Common Sense Media Review
Fun romp has some sexual references and salty language.
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Why Age 13+?
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Legally Blonde
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 37 parent reviews
Parents say that this movie is a fun, empowering comedy with a strong female lead that teaches important lessons about confidence and perseverance, although it contains considerable mature content that may require parental guidance. While many enjoy its feel-good messages, some reviews express concerns about overt sexual references and stereotypes that could be problematic for younger audiences.
- funny and empowering
- mature content
- strong female lead
- positive messages
- parental guidance needed
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 151 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is an entertaining and fun watch that promotes strong, positive messages about self-confidence and female empowerment. While many appreciate its humor and role models, parents should note the presence of some sexual references and language, suggesting it's more suitable for mature teens rather than younger audiences.
- entertaining fun
- positive messages
- role models
- parental guidance
- suitable for teens
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In LEGALLY BLONDE, Southern California sorority girl Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) is about to graduate with a major in fashion marketing. Her biggest challenge is what to wear for what she thinks will be a marriage proposal from her beau, Warner Huntington III (Matthew Davis). But he's decided to break up with her before he leaves for Harvard Law School because she's not "serious" enough to help him in his political career. Elle decides that the only way to get Warner back is to join him at Harvard. So she studies hard, aces the LSATs, and, with the help of a very unique application essay, is admitted. Her new classmates are skeptical and tease her. Worst of all, Warner reveals that he's engaged to Vivian (Selma Blair), a preppy girl who looks like an ad for Town and Country magazine. But Elle surprises them all -- and herself -- by becoming a first-class law student and lawyer while staying true to herself. She ends up defending a murder suspect with whom she has a special rapport and conducting a cross-examination that would impress Perry Mason.
Is It Any Good?
This courtroom comedy might not reach the heights of the sublime My Cousin Vinny, but it comes pretty close. Witherspoon is a treasure in Legally Blonde. She makes Elle completely believable as a charming California girl with spirit and brains. Witherspoon and the art direction (even the credits have i's dotted with hearts) keep things bubbly even when the script falters into predictability.
Luke Wilson as a young lawyer and Holland Taylor as an acerbic professor add some nice moments. Jennifer Coolidge delivers an iconic performance as Elle's nail technician and friend, and it's fun to see Raquel Welch in a cameo as a wealthy divorcée.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Elle didn't have higher aspirations for herself at the beginning of Legally Blonde. What role did her parents play in shaping the way she thought about her future?
Talk about Elle's choice to keep her client's secret, even when it put her defense at risk, and about the mistakes people make when they judge other people based on appearances. How did Elle's ability to hold to her values help her succeed where other, more experienced, lawyers fell short?
What does the way Elle responds to a practical joke show viewers about her?
What kinds of assumptions did people make about Elle based on her appearance? What were they, and how did she prove them wrong? Have there been times when you've been judged on your appearance? How did that make you feel?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 13, 2001
- On DVD or streaming : November 6, 2001
- Cast : Luke Wilson , Reese Witherspoon , Selma Blair
- Director : Robert Luketic
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : MGM/UA
- Genre : Comedy
- Character Strengths : Integrity
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some crude humor and language
- Last updated : November 6, 2025
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