The breakup scene is a first candidate: the sorority sisters set up an expected proposal and the boyfriend says he needs to marry a Jackie, not a Marilyn.
The breakup scene sets the tone of defying expectations and presents Warner tidily, but is not this participant's most rewatchable pick. — Juliet Litman
The Harvard admissions montage is nominated second; the LSAT buildup and her being carried around the sorority make a great seven minutes.
The one-woman costume party is enjoyed, though trusting Vivian shows she lacks people smarts; a counterpoint says she is the open-hearted one.
Asked who did the bunny costume first, the answer is probably this movie, though the bunny costume is in the Bridget Jones book. — Amanda Dobbins
Craig is asked to check whether this or Bridget Jones came out first; the 'frigid bitch ... constipated' line is praised, and Elle staying in costume all night.
The computer store bonding between Vivian and Elle, 'I have new representation', the murder confession and nailing the evidentiary hearing are further candidates.
The Bend and Snap scene feels important but from a different movie; it is placed in both aged best and aged worst and called probably the most rewatched but not a favorite.
The host's daughter asked why the Bend and Snap was in the movie.
One theory is that the Bend and Snap is the fulcrum for the musical adaptation; it also serves as the dance scene of 80s and 90s films geared toward women.
Footloose started the shoehorned dance scene, followed by My Best Friend's Wedding and 27 Dresses.
One pick is the Harvard admissions montage plus the leap of a first-year law student handling a murder trial.
The Harvard video essay is the pick: it has great one-liners and summarizes the movie in three minutes; the perm courtroom ending is also credited. — Amanda Dobbins
The others are right, but the preferred scene is the near-montage of her becoming a serious person, taking off when she nails the evidentiary hearing. — Juliet Litman

Title; opening song; sparkly bikinis and early-2000s fashion; snooty-salesperson comeuppance; the comedic tone; supportive friendships; car-accident parking gag; dog growling at villains; Boston helicopter shots; courtroom-movie credentials

In the discussion (13)

Approx. transcript time · 00:38:40Read transcript

The title is great and explains the movie.
The opening song sets the mood, as with Suddenly I See in The Devil Wears Prada; 2000s theme songs like the Hills' Unwritten stepped up their game.
Her sparkly, clearly non-waterproof bikinis are back as festival wear.
The garish early-2000s fashion is a cautionary tale and time capsule; the daughter found only four of 40-plus outfits wearable now, including the pink top with low-rise jeans, the polka-dot internship dress and the new-representation pink suit.
The belted green sweater at the start of law school is called her best outfit.
The snooty salesperson who gets a comeuppance is a Pretty Woman homage.
'Law school is for people who are ugly, boring and serious' is funny; the lesbians-against-drunk-driving joke pushed the envelope for 2001.
The tone has aged well because it mocks the right things without blonde shaming.
The supportive friendships, including Elle and Jennifer Coolidge, are another reason it is not a rom-com.
Elle causing a car accident while looking for the nail salon and her parking are funny.
Dogs growling at villains, and nostalgic early-2000s Boston helicopter shots, though much was shot at USC.
It is an underestimated, very funny courtroom movie, comparable to A Few Good Men, Allie McBeal and My Cousin Vinny.
The Bend and Snap is also placed in aged best because it lives on in public consciousness.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Sequels and a planned Legally Blonde 3; Bend and Snap nail-salon scene; no suitors for Elle; lecherous law professor; pool-boy stereotype; reshot ending; Bruiser the Chihuahua

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 00:48:17Read transcript

The 2003 sequel Red, White and Blonde, a 2009 direct-to-DVD spinoff and the musical preceded a Legally Blonde 3 reportedly coming next year with Reese and Mindy Kaling involved; it feels like a mistake.
The Bend and Snap nail-salon scene is really bad and unappealing, though it became its own phenomenon.
Nobody hits on Elle except Luke Wilson and the lecherous professor; at Harvard she would be asked out constantly.
The horny law professor would not happen in a 2021 version and is visible coming for 90 minutes.
The pool boy gay stereotype is the part most criticized, was a flaw 20 years ago and is not funny.
The reshot ending is poorly done, with a wig and a long zoom on her face; it could have ended after the trial with the epilogue.
Bruiser is added late: Chihuahuas are very turn of the century, evoking Taco Bell.

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

The UPS guy

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 00:55:09Read transcript

Nominees include the guy Elle pretends to have dated and the man who claims Stephen Hawking stole his idea, the bad boyfriend in Bring It On.
A friend from the Brady movie in love with Marsha Brady, and the Breakfast Club janitor as Coolidge's ex.
The award goes to the UPS guy, whom the speaker always knew as Valerie's lecherous stepdad from an earlier TV series (show name garbled in the transcript as '902 and 0').

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Selma Blair

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 00:56:14Read transcript

Selma Blair is nominated: she is the same in every movie and her villain moments are unimpressive; the nomination is called a good one.
The category is hard because everyone overacts as the point of the movie.
Almost Jennifer Coolidge, as some of her line deliveries are a little bit much. — Juliet Litman
Coolidge's part in the Bend and Snap is said to cloud her performance; Selma Blair is famous without a clear reason; giving the award to the Bend and Snap scene is floated.

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Luke Wilson; Ali Larter; Jennifer Coolidge

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 00:58:56Read transcript

Coolidge is the heavy favorite; Bruiser the dog is in the mix for being used properly.
Luke Wilson is nominated for having nothing to do yet being charming.
Allie Larder is picked for the liposuction reveal and her trial outfits.
Larder is compared to 80s Kelly Preston as someone who should have been a bigger star.
Coolidge is picked because she became a big piece of the movie's story.

Apex Mountain

Pink-scented resumes; Selma Blair and Reese Witherspoon pairing

In the discussion (10)

Approx. transcript time · 01:07:21Read transcript

Not Reese's apex, since she won an Oscar; Matthew Davis peaks with Blue Crush.
IBM ThinkPads appear across law school scenes, but the orange MacBook stole its thunder.
The Selma Blair and Reese Witherspoon pairing peaked here.
Luke Wilson's apex is probably Old School, not this.
Harvard's movie apex is The Social Network, over Good Will Hunting; Coolidge's is American Pie.
Pink-scented resumes are the Apex Mountain; resumes should be one page.
The resume scent is guessed as perfume, baby powder or lavender.
Not Allie Larder's apex: Heroes versus Varsity Blues is argued.
Chihuahuas: no, Taco Bell.
Asked for any other Apex Mountains, the Australian director is floated; the following 'Yeah' only confirms his name (transcribed 'Cukovic' and 'Vukatech'), not an Apex verdict, so he is not counted as an affirmative answer.

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

Older Elle legal procedural with Reese

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:15:12Read transcript

Don't give them ideas; they've already done everything with the IP including a musical, though the host's daughter would watch.
Reese as Elle at her current age running a firm in a case-of-the-week procedural, like The Good Wife.
Not a recast with a young Elle; she mentors new talent.