"Legally Blonde": Learning to Appreciate The Musical vs the Movie

Blockbuster movies are made into Broadway musicals more times than I can count, and the same goes for musicals that become motion pictures like we’ve recently seen with the Broadway musical The Prom, now a major hit on Netflix. 

It made me think of some of the 21st-century movie-turned-musicals we’ve seen so far. While there are always critiques from the biggest fans of the original movies, the adaptations are generally a hit. From Pretty Woman to Frozen, hundreds and even thousands flock to the theaters to watch their favorite movies play out through song and dance. But what about some of the underrated ones?

The 2001 film Legally Blonde places itself pretty high up on the list of classic early 2000’s “chick flicks”, along with Mean Girls and 13 Going on 30. It became such a hit that in 2007, Laura Bell Bundy, Christian Borle, Orfeh, and so many other stars on the great white way came together to create a musical version we did not know we deserved. 

Both the musical and the movie have their pluses, but which is really the superior? If you ask me, I say hands down the musical.

After watching the movie for the first time, I didn’t completely understand the hype of it all. I did not think it was the best movie I had ever seen, nor was it the worst. Needless to say, you would have never caught me quoting the movie.

So, when it was announced as my senior year musical, I was not a happy camper. After the rehearsal and show process ended though, I was all for the musical. The songs, the dance breaks, the costumes, all heightened the storyline immensely, bringing the movie to a whole new level.

The choice of adding show-stopping numbers to the storyline created another character entirely and brought life to an otherwise over told story. 

What could be better than an Act 2 opener that involves orange jumpsuits, jump ropes, and exercise videos? While asking around to the biggest Broadway fanatics I know, the general consensus reached was that the musical was brilliant, and I couldn’t agree more. 

Since the musical’s closing in October 2008, the musical has slipped under the radar. It is not done as much across regional and community theaters, as well as middle and high schools.

While there was a brief explosion of performances across schools, with NYU performing in 2019 as well as multiple community theaters around New York City, and even Junior High Schools performing the junior version of the show. Other than the few theaters and programs who have had the courage to put on such a demanding and high energy show, talk of the show being produced went dark. 

Today’s youth will never get to experience the wit, humor, and compassion that all went into the storyline. While on the surface, the show can seem as what the older generations would call “teen-y bopper”, where there are high pitched voices, cheerleaders, and LOTS of pink, looking beyond this will show that the story teaches a lesson. One of those lessons is to go after what you want, and if there is enough drive, success will be achieved. 

Sure, the movie teaches the same lesson as the musical, but the flashiness of music, lights, and overall pizazz that Broadway musicals tend to have on audiences makes it truly stick. 

If you ever feel like you missed out on the musical when it played in the Golden Gate Theater, you still have a chance to bask in the talent. MTV has filmed and released the original version on YouTube. For most of us it will be a long cold winter, so get cozy with your warmest blanket and a cup of hot cocoa and head on over to YouTube for some much-needed entertainment.

What, like it's hard?