'Alabama' charms audiences despite cliches
By Nicole Rodriguez
"Sweet Home Alabama" isn't really a wonderful movie. There is little about the plot that strays from the traditional romantic comedy cliches, the dialogue has a tendency to always be bordering on cheesy and the majority of the film's characters are stereotypical caricatures. However, no matter how many flaws a viewer can pick out, nobody can deny that "Alabama" is the most irresistibly charming movie of the season.
The story revolves around fashion diva Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) - a former Southern recluse who has just gained fame, fortune and a shiny new engagement ring from the son of New York City's mayor. However, before she can go through with the nuptials, Melanie must return to her small town home and convince her estranged high school sweetheart, Jake (Josh Lucas), to give her the divorce she needs in order to have it all.
As the film's trailer suggests, nothing goes as planned. While struggling to keep the life she has built up North, Melanie soon finds that she never really let go of her love of the South and the man who has been waiting for her to come home.
C. Jay Cox's script is both witty and touching, filled with comedic Southern slang and a hint of the realism often lost in the genre. Paired with Cox's effort, director Andy Tennant ("Ever After") does an admirable job in eliciting memorable performances out of his ensemble cast.
While it was 2001's "Legally Blonde" that transformed Witherspoon into America's sweetheart of the moment, Tennant uses "Alabama" to prove to audiences that this actress is here to stay. As written, Melanie is without a doubt the "hoity toity Yankee b---" Jake declares she has become, but Witherspoon manages to make her a likeable, sympathetic character nonetheless. Instead of seeing Melanie as the spoiled brat she has become, we focus instead on the hardships that made her that way. No matter how much she walks over the people in her life, the audience wants Melanie to have it all. And, in the end, the audience has no choice but to feel sorry for a woman forced to choose between two seemingly perfect men - a difficult feat to accomplish indeed.
Josh Lucas tackles his first leading man turn as Melanie's childhood sweetheart, Jake Perry. Last seen in a bit role as Russell Crowe's college rival in "A Beautiful Mind," Lucas proves that he has the chops to make it as a leading man. Lucas manages to make uneducated, redneck Jake an appealing choice for Melanie - even compared to her slick, polished New York boyfriend ("Scream 3's" Patrick Dempsey). With vibrant blue eyes and goofy grin reminiscent of Matthew McConaughey, Lucas may indeed prove to become a box office draw in his own right.
While "Alabama" will no doubt be missing from the season's upcoming awards extravaganza, be assured that this comedy will find its way into every woman's home the moment it hits video stores. A