If you are anything like me, by the time you were in Middle School you could recite Legally Blonde from beginning to end. Even now, as a working "adult", I love this movie like no other. I watch it several times a year, each time finding something new to amuse or inspire me. It is, in my mind, one of the greatest films made in my lifetime.
10 Reasons Why Legally Blonde is Still One of the Greatest Films I Have Ever Seen
1. Elle Woods is just incredible
This feels like a cop-out reason, because, of course, the heroine of a feel-good comedy is lovable in every way. Even before her Ivy League transformation, Elle is smart, sophisticated, and cares about her education. She excelled in undergrad, participated in countless extra-curricular activities, and managed to do so while remaining kind and loving to everyone around her. She undergoes struggles including bullying, sexual harassment, prejudice, and self-doubt, but always comes out poised and ready to fight for what is right.
2. THIS Celebration of ALL bodies
Apart from being an iconic movie moment, the Bend-and-Snap scene has another significance. If you look around the room at the very different bodies represented, you will see the message of this scene: every body is sexy and should be celebrated. Not just tiny little Elle Woods. We see a large middle-aged African American woman, a pregnant woman, a woman with "stretch marks and a fat ass", a man.
The beauty of this scene is that the deeper meaning is expressed in a light, fun way. Instead of telling people to love themselves as they are, this scene shows how people can love themselves, be sexy, and celebrate themselves as they are.
3. Motivation to the max!
Whenever I need motivation, especially when it comes to schoolwork, I take a few minutes to watch this scene.
Between the pump-up music, Elle's master multi-tasking, and the academic setting that I just love, there's nothing that gets me pumped up for a long haul of studying like this scene.
4. For a comedy, Legally Blonde holds some powerful truths
Sadly, life is not a romantic comedy, and Elle learns that very quickly. Sometimes in life you meet people who just won't care, no matter how much love you give them.
There are people for whom you will never be good enough, no matter how hard you try.
But, by the end of the movie, Elle knows exactly what to say to those people.
5. And it has some incredible pieces of life advice
6. Not to mention, it's chock-full of classic one-liners!
Seriously, who doesn't know this line?
7. It deals with some serious real-life issues
From some of the obvious themes, such as discrimination, elitism in American education, and sexual harassment, to some of the more hidden coverage of social issues, Legally Blonde packs a lot of social issues into a quirky comedy.
Of course, the film deals with discrimination in a lighthearted way, with the "dumb blonde" overcoming stereotypes against her hair color, but the concept can extended to minority groups across the board. Elle lives with the insecurity faced by many minorities who succeed in academia, who, at one point or another, must wonder if they only made it into a program as the "token...(insert here)".
It also presents issues with sexual harassment and assault in the workplace and academia, as well as the perpetuation of rape culture. When Elle is sexually harassed by her professor, she is faced with an ultimatum - if she wants a successful career as a lawyer, she must sleep with her professor. Not only is Elle traumatized by the experience, she is subjected to victim blaming by a new friend.
She is also subjected to bullying from her classmates, who are determined, at first, to tear her down for being different (again, dealing with discrimination).
Elle faces extreme self-doubt after months of bullying, discrimination, and eventual sexual harassment. If not for some well-meaning intervention, she would likely have been left with permanent scars from her experience in the overly-competitive academic world. Sadly, this is far too common in American academia.
And, of course, there are less obvious issues that this movie addresses, such as intimate partner violence (as hinted in Paulette's relationships with her ex).
8. Elle is sure of what she wants in life and is willing to do what it takes to achieve. She never settles.
Elle's confidence is certainly contagious - every time I watch this movie, I walk away feeling like I can take over the whole world if I want! From achieving the nearly-impossible to win back (what she thinks is) the love of her life, to excelling in a whole new world of competitive academics, to winning a murder trial as a 1st year law student, Elle has the perseverance and self-assurance to do anything she puts her mind to.
9. Elle shows us that, no matter what your career, you always can and should be yourself.
And odds are, you will do better at anything you do when you stay true to your own style.
10. At the end of the day, even after 15 years, this movie will always make me laugh.
Now, go change into something comfy (but cute), grab your favorite snack, and watch this fantastic movie!
