He went toe to toe with Reese Witherspoon and completely held his own. I haven’t seen Josh Lucas in much, but he was really charming as Jake. Because dogs are truly the only creatures in the world who love us unconditionally, even when we suck as humans and let them down. There is a scene of Melanie visiting the spot where she and Jake’s dog was buried and I won’t lie, I shed a few tears. Thankfully the longer she’s there, the more she comes to see that she doesn’t necessarily need glitz and glamour to be happy. There’s a sense of superiority around her, for making her way out of the small-town life and “making something” of herself. She’s a bit selfish and is clearly embarrassed by her childhood home and friends, despite the fact that it’s clear they care about her. Melanie is by no means a perfect heroine. I probably would have been satisfied no matter who Melanie ended up with, but I have to admit I am a sucker for childhood to adult sweethearts who find their way back to each other. Both men seemed good for Melanie in their own way, and it was really dependent on the kind of woman Melanie truly wanted to be. Witherspoon and Lucas have some really wonderful chemistry, but I was pleased to find Witherspoon also had some pretty good chemistry with Patrick Dempsey as well. I’m not entirely sure what I would have rated this romantic comedy ten years ago, but I found myself really enjoying it on my rewatch, even if some of the southern culture jokes came across as a bit stale. Honestly, the one thing I remembered more than anything was the kiss in the rain, both at the beginning and at the end. This is a movie I own but honestly couldn’t remember much beyond a few scenes here and there. The only problem is, Jake refuses to sign the papers and Melanie is forced to confront her past and what she left behind. It turns out Melanie – whose real last name is Smoot – has carved out a new life for herself in the big city, leaving behind her high school sweetheart, her family, and friends in the process. After Andrew proposes to Melanie, she hightails it back to her hometown in Alabama to track down her husband, Jake ( Josh Lucas) in hopes that he’ll finally sign their divorce papers. Melanie Carmichael ( Reese Witherspoon) is an up and coming fashion designer in New York with an incredibly handsome, wealthy boyfriend named Andrew ( Patrick Dempsey) who also happens to be the Mayor’s son.
Jay Cox Released: SeptemRuntime 108 minutes Rated: PG-13 Synopsis: A young woman who’s reinvented herself as a New York City socialite must return home to Alabama to obtain a divorce from her husband, after seven years of separation. I don't want to give away theending, but I will tell you I really enjoyed "Sweet Home Alabama.Sometimes what you’re looking for is right where you left it The wedding,however, is interrupted by Melanie's lawyer running in with news that forces herto decide who she really wants to be with. Melanie doesn't want Andrew to find out she was married to Jake whileengaged to him, and that she didn't grown up with money, but when he discoversher secret, he forgives her. NowMelanie isn't so sure she's made the right choice, but she sends them inanyway.Īll of a sudden, her fiance shows up in Alabama wanting to meether family. She wakes up one morning and the papers are signed. Melanie goes out of her way tomake Jake miserable, mocking his friends, spending his money and other thingsthat, in the end, work. Jake doesn't want to sign, and the first part of the movie revolvesaround their fights about the divorce. She has to go home to get her husband Jake (Josh Lucas) to sign divorcepapers. When he asks her hand in marriage Melaniesays yes, but she has some unfinished business to attend to in her nativeAlabama. Andrew (Patrick Dempsey) is the most eligible bachelorin New York, and the son of the mayor. Melanie (Reese Witherspoon) is a rising star in theworld of fashion design. The plot is unpredictable, and theactors do a great job.
I enjoyed this realistic, down-to-earth movie.