Special thanks to Colette for helping me with this post!
Welcome to the Destructoid Theater Critic, in which I will review a musical I recently saw, and enjoyed tremendously. And that musical is Legally Blonde.
I know, I know. I probably have to turn in all my
man cards, but I really loved this show. Far more then I thought I would. After all, a "bubbly" musical based on a
sub-par Reese Witherspoon movie doesn't exactly sound like the next Phantom of the Opera, but a MTV broadcast of it was on my Tivo and if it turned out to be as terrible as I expected, it might be so bad it's good, like Alien Storm or a Pauly Shore movie. With this rational, I rang a friend, ordered some Chinese, and sat down to watch, what is now, one of my favorite musicals.
The show begins with Elle Woods, president of the Delta Nu sorority at UCLA, preparing for her upcoming engagement to Warner Huntington III. With the help of her sorority sisters, Elle purchases the perfect outfit (Omigod You Guys) and meets Warner for dinner, happy as can be, until Warner breaks up with her, saying that he needs to be with someone more serious. (Serious) Her spirit unhampered, Elle decides that to win Warner back, she's going to follow him to Harvard and enroll in Law School with him. (What You Want) If this sounds somewhat ridiculous, that's because it is, and the show knows it. Legally Blonde never takes itself fully seriously, and maintains a tongue in check attitude through out the show, which allows you to become engaged and emotionally vested in a story that you, or at least I, would never have cared about otherwise.
Said over the top story is perfectly complemented by a score that's just as campy, if not more so. Songs like There! Right There!, in which Elle attempts to prove the prosecution's witness is gay, and therefore incapable of having had an affair with her client, and Whipped into Shape, an incredibly impressive rendition of the aforementioned client's hit exercise video, complete with synchronized jump roping stunts and a jail house exercise regimen, both of which prove that these dancers are more fit then most gym regulars, comprise the majority of Legally Blonde's song list, but there are a few mold breakers, like Legally Blonde, a somber piece sung by Elle in a moment of desperation, that was surprisingly moving for such an peppy, superficial show. But the best number in the show is with out a doubt directly the aptly named upbeat reprise of Legally Blonde, Legally Blonde (Remix). You know that feeling you get at a particularly epic (a word I never thought I'd use in conjunction with this musical) moment in a movie? Like the big scene with all the ships in Serenity or when Indian Jones' theme song plays for the first time? This is the feeling you'll get when watching this number, it's cheesy and full of camp, just like the rest of the show, but it's so awesome you can't help but smile, even when they pull out the livid pink suit/dress hybrid and the Irish step dancing.
And at the center of all this awesome is Laura Bell Bundy, the actress playing Elle, the star of the show in both the literal and metaphorical sense. I don't know why she didn't a Tony, because she give one of the most enthusiastic and energetic performances I have ever seen. Every line, every dance step, no matter how ridiculous they were, are taken completely serious, and preformed with an astounding amount of charisma and energy. It's quite the sight to behold. And although the whole cast is great, especially those in the smaller roles like the three sorority sisters/Greek chorus or Kyle the UPS guy, no one can rival the unbridled glee that is the show's leading lady. It does her a huge disservice to selecting her successor using
a reality TV program. It be hard to replace her using real audition and near impossible when the only ones who show up are the type to go on reality TV, but I digress.
As I've said though out this review, I really love the show. My one complaint is the Emmet
does not uncross his arms seriously, if you ever see the show watch him, they stay crossed the whole time. It's a minor complaint though, as overall Legally Blonde the Musical is a phenomenal show that I recommend to everyone. I know it sounds bad, but give it a shot, please? You can watch it all for free
here or go out to New York and see it on stage. Either way I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Just keep one thing in mind, the beginning is a bit a much, but keep watching, you'll really like. I think.
Verdict: See it!
Download this Song: If you care about spoilers: Chip on Your Shoulder, if not: Legally Blonde (Remix)
Hope you enjoyed this edition of the Destructoid Theater Critic, until next time!
(# 0) on 06/27/2008 18:03
(# 1) on 06/27/2008 18:19
(# 2) on 06/27/2008 18:22
(# 3) on 06/27/2008 18:27
(# 4) on 06/27/2008 19:06
(# 5) on 06/27/2008 19:22
This guy....
(# 6) on 06/27/2008 19:29
WHY PENIS WHY!!!?
(# 7) on 06/27/2008 19:33
(# 8) on 06/27/2008 19:49
Did you know MTV is doing a show to find the next Elle Woods? It's a bit of a cookie cutter reality show, but it's cool to see the girls compete by auditioning various songs/scenes from the musical.
Finally, I would like to recommend that next time you review Wicked...though it's never been on MTV so video is a little harder to track down online, but...I'm sure it's on tour?
Cheers!
(# 9) on 06/27/2008 19:57
lol, that's another thing that amazed me about it. I actually made blatant crotch bulge tolerable :P
@NihonTiger
I'm bringing Elle Woods, so be prepared for me to win ;)
@Thisyearspink
Thanks! Glad to see I'm not alone in loving this show :) I saw an episode of the show, and hated it :P
I saw Wicked, and liked it more then I though I would, but it still wasn't really for me.
(# 10) on 06/27/2008 20:27
(# 11) on 06/27/2008 20:32
(# 12) on 06/27/2008 20:35
[size=100]OBJECTION[/size
to you enjoying this. My head is spinning at the thought. I'd watch it, but I'm on the internet and I don't need to prove reasons for my opinions.
Also, the BEST MUSICAL EVER is "A Shoggoth on the Roof".
(# 13) on 06/28/2008 00:23
(# 14) on 06/28/2008 00:37
(# 15) on 06/28/2008 00:38