Legally Blonde Reviews- Page 4

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 9:52pm

In the opening credits of every Word of Mouth, when each reviewer is bumped up onto the screen, am I the only one who gets knocked out by Mortician Scott's ferocious belly?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 9:54pm

hehehehehehe

[keen on kean]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 9:58pm

Did anyone else think that Cat (one of the Word of Mouth reviewers) was like, totally, ready to try out as one of the sorority girls in LB, I mean, like really? She seemed to think it was worthwhile to mention that Laura Bell Bundy didn't have any trouble singing the songs? And she made that sound like a rave?!?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 9:59pm

Of course they had to love it. Broadway.com has spent 6 months creating a LEGALLY BLONDE video docu-advertising campaign. There was no way in hell any of their nobodies were going to say one bad word about the show. Tickets need to be sold, people! Priorities, priorities!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:01pm

She seemed to think it was worthwhile to mention that Laura Bell Bundy didn't have any trouble singing the songs? And she made that sound like a rave?!?

I thought the exact same thing -- we're praising performers for not having problems singing when they're on Broadway? (Oh) My God, that should be a given, not a novelty!

These people make me angry and feel really, really smart at the same time.

Updated On: 4/29/07 at 10:01 PM

[StageFan2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:03pm

Here's the Times Review:


http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/theater/reviews/30blon.html?pagewanted=2

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:04pm

They make me feel really smart.


And keen, I noticed that too. And this is the same girl that couldn't follow "Inherit the Wind".

[Katurian2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:07pm

Even though the reviews aren't overly praising, there are enough quotes to pull for ads, and enough of a pre-made fanbase that this show is going to be around a long, long, long time.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:07pm

Wow for once a Blonde that Brantley isn't crazy for.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:09pm

At least Leslie got a mention. Is the NTY review mixed? I'm not good at telling these things.
Updated On: 4/29/07 at 10:09 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:10pm

I couldn't tell from his review whether Brantley enjoyed it or didn't.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:10pm

I'm gonna call the Times review mixed, personally. Not a rave, but not one of Brantley's pans.

And, get it, Leslie.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:11pm

I would say its mixed to positive , i think its a good review for the show.

[massofmen]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:11pm

what is "a long long time"? when legally blonde doesn't win a tony for best musical, or best lead actress or best lead actor, or probaby best featured actress and actor...whats it gonna sell on? Best Sets? Best...animal representation? You really think word of mouth is gonna sell this anemic show? Its a LOUD BIG PINK show...that only entertains so much. there won't be repeat buyers..people will say..."yea I mean, its good, but try to get a tix for Wicked or jersey boys or even that new show with skating Little Mermaid".
done in a year I think. sadly, cause jobs are hard to come by in this biz. But with that show costing 14-16 million and operating costs being in the range of 6-750,000 a week. Good luck.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:12pm

He seems to have enjoyed it but i think it might have been a bit to hyperactive for him hehe poor love

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:12pm

Coming from Brantley about this type of show... I was sort of shocked at how... well.. NICE he was. I think he may have even had a good time...

Holy cow.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:15pm

massofmen it already has many people going back more than once(some on here) and this is the kind of show that could run for years because it will be a tourist fave as well as the fact its got some good reviews(inc some praise from the new york times)

And how do you know its not going to win anything at the Tonys? we cant be sure what they will vote for

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:15pm

massofmen, let me tell you something: If nominated, Legally Blonde will win Best Musical. Why? Because it's the most commercial show of the bunch. That's why it will win if nominated. It's not fair this happens most of the time, but it does. It's politics.

And you wonder why this show will run? They got decent reviews, and it's a big fluffy pink musical about female enpowerment. It's based of a popluar and current movie. How can't it run?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:16pm

I don't think Brantley liked the show much at all, at least from that review; though it seems as if he acquiesces that the show, probably not his cup of tea to begin with, is relatively harmless (and perhaps critic proof).

Clearly, knowing Brantley's love of her, if you read between the lines, he thinks this show would have been a lot better if they'd gotten Chenoweth (who it was originally conceived for).

Wonderfulwizard - LEGALLY BLONDE isn't going to win the Best Musical Tony. Even if its nominated. Those are empty statistics.
Updated On: 4/29/07 at 10:16 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:17pm

Brantley's was negative, be real. There was no "mixed" there at all.

Certainly not the review they were hoping for. However, it is the review that the producers of Spring Awakening were hoping for. It's safe to say that they, rightfully so, have the Tony in the bag.

Clips of Brantley's review:

"This high-energy, empty-calories and expensive-looking hymn to the glories of girlishness, based on the 2001 film of the same title, approximates the experience of eating a jumbo box of Gummi Bears in one sitting. This may be common fare for the show’s apparent target audience — female ’tweens and teenagers who still believe in Barbie. But unless you’re used to such a diet, you wind up feeling jittery, glazed and determined to swear off sweets for at least a month.

I say this as one who fell, though not hard, for the confectionary charms of the movie version of this story about Elle Woods, a frivolous California dream girl who finds the true gold beneath her goldenness by going to Harvard Law School. But the movie had one overwhelming advantage in its leading lady, Reese Witherspoon — or more specifically, Ms. Witherspoon’s square chin and everything it signifies: grit, smarts, a will to dominate and that soupçon of freakishness that separates a star-in-the-making from the professional beauties.

“Legally Blonde,” the musical, has Laura Bell Bundy, the kind of young woman who summons instant parental pride in the middle-aged. In addition to her prom-queen prettiness, she sings and dances flawlessly, and she delivers silly lines as if she meant them.

But she lacks the quirkiness and irresistible watch-me egotism that a big, heroine-worshiping musical needs at its center. Imagine “Hello, Dolly!” with Shirley Jones instead of Carol Channing, and you’ll get the idea.

The production makes entertaining use of a Greek chorus of sorority sisters, who comment Supremes-style on Elle’s plight. (The actress playing one of them, Leslie Kritzer, has an original satiric vibrancy that Ms. Bundy could use more of.)

But what about those who don’t appreciate the value of a manicure or a leg wax? Among Elle’s Harvard classmates is a dowdy lesbian (played by Natalie Joy Johnson), who is routinely the object of the show’s most unsavory jokes. Which makes you wonder uneasily if the message of “Legally Blonde” isn’t just that it’s O.K. to be pretty, but that it’s not O.K. not to be."

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:17pm

Well, "The Wedding Singer" managed to stay open for nine months with no Tony wins and reviews that were much worse. Also, "Legally Blonde" appeals more to the demographic that sees Broadway shows - teen and tween girls because that's what the movie appealed to. Not speaking for everyone, but I always saw "The Wedding Singer" as appealing more to 20-somethings tha apprecaited teh 80's references. I'd say the show can go for at least a year, hopefully more and I would also say Orfeh's got a shot at the Tony. And you never know how the Tony voters will swing with choreography and directing.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:18pm

I wouldn't say that it would win- but I am sure that it will be nominated. While the Tony Commitee is a *tad* commercial oriented. (understatement) I am sure that they could manage to market a more worthy contender. (Spring Awakening)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:19pm

I don't think HE liked it himself, but he seems to concede to some degree that the big, lucrative audience at which it's aimed is going to like it.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:19pm

Brantleys was not negative , it was mixed.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 10:21pm

FYI - there's about to be a "scoop" on the opening on FOX NY...soon.