LEGALLY BLONDE 2

US, 2003, 95 minutes, Colour.
Reese Witherspoon, Sally Field, Regina King, Jennifer Coolidge, Bruce Mc Gill, Dana Ivy, Bob Newhart, Luke Wilson.
Directed by Charles Herman- Wurmfeld.

Reese Witherspoon was such a success in the original as Elle Wood, the seeming Barbie doll incarnate who confounded everyone by getting into Harvard and then winning her legal cases with a mixture of ingenuous charm and luck, that she has returned. The first film was such a surprise, that it is hard to re-capture its freshness. However, the film-makers have had a pleasing stab at it that will have the critics saying that initial success cannot be repeated and audiences saying that, while it is not startling, it is an enjoyable show.

Elle now takes on Washington after she hires a private detective to find out the lineage of her dog - and, horror or horrors, mother is part of an animal testing company. What better than have anti cruelty to animals legislation (which, while funny in its single-mindedness on a single issue, makes one wonder why animal rights get more sentimental support than human rights)? Elle is thwarted by those who want the status quo. She is undermined by her heroine, a Congresswoman played by Sally Field. However, she wins over crusty politicians from both parties, exudes innocently shrewd sweetness, is helped by kindly doorman, Bob Newhart, and follows James Stewart's footsteps (as Goldie Hawn did in Protocol) like Mr Smith Goes to Washington.

There are some daffy situations and quite a lot of well-delivered one-liners that keep a smile on the face as one watches Reese Witherspoon's ultra self-confidence in disbelief.

1. The popularity of the original film? The sequel and its patterning itself on the original? Audience delight in Elle Woods, her shocking-pink style, ditziness, yet somehow achieving all that she intended?

2. The Boston settings, the transfer to Washington? The legal atmosphere of Boston, the political atmosphere of Washington, DC? The Washington locations, especially the Capitol, the political offices, the steps? The musical score and songs?

3. The title, the irony, the politically blonde style?

4. The political interest, the animal experimentation, large corporations and their power? The single individual combating the corporations? The political intrigues, the campaigns and protests, the personal and political blackmail? The protests? The patterning on Mr Smith Goes to Washington - and Elle and Emmett watching it? Elle goes to Washington?

5. Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods, her personality, her dress style, manners? Vocabulary, style of speaking? Communicating? Her clothes, the use of pink - and the contrast with the grey suits on the Capitol steps? The product placement of all that Elle used, cars etc?

6. Elle and her relationship with Emmett, falling in love, the background of the first film? The preparations for the wedding - and the popular magazine style of preparation? Her work, the company, her relationship with the staff? Her supreme self-confidence?

7. The detective, the search for her dog's mother? Her relationship with the dog? The detective, his work, the discovery about V.E.R.S.A.C.E? The cosmetics company? Her horror, her decision to sue? The legal firm and its connection with Versace? The pressure on her to drop the suit? Her refusal, her being sacked?

8. Elle, the decision, the reasons for coming to the decision to think about passing the law? Her putting the wedding on hold? Emmett's reaction?

9. Elle in Washington, her meeting Congresswoman Rudd, her naivety and her shock at the way politics was conducted? Congresswoman Rudd's office, the staff, their jokes about Elle?

10. Her friendship with Sid, their discussions, his good advice, the bill about animal rights, her dog, Bruiser, Bruiser's Bill? Her going to see the various politicians, the senator, his conservative stances, antagonism? The irony of his dog, Elle playing with his love for his dog, his dog falling in love with Bruiser - and the irony that they were both male dogs? The judge, her severity, her discovering the college links and her support?

11. Grace Rossiter, friendship with Elle, coming to Washington, the discussions, the pressure on Elle, her support?

12. The build-up to the vote, the speeches in Congress? Congresswoman Rudd and the pressure, the political blackmail, her change of stance, her ruthlessness?

13. Elle, the Lincoln Memorial, the staff and their supporting Elle, the encouragement, the petition? Calling all her friends to Washington, their coming, memories of the first film, the support, the comedy, especially with Paulette and her style? Grace Rossiter, her lobbying work, her pressurising Elle to protest?

14. Grace, her hold over Rudd, the opportunity to speak in the Senate, Elle and her speech, the stuff of fairy tales and political conversions? The passing of the bill?

15. The irony of so much effort into animal rights - without thought about human rights?

16. The happy ending, the marriage?