Legally Blonde prequel series Elle is…
What, prefer it’s onerous?
The “Legally Blonde” prequel series “Elle” appears like a drained money grab no one requested for — but just just like the pink-clad heroine depicted in both, don’t underestimate it.
surprisingly, “Elle” doesn’t suck. It’s enjoyable, energetic and hits all the suitable notes.
Though the show is half of a tedious development of origin tales for characters who don’t need them, “Elle” sparkles. It’s a uncommon case of a prequel that doesn’t tarnish the unique.
Reese Witherspoon first performed Elle Woods in 2001’s “Legally Blonde.” ©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
Lexi Minetree takes over the position in the Prime Video prequel series “Elle,” premiering July 1. Jessica Brooks/Prime
Premiering July 1 on Prime Video, the show follows a 16-year-old model of Elle Woods, the enduring character Reese Witherspoon performed in the enduring 2001 film (and the tepid 2003 sequel).
Witherspoon is concerned as an govt producer, but clearly, the 50-year-old Oscar winner can’t play a teen. Enter newcomer Lexi Minetree, 25, who steps into the position.
Minetree’s astoundingly good at emulating Witherspoon and capturing her facial expressions — as seen in her viral audition tape.
Tom Everett Scott and June Diane Raphael play Elle’s mother and father in the show. Jessica Brooks/Prime
“Elle” follows Minetree’s titular character as she strikes from LA to Seattle with her household. Courtesy of Prime Video
Set in 1995, the show follows Elle as she’s dwelling a charmed life in LA.
It’s every part you’d anticipate: Her mother and father have a lavish mansion, she’s in style in faculty (and she has a five-point plan for how to turn into even more in style) and she’s received a wardrobe full of pink attire and heels.
But after her plastic surgeon dad, Wyatt (Tom Everett Scott), finds himself in a work-related scandal, the household is pressured to transfer to Seattle.
There, everybody at Elle’s new faculty wears flannel and darkish colours, listens to Pearl Jam and Nirvana, talks about social justice and turns their noses up at the pink-clad bubbly new lady, who they suppose is materialistic.
Minetree is astoundingly good at emulating Witherspoon and capturing her facial expressions as the beloved character. Kimberley French/Prime
Minetree is a fish out of water in Seattle with her bubbly persona and completely pink wardrobe. Jessica Brooks/Prime
Elle was on top of the world in LA; she’s out of her depth in Seattle.
The show is nothing if not dedicated to the time period.
It has a killer soundtrack (needle drops embrace tracks from Soundgarden, The Cranberries, Radiohead, and Queen, and the theme tune is Garbage’s 1995 monitor “Only Happy When it Rains”). There are references to zines, pagers and Blockbuster, as nicely as references to how the wealthy children come from “Microsoft money.”
One pitfall of the show is the shortage of rigidity with Elle’s potential love pursuits as we all know her future in “Legally Blonde.” Jacob Moskovitz and Minetree are seen in “Elle.” Kimberley French/Prime
“Legally Blonde,” of course, sees Elle end up with Emmett (Luke Wilson). Minetree and Zac Looker are seen in “Elle.” Jessica Brooks/Prime
“Elle” succeeds where other pointless prequels and spinoffs fail because it understands what made “Legally Blonde” work: Elle is at her best when she’s an underdog and a fish out of water, forcing her to show herself to everybody around her.
Before the show got here out, viewers scoffed at the thought of Elle dwelling in Seattle, since that’s antithetical to the character — but that’s the purpose. When Elle’s dad tells her “we’re moving to Seattle,” she says, “No, that doesn’t sound right.”
The show is in on the joke.
“Elle” excels because it’s in on the joke. Minetree and Gabrielle Policano are seen in “Elle.” Jessica Brooks/Prime
Elle Woods (Lexi Minetree) in “Elle.” Jessica Brooks/Prime
A lesser show would say, “She wears pink, and she’s perky!” and go away it there. “Elle” will get all the ingredients of what made “Legally Blonde” a hit (past making a surface-level evaluation), and let’s them cook.
The show also is aware of the connection between Elle and her faculty rival turned buddy, Vivian (Selma Blair), was a key half of “Legally Blonde.”
The show has a lot of cliche high faculty moments — cliques, crushes and more — but imply lady Kimberly (Chandler Kinney) isn’t a two-dimensional villain. “Elle” offers Kimberly some depth. It hits a comparable observe to what the film did with Vivian, without copying it.
“Elle” leans into the dynamic between the character and Selma Blair’s Vivian in “Legally Blonde” without copying it. Witherspoon and Blair are seen in the 2001 movie above. ©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
The show does this with Elle’s dynamic with Kimberly (Chandler Kinney). Minetree and Kinney are seen in “Elle.” Justine Yeung/Prime
Late “Dawson’s Creek” star James Van Der Beek, who died in February, performs a local mayoral candidate who befriends Elle’s mother, Eva (June Diane Raphael), in what seems to be his remaining screen position.
There are some pitfalls, though.
From the “Legally Blonde” motion pictures we all know Elle ends up with Emmett (Luke Wilson), so it takes the wind out of the sails from any of her “love interest” plot strains because we all know she gained’t end up with them.
There are also a ludicrous quantity of product-placement references to Cosmo; at occasions, it feels just like the show is just an prolonged model partnership.
“Elle” is set in 1995, placing the character instantly in the center of Seattle’s grunge music scene. A still from the show is seen right here. Kimberley French/Prime
James Van Der Beek makes what seems to be his remaining screen position in “Elle,” as seen right here. Kimberley French
There’s a “Breakfast Club” homage that’s enjoyable, but it turns into too ham-handed when characters actually start speaking about how their expertise is like what occurred in “The Breakfast Club.”
So, no, “Elle” isn’t without some flaws. But it is far better than it has any proper to be.
Against all odds, the “Legally Blonde” prequel is a glowing good time.
“Elle” premieres July 1 on Prime Video.
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