Elle Woods: "Hello, patriots!"

Staffer 1: "Oh my God, it's Capitol Barbie."

Staffer 2: "She's so � shiny."


Like many fans of the first Legally Blonde, I've been looking forward to the sequel with a sense of eager anticipation usually reserved for fashionistas on the wait list for the next limited edition Hermes handbag.

Once again featuring the irrepressible Reese Witherspoon as the Bambi-eyed Elle Woods in yet another goldfish-out-of-Evian scenario, Legally Blonde 2: Red, Blue and Blonde is directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld (Kissing Jessica Stein) and written by first time screenwriter Kate Kondell.

In Legally Blonde 2, always sunny Elle is now a Boston lawyer preparing for her upcoming wedding to her boyfriend Emmett Richmond (Luke Wilson in yet another boyfriend-in-the-background role).

To make her wedding perfect, Elle insists on inviting all her in-laws - including the missing mother of her beloved gay Chihuahua, Bruiser, who is perpetually decked out like a taste-blind transvestite on a Pride float.

When Elle discovers that Bruiser's mother is being used as a cosmetics test subject by one of her law firm's major clients, she becomes a spokeswoman for PETA and as a result, gets fired for not being a "serious" lawyer.

Bouncing back faster than a curl on a roller, Elle sashays off (in to-die-for Jimmy Choo heels, what else!) to Washington D. C. to work as an assistant to Congresswoman Rudd (Sally Field), a respected animal-rights advocate - with nary a clue on how she got the job in the first place.

A novice political neophyte in neon pink, Elle is soon caught off-guard by all the back-stabbing and double-dealing that goes behind the closed doors of Washington's Capitol. Faced with a congressional aide (Regina King) who is determined to make things difficult and a mentor (Congresswoman Rudd) who turns out to be a self-serving back-stabbing bitch, Elle finds herself losing faith in the system and in herself.

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Fortunately, she is befriended by Sid Post (Bob Newhart), a shriveled eavesdropping doorman who gives her a crash course on Political Bureaucracy 101. And faster than you can do a finger-snap, Elle is advocating for "Bruiser's Bill", organizing a Million Dog March (with help from her Delta Nu sorority sisters) and later, addressing a joint session of Congress where she urges every legislator to "speak up for the Land of Free Gift with a Purchase".

Despite its frothy fun, Legally Blonde 2 remains riddled with plot inanities of the dumb blonde variety. For instance, Elle's efforts to seek support from constipated Congresswoman Libby Hauser (Dana Ivey) becomes moot when the latter discovers her Delta Nu sorority ties with Elle at a hair saloon and immediately degenerates into a giggling schoolgirl with helium for brains. Likewise, Elle's efforts to lobby support for "Bruiser's Bill" from a Southern Senator (Bruce McGill) becomes unnecessary when the latter discovers his Rottweiler is gay and in love with Bruiser.

Thankfully, despite the mentally deficient and chiffon-thin plot, Reese Witherspoon remains a joy to watch by proving once again that no current comedy actress can carry off the fully accessorized Barbie-with-brains routine so well. However, the biggest laughs in the movie come from Elle's best friend - beauty school dropout Paulette (Jennifer Coolidge) who is a scene-stealer with her truly dim-witted but hilarious lines.

In the final analysis, if you enjoy lighthearted comedies where a sorority sister with impeccable fashion sense can truly transform America into a better and fashion-coordinated nation or if you are a drag queen in dire need of some fashion advice and a makeover, then Legally Blonde 2 is the movie for you.