Legally Blonde: Unpacking Elle Woods' LSAT Journey and its Reality
"Legally Blonde," a 2001 American comedy film directed by Robert Luketic and written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, captivated audiences with its empowering message and Reese Witherspoon's memorable performance as Elle Woods. Based on Amanda Brown's novel, the film follows Elle, a sorority president who enrolls in Harvard Law School to win back her boyfriend. While the movie is a beloved depiction of law school aspirations, its portrayal of the LSAT and application process requires a closer look.
The Genesis of a Legal Icon
The outline of "Legally Blonde" originated from Brown's experiences as a blonde attending Stanford Law School while being obsessed with fashion and beauty, reading Elle magazine, and frequently clashing with the personalities of her peers. In 2000, Brown met producer Marc Platt, who helped her develop her manuscript into a novel, and Platt brought in screenwriters McCullah Lutz and Smith to adapt the book into a motion picture. The film, distributed by MGM Distribution Co., became a hit, grossing $142 million worldwide on an $18 million budget.
The Plot: From Sorority to Supreme Court?
The movie introduces Elle Woods, the president of a UCLA sorority. Her boyfriend, Warner Huntington III, breaks up with her, deeming her not "serious" enough for his political aspirations. Determined to win him back, Elle decides to follow him to Harvard Law School. During the first semester, Elle discovers that her personality contrasts her distrusting East Coast classmates. Elle learns of Warner's engagement to his previous girlfriend, Vivian Kensington, and befriends local manicurist Paulette Bonafonté. Later, as Elle tells Warner she intends to apply for one of her professor's internships, he says she is not smart enough. The following semester, Harvard's most respected teacher, Aaron Callahan, hires some first-year interns, including Elle, Warner, and Vivian, to assist in a high-profile case involving prominent fitness instructor Brooke Windham, one of Elle's role models. Accused of murdering her husband, Brooke is unwilling to publicly reveal her alibi but tells Elle she was secretly having liposuction at the time, which Elle promises not to disclose. Vivian gains new respect for Elle. Callahan attempts to seduce Elle, who assumes that is why he recruited her. She briefly quits in disgust and tells Emmett what happened. While cross-examining Brooke's stepdaughter, Chutney, Elle eventually discovers a significant inconsistency in her story. With Brooke exonerated, the media hail Elle's involvement. Warner asks Elle to take him back since she has proven herself, but she rejects him, realizing he is shallow and a "complete bonehead." However, she and Vivian become best friends, especially after Vivian dumps Warner. Elle gives the graduation speech two years later, while Warner graduates with no honors, job offers, or girlfriend.
Casting the Perfect Elle
Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, Alicia Silverstone, Katherine Heigl, Christina Applegate, Milla Jovovich, and Jennifer Love Hewitt were all considered for the lead role, but Luketic said he "knew on page five of the script that [he] wanted Reese to play Elle." Witherspoon was the first person who read the script, and it was not sent to any other actresses; casting director Joseph Middleton had also previously worked with Witherspoon in "The Man in the Moon" and "A Far Off Place," so he strongly believed in her for the role when Platt brought up Witherspoon's name. Applegate turned down the role as she felt it would be too similar to "Married… with Children," a decision she would later regret. Platt suggested at one point to cast Britney Spears, but McCullah convinced him to not cast Spears after her "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) appearance. Despite Luketic's enthusiasm for Witherspoon to be cast as the lead, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) was not convinced. Witherspoon's performance as Tracy Flick in "Election" put her at risk of being typecast by the studio heads. Witherspoon went through several rounds of auditions for the part, even meeting with executives in character with a Southern California accent. Jennifer Coolidge was cast as Elle's manicurist friend Paulette, a role which Courtney Love and Kathy Najimy had also been considered for, according to some rumors Coolidge heard. For the role of Warner's new girlfriend Vivian, Smith suggested casting Chloë Sevigny. This suggestion did not work out, so Selma Blair was cast instead; Blair and Witherspoon had previously been together in "Cruel Intentions," allowing their friendship to be an anchor between their characters. The screenwriters envisioned Luke Wilson as they were coming up with Elle's love interest Emmett Richmond.
Fact-Checking Elle's LSAT Feat
One of the most memorable, yet unrealistic, aspects of "Legally Blonde" is Elle's LSAT journey. The film suggests that Elle dramatically improved her score from 143 on her first practice test to an impressive 179 on the official exam. While significant score improvements are possible, a 36-point jump is highly improbable, especially within the compressed timeline depicted in the movie.
Read also: Harvard Law: Reality Check
A Compressed Timeline: Senior Year to Harvard Law
The film portrays Elle deciding to apply to Harvard Law School during her senior year of college after being dumped by Warner. She then studies for the LSAT, presumably takes the June exam, and gets accepted to Harvard in time for the fall semester. This timeline is highly ambitious, if not impossible. The application process for law school typically takes several months, and applying so late in the cycle would significantly decrease one's chances of admission.
Unconventional Study Methods
Elle's LSAT study methods are another area where the film deviates from reality. Instead of hiring a tutor or enrolling in a prep course, she enlists the help of her sorority sisters. Her study sessions involve reading LSAT practice exams aloud and analyzing answer choices without even seeing them on the page. During timed practice exams, her sorority sisters simultaneously keep time and exercise to workout videos. These methods are far from the recommended strategies for LSAT preparation.
The Reality of LSAT Prep
The LSAT is a challenging exam that requires focused and strategic preparation. Most students benefit from using high-quality study materials, taking practice tests under realistic conditions, and seeking guidance from experienced instructors or tutors. While support from friends and family can be helpful, it is essential to rely on proven study methods and resources.
Elle's Enduring Inspiration
Despite its unrealistic portrayal of the LSAT and law school application process, "Legally Blonde" remains a beloved and inspiring film. Elle Woods' journey demonstrates the importance of self-belief, perseverance, and staying true to oneself. While the film may not provide a practical roadmap for LSAT success, it encourages viewers to pursue their dreams and challenge societal expectations.
Behind the Scenes: Crafting a Pop Culture Phenomenon
The final product came after "something like 10 drafts of the script. I worked with the writers (Kirsten Smith, Karen McCullah Lutz, working from Amanda Brown's novel) who stayed on after we started shooting," Luketic explained. "And we'd have re-thinks and re-writes, often in the middle of the night." An unused idea for the finished film included having a cameo appearance of Judge Judy during Elle's Harvard video essay in which Elle and her friends chased down the show's host, but the scene was cut when Judge Judy Sheindlin could not get on board. Witherspoon researched the character by studying sorority girls on their campuses and associated hot spots. She went to dinner with them and joked she was conducting an "anthropological study." The cast and crew also did a lot of research, with McCullah and Smith visiting the Stanford Law School for a week during orientation time; a scene of a group composed of new students going around in a circle was inspired on law students the screenwriters eavesdropped during their visit.
Read also: UCLA Spirit Program
Fashion and Feminism: The Visual Language of "Legally Blonde"
"The catch phrase was: "What would Elle do?" How would a fashion-obsessed, fish out of water assimilate into Harvard and a law firm without compromising her personal style? So, I took each situation and interpreted what would be appropriate in a unique way. Driving to Harvard? A leather driving suit. First day at the law office? A riff on a 1940s romantic comedy, pencil skirt and ruffle blues, but in the greys, this time. The film's costume designer, Sophie De Rakoff, became fast friends with Witherspoon on the set, bonding over Dolly Parton. The dominant color palette for Elle's outfits in the film is pink. Witherspoon sported 40 different hairstyles in the film. Luketic said he was "terrified" on his first day of filming. Both the University of Southern California and Stanford refused to allow the producers to use their college names in the film.
The Bend and Snap: An Improvised Seduction Technique
"[Producer] Marc Platt wanted a B plot for Paulette (Jennifer Coolidge)," McCullah Lutz told Entertainment Weekly. "At first we were like, 'Should the store be robbed?'" Co-writer Kirsten Smith observed, "I think we spent a week or two trying to figure out what the B plot and this big set piece should be. There were crime plots. Later, while brainstorming at a bar in Los Angeles, McCullah Lutz came up with a solution: "What if Elle shows [Paulette] a move so she can get the UPS guy?" On the spur of the moment, Smith invented a move, standing up and demonstrating what would become the bend and snap. Smith explains, "It was a spontaneous invention. "… It was a fully choreographed number by Toni Basil, and she was awesome," Witherspoon recalls. "She did the whole dance."
Alternate Endings and Lasting Impact
While filming the courthouse scenes, Raquel Welch requested cinematographer Anthony B. Richmond special lightning for her scenes as Mrs. The film originally ended at the courthouse right after Woods won the case, with Elle on the courthouse steps sharing a victory kiss with Emmett, then cutting one year into the future to her and a now-blonde Vivian starting their own Blonde Legal Defense Club at law school. After test audiences revealed they did not like this ending, McCullah Lutz and Smith consulted with Luketic, Platt, and other members of the production team while still in the lobby of the movie theater and they all agreed a new conclusion was necessary. The screenwriters wrote a new ending taking place at graduation, which was filmed at Dulwich College in London, England since Witherspoon was in that city filming "The Importance of Being Earnest." Witherspoon had also cut her hair for that film, and Wilson had shaved his head for "The Royal Tenenbaums." "Legally Blonde" was released on July 13, 2001, in North America. Its opening weekend gross of $20 million made it a sleeper hit for the struggling MGM studio, and it went on to gross $96.5 million in North America and $45.2 million elsewhere, for a worldwide total of $142 million. On Rotten Tomatoes, "Legally Blonde" has an approval rating of 72% based on reviews from 151 critics, with an average rating of 6.20/10.
A Third Installment: The Legacy Continues
A third "Legally Blonde" movie has been announced. No matter your opinion of the franchise, the first "Legally Blonde" movie is one of the most popular and well-known depictions of the law school application process.
Read also: Understanding the LSAT for AU WCL
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