The new prequel series Elle, arriving on Amazon Prime Video on July 1, attempts to recapture the magic of the 2001 film Legally Blonde. However, despite its pink and sparkly aesthetic, the show falls short of the iconic original, according to TV reporter Charlotte Minter.
A Familiar Arc in a New Setting
In season one, Elle Woods (played by Lexi) discovers her family is moving from Los Angeles to Seattle after her father, Wyatt (Tom Everett Scott), botches a nose job. Her mother Eva (June Diane Raphael) and father are more developed than in the film, with Wyatt taking on a Phil Dunphy-esque charm. The culture clash between the two cities forces Elle to adapt to a world with more plaid and fewer frills.
Minter notes that while the characters are more fleshed out across eight episodes compared to the film's two hours, Elle's trajectory mirrors the original too closely. She undergoes a fish-out-of-water transformation, shifting from a focus on appearance to valuing community and authenticity. This growth happens too early, raising questions about how a potential second season could justify her regression to the superficial character seen at the start of the film.
Strong Performances but Lack of Novelty
Lexi delivers a performance with depth and impeccable comedic timing, embodying the soft yet assertive traits that make Elle lovable. However, Minter argues the series fails to say something new. Parallel moments, such as Elle arriving at a party in the wrong attire in episode three, cleverly connect to the film, but the overall storyline feels repetitive.
“While it’s lovely to see Elle realise this, it comes too early on in her life,” Minter writes. She worries that audiences will struggle to disassociate from the ingrained film and view the series as a repeat.
A Glossy Return with Mixed Results
Despite its shortcomings, the series offers a nostalgic revisit with a fantastic cast, including the late James Van Der Beek, and fun shoutouts like the return of pink-scented paper. Creator Laura Kittrell and executive producers, including Reese Witherspoon, have made a good attempt, but Minter concludes: “Elle is undoubtedly Legally Blonde for a younger generation, but for those who are obsessed with the film – it might not quite hit the spot.”
The series is available to stream on Prime Video from July 1.
