Sweet Home Alabama Movie Reviews and Movie Ratings

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• What Parents Need to Know
• Parents say
• Josh Lucas Weds Girlfriend Who's Expecting
• Our Favorite Board Games to Supercharge Family Fun This Christmas
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Melanie decides to not sign the papers, and that she does not want to marry Andrew, because she still loves Jake, which Andrew understands. She runs away from her wedding to go find Jake, who is on the same beach where, years ago, ten-year-old Jake had told her that he wanted to marry her "so I can kiss you anytime I want." The film starts at a beach in Alabama during a thunderstorm with two children chasing each other who kiss but get struck by lightning.

Jake refused to give Melanie a divorce, so she just took off for the bright lights in the big city. Melanie Carmichael, an up and rising fashion designer in New York, has gotten almost everything she wished for since she was little. She has a great career and the JFK-like fiancée of New York City. But when he proposes to her, she doesn't forget about her family back down South. More importantly, her husband back there, who refuses to divorce her ever since she sent divorce papers seven years ago.

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In addition to the original appearance on Second Helping, the song has appeared on numerous Lynyrd Skynyrd compilations and live albums. Become a member of our premium site for just $2/month & access advance reviews, without any ads, not a single one, ever. Meanwhile, Andrew’s announcement is giving his socially conscious mother a public relations nightmare. Determined to find any dirt on the new fianc0xE9e before the press does, the high-strung politician engages in some strategic warfare to disrupt the wedding plans. And, as many such shows have proven in the past, it hardly ever turns out right. Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Melanie tells him that she did not marry Andrew because she wanted to be with him so that she could kiss him whenever she wanted too. As Jake and Melanie kiss, Wade, the town sheriff, interrupts them by taking them back Jake's mother's bar, where all of their friends and family are waiting. With sexual content limited mostly to comments, kissing and some implied relations, profanities are this film’s biggest problem. Alcohol use and drunkenness are depicted, but at least some consequences result from the behavior unlike a solidly delivered punch that carries no penalty for assault.

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Angry, Jake leaves to meet some friends at a local bar without signing the papers. Melanie follows and gets drunk, insults her old school friends, and outs her longtime friend, Bobby Ray. Jake scolds her and takes her home, preventing her from driving drunk, and Melanie wakes to find the signed divorce papers on her bed. Regrettably, however, two of the minor male characters in SWEET HOME ALABAMA are homosexually inclined.

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update. Andrew arrives to surprise Melanie, but upon learning her true background and that she never told him she was married, he angrily leaves. He later returns, saying he still wants to marry her, and the wedding is immediately set in motion.

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Melanie learns that Jake had once gone to New York City to try to find her, because he still loved her. That night, she goes to the cemetery to tell her old coon dog Bear good bye. Jake shows up and explains how he told the dog that her disappearance was his fault and they end up talking about why the marriage did not work, the baby they lost, and why she left. Jake gives a blessing for Melanie to have a good life with Andrew, but Melanie says she cannot do it and kisses Jake. The story is a love triangle involving two childhood Alabama sweethearts who married but became estranged, Jake Perry and Melanie Smooter , and Melanie's boyfriend of 8 months, Andrew Hennings . A terrific soundtrack helps, with a cover of the irresistible title tune and delicious songs by country greats.

As a parent herself, she believes parents play a powerful role in teaching media literacy in their homes. Pitting North against South, big city against small town and the past with the future, Sweet Home Alabama is a romantic look at what happens when one girl has two good choices in her life. After reconnecting with her former friends, Melanie starts to see the positive aspects in both of her diverse worlds. And that leaves her to choose what’s best for the girl inside. The MPAA rated Sweet Home Alabama PG-13 for some language/sexual references.

Sweet Home Alabama is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some language/sexual references. Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for over 15 years.

Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. In May 2006, National Review ranked the song #4 on its list of the 50 greatest conservative rock songs. In 2002, the song inspired the title and plot of the film Sweet Home Alabama.

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Witherspoon, 46, previously said that a sequel "would be a great idea" as she discussed the movie on Today with Hoda & Jenna in October. The Judge—a 2014 film with a similar plot of a protagonist with a successful big city career drawn back to an old hometown. Sweet Home Alabama , the film soundtrack, includes thirteen songs by different artists.

During Melanie and Andrew's wedding at the Carmichael estate, a lawyer arrives and halts the ceremony. Melanie confesses that she still loves Jake and cancels the wedding. She and Andrew wish each other well, though Kate berates Andrew and insults Melanie, her family, and the entire town, for which Melanie punches her in the face. Melanie finds Jake at the beach planting lightning rods in the sand during a rainstorm to create more glass sculptures. She tells him they are still married, they return to what would have been Melanie and Andrew's reception, and finally, have their first dance as husband and wife.

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Although Jake is surprised to see her, the last thing this redneck is willing to do is sign the forms. But with so much on the line, the chic creator is willing to stay in town with her working-class parents until her estranged spouse comes around. Witherspoon has the charm, sparkle, and impeccable comic timing to keep an entire movie afloat and make it look effortless. It takes every bit of her talent and all-around adorability to keep this romantic comedy aloft, considering the considerable weight of its uncertain script.

Lucas and Dempsey are both dreamy enough that even movie-savvy viewers may find it hard to pick the winner. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I go back to when we were shooting that movie, I had this moment where I was like, 'Wow, this woman is a really brilliant, powerful person,'" Lucas told ET of Witherspoon. "I really believe that — I'm assuming, I hope — she wants to be part of it," Lucas explained.

"Sweet Home Alabama" Sweet Home Alabama TV Episode 2011 Parents Guide

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• Check out new Common Sense Selections for games
• GOOD NIGHT OPPY
• FALLING FOR CHRISTMAS
• Blessing Offor Encourages Others To ‘Look For The Fruit’ That Comes From Hard Times
• Cast

Katharine Towne was cast as Witherspoon's character's assistant who ultimately ends up marrying the Patrick Dempsey character, but all other scenes were dropped in the final cut. A mid-credits sequence shows that they have a baby daughter, Melanie continues to thrive as a designer, and Jake opens a "Deep South Glass" franchise in New York. Family man Clark Griswold is determined to stay at home and provide a warm, fun-filled Christmas for his family. When Melanie quietly returns to her hometown, Jake still refuses to give Melanie a divorce. Her quiet return turns into another loud argument with Jake. Melanie decides to take some drastic actions to force Jake’s hand.

Family movie reviews, movie ratings, fun film party ideas and pop culture news — all with parents in mind. Andy Tennant also directed romance movies set in historical times. Ever After is a retelling of the Cinderella story and Anna and the King is loosely based on the teaching experience of an English governess to the King of Siam.

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Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. In May 2006, National Review ranked the song #4 on its list of the 50 greatest conservative rock songs. In 2002, the song inspired the title and plot of the film Sweet Home Alabama.

SWEET HOME ALABAMA stars Reese Witherspoon as Melanie Carmichael, a New York fashion designer who hails from the South. Melanie finds herself engaged to the most eligible bachelor in town, Andrew, the son of the city’s glamorous female mayor. Not only has Melanie lied about her last name, she’s also lied about who her parents are. Instead of coming from a rich Southern family, Melanie actually comes from a working class home. To top it off, she’s still married to Jake, with whom she had a big argument before she decided to leave for New York City.

GOOD NIGHT OPPY

Intimidated by the city and her success, he returned home to make something of himself first. She and Jake have a heart-to-heart, and Melanie realises why he never signed their divorce papers. Sophisticated Melanie Carmichael, a rising New York clothing designer suddenly finds herself engaged to the city's most eligible bachelor. She has skeletons in her fashion-filled closet that include Jake - the backwoods husband she married in high school who refuses to divorce her. Determined to end their marriage and sever all ties with her past once and for all, Melanie returns to Alabama.

Melanie decides to not sign the papers, and that she does not want to marry Andrew, because she still loves Jake, which Andrew understands. She runs away from her wedding to go find Jake, who is on the same beach where, years ago, ten-year-old Jake had told her that he wanted to marry her "so I can kiss you anytime I want." The film starts at a beach in Alabama during a thunderstorm with two children chasing each other who kiss but get struck by lightning.

FALLING FOR CHRISTMAS

Although Jake is surprised to see her, the last thing this redneck is willing to do is sign the forms. But with so much on the line, the chic creator is willing to stay in town with her working-class parents until her estranged spouse comes around. Witherspoon has the charm, sparkle, and impeccable comic timing to keep an entire movie afloat and make it look effortless. It takes every bit of her talent and all-around adorability to keep this romantic comedy aloft, considering the considerable weight of its uncertain script.

So, she goes back home for the first time in seven years, and she finds out that you can take the girl out of Pigeon Creek, but you can't take Pigeon Creek out of the girl. Her accent comes back, and, more disconcertingly, so do some of her feelings for her husband, Jake . Melanie visits Jake, who has repeatedly refused to sign divorce papers over the years since she left for New York. After he orders her out of his house, Melanie empties Jake's checking account, hoping to spur him into ending the marriage.

After pushing her daughter into beauty pageants for years, the extravagant engagement ring from Tiffany’s showroom seems like adequate payoff. But her father Earl , who spends his days reenacting Civil War battles for camera-wielding tourists, worries that his only child is running away from her past. Witherspoon celebrated the 20th anniversary of their movie in September with some fan-favorite scenes and a heartfelt tribute. "Twenty years ago, Sweet Home Alabama came out and completely changed my life," she wrote in the caption.

Comical complications ensue, especially when Andrew decides he’s going to make a surprise visit to Melanie at the Southern mansion that Melanie claimed as her family home. This story is part of American Anthem, a yearlong series on songs that rouse, unite, celebrate and call to action. Jake, identifying himself as Melanie's cousin, brings Andrew to Melanie. Andrew finds out that Melanie is still married to Jake and runs off angrily.

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At the time, it had the highest September opening weekend, surpassing Rush Hour. For a decade, the film would hold this record until 2012 when Hotel Transylvania took it. By the end of its run in the United States, Sweet Home Alabama grossed over US$130 million, and another US$53,399,006 internationally.

Parents need to know that this CMT series plays a lot cleaner than other reality dating shows, thanks in part to the show's focus on "Southern" morality. Language and sexual content are extremely light, but there is violence in the form of brawling between contestants that produces a little blood. You'll also see social drinking -- and lots of stereotyping.

Melanie returns to her parents' house where her father walks in with Andrew. Andrew tells her how sorry he is and how he still wants to marry her. They decide to have the wedding in Alabama and Andrew's mother comes down from New York. On her wedding day, as she is walking down the aisle, her lawyer shows up and explains that Jake has signed the divorce papers, but she has not.

Melanie learns that Jake had once gone to New York City to try to find her, because he still loved her. That night, she goes to the cemetery to tell her old coon dog Bear good bye. Jake shows up and explains how he told the dog that her disappearance was his fault and they end up talking about why the marriage did not work, the baby they lost, and why she left. Jake gives a blessing for Melanie to have a good life with Andrew, but Melanie says she cannot do it and kisses Jake. The story is a love triangle involving two childhood Alabama sweethearts who married but became estranged, Jake Perry and Melanie Smooter , and Melanie's boyfriend of 8 months, Andrew Hennings . A terrific soundtrack helps, with a cover of the irresistible title tune and delicious songs by country greats.

With a reported budget of US$30 million, it was a box office hit, despite the mixed reviews. 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. SWEET HOME ALABAMA also contains a significant amount of foul language.