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Legally Blonde - How Elle Woods broke the stereotype of the dumb blonde back in the 2000s
Blonde in Law is one of the iconic films of the early 2000s, which is still relevant today. It's not a dumb one-off comedy for the evening, it's a quality family film that can be safely revisited even in 2024. Because this film is about discrimination, about eliminating stereotypes and about how important it is not only to believe in yourself, but also to communicate your value to others. Wouldn't you agree that these are still very relevant topics?
The main character of the film is Elle Woods (played by Reese Witherspoon) - a sweet girl that at first seems to absolutely follow the "Dumb Blonde" trope - she dresses in pink, goes everywhere with a pocket dog, is the president of her equally pink sorority, and gets a manicure in every obscure situation. But Elle is not as simple as she seems, and let's find out how she overturned all the stereotypes about the connection between women's minds and hair colour, and why not a single dissection of women's films is without her mention.
Spoilers, as usual there will be.
Plot
The life of socialite Elle Woods seems to be going her way. Prom queen, president of Delta Nu and girlfriend of Warner Huntington III, Elle has no qualms about the way her life is turning out, especially since she suspects Warner will soon propose. However, everything changes when Warner dumps her on the very night she was expecting a marriage proposal. His reason? "If I'm going to be a politician, I need to marry Jackie, not Marilyn."
So Elle gets dumped for not being "serious enough." After crying, she realises that the perfect way to win Warner back is to become a serious law student. She applies to Harvard Law School and is accepted, both because her grades are near-perfect and because her femininity and joie de vivre will make a change from the usual dull routine of law school life.And when she realises that she's actually damn good at law, things far more important than Warner enter her life.
So Elle gets dumped for not being "serious enough." After crying, she realises that the perfect way to win Warner back is to become a serious law student. She applies to Harvard Law School and is accepted, both because her grades are near-perfect and because her femininity and joie de vivre will make a change from the usual dull routine of law school life.And when she realises that she's actually damn good at law, things far more important than Warner enter her life.
The plot follows a three-act structure: Elle's life before Harvard and exam preparation / Harvard and fighting stereotypes / Internship and the real thing.
Is Elle Woods such a "dumb blonde"?
The whole film is based on the fact that Elle breaks the stereotype of a dumb blonde, because everyone who knows her (even her parents) expects her to behave frivolously just because she is beautiful and cheerful. However, Elle is not only cheerful, she is also friendly, unkind, never speaks ill of anyone and never offends anyone, unless they have offended her first.
And the first signs that her mind is much sharper than it appears, we see literally in the first few minutes of the film. Choosing a dress for the evening with Warner, Elle politely but confidently does not let herself be deceived. After all, the saleswoman wants to sell her a dress from last year's collection under the guise of a novelty, which means it is much more expensive, but the girl demonstrates her knowledge not only of fashion houses, but also of silk processing techniques. This moment is a moment of character development, in which the attentive viewer should immediately realise who he is dealing with.
It's the same moment of character development, by the way, when Warner tells her that he plans to be a senator by the age of 30. That's expressly forbidden by the American Constitution, which means he's not that smart if he's making such an obviously impossible goal the main focus of his life. So it's still a question of who's the "dumb blonde".
It's the same moment of character development, by the way, when Warner tells her that he plans to be a senator by the age of 30. That's expressly forbidden by the American Constitution, which means he's not that smart if he's making such an obviously impossible goal the main focus of his life. So it's still a question of who's the "dumb blonde".
In the same moment in the cafe, Warner immediately indicates the opposition between blonde and brunette, comparing Elle to Marilyn. The latter, by the way, was very intelligent, was interested in psychoanalysis and Sigmund Freud. But the confrontation between a blonde and a brunette is an eternal theme that has been repeated in cinema for centuries, and here Elle and Vivian, whom she later meets as Warner's fiancée, are mirror images of each other. But more on that in a bit.
The main theme of the film is, of course, feminism, defending women's rights and defining their place in the world. But in addition to this theme, female friendship and mutual help, as well as cross-class friendship, are also very deeply revealed here.
The main theme of the film is, of course, feminism, defending women's rights and defining their place in the world. But in addition to this theme, female friendship and mutual help, as well as cross-class friendship, are also very deeply revealed here.
Elle's friends always come to her aid, rejoice in her successes and prepare her for the entrance exams with the whole community. And then they come to the final trial.
In theory, a rich sorority girl studying law at Harvard and a divorced manicurist, a high school dropout, probably have nothing to talk about with each other. But from the moment they meet, Elle and Paulette are unfailingly supportive of each other and genuinely enjoy each other's company. And Elle is not at all arrogant towards Paulette.
Descrimination of blondes
In the third part of the film, when Elle is already interning with Callohan, there's a cool moment - Emit, the nice guy who helps the girl throughout the film, asks her if it would suit him to be blonde. To which she replies: "I doubt you'd be able to cope."
And it's true - Elle faces so much discrimination that it's hard to even believe. We are used to being discriminated against for not being beautiful, but when you are discriminated against for being colourful and memorable, it's something new.
And it's true - Elle faces so much discrimination that it's hard to even believe. We are used to being discriminated against for not being beautiful, but when you are discriminated against for being colourful and memorable, it's something new.
It turns out that Elle is the most difficult to study at Harvard - it is necessary not only to master the entire academic programme, but also to do it in total loneliness, because even the feminist who supposedly fights for women's rights discriminates against Elle. Students don't share information with her, they set her up, professors kick her out of classrooms.
But she is so smart that she is able to assess the situation and make a strategic decision that she needs to start appearing more serious. She already knows she deserves the best - she just had to prove it to everyone else. And at the same time stay true to herself. She did it - a unique woman!
But she is so smart that she is able to assess the situation and make a strategic decision that she needs to start appearing more serious. She already knows she deserves the best - she just had to prove it to everyone else. And at the same time stay true to herself. She did it - a unique woman!
Only at one point does Elle seem to snap - when Callohan, with whom she is interning, first praises her and then molests her. And that's the reason-she's been so resistant to the other taunts because she doesn't expect much from others. And here he recognised her intelligence, praised her qualities as a lawyer - and then it turned out he was lying, and just took it all and devalued it.
By the way, Elle also has a stealthy sidekick - and it's not just Amit. There's also another "nice guy" - "dorky" David: he's the only one in the first class who looks shocked when Stromwell kicks Elle out, but also does his best to be nice to her when the rest of Elle's peers treat her as a laughing stock (e.g. helping her get a book off the top shelf). Later in the film, Elle returns the favour when she pretends to be his rejected girlfriend in front of other women to help him look impressive.
Elle has a meaningful name. It could be a nickname for longer names, but not this time. Elle translates to "she" from French, thus it's as if she is a generalisation for all individuals of the female gender who go through discrimination. And at the same time is just a "girl" - that's how most people see Elle, as just a goofy blonde with no other features.
By the way, Elle also has a stealthy sidekick - and it's not just Amit. There's also another "nice guy" - "dorky" David: he's the only one in the first class who looks shocked when Stromwell kicks Elle out, but also does his best to be nice to her when the rest of Elle's peers treat her as a laughing stock (e.g. helping her get a book off the top shelf). Later in the film, Elle returns the favour when she pretends to be his rejected girlfriend in front of other women to help him look impressive.
Elle has a meaningful name. It could be a nickname for longer names, but not this time. Elle translates to "she" from French, thus it's as if she is a generalisation for all individuals of the female gender who go through discrimination. And at the same time is just a "girl" - that's how most people see Elle, as just a goofy blonde with no other features.
Or another option - she is named after the women's magazine Elle.
Separately worth noting is her wardrobe - it's definitely unlimited! And not only none of Elle's clothes are reused, but also none of her hairstyles: according to the creators, there were more than 40 of them during the film!
She also wears glasses, but it's not clear whether she really needs them - after all, this accessory appears only when she needs to look more serious.
Separately worth noting is her wardrobe - it's definitely unlimited! And not only none of Elle's clothes are reused, but also none of her hairstyles: according to the creators, there were more than 40 of them during the film!
She also wears glasses, but it's not clear whether she really needs them - after all, this accessory appears only when she needs to look more serious.
Vivian as a mirror image of Elle.
Vivian is very important to the plot - as the story progresses, she transforms from"alpha scourge" to"defrosting Snow Queen".
She and Elle are very similar - they both want to become Mrs Warner Huntington III and wear a diamond ring on their finger, they are both brilliant law students who got into Harvard University on their own merits. There is a very symbolic moment when Elle is standing in the lift and Vivian is outside it, and the mirrored door closes. And her reflection hints that "I am you, you are me".
She and Elle are very similar - they both want to become Mrs Warner Huntington III and wear a diamond ring on their finger, they are both brilliant law students who got into Harvard University on their own merits. There is a very symbolic moment when Elle is standing in the lift and Vivian is outside it, and the mirrored door closes. And her reflection hints that "I am you, you are me".
Their confrontation between blonde and brunette is canonical in American cinema, and is very well explained by the "Betty and Veronica" trope, which originated in Archie Comics and is transformed in modern "Riverdale". The gist of the trope is that in a love triangle, there's always the more demure "Betty" and the sophisticated liberated "Veronica". But like "Riverdale" in 2020, Elle and Vivian were able to get past the stereotypes, see each other, stop fighting over a character unworthy of them, and graduate from Harvard as best girlfriends.
True, in "Legally Blonde," beautiful actress Selma Blair plays the supposedly ugly girl - but that's a relic of films from the early 2000s. And the name Vivian is a tribute to"Pretty Woman" - another film where a woman breaks all stereotypes.
True, in "Legally Blonde," beautiful actress Selma Blair plays the supposedly ugly girl - but that's a relic of films from the early 2000s. And the name Vivian is a tribute to"Pretty Woman" - another film where a woman breaks all stereotypes.
What other tropes do we see in the film?
Bookends
The song "Perfect Day" by Hoku was written specifically for the film and opens and closes the film.
Lipstick Montage
Elle getting ready for a date is shown in a sequence of shots, each of which concentrates on a certain fragment. Just like in Pretty Woman.
Running Gag is a recurring gag
Bruiser the dog is always by Elle's side in her bag, and it's always bags from different shops.
A trophy wife is a life partner that the husband chooses and presents as a trophy, which gives him more weight in society.
Everyone thinks of Brooke as such. She was actually in love with her late husband.
And Warner breaks up with Elle because he wants a different kind of trophy wife: a politician's wife.
The song "Perfect Day" by Hoku was written specifically for the film and opens and closes the film.
Lipstick Montage
Elle getting ready for a date is shown in a sequence of shots, each of which concentrates on a certain fragment. Just like in Pretty Woman.
Running Gag is a recurring gag
Bruiser the dog is always by Elle's side in her bag, and it's always bags from different shops.
A trophy wife is a life partner that the husband chooses and presents as a trophy, which gives him more weight in society.
Everyone thinks of Brooke as such. She was actually in love with her late husband.
And Warner breaks up with Elle because he wants a different kind of trophy wife: a politician's wife.
Chekhov's gun is some detail that will go off later on
Elle's superior knowledge of fashion and hairstyles, which is mentioned throughout the film, acquits itself twice in Brooke's trial. Elle gets the pool boy declared gay in front of the court because she noticed his unusual knowledge of shoes, which undermines the accusation that Brooke was having an affair with him. When she defends Brooke herself, she notices Chutney's perfect, fresh perm and realises that her alibi about showering during her father's murder was false because the water from the shower would have destroyed the chemicals in her hair. This same moment is also the Wham Line - the turning point.
Rule of Three
Elle, Brooke, and the judge utter "Oh my God!" when Chutney casually rambles that she tried to kill Brooke and accidentally killed her father instead.
Elle: Oh, my God.
Brooke: Oh my God.
Honourable Marina R. Bickford: Oh, my God.
Elle's superior knowledge of fashion and hairstyles, which is mentioned throughout the film, acquits itself twice in Brooke's trial. Elle gets the pool boy declared gay in front of the court because she noticed his unusual knowledge of shoes, which undermines the accusation that Brooke was having an affair with him. When she defends Brooke herself, she notices Chutney's perfect, fresh perm and realises that her alibi about showering during her father's murder was false because the water from the shower would have destroyed the chemicals in her hair. This same moment is also the Wham Line - the turning point.
Rule of Three
Elle, Brooke, and the judge utter "Oh my God!" when Chutney casually rambles that she tried to kill Brooke and accidentally killed her father instead.
Elle: Oh, my God.
Brooke: Oh my God.
Honourable Marina R. Bickford: Oh, my God.
References in the film
- Elle says she grew up across the street from Aaron Spelling. And he produced "Beverly Hills 90210!"
- After the breakup, Elle watches the TV series General Hospital.
- When Elle arrives at Harvard, she is compared to Malibu Barbie.
- Aaron Mitchell brags that Stephen Hawking may have plagiarised Aaron's fourth grade essay when he wrote A Brief History of Time.
- Elle brags about talking Cameron Diaz out of buying a hideous angora jumper.
- Brooke's May-December-romance marriage is very reminiscent of Anna Nicole Smith.
- Elle says she grew up across the street from Aaron Spelling. And he produced "Beverly Hills 90210!"
- After the breakup, Elle watches the TV series General Hospital.
- When Elle arrives at Harvard, she is compared to Malibu Barbie.
- Aaron Mitchell brags that Stephen Hawking may have plagiarised Aaron's fourth grade essay when he wrote A Brief History of Time.
- Elle brags about talking Cameron Diaz out of buying a hideous angora jumper.
- Brooke's May-December-romance marriage is very reminiscent of Anna Nicole Smith.
An ironic echo
It is perhaps the whole point of the film. At the beginning of the film, Warner tells Elle, "If I want to be a senator by the time I'm thirty, I should marry someone more serious," and at the end of the film, Elle tells him, "If I want to be a partner in a law firm by the time I'm thirty, I need a guy who isn't a complete moron."
And, of course, the title Legally Blonde is a pun. It turns out she's sort of "legally blonde" not only because she's now working in law, but also because she's finally made it realistic to be a beautiful and confident blonde in such a complicated and boring field.
What interesting moments did you see in this film? Share in the comments!
It is perhaps the whole point of the film. At the beginning of the film, Warner tells Elle, "If I want to be a senator by the time I'm thirty, I should marry someone more serious," and at the end of the film, Elle tells him, "If I want to be a partner in a law firm by the time I'm thirty, I need a guy who isn't a complete moron."
And, of course, the title Legally Blonde is a pun. It turns out she's sort of "legally blonde" not only because she's now working in law, but also because she's finally made it realistic to be a beautiful and confident blonde in such a complicated and boring field.
What interesting moments did you see in this film? Share in the comments!
