Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
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37% of critics liked it
(156 reviews) -
77% of users liked it
(737,343 ratings)
After establishing herself as a bankable star with the fish out of water comedy Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon returns in what could be described as a "fish back in water" comedy. Melanie Carmichael (Witherspoon) is a successful New York fashion designer who is dating Andrew Hennings… More After establishing herself as a bankable star with the fish out of water comedy Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon returns in what could be described as a "fish back in water" comedy. Melanie Carmichael (Witherspoon) is a successful New York fashion designer who is dating Andrew Hennings (Patrick Dempsey), a wealthy socialite whose mother, Katherine Hennings (Candice Bergen), is the Big Apple's mayor. One day, Andrew pops the big question and asks Melanie to marry him; Melanie is overjoyed, but unknown to Andrew, Melanie has some unfinished business to take care of first. Despite her polished uptown image, Melanie grew up poor in the deep South, and as a teenager she married her high school sweetheart Jake Perry (Josh Lucas). Things went sour and Melanie moved East, reinventing herself along the way, but Jake never bothered to legally end their marriage. Now Melanie has to return to her hometown of Pigeon Creek, AL, to tell her parents (Fred Ward and Mary Kay Place) the news and convince Jake to grant her a divorce; however, the more time she spends with her old flame, the more she feels sparks flying between them again, while she also learns her Eastern affectations don't fly with everyone back home. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Andy Tennant
- Written By
- C. Jay Cox
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Comedy
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- Sep 27, 2002 Wide
- On DVD
- Feb 4, 2003
- Studio
- Buena Vista Distribution Compa
Critic Reviews
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Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Would be an unendurable viewing experience for this ultra-provincial New Yorker if 26-year-old Reese Witherspoon were not on hand to inject her pure fantasy character, Melanie Carmichael, with a massive infusion of old-fashioned Hollywood magic.
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Rex Reed, New York Observer
It's as preposterous and phony as a Confederate C-note, but Reese Witherspoon has so much natural beauty, talent and charm she guarantees more fun than the day the hogs ate Willie.
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Laura Sinagra, Village Voice
Despite her relentless vim and winsome facial symmetry, Witherspoon is just too dialed-up to be America's Sweetheart.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
It is definitely worth seeing.
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
If you're a fan of Witherspoon, this movie was produced, shot, edited and distributed entirely for you.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Reese Witherspoon
as Melanie Carmichael
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Josh Lucas
as Jake Perry
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Patrick Dempsey
as Andrew
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Candice Bergen
as Mayor Katherine Hennings
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Mary Kay Place
as Pearl Smooter
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Fred Ward
as Earl Smooter
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Jean Smart
as Stella Kay
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Ethan Embry
as Bobby Ray
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Melanie Lynskey
as Lurlynn
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Courtney Gains
as Wade
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Mary Lynn Rajskub
as Dorothea
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Rhona Mitra
as Tabatha
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Nathan Lee Graham
as Frederick
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Dakota Fanning
as Young Melanie
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Mark Matkevich
as Tom Darovsic
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Ted Manson
as Colonel Murphy
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Ambre Lake
as Wedding Coordinator
- Michelle Krusiec
