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A small town girl, Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) reinvents herself and makes a name in
New York City as a famous fashion designer. She also catches the eye and the heart of Andrew Hennings (Patrick Dempsey) who looks like John F. Kennedy, Jr., and is the
son of the city mayor Kate (Candice Bergen). So enamored is Andrew with Melanie that he rents Tiffany for his exclusive use so he can propose marriage in style.
Very much in love, Melanie accepts but begs that the engagement be kept secret for a few days, She goes home to Alabama to see her folks whom she hasn't seen for seven years. Actually, her main purpose is to ask her husband Jake (Josh Lucas), the childhood sweetheart whom she married in high school, for a divorce. He refuses. For several years, he has made something of himself so as to lure Melanie back. Melanie renews old friendships and revisits old familiar places. She also starts to see Jake in a more favorable and affectionate light. Although Jake signs the divorce papers eventually, Melanie stays on. Andrew visits her in Alabama and accedes to marry her in her hometown to the chagrin of his politician mother. Melanie has to listen to her heart. Whom will it choose to bless?
Much of the appeal of this feel-good movie lies in the lovable, charming and very real persona of
Melanie Carmichael.
Anyone can recognize himself / herself in Melanie. Anyone, that is, who comes from a small unheard-of town, works hard in the big city for a place in the sun, relishes that success and later, realizes that, after all, there is no place like the old obscure hometown—a place where everybody knows everyone by name, where friends and relatives get protective in the face of nosy strangers and invasive reporters, where people have a pride of place and a love for traditions. We see the movie, identify with the characters and we feel a catch in the throat. Good direction and good acting have created the proper aura for this romantic comedy. Humor is sufficiently funny. Reese Witherspoon definitely stands out; Josh Lucas (Jake) and Patrick Dempsey (Andrew) as the suitors as well as Fred Ward and Mary Kay Place as the two parents are good, too.
The movie is indeed light and entertaining—just right to relax anyone at the end of a hard day's
work. Although we enjoy the picture, we do not miss or disregard the deception and pretensions.
Melanie could have been embarrassed or humiliated were her "cousins" not kind enough to cover up for her affectation. Lying about one's humble roots is not something to laugh about. It almost cost Melanie the love of Andrew. What is heartwarming is the open heartedness and the forgiving nature of most of the characters. After a characteristic reaction of someone lied to, Andrew reconciles with Melanie. The townspeople, including her parents and friends, seem to easily forget Melanie's misdemeanors and accept her with undiminished affection.
(Date reviewed: October 31, 2002)
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