Sweet Home Alabama
A Movie Eye Member Movie Review!

Author: James Edwards
Notify me by email when this member writes a new movie review! Privacy Policy
Your Email Address:
Posted to Movie Eye: 11/3/2002
Film Release Date: 9/27/2002
Rated: PG-13: Some Language/Sexual Refrences
Length: 108 minutes
Produced by: Neal H. Moritz, Stokley Chaffin
Directed by: Andy Tennant
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, Fred Ward, Candice Bergen, Patrick Dempsey, Jean Smart, Mary Kay Place, Ethan Embry, Melanie Lynskey, Dakota Fanning, Rhona Mitra
[Contact these cast members for free autographs.] [Celebrity Birthdays]
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures

Real Housewives OC: Tamra & Alexis
 
Beyonce sizzles red hot
 
Behind the Scenes: Wanda Sykes Show
 
De Niro walks red carpet
 
Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, and Samuel L Jackson film scenes from "The Other Guys" in New York
 
More Celebrity Videos >>
  Like this review? Type your email address into the box above to be notified whenever this critic posts a new review to Movie Eye!

Critic's Grade: A+



Reese Witherspoon is absolutely stunning and the film is good, however like many romance movies we all know how it's gonna turn out.

Melanie Charmical (Reese Witherspoon- Legally Blonde, Fear, Cruel Intentions) is an up and coming fashion designer and she's the next big thing. Her romance with the son (Patrick Dempsey- Loverboy, Scream 3) of a wealthy New York mayor (Candice Bergen- Miss Congeniality, TV's Murphy Brown) has just gone great when he proposed. Everything seems set for the two getting married except for one thing: Melanie's already married. Determined to become successful Melanie decides to return to her hometown of Greenville, Alabama where she must recieve the divorce papers from her high-school sweetheart Jake (Josh Lucas) who is a redneck. But when she returns home, Melanie begins to realize that home is where the heart is.

Reese Witherspoon returns to comedic roots coming off from her 2001 surprise hit "Legally Blonde". She shines as Melanie and really brings the character to life. Her performance is a knockout and she could very well recieve an Golden Globe nomination for it. Witherspoon whose previous films include the 1996 teen thriller "Fear" with Mark Wahlberg, and Alyssa Milano. The 1998 black and white comedy "Pleasantville" with Tobey Maguire and Jeff Daniels. The 1999 teen drama "Cruel Intentions" with Sarah Michelle Gellar and husband Ryan Phillippe. The 1999 dark comedy "Election" with Chris Klien and Matthew Broderick. And The 2001 teen girl-power movie "Legally Blonde" with Victor Garber and Selma Blair. Her characters then were teens, but this film showed her as an adult trying to find herself.

Co-starring Jean Smart (TV's The In Laws), Fred Ward (Enough, Summer Catch), Ethan Embry (Can't Hardly Wait) and Melanie Lynskey (Coyote Ugly, Enough)

Well directed by Andy Tennant who also directed Drew Barrymore and Anjelica Houston in 1998's "Ever After: A Cinderella Story" really did a good job with this film. The movie was produced by Neal H. Moritz who has also produced such hits as "XXX", "I Know What You Did Last Summer", and "The Fast and the Furious".

Like many romance movies today this film has no exception to having it's dull moments. Many of the moments that seem to take a dramatic turn for the worse include Melanie getting drunk at a bar and insulting her best friends, and another where Melanie's parents don't seem to care about her life. Although some of the scenes were good it's direction was going into a dramatic movie and taking time away from the plot.

The film also seems to have some weak moments including the beginning where a young Melanie and Jake as 10 year olds and kissing while it's raining and they getting struke by lightning. The scene isn't really necesary but audiences seem to love it.

The performances that were standouts and good were given by Josh Lucas whose portrayal as the redneck Jake was on point, entertaining and excellent. Also Mary Kay Place and Ethan Embry also give good performances and lighting up the screen everytime they appear.

Filled with country music and southern style clothes the film is a delight, great to watch and is worth the price of admission.

Out of a possible 4 stars, this film deserves a good 3 stars.

All Reviews by James Edwards
If you are the author of this review, you may edit it by signing in.

 

Write to all of your favorite stars and receive free autographed photos!

Post Comments About This Film or Review



Comments by Millie Gilliam    4/12/2004
Yes part of the movie was actually filmed in a little town in Alabama called Crawford, they actually moved the water tower into crawford for the scene with Jake and the others atop.

Comments by NiKKi Buskohl    3/5/2003
this movie is so romantic. i love it soooooo much. it is great for young and old. Nice Job!

Comments by Susie Dixon    2/12/2003
Was parts of this movie really filmed in Alabama, if you know, email @ suzy_lance@yahoo.com, Thanks


 

Add your comments about this film or review:

Post a review of your own...

 



   Celebrity Addresses
  
Celeb Address Search:

Search!
Sign In | Sign Out
Celebrity Birthdays!
MyStars
Members Helping Members
Recent Successes
Celebrity Forums
Join



Movie Eye
 Movie Reviews Hotspot Community Celebrity Addresses
  We Put The Stars In Your Eye! ™