Sweet Home Alabama (film): Difference between revisions
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Soon after, Melanie visits the Carmichael [[Plantation]], where she tries to apologize to Bobby Ray. Though he accepts the apology, he tells Melanie that Jake is not the only person she left behind, reminding her that the friends and family she has in Alabama still care for her. Just as she leaves, Melanie is cornered by a pushy reporter. He claims to be from the ''[[New York Post]]'' but is actually the Andrew's mother's assistant, trying to dig up dirt on her. He asks for a tour of the beautiful plantation where Melanie supposedly grew up. Melanie tries to sneak back into the mansion. Realizing her predicament, Bobby Ray pretends to be her cousin and gives the reporter a tour. That afternoon, at a local fair, Melanie is reconciled to her friends, and learns that Jake had earlier gone to New York City to try and win her back, but intimidated by the size of Manhattan, turned around and went home determined to make something of himself. Melanie now realizes that Jake never signed the divorce papers because he still loves her. |
Soon after, Melanie visits the Carmichael [[Plantation]], where she tries to apologize to Bobby Ray. Though he accepts the apology, he tells Melanie that Jake is not the only person she left behind, reminding her that the friends and family she has in Alabama still care for her. Just as she leaves, Melanie is cornered by a pushy reporter. He claims to be from the ''[[New York Post]]'' but is actually the Andrew's mother's assistant, trying to dig up dirt on her. He asks for a tour of the beautiful plantation where Melanie supposedly grew up. Melanie tries to sneak back into the mansion. Realizing her predicament, Bobby Ray pretends to be her cousin and gives the reporter a tour. That afternoon, at a local fair, Melanie is reconciled to her friends, and learns that Jake had earlier gone to New York City to try and win her back, but intimidated by the size of Manhattan, turned around and went home determined to make something of himself. Melanie now realizes that Jake never signed the divorce papers because he still loves her. |
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Later that night, Melanie goes to the cemetery to tell her old hound dog Blue good-bye, having left before he died. Jake shows up, and they talk about why their marriage did not work, citing Melanie's aspirations, Jake's shortcomings and the miscarriage of Melanie's pregnancy. Jake makes a show of letting go of Melanie, sadly stating "nobody meets their soulmate when they' |
Later that night, Melanie goes to the cemetery to tell her old hound dog Blue good-bye, having left before he died. Jake shows up, and they talk about why their marriage did not work, citing Melanie's aspirations, Jake's shortcomings and the miscarriage of Melanie's pregnancy. Jake makes a show of letting go of Melanie, sadly stating "nobody meets their soulmate when they're ten years old", and wishes Melanie a good life with Andrew, but Melanie suddenly kisses Jake. Jake pushes her away and tells her to go home. |
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Later Andrew arrives at the Carmichael Plantation, her purported home, hoping to surprise her. Jake meets him and takes him to the field of a [[American Civil War reenactment|Civil War reenactment]], where Melanie is with her father. On the way, knowing who Andrew is, Jake regales Andrew with stories of "Felony" Melanie Smooter, his ex-wife; a young girl who once tied firecrackers to a cat's tail and then was arrested after he ran into a bank. When Andrew sees Melanie at the battlefield, her father introduces himself as Earl Smooter. Realizing that Melanie has lied to him about who she really is, and about her marriage to Jake, Andrew rebuffs her and leaves. |
Later Andrew arrives at the Carmichael Plantation, her purported home, hoping to surprise her. Jake meets him and takes him to the field of a [[American Civil War reenactment|Civil War reenactment]], where Melanie is with her father. On the way, knowing who Andrew is, Jake regales Andrew with stories of "Felony" Melanie Smooter, his ex-wife; a young girl who once tied firecrackers to a cat's tail and then was arrested after he ran into a bank. When Andrew sees Melanie at the battlefield, her father introduces himself as Earl Smooter. Realizing that Melanie has lied to him about who she really is, and about her marriage to Jake, Andrew rebuffs her and leaves. |
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On her [[wedding]] day, her [[lawyer]] interrupts the ceremony and explains that the divorce is not final because while Jake signed the divorce papers Melanie herself has not. Realizing her love for Jake, she tells Andrew that she cannot marry him because she still loves Jake and wishes him luck in finding a good woman. Andrew in turn, showing no ill-feelings wishes her well in return. His mother explodes, attacking Andrew for risking his promising political career, and verbally attacking Melanie and the town. When she insults Melanie's mother, Melanie punches her in the jaw, to the cheers of the crowd. |
On her [[wedding]] day, her [[lawyer]] interrupts the ceremony and explains that the divorce is not final because while Jake signed the divorce papers Melanie herself has not. Realizing her love for Jake, she tells Andrew that she cannot marry him because she still loves Jake and wishes him luck in finding a good woman. Andrew in turn, showing no ill-feelings wishes her well in return. His mother explodes, attacking Andrew for risking his promising political career, and verbally attacking Melanie and the town. When she insults Melanie's mother, Melanie punches her in the jaw, to the cheers of the crowd. |
||
Melanie later finds Jake on their favorite childhood beach, planting metal rods to draw lighting to create more sand sculptures. She tells him they are still married, and she wants to be with him. Jake is at first hesitant, stating that he's not good enough for her, but Melanie forcefully tells him that she'll make up her own mind about what's good for her. As Jake and Melanie kiss, the town sheriff Wade interrupts them, saying that Melanie is again wanted by the police, this time because she "ran out on a perfectly good cake". Wade takes the pair back to the [[public bar|bar]] owned by Jake's mother, where all of their friends and family are waiting. The pair finally get their long-awaited first dance as man and wife, the the tune of [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]]'s "Sweet Home Alabama". A mid-credits sequences shows that they have a daughter, Melanie continued to thrive as a designer and Jake opens a "Deep South Glass" Franchise in New York. |
Melanie later finds Jake on their favorite childhood beach, planting metal rods to draw lighting to create more sand sculptures. She tells him they are still married, and she wants to be with him. Jake is at first hesitant, stating that he's not good enough for her, but Melanie forcefully tells him that she'll make up her own mind about what's good for her. As Jake and Melanie kiss, the town sheriff Wade interrupts them, saying that Melanie is again wanted by the police, this time because she "ran out on a perfectly good cake". Wade takes the pair back to the [[public bar|bar]] owned by Jake's mother, where all of their friends and family are waiting. The pair finally get their long-awaited first dance as man and wife, the the tune of [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]]'s "[[Sweet Home Alabama]]". A mid-credits sequences shows that they have a daughter, Melanie continued to thrive as a designer and Jake opens a "Deep South Glass" Franchise in New York. |
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== Cast== |
== Cast== |
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Revision as of 20:57, 28 July 2015
| Sweet Home Alabama | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Andy Tennant |
| Written by | Screenplay: C. Jay Cox Story: Douglas J. Eboch |
| Produced by | Neal H. Moritz |
| Starring | Reese Witherspoon Josh Lucas Patrick Dempsey Candice Bergen Mary Kay Place Fred Ward Ethan Embry Melanie Lynskey Mary Lynn Rajskub Jean Smart Dakota Fanning |
| Cinematography | Andrew Dunn |
| Edited by | Troy Takaki Tracey Wadmore-Smith |
| Music by | George Fenton |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $30 million[1] |
| Box office | $180.6 million[1] |
Sweet Home Alabama is a 2002 American romantic comedy film directed by Andy Tennant, starring Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, Patrick Dempsey and Candice Bergen. The film was released by Touchstone Pictures.
Plot
The film opens on a stormy Alabama beach with two children, Melanie Smooter and Jake Perry, chasing each other. Jake has brought Melanie out to show her the glass sculptures that result when sand is stuck by lightning.They discuss their future together, with Jake asserting they will be married one day. They kiss, and are almost stuck by lightning.
In the present day, Melanie (Reese Witherspoon), who has changed her last name to Carmichael to hide her poor Southern roots, is a successful up-and-coming fashion designer in New York City. After becoming engaged to the mayor's son Andrew (Patrick Dempsey), Melanie announces that she has to go back home alone to Alabama to tell her parents. In reality she is going to procure a divorce from Jake (Josh Lucas), to whom she is still married. Andrew's mother (Candice Bergen) expresses doubt that Melanie is good enough for her son.
In Alabama, Melanie demands a divorce and asks Jake why he has returned the divorce papers unsigned for the last seven years. It's revealed that Jake showed up drunk to their wedding, which is why Melanie left him. Jake again refuses to sign the papers, and citing her shame with where she came from, demands that she go visit her parents (who don't even know she's in town) before he'll even consider signing the papers. Melanie goes to see her parents, and announces her engagement, much to the delight of her mother. The next day, hoping to spur Jake to sign the papers, empties out his checking account, after learning that it's a joint account with her name on it. After following Jake to a local bar, Melanie gets drunk and embarrasses herself in front of her friends, expressing disgust at their lifestyle, confessing that she had been pregnant with Jake's baby, and outing a mutual friend, Bobby Ray. Jake becomes angry with her and takes her home. When Melanie wakes up the next morning, the divorce papers are lying on her bed, finally signed by Jake.
Soon after, Melanie visits the Carmichael Plantation, where she tries to apologize to Bobby Ray. Though he accepts the apology, he tells Melanie that Jake is not the only person she left behind, reminding her that the friends and family she has in Alabama still care for her. Just as she leaves, Melanie is cornered by a pushy reporter. He claims to be from the New York Post but is actually the Andrew's mother's assistant, trying to dig up dirt on her. He asks for a tour of the beautiful plantation where Melanie supposedly grew up. Melanie tries to sneak back into the mansion. Realizing her predicament, Bobby Ray pretends to be her cousin and gives the reporter a tour. That afternoon, at a local fair, Melanie is reconciled to her friends, and learns that Jake had earlier gone to New York City to try and win her back, but intimidated by the size of Manhattan, turned around and went home determined to make something of himself. Melanie now realizes that Jake never signed the divorce papers because he still loves her.
Later that night, Melanie goes to the cemetery to tell her old hound dog Blue good-bye, having left before he died. Jake shows up, and they talk about why their marriage did not work, citing Melanie's aspirations, Jake's shortcomings and the miscarriage of Melanie's pregnancy. Jake makes a show of letting go of Melanie, sadly stating "nobody meets their soulmate when they're ten years old", and wishes Melanie a good life with Andrew, but Melanie suddenly kisses Jake. Jake pushes her away and tells her to go home.
Later Andrew arrives at the Carmichael Plantation, her purported home, hoping to surprise her. Jake meets him and takes him to the field of a Civil War reenactment, where Melanie is with her father. On the way, knowing who Andrew is, Jake regales Andrew with stories of "Felony" Melanie Smooter, his ex-wife; a young girl who once tied firecrackers to a cat's tail and then was arrested after he ran into a bank. When Andrew sees Melanie at the battlefield, her father introduces himself as Earl Smooter. Realizing that Melanie has lied to him about who she really is, and about her marriage to Jake, Andrew rebuffs her and leaves.
Melanie returns to her parents' house, where her father walks in with Andrew. Andrew says that he does not care about the past and still wants to marry her. They decide to have the wedding in Alabama, and Andrew's mother comes down from New York. Once Melanie's friends from New York arrive, they discover that Jake has become a very successful glassblower with his own company, whose wares Melanie has been admiring since she returned to Alabama. Melanie is surprised and touched to see what Jake has made out of himself, all to win her back.
On her wedding day, her lawyer interrupts the ceremony and explains that the divorce is not final because while Jake signed the divorce papers Melanie herself has not. Realizing her love for Jake, she tells Andrew that she cannot marry him because she still loves Jake and wishes him luck in finding a good woman. Andrew in turn, showing no ill-feelings wishes her well in return. His mother explodes, attacking Andrew for risking his promising political career, and verbally attacking Melanie and the town. When she insults Melanie's mother, Melanie punches her in the jaw, to the cheers of the crowd.
Melanie later finds Jake on their favorite childhood beach, planting metal rods to draw lighting to create more sand sculptures. She tells him they are still married, and she wants to be with him. Jake is at first hesitant, stating that he's not good enough for her, but Melanie forcefully tells him that she'll make up her own mind about what's good for her. As Jake and Melanie kiss, the town sheriff Wade interrupts them, saying that Melanie is again wanted by the police, this time because she "ran out on a perfectly good cake". Wade takes the pair back to the bar owned by Jake's mother, where all of their friends and family are waiting. The pair finally get their long-awaited first dance as man and wife, the the tune of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama". A mid-credits sequences shows that they have a daughter, Melanie continued to thrive as a designer and Jake opens a "Deep South Glass" Franchise in New York.
Cast
- Reese Witherspoon as Melanie "Carmichael" Smooter Perry. She grew up in Pigeon Creek, Alabama and moved to New York City to follow her dreams. Now a noted fashion designer, she is engaged to the wealthy Andrew Hennings.
- Josh Lucas as Jake Perry. Perry is married to Melanie who has been his best friend since childhood. He lives in Pigeon Creek, Alabama.
- Patrick Dempsey as Andrew Hennings. The son of Mayor Kate Hennings of New York, he is engaged to Melanie Carmichael.
- Candice Bergen as Mayor Kate Hennings. The mother of Andrew, she is wary of his relationship with Melanie.
- Mary Kay Place as Pearl Smooter, mother of Melanie. She is happily married to Earl Smooter.
- Fred Ward as Earl Smooter. Smooter is Melanie's father. He enjoys participating in re-enactments of the Civil War.
- Jean Smart as Stella Kay Perry, the mother of Jake, Melanie's husband. She owns "Stella's", a local tavern.
- Ethan Embry as Bobby Ray Bailey. Bobby Ray is one of Melanie's childhood friends. He was outed by Melanie and is a good friend to Jake Perry.
- Melanie Lynskey as Lurlynn, who lives in Pigeon Creek and is a childhood acquaintance of Melanie.
- Courtney Gains as Sheriff Wade, a childhood friend of Melanie.
- Mary Lynn Rajskub as Dorothea, Wade's fiancee.
- Rhona Mitra as Tabatha Wadmore-Smith, one of Melanie's best friends.
- Susannah Halling as the official leader of the Redneck Dancing Association.
- Nathan Lee Graham as Frederick Montana, one of Melanie’s best friends. He is a fashion designer and friendly competitor.
- Kevin Sussman as Barry Lowenstein, assistant to Mayor Kate Hennings.
- Thomas Curtis as Young Jake.
- Dakota Fanning as Young Melanie.
- Sean Bridgers as Eldon
Production
Filming
Although centered in the fictionalized town of Pigeon Creek, near a fictional version of Greenville, Alabama, the film was mostly shot in Georgia. The Carmichael Plantation, which Melanie tells the reporter is her childhood home, is the Oak Hill Berry Museum, an historic landmark in Georgia which is on the campus of Berry College in Rome, Georgia.[2]
The streets and storefronts of Crawfordville, Georgia were used as the backdrop for the Catfish Festival and other downtown scenes. The coonhound cemetery was on Moore Street in Crawfordville, and the bar was located at Heavy's Barbecue near the town. Glass that forms when lightning hits sand, as in the film, is called fulgurite.[2]
Jake's glassblowing shop was filmed at an old mill, named Starr's Mill, in Fayette County, Georgia. Wynn's Pond in Sharpsburg, Georgia is the location where Jake lands his plane. The historic homes shown at Melanie's return to Pigeon Creek were shot in Eufaula, Alabama.[2]
The movie title and theme song lyrics are from the "Sweet Home Alabama" song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, Second Helping. [3]
Release
Critical response
This film received mostly mixed reviews from critics. On the film's Rotten Tomatoes listing, 38% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 157 reviews.[4]
Roger Ebert, critic for the Chicago Sun Times, awarded it three-out-of-four stars commenting, "It is a fantasy, a sweet, light-hearted fairy tale with Reese Witherspoon at its center. She is as lovable as Doris Day would have been in this role... So I enjoyed Witherspoon and the local color, but I am so very tired of the underlying premise." [5]
Andrew Sarris, critic for the New York Observer, said that the movie "Would be an unendurable viewing experience for this ultra-provincial New Yorker if 26-year-old Reese Witherspoon were not on hand to inject her pure fantasy character, Melanie Carmichael, with a massive infusion of old-fashioned Hollywood magic."[6]
Box-office performance
The film grossed over $35 million in its first weekend; it held the highest September opening weekend record for ten years until the animated 2012 film, Hotel Transylvania, surpassed it with a weekend gross of $42.5 million. By the end of its run in the United States, Sweet Home Alabama grossed over $130 million and another $53,399,006 internationally. With a reported budget of $30 million, it can be considered a box office hit, and a success with the public, despite the negative reviews.[1]
Accolades
The film won the following awards:
- 2003 BMI Film Music Award — George Fenton
- 2003 Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie – Comedy
- 2003 Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Liplock — Reese Witherspoon; Josh Lucas
- 2003 Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress — Reese Witherspoon (Nominated)
- 2003 Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain — Candice Bergen (Nominated)
- 2003 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Wide Release (Nominated)
- 2003 Golden Trailer Award for Best Romance (Nominated)
- 2003 Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award for Best Contemporary Hair Styling – Feature — Anne Morgan (Nominated)
- 2003 MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance — Reese Witherspoon (Nominated)
Soundtrack
Sweet Home Alabama (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), the film soundtrack, includes thirteen songs by different artists.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sweet Home Alabama" | Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant, Edward King | 3:43 |
| 2. | "Mine All Mine" | Kristyn Osborn, Hollie Poole | 3:55 |
| 3. | "Falling Down" | Avril Lavigne, David Alspach, Lauren Christy, Graham Edwards | 3:54 |
| 4. | "Gonna Make You Love Me" | Ryan Adams | 2:36 |
| 5. | "To Think I Used to Love You" | Uncle Kracker | 3:26 |
| 6. | "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" | Daniel J. Baird | 3:06 |
| 7. | "Bring On the Day" | Amy Powers, Jeffrey C.J. Vanston | 4:33 |
| 8. | "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" | Hank Williams | 2:55 |
| 9. | "You Got Me" | Jason Chain | 3:44 |
| 10. | "Now That I Know" | Eric Bazilian, Shannon McNally | 4:44 |
| 11. | "Marry Me" | Dolly Parton | 3:15 |
| 12. | "Weekend Song" | Matt Cantor, Pete Chill, Aston Harvey, Tenor Fly | 3:58 |
| 13. | "Felony Melanie - Sweet Home Alabama Suite (Score)" | 5:02 |
References
- ^ a b c "Sweet Home Alabama (2002)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
- ^ a b c www.imdb.com, Sweet Home Alabama (2002) Filming Locations "imdb.com-Sweet Home Alabama".
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ Sweet Home Alabama song information, Songfacts.com
- ^ "Sweet Home Alabama". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixter. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
- ^ Ebert, Roger. "Sweet Home Alabama". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
- ^ "Critic Reviews for Sweet Home Alabama". http://www.rottentomatoes.com. Flixster, Inc. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
{{cite web}}: External link in|work=
External links
