hot, as are many of the colors in this bubblegum-heavy palette. Overall though, it's hard to believe that Elle Woods wouldn't be caught dead looking like this!
The Sound
Rom-com fans won't be disappointed by this film's DTS-HD Master Audio track. It doesn't sparkle like Elle's hair and/or shoes, but it certainly gets the job done. Most of the film is dialogue, so your front speakers will be getting most of the workout. However, the dog march scene, some of the Congressional moments, and the aforementioned musical number will work your surrounds into the action.
The Extras
All of Legally Blonde 2's extras are ported over from the DVD release, so there are no high-def surprises here. If this is your first peek at these extras, know that it's really about quantity versus quality. There are no real revelations, but plenty of bits about the D.C backdrop, as well as the dog, the director, and what's so wonderful about Elle Woods. In a completely weird move, Jennifer Coolidge, Jessica Cauffiel and Alanna Ubach provide commentary. Coolidge was more of a main character in the first film, and the other two play Elle's even-dumber BFFs. All three are basically a blip in this sequel, and it's weird to have them give a play-by-play.
Final Thoughts
Reese Witherspoon has a stellar resume. Unfortunately, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde brings the curve down a bit. With a bland Blu-ray and an even blander plot, this one is for Delta Nu diehards only. It manages to take what was sort of a fun movie and turns it into a seriously bad blonde joke.
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