With the upcoming ‘Elle’ prequel heading our way, every Cosmo girl is revisiting ‘Legally Blonde’ and discovering just how many clever details the movie has been hiding in plain sight.
More than two decades later, the beloved comedy continues to surprise us. Here are some small details in ‘Legally Blonde’ you might have missed.
10. The Forgotten Bad Salad Parody
During the restaurant breakup scene, where Warner tries to explain Elle’s emotional reaction to curious diners nearby, he claims that she is upset because she had a bad salad. Most viewers focus on Reese Witherspoon’s amazing performance, but one background actor delivers a hilarious line.
As they leave the restaurant, we can hear a person quietly saying, “I won’t be having salad.” The line is barely audible, but it is a subtle parody of the iconic scene from ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ where one fellow diner says, “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Related: 10 Things You Never Knew About ‘Legally Blonde’
9. Harvard’s Graduation Cloaks Weren’t Supposed To Be That Way
For someone as fashion-conscious as Elle Woods, her graduation outfit surprisingly missed the mark. During the film’s final graduation scene, Elle and her classmate wear traditional flat mortarboards.
While they resemble the traditional graduation attire, graduate students at Harvard Law typically wear doctoral-style tams along with gowns. For a university as tradition-focused as Harvard, the wardrobe decision is certainly unusual.
8. Elle Couldn’t Have Questioned A Witness
One of the most satisfying moments in ‘Legally Blonde’ comes when Elle questions a witness and uncovers the truth to crack the case. It is a fantastic sequence, but totally unrealistic.
In real life, a first-year law student and intern like Elle would typically work in research, paperwork, or assisting senior lawyers rather than directly questioning witnesses, especially during a high-profile murder trial. But we are willing to overlook that just because of how iconic that moment was for Elle.
7. Elle Was A Big Fan Of Soap Operas
A small character detail fans may overlook is Elle’s love for daytime soap operas. After Warner breaks up with her, Elle spends time in her dorm watching television. The program shown on screen is an episode of the long-running soap opera called ‘General Hospital’.
Similarly, during her Harvard admission video, Elle mentions a storyline from another famous soap opera of the time, ‘Days of Our Lives’. These small references show Elle’s interests and adorable personality.
6. Harvard’s Classes Shouldn’t Be Lasting Only A Few Minutes
One timeline detail in ‘Legally Blonde’ becomes difficult to ignore once you notice it. During her first class at Harvard, Elle is thrown out of the class by Professor Stromwell after arriving unprepared.
She sits outside on a bench, meets Emmett, and shares a brief conversation. Just moments later, we see Warner and Vivian emerge from the very same class. The sequence does make it seem as though the entire class lasted only a few minutes, which really shouldn’t be happening at a university like Harvard.
In Case You Missed It: Original ‘Legally Blonde’ Ending Almost Ruined Elle Woods. Here’s Why
5. “Ovester” Was Inspired By A Real Law School Conversation
An easy moment to not notice is when Elle arrives at what she believes is a costume party. While we were distracted by her bunny outfit, an amusing conversation was taking place in the background.
Enid explains how gendered language can reinforce patriarchal ideas and suggests replacing the word “semester” with “ovester”. The line may seem random, but author Amanda Brown once revealed that she encountered the very same discussion during her time attending law school.
4. Elle’s LSAT Score Was A Little Too Perfect
Most viewers will understand that Elle’s LSAT score was impressive, but only a few will realize just how extraordinary it really is. After dedicating herself to studying and temporarily setting aside her social life, Elle got a score of 179.
But the highest possible LSAT score is 180, which almost makes her result a little too unbelievable. At the same time, we know that beneath her designer clothes and bubbly personality, Elle is exceptionally intelligent, and her admission to Harvard wasn’t based on charm or luck alone.
3. Elle’s First Harvard Outfit Tells A Story
Elle’s first day at Harvard is memorable for many reasons, but her outfit has subtle but extremely smart details. Rather than wearing her signature pink from head to toe, Elle chooses a predominantly green outfit.
The change symbolizes her attempt to adapt to the unknown environment of Harvard Law School. With her cardigan, plaid tie, fitted skirt, and knee-high boots, Elle was ready to be a serious law student. Though her first day didn’t go as planned, we can’t deny that she looked the part.
2. Elle Woods Had Help From A Coppola
One of the most surprising Easter eggs appears when Elle opens up to Paullette after learning that Warner is engaged. She discusses her journey to Harvard Law School, casually revealing the secret behind her admissions video.
It is a brief line that many viewers overlook, but Elle states that she received help from none other than Coppola to make her video. Given how well the video turned out, we can’t be too surprised.
1. Elle’s Pink Resume Honors The Woman Who Created Her
One of the film’s most meaningful details might have been missed by many fans. When Elle submitted her resume to Professor Callahan, we all noticed that it was iconically pink and scented.
The choice not only reflects her personality but also serves as a tribute to ‘Legally Blonde’ author Amanda Brown. Before becoming a bestseller and a Hollywood hit, Brown was also a law student at Stanford Law School. She revealed in an interview that she also used pink paper and pink furry pens to write the draft for ‘Legally Blonde’.
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