Legally Blonde Opening Sequence

Information: 2001, Comedy

Director- Robert Luketic

Stars- Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair

Opening Conventions- the sequence (Metro Goldwyn Mayer) begins with background music which is happy and uplifting which immediately creates the atmosphere, and shows the genre which is comedy so relates to the happy music. 

Credits and titles are shown over the sequence which is written in pink to make it girly because the film is mainly targeted for girls. Instantly the audience knows it’s going to be a girly young film.

Setting and location is shown clearly when the main character that is getting ready has a plate that says sorority on it so it’s clear on the setting and establishes location.

Narrative Function- the storyline isn’t obvious but it’s clear that the main character is getting ready for something special and the girl whose riding the bike is delivering a card to the main character.  During the end of the sequence the audience realises that the card is to wish the main character luck when she goes out with her boyfriend tonight this shows what’s going to happen next in the story.     

Characters/ Stars- throughout the beginning of the opening sequence the audience doesn’t see the main character (Reese Witherspoon’s) face. The audience only see her getting ready this builds up excitement as to what she is going to look like when she is done getting ready. The main character is the focus of the opening sequence and clear to see the whole film is going to be heavily based on her.

Film Lang- MES, Cinematography, ( light and colour)-  the blonde hair immediately shows which relates to the title of ‘Legally Blonde’. The outside lights are very bright and sunny which creates the atmosphere of happiness and relates to the music which says ‘perfect day’. In the Main character’s bedroom it very pink and around the sorority it pink and girly which establishes that the film is unrealistic and girly.  The colours used are very important as the audience knows what the film is going to be like.

Film Lang- Movement , Framing, Editing and sound-  the shots of the Main character Elle are close ups of her getting ready this is effective as builds up suspense as what she really looks like as audience is only allowed to see features.  The opening sequence jumps between Elle getting ready and the girl riding the bike, then the build up of the girls writing the letter in the house to personally giving it to Elle.  The sound is diegetic and plays happy music to create the atmosphere; dialogue is also used of the girls talking .A tracking shot is used when the girl is riding her bike.