Movie News

Legally Blonde hits Broadway

Tue 01 May 4:46 PM

A stage version of Legally Blonde has opened on Broadway to mixed reviews.

The hit comedy starred Reese Witherspoon (pic) as a ditzy blonde who aspires to be a lawyer - and against all expectations achieves her goal.

For the stage version, actress Laura Bell Bundy took on the role of Elle Woods. But US critics had a few harsh words after the opening night.

Ben Brantley, of The New York Times, described it as "this high-energy, empty-calories and expensive-looking hymn to the glories of girlishness", and Newsday critic Linda Winer labelled the show "bubble-gum pop splashed with pink". But Variety's David Rooney approved saying: "This pinksapoppin funhouse delivers exactly what it promises".

And early box office takings are favourable too - Legally Blonde has racked up £4.5million in advance takings, and producer Hal Luftig isn't worried by the critics. He said: "I don't mean that everyone dies at the end [...] but it does have a message. We were trying to say that 'You know what, you don't have to dumb yourself down."