The Reese Witherspoon Rom-Com On Streaming That Will Make You Believe In Love
Sweet Home Alabama, starring Reese Witherspoon, is currently in the Top 10 Hulu streaming charts, according to FlixPatrol. Billed as a romantic comedy, the film is directed by Andy Tennant from a script by C. Jay Cox. While the film did well with audiences worldwide, critics didn’t seem to care for the light-hearted offering.
The story revolves around Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon), a successful New York fashion designer about to marry the city’s most eligible bachelor, Andrew Hennings (Patrick Dempsey). However, there’s one problem. Melanie is still legally married to her high school sweetheart, Jake Perry (Josh Lucas), whom she left behind in her small hometown of Pigeon Creek, Alabama.
Upon realizing that her divorce papers were never signed, Melanie returns home to finalize the divorce by getting Jake’s signature. Once in Alabama, she is confronted with her past, including her estranged family and old friends who remind her of the life she left behind. As she spends more time at home, Melanie questions her decisions and the life she has built in New York.
Charlize Theron was initially considered for the role of Melanie before Reese Witherspoon was cast.
Meanwhile, Jake is reluctant to sign the divorce papers, and old feelings resurface between them. The Reese Witherspoon movie was a commercial success, grossing over $180 million worldwide as viewers were drawn to Sweet Home Alabama’s portrayal of small-town life combined with a sweet romantic element.
However, the film received mostly mixed reviews from critics. Sweet Home Alabama currently holds a 38 percent critics score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. While some praised Reese Witherspoon’s charming performance and the chemistry between the lead actors, others found the plot formulaic and predictable.
Interestingly, Charlize Theron was initially considered for the role of Melanie before Reese Witherspoon was cast. The movie’s title is inspired by the classic Lynyrd Skynyrd song “Sweet Home Alabama,” which also features prominently in the film’s soundtrack alongside various country and rock songs that complement the Southern setting.
Although very convincing, the movie’s setting in Pigeon Creek, Alabama, is fictional. The actual filming locations were in various towns across Georgia. The Carmichael Plantation, which Melanie says is her childhood home, is the Oak Hill Berry Museum in Georgia. The historic real-life landmark is located near the campus of Berry College in Rome, Georgia.
While some praised Reese Witherspoon’s charming performance and the chemistry between the lead actors, others found the plot formulaic and predictable.
Reese Witherspoon wore a prosthetic pregnancy belly for her role, as her character is pregnant in the movie.
Reese Witherspoon Rom-Coms
Sweet Home Alabama’s success helped solidify Reese Witherspoon’s status as a leading actress in romantic comedies. One of Witherspoon’s most famous rom-com roles is as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. The film follows Elle, a sorority girl who enrolls in Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend.
“I don’t think I’ll ever stop making romantic comedies. They are very important to me. It’s my favorite genre because it makes people feel good.”
Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon’s portrayal of Elle is hilarious and empowering, and the film has become a cult classic. Due to her popularity with viewers, the actress went on to star in several movies in the romance genre, including Four Christmases, Just Like Heaven, Home Again, How Do You Know, This Means War, and Overnight Delivery.
After spending several years working on dramas and producing television shows, Reese Witherspoon recently returned to her rom-com roots with the Netflix movie Your Place or Mine. The film follows a single mom in her 40s who gets a second chance at love. The movie flips the genre tropes by celebrating middle-aged relationships.
Although Your Place or Mine was poorly received by critics, Reese Witherspoon expressed her love for the rom-com genre and her desire to continue making films that make people feel good. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said, “I don’t think I’ll ever stop making romantic comedies. They are very important to me. It’s my favorite genre because it makes people feel good.”
Reese Witherspoon’s legacy of rom-com movies has made her a beloved figure in Hollywood. Her performances have become iconic, and her recent return to the genre with Your Place or Mine has been met with enthusiasm from fans. Witherspoon’s charm and talent have made her a true American sweetheart, and her contributions to the genre will be remembered for years.
Reese Witherspoon’s next project is the wedding comedy You’re Cordially Invited, directed by Nicholas Stoller for Amazon Studios. The story revolves around the father of the bride (Will Ferrell) and his daughter, who discover that another bride and her sister have double-booked their chosen wedding venue.
While You’re Cordially Invited is yet to receive a release date, Reese Witherspoon fans can catch the actress in Sweet Home Alabama on Hulu. According to FlixPatrol data, it’s a must-watch.
