Melanie Carmichael - up and coming fashion designer in New York just becomes engaged to Andrew, the son of New York City’s mayor. He has had the proverbial silver spoon upbringing, whereas Melanie is not even a Carmichael. Melanie has a few things to clean up before she gets married, such as getting divorced from her home town, childhood sweetheart, Jake.

Melanie heads home to Alabama, to set her past in order, but her past isn’t willing to let go. Jake doesn’t want to get divorced, so Melanie (who by now we’ve learnt is Smooter, not Carmichael), tries her hardest to convince hime that he does want to divorce her. Along the way she discovers that she still loves a lot about Jake and remembers why he was her childhood sweetheart. She also discovers she is not as much a New York girl as she thought, but a large part of her still belongs to Alabama.

Jake signs the papers and Melanie is all set to marry Andrew.

This is a good romantic comedy, but not the best from Reese Witherspoon. Something is missing and when I looked at the deleted scenes and listed to the director explaining why they were deleted, I just had a feeling that their test audience was 16 years old and the movie had been blanded out. Perhaps if the had kept those scenes in and had a completely different movie, it may have been a movie with a bit more edge.

THE EXTRAS

Audio commentary with director Andy Tennant

Deleted scenes with introductions by director Andy Tennant- Some of these deleted scenes were better than those left in the movie. I particularly liked the scene where Melanie talks to Jake’s mum and Jake’s mum explains why Melanie leaving Jake was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Original ending with introduction by director Andy Tennant - This ending is great, but I do understand why it wasn’t used.

“Mine All Mine” music video by SHeDAISY - this is the song used in the end credits after the inevitable playing of Sweet Home Alabama - yet again.

CONCLUSION

Melanie Carmichael - up and coming fashion designer in New York just becomes engaged to Andrew, the son of New York City’s mayor. Melanie has a few things to clean up before she gets married, such as getting divorced from her home town, childhood sweetheart, Jake.