I don't do chick flicks well. I much rather prefer action movies. Give me a good car chase and lots of special effects and we're on. So in order for a "romantic" comedy to hold my attention, it must combine acting talent with good directing and a great script.

Sweet Home Alabama held my attention the first two times I watched it, but then fizzled a bit. I still enjoy watching it every now and then, but it's not my top choice by any means.

Sweet Home Alabama was released in 2002. Directed by Andy Tennant (Ferris Bueller, Hitch) and written by Doug Eboch (the 24-year old Virgin), it is based on a screenplay by C. Jay Cox.


PLOT OVERVIEW

Melanie Carmichael (a/k/a Melanie Snooter ) is a young southern woman who re-invents herself as a New York dress designer. About to marry the Mayor's son, she has to take care of a minor little problem back home in Alabama......her marriage. She tries every trick in the book to get her Alabama husband to sign the divorce papers. But her husband ("just because I talk slow doesn't mean I'm stupid." ) has a few tricks of his own up his sleeve.

The result is a romantic comedy that had me laughing out loud at certain scenes and rooting for true love at others.

Combining Southern-style small town living with Big City social Events was, if not genius, at least a great idea. Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde, I walk the line) transitions almost effortlessly from one world into the other. But she has her problems. After living in NYC for seven years, without ever having set foot into her hometown, she has issues with the life some of her old friends lead. One of these friends brings a baby into a bar. The resulting dialogue sounds somewhat like this:

"Look at you , you have a Baby.....in a bar!"
"Well, I got three more at home, but this one is still on the tit, so I can take him anywhere."

The deadpan delivery of the last line had me almost spit my drink out the first time I heard it. It's really not all that funny, but I live in the South and I can imagine a dialogue with my Yankee friends going exactly like that.

But only part of the movie is about Witherspoon's difficulty in re-connecting with old friends. It is a romantic movie after all. And while she has two grooms to choose from (one that she is already married to), she quickly realizes that sometimes those choices are not always easy to make.

As a viewer it's pretty easy to determine which groom she will finally keep. The interaction with one is over the top and a bit stilted, while the interaction with the other flows easy and comfortably. I won't tell you which one she finally decides for, but it was the one I rooted for from the beginning.

This is a comedy and you shouldn't expect deep, thought provoking dialogue. But the dialogue of this movie is also not always so light hearted that it gets boring.

By no means does Witherspoon present her full comedic acting ability in this movie. She fits the role very well but there is a restraint when it comes to full blown funny scenes that she can't seem to overcome. The script might be part of the problem, or maybe it's the directing, but I think Witherspoon did much better in "Legally Blonde".

Josh Lucas (Glory Road, A beautiful mind) plays the still husband and Patrick Dempsey (of Grey's Anatomy) fame, portrays the soon to be husband.
Seeing Candice Bergen in a supporting role as Patrick Dempsey's mother was a treat. She seems to play the feisty roles best and I wonder why I haven't seen a lot more of her recently.

Jean Smart plays Josh Lucas Mom and is also not a quiet character. Her southern style roots show through full blast and she fits the role perfectly.

Dakota Fanning has a very small role, playing the young Witherspoon character. She does this with a professionalism that is pretty rare in someone so young.

The constant back and forth between Southern living and New York City snobbishness make this a great movie to watch on a Friday night. It's okay as a date movie, but maybe you should wait for the second or third date. I watched it by myself the first time and with a friend the second time. Since then I've seen it a few times more and it's still funny, but not my first choice when it comes to a great weekend movie.

Sheryl Crow, Avril Lavigne and Charlie Daniels are just a few of the artists that provide the soundtrack for this movie. Of course Ronnie VanZant's rendition of the title song is still as great as ever. Please be warned that in Southern States the song "Sweet Home Alabama" is considered a "slow" song. If you're a Yankee you might have a hard time understanding this.

KLEENEX RATING: Maybe one or two the first time around. After the second viewing you might get by with one, your boyfriend's shirt sleeve might be enough to survive any subsequent viewing.


You can find my essay titled "Letter to my Yankee friends" here:


http://www.epinions.com/content_5097037956






Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older