Sweet Home Alabama

release year: 2002
genre: romantic comedy
viewing setting: home DVD, 7/17/03

synopsis: Before she can get married to a rich, successful guy, a New York fashion designer must return to her Alabama roots and clean up remains of her previous life - including a previous love interest.

impressions: It was pretty good, though it lost steam near the end, in my opinion. My biggest issue with it was the lack of chemistry between the woman and the Alabama man; I saw more attraction between her and the New York man. I can't believe she'd think about backing out of her wedding with a current successful boyfriend on account of a previous one who she hates. Another way to look at this is that it's just a way to glamorize the "good ol' South." Yet another is to just accept this as a decent, entertaining romantic comedy-drama and get on with life.

something this movie has that no other movie has: A room filled with flower petals.

acting: Reese Witherspoon did a good job as the woman whose life spans two different places. Josh Lucas made a good level-headed country hick. Patrick Dempsey was the rich, politically-connected dream bachelor. Candice Bergen was quite unlikeable as the evil mayor mother of Dempsey. Fred Ward was funny as the Civil-War-infatuated father of the bride.

final word: Worth seeing, but I wouldn't call it one of the all-time great romantic movies.

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