Reel Spirit reviews focus on movies that champion the human spirit
and explore the fullness and meaning of life. As he does in his
popular book Reel Spirit: A Guide to Movies That Inspire, Explore
and Empower, Raymond Teague looks for the spiritual, life-affirming
and life-enhancing messages in all kinds of films.
Legally
Blonde (2001, 96 minutes, PG-13 for language and sexual references)
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Have
you ever been made fun of or ostracized for being legally
or illegally blonde or red-headed, tall or short, too young
or too old, skinny or overweight, for being one race or
another, or for having one belief and not another, etc.?
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Since this is definitely a movie that children are enjoying, it
is nice to think that they may be receiving some subliminal instructions
about how to react, not only to animal needs, but also to human
needs.
Then you might identify with Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon)
in Legally Blonde. Throughout most of her life, people
have not taken Elle seriously because she is blonde. In fact,
Elle says most people think of her as a joke - specifically, they
think of her as a "dumb blonde" and a ditsy sorority girl.
"You're not smart enough, sweetie," her boyfriend Warner(Matthew
Davis) tells Elle. Her own father echoes the belief. "You're
not serious," he tells her.
The problem with Elle is that for most of her life she has bought
into the beliefs based on people's stereotyping of her. Sure,
she is blonde and in college she certainly acts the part of the
stereotypical sorority girl (even her resume is pink and scented),
but Elle proves once again that adage that you can't (or certainly
shouldn't) judge by appearances.
Actually, Elle is quite smart and quite serious. When she sets
her mind to something, watch out! "I'm not afraid of a challenge,"
she asserts. Elle's challenge that forms the backbone of the movie
- and displays her own backbone - is her decision to enter Harvard
law school, initially in an effort to get Warner back after he
has dumped her because he wants a "Jackie, not a Marilyn"
to flesh out his own law and political career.
At Harvard, Elle finds herself in situations and relationships
that test her initiative, determination, stamina, integrity, loyalty,
and love. It will come as no surprise that Elle proves she is
equal to every test; the joy is in seeing how she takes and passes
the figurative tests. Elle's essential goodness and sense of fairness
are especially seen in her selfless actions for her beautician
friend and another student stereotyped as a "dork." Elle's sense
of her own worth and identity are best seen in her relationship
with Professor Callahan (Victor Garber).
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The
fact is that Elle's character was always strong. It
just was not being generally perceived that way because
of stereotypes associated with her looks and interests (buying
clothes, having manicures, reading Cosmopolitan, dressing
her Chihuahua).
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One time when she is depressed about her experiences in law school,
Elle thinks about quitting and says to friend Emmett (Luke Wilson)
that she shouldn't try to be something that she is not.
Emmett responds, "What if you're trying to be something you are?"
He is right on target, because Elle's true nature is finally being
allowed to shine rather than being suppressed under the weight
of judgmental stereotypes. It turns out that her looks, her interests
and her talents are assets, not liabilities.
Elle learns more than just the letter of the law at Harvard. She
learns to express her light and faith and to value passion in
life.
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"You
must always have faith in people," Elle says, "and most
importantly, you must always have faith in yourself."
She disagrees with Aristotle's view that "The law is
reason free from passion." Neither the law nor life
should be free of passion, Elle argues. The likable, admirable
Elle presents a winning case.
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Raymond
Teague is the author of Reel Spirit: A Guide to Movies That
Inspire, Explore and Empower, from Unity House. He is an award-winning
journalist, an editor of spiritual publications, a popular New
Thought speaker, and a lifelong movie buff. His book is available
at bookstores; on-line at
amazon.com,
bn.com,
borders.com, and by phone at 1 (800) 669-0282.
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