Sweet Home Alabama

Plot synopsis:
The film opens on a stormy Alabama beach with two children, Melanie Smooter and Jake Perry. Jake has brought Melanie out to show her the glass sculptures that result when sand is struck by lightning. They discuss their future together, with Jake asserting they will be married one day.
In the present day, Melanie has changed her last name to Carmichael, a rich local family, to hide her poor Southern roots. She is a successful up-and-coming fashion designer in New York City. After becoming engaged to Andrew, Melanie goes home alone to Alabama to tell her parents. In reality she is going to procure a divorce from her estranged husband Jake. Andrew's mother, the Mayor of New York, expresses doubt that Melanie is good enough for her son, whom she is grooming to eventually run for President of the United States.
In Alabama, Melanie asks Jake why he has returned the divorce papers unsigned for the last seven years, but he orders her out of his house, eventually calling the sheriff (another childhood friend) to intervene. When Melanie's father brings her home from the station she announces her engagement.
Hoping to spur Jake to sign the papers, Melanie empties out his checking account, after learning that her name is still on it. Jake says he will sign the papers in the morning, lamenting "nobody finds their soulmate when they're ten years old". Following Jake to a local bar, Melanie gets drunk and embarrasses herself in front of her childhood friends, expressing disgust at their lifestyle, confessing that Jake got her pregnant as teens and outing a mutual friend, Bobby Ray Carmichael. When Melanie wakes up the next morning, the divorce papers are lying on her bed, finally signed by Jake.
Melanie visits the Carmichael plantation to apologize to Bobby Ray, where she is cornered by a private detective sent to dig up dirt for the mayor. Realizing her predicament, Bobby Ray pretends to be her cousin, backing up her pretense that this is her childhood home. Melanie soon reconciles with her other friends, and learns that Jake followed her to New York City to win her back—intimidated by the size of Manhattan, he returned home determined to make something of himself first. Melanie now realizes why Jake never signed the divorce papers.
Andrew arrives at the Carmichael Plantation to surprise Melanie. Jake takes him to a Civil War reenactment, where Melanie is with her father. On the way, knowing who Andrew is, Jake regales him with the story of "Felony" Melanie Smooter, a young girl who once tied dynamite to a cat's tail and then was arrested after it ran into the bank. When Andrew sees Melanie at the battlefield, she tells him Jake is her ex-husband. When her father introduces himself as Earl Smooter, Andrew realizes that Melanie has lied to him about who she really is and leaves. Andrew soon appears at Melanie's parents' house, having gotten over the shock and admitting he still wants to marry her, here in Alabama.
Once Melanie's friends from New York arrive, they browse at a glazier whose wares they all have admired in New York, only to realize it is Jake.
Melanie's lawyer interrupts the wedding ceremony, bringing the divorce papers that Melanie herself has missed signing. Melanie hesitates, realizing her love for Jake. She wishes Andrew luck in finding a good woman. Andrew, distressed but showing no ill-feelings, wishes her well in return. His mother explodes, berating Andrew for risking his promising political career and verbally attacking Melanie. She then insults the town and Melanie's mother, for which Melanie punches her in the jaw, to the cheers of the crowd.
Melanie, in her wedding gown in the rain, finds Jake planting metal rods in the beach to draw lighting to create more sand sculptures. She tells him they are still married, and asks why he didn't tell her he came to New York. They repeat the conversation from when they were children about why they want to be married. As Jake and Melanie kiss, sheriff Wade "arrests" them and takes them to the bar owned by Jake's mother, where their friends and family are waiting. The pair finally get their long-awaited first dance as husband and wife, to the tune of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama". A mid-credits sequence shows that they have a daughter, Melanie continues to thrive as a designer and Jake opens a "Deep South Glass" franchise in New York.

Tags: romantic, entertaining, flashback

Review:
Ever hear of the story of crying "wolf?"  Most of the extra forceful reviews of "Sweet Home Alabama" are the professional and amateur reviewers that try to tell us, "stay away, this is a waste of your time, do not see it." Bull-dinkey!
The first and last scenes complement each other very well."Sweet Home Alabama" - a fine movie for those who enjoy a good comedy, and especially those who like Reese Witherspoon..
I found Sweet Home Alabama to be a very sweet romantic comedy, Reese Witherspoon was just so adorable in this film.
I wanted to see Sweet Home Alabama because I love Reese and remember hearing so much about it when it was released.
Over all, I'd say it was a bit over rated(everyone I knew who saw this movie loved it), but still a watchable romantic comedy.Sweet Home Alabama is about a girl, Melanie, she is about to marry the mayor of New York city's son.
But she slowly discovers how much she missed her true home and how much of a wonderful guy that Jake is.A bit predictable and silly, but over all I would recommend Sweet Home Alabama for a lite comedy that most could enjoy.
Like I said, it's not that big of a deal, but I love Reese Witherspoon personally, so you might disagree, but then again, how will you know if you don't give the movie a shot?
Now i'm a sucker for good 'chick Flicks' and this one tops my list, Reese shines as Melanie, the girl who realises that what she's been looking for was right there at home waiting for her.
"Sweet Home Alabama" is about a young woman, Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon), who is learning who she is.
This is far from her world in New York City where she is a fashion designer, engaged to the mayor's son, Andrew Hennings (Patrick Dempsey), and lives life in the fast lane.The city versus country conflict begins when Melanie returns home to finalize her divorce from her lovable, redneck husband Jake Perry (Josh Lucas).
This makes the first meeting of the happy couples' parents, Mayor Hennings and Pearl and Earl Smooter (Mary Kay Place and Fred Ward), incredibly predictable, yet, still hilarious when you see it play out.As she was in "Legally Blonde" and "Just Like Heaven", Witherspoon is sweet, smart, and sassy.
But isn't it sad that the song "Sweet Home Alabama," which was written in the first place to object to sweeping generalizations about demon-Southerners (all Southerners being white, of course, in this anti-Southern view) is now gracing a movie that cozies right up to Southern stereotypes?
What Skynard meant by the song and how SOME of their audience have interpreted it over the years are two different things, just like Springsteen's "Born in the USA" has been used for political purposes that are the opposite of the song's sentiments.)For people who think every white Southerner's favorite evening wear is a white sheet with burning cross as accessory, they can gloat over the stupid hicks in this film.
(Except black folks, who'd better not expect to see black folks living in the Alabama of THIS movie.) Reese Witherspoon herself, a well-bred Episcopalian débutante from Nashville, is a negation of Southern stereotypes, and an example of the Southerners we never see as characters in movies.Meanwhile the movie itself is so innocuous that it dissolves while you're watching it.
Had this movie been made forty years ago, it would've starred Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward; it's that kind of story-- a romantic and lusty foray into the human condition that takes truth, honesty and love into consideration while examining the relationships of those involved.
Because `Sweet Home Alabama,' directed by Andy Tennant, coasts with a `Fast Food Generation' sense of romance, and from frame One any `lusty' aspects of the film would be more aptly defined as `dusty,' `musty' or `rusty.'  If this is a reflection of the sense and sensibility of romance in the new millennium, then just stop the world now and let me off.Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon), seven years removed from her roots in Alabama has achieved success in the Big Apple.
So for Melanie, it's off to her old sweet home, Alabama, to visit the past she'd rather forget.As a director, Andy Tennant has his roots in television, and for better or worse-- it is, perhaps, a subjective call-- he has time and again attempted to adapt his small screen sensibilities to the big screen, which worked well enough in `Ever After,' in 1998, but achieved dismal results the next year in `Anna and the King.'  This offering falls somewhere in-between.
With a different cast, director and screenplay, `Sweet Home Alabama' may have had a chance; but this bunch checked any pizzazz and credibility at the door on the way in, and the result is a film that is flat and tedious.
That should change once my script for " 'That Smell': A Scratch-and-Sniff Musical" hits the big screen.In the meantime, we must settle for "Sweet Home Alabama," with Reese Witherspoon as Melanie, a successful New York fashion designer engaged to marry Andrew (Patrick Dempsey), an eligible bachelor who is also the son of a rising politician (Candice Bergen).
I'm no historian on the subject of the American Civil War, but, in spite of its flaws, I surrender to 'Sweet Home Alabama'because of the charm of Reese Witherspoon.
Josh Lucas, who impressed in 'A Beautiful Mind' is a good match for Reese's character, and he helps play down the sugar-sweetness with a grittier performance than is usual in such films.
Furthermore, Sweet Home Alabama gave out a rather simplistic, clumsy 'North is bad, South is good' message, which is rather bizarre for this genre of movie, not to mention inappropriate and alienating.
Reese Witherspoon is Melanie, a fashion designer on the rise in the New York fashion scene with an upmarket attitude to match.She is is engaged to the son (Patrick Dempsey) of the Mayor of NYC but she is still married to her childhood sweetheart back home in Alabama and must go back home to get a divorce from Jake (Josh Lucas.)Once she returns home she is reminded of her past that she has escaped from.
An Icy politician, small town friends, red-necks, feisty females, a gay fashion designer.It's all very twee and predictable.Plus we have Melanie's father (Fred Ward) who is into re-enacting the Civil war and makes statements such as the 'South is rising.'Why does the film not explain what this means?
He is too busy spinning a fabricated tale of small town values.After spending some time back home, does Melanie rediscover her first love or marry her fiancé..
i only regret i didn't get to see it while playing at the cinema.i watched the movie with my two best friends and they loved it too.this is the best movie i have seen in the last two years!first of all,unlike many movies that are based on young people leavingtheir home towns and going to the big city to succeed,this one does just the opposite.it's nice to finally have a movie to show us the importance to remember who our real friends are and where we come from.I have been watching Reese Witherspoon's movies for years,but this one is definitely her best movie yet.This is the mother of all romantic comedies,and it is exactly what a romantic comedy should look like.i have recently watched maid in manhattan and two week's notice, yuck!
maybe the makers of romantic movies should rent Sweet home Alabama and see what a great romantic comedy looks like.The music at the beginning of the movie where Melanie & Jake share their first kiss is just unbeleiveably great, and that scene in the pet semetary was so hard to watch.
with all the crazy stuff going on in the world, we need more sweet movies like this.Like the good old Beatles said in one song; Love is all we need!i definitely give it a two thumbs up!
I would like to know how she was going to get away from coming up clean.Well, if after all the mind stretching on one's part, one has a laugh or two, then it was well worth seeing this piece of fluff.The best thing going in the film is the presence of Reese Witherspoon.
She then goes back to Alabama to attempt to get divorced and suffering ensues.Of course, the big shot city girl goes back to her home town and thinks that she's better than everyone, only to later realize that she's still one of them.
i love reese witherspoon, but this the worst movie i have ever seen her in.
candace was good for a few laughs, and both the husband and the husband-to-be were nice to look at (i've liked patrick dempsey since can't buy me love), but the movie was so god-awful that it was painful to watch.
(Arguably not the best way to view a film.) Having said that, I did turn my full attention to the movie, mostly when Josh Lucas was on the screen.
As I mentioned, the only good thing about the movie (that got old in about 3 minutes) was Josh Lucas - the guy who, despite the fact that he's surrounded by rednecks, mullets and buckshot is more Eddie Bauer than Wrangler.
I did, however manage to make up plenty of lyrics to "Sweet Home Alabama" that involved my cats' names since they insisted on playing a very poor cover of that song about 300 times during the movie.
If you want some fluff, you like Reese Witherspoon,you aren't afraid of your intelligence being insulted and you have the amazing ability to suspend ALL disbelief, this is your movie.
SWEET HOME ALABAMA **** Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas are in fine form in this southern charmer from director Andy Tennant (also attached to such films as 'Hitch' and 'Anna and the King').
It's not exciting for successful New York clothing designer Melanie (Witherspoon) to break the news of her getting married to her distant, southern-town parents and the husband whom she abandoned (Lucas).
Reese Witherspoon shines in this charming romantic comedy that will make you laugh, smile, and feel good from start to finish.
Now, in conclusion, I highly recommend this good romantic comedy that will make you laugh and feel good to any Reese Witherspoon fan who hasn't seen it.
The movie stars Reese Witherspoon as Melanie Carmichael, Josh Lucas as Jake, Patrick Dempsey as Andrew, and Candice Bergen as Kate (Moritz, Chaffin, & Tennant, 2004).
Melanie Smooter, also known as Melanie Carmichael, is a southern woman who left the small town of Pigeon Creek, Alabama to become a top designer in New York City (Moritz, Chaffin, & Tennant, 2004).
Candice Bergen is always good at playing a bitch and you have to love Reese's parents in the movie they were so good.
If you like an exciting movie that makes you laugh every time, watch "Rat Race" and not "Sweet Home Alabama".
The performances were good and Reese Witherspoon is excellent as Melanie - the seemingly above herself fashion designer.She is brought back to earth and forced to recognise herself again on a jaunt to Alabama to secure the signature on divorce papers so she can marry again (but who would want to divorce Josh Lucas anyway?!).
As completely predictable she decides that perhaps a life in the city with the son of the Mayor, is perhaps not the dream it once was.Not sure about the "white trash past" referred to in the film sypnosis as the people in her home town all seem like lovely people living life in the slow lane and are content and happy to do so..
Unfortunately, the charming story collapses beneath a contrived collection of cliches and caricatures resulting in a mediocre film with a plethora of plot problems.Reese Witherspoon plays Melanie, a successful New York fashion designer on the way up.
The minor complication that serves as the turning point in the first act is that Melanie is still married to the redneck loser she left behind in-you guessed it-sweet home Alabama.She has been trying to divorce him for six years but he refuses to sign the divorce papers so she has to make a trip (just so we can hear the title song, I think).
Frankly, Reese Witherspoon does a much better job confronting a different kind of roots problem in Legally Blonde.The questions that are supposed to keep us on the edge of our seats is will she get her husband to sign the papers or not, and which man will she ultimately end up marrying.
Sweet Home Alabama is not a terrible movie.
Being able to call myself both a New Englander and Southerner, I believe Sweet Home Alabama did a good job portraying the settings of the north and south during the movie.
The movie starts with Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) living in New York City following her dream of being a big fashion designer.
the problem is, he does not want to get divorced and her fiancée doesn't know she was married in the first place...Reese Witherspoon was OK in it, but it was not her best performance...
:)I was a little bit disappointed that the song, Sweet Home Alabama, was played twice in the movie (once in a bar sung by a live band, then during the credits).
Reese Witherspoon's sparkling persona pretty much carries the movie, and the inoffensive story lines leave plenty of room for corny yet touching romantic scenes.
During a night of drinking, someone plays the song "Sweet Home Alabama" and Melanie and Jake prepare to dance together.
Candice Bergan makes an appearance and adds comedy as Andrew Hennings mother and Mayor of New York.The climax supposedly comes on the day of Melanie's wedding to Andrew Henning, when she realizes she has not signed the divorce papers that her husband Jake signed at her request.
Reese Witherspoon makes this movie, all the way down to her true southern accent..
I like Reese Witherspoon and she is sweet in this movie about a girl torn between her future engagement to and new life as a New Yorker versus her old hometown roots and ex-husband (although she's not exactly divorced and that's why she returns to Alabama).
Reese Witherspoon is the reason to see "Sweet Home Alabama." This is virtually identical to movies like "My Best Friend's Wedding," "The Runaway Bride," and "Something to Talk About" so if you enjoyed those (which I waited to watch on cable) you'll enjoy this one.
I cannot envision anyone but Reese Witherspoon as Melanie, a snooty-but-lovable up-and-coming New York City fashion designer from Alabama who receives a marriage proposal from the prominent, well-bred son of the mayor of New York.
I cannot envision anyone but Reese Witherspoon as Melanie, a snooty-but-lovable up-and-coming New York City fashion designer from Alabama who receives a marriage proposal from the prominent, well-bred son of the mayor of New York.
Others include the independent, feminist girlfriend, the redneck buddies and a gay fashion designer.Director Andy Tennant also likes to deal with some classic historical and societal conflicts in this movie, such as the North versus the South.
Others include the independent, feminist girlfriend, the redneck buddies and a gay fashion designer.Director Andy Tennant also likes to deal with some classic historical and societal conflicts in this movie, such as the North versus the South.
Reese Witherspoon plays Melanie Carmichael, an up and coming NY Fashion Designer who has to decide between the man of her present (Patrick Dempsey-Andrew) or the man of her past (Josh Lucas-Jake).
Though Reese Witherspoon's acting is a bit wooden and the feeling of affection was purely felt more from Jake's (Josh)side due to better acting; the story was still great.
I did not like the original ending of the movie, the director got it right the second time around.
reese witherspoon goes back to her roots to make her husband sign the divorce papers after years of being in new york and getting a job as a high end designer.
`Sweet Home Alabama' is a fine example of the perfect `formula' movie for the comedy-romance genre.
Whatever is funny is so because people are acting in ways that appear real and authentic, not because the writers had a good one-liner that managed to wriggle into the script.The story revolves around Melanie Carmichael (played by Reese Witherspoon), a successful high-end clothing designer in New York, who wants to marry the man of her dreams.
Sweet Home Alabama, is a romantic parable about what it means to find and keep your true love.
The theme in the movie is played over and over again with the music by the 70's rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd tilted Sweet Home Alabama, which furthermore enforces the title of the film.
In the movie New York fashion designer Melanie Carmicheal played by Reese Witherspoon suddenly finds herself engaged to the city's most eligible bachelor.
Sweet Home Alabama is perfect for that.You don't have to think, just follow and...I liked it.
The story is quite typical, but still I didn't have the feeling like I had seen the movie before.Lucas performed really good and I still can't believe the color of his eyes, soooo blue!
The acting in the movie was okay, I liked Reese Witherspoon's part and Josh Lucas', but other than that the acting needed improvement.
Probably not worth spending the big bucks on seeing at the movie cinema.Big fashion designer (Reese Witherspoon) heads on home to Alabama and discovers a few interesting things.
She is about to marry the city mayors son (Patrick Dempsey), but must first divorce her husband (Josh Lucas) and close some issues from her home town.
So when I am home sick I watch the movie and it makes me feel better.
I thought this movie was cute, sweet, funny and charming and so was Reese.
I thought this movie was cute, sweet, funny and charming and so was Reese.