"why does it have to be so complicated? truth, life, this?”

Sweet Home Alabama (2002), revisited

Another episode of Rom Coms Revisited: exploring the good/bad/ugly of early 2000s rom coms.

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Sweet Home Alabama is a 2002 American romantic comedy film directed by Andy Tennant. Written by C. Jay Cox, it stars Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas and Patrick Dempsey. The supporting cast includes Fred Ward, Mary Kay Place, Jean Smart, Candice Bergen, Ethan Embry, and Melanie Lynskey. It was released in the United States on September 27, 2002, by Buena Vista Pictures. The film takes its title from the 1974 Lynyrd Skynyrd song of the same name.

This is one of those movies that I’ve seen approximately 100 times. Mostly on VHS/DVD on a 14 inch box television in the spare bedroom of my grandma’s house. I grew up believing that the exchange “Why would you wanna marry me for anyhow?”, “So I can kiss you anytime I want”, is the ultimate expression of romance (it’s not ).

Let’s set the scene: It’s NYFW 2002. Designer Melanie Carmichael/Smooter (Reese Witherspoon) has been away from Alabama for 7 years. Her boyfriend Andrew (Patrick Dempsey) proposes to her - the theme of the proposal is extravagance. Also selfishness, since this is literally the same day as Melanie’s debut NYFW show. It’s like when people propose at other people’s wedding receptions, or on the day someone finishes their PhD.

this is at Tiffany & Co., she reluctantly says yes

Despite this weird proposal, throughout most of the movie I’d describe Andrew as an early-2000’s example of non-toxic masculinity. And unrealistic love. Why doesn’t he know anything about her past? And why doesn’t he thinks that’s strange? Example: there’s a big problem that he’s unaware of - Melanie’s still married to her first husband, Jake (Josh Lucas), because he won’t sign the divorce papers. So, she has to go home (for the first time in seven years!) and get that taken care of. Enter, the pure eroticism of Jake in this outfit:

yes, I understand this cut of jeans is no longer stylish

Melanie’s first few days back in Alabama aren’t great. She’s taken to jail. She insults people right and left. She voms in Jake’s truck. She publicly outs her childhood friend Bobby Ray at a crowded bar and it’s horrible. Thankfully he doesn’t have shitty friends (other than her), and her plan to humiliate him backfires.

After all that, the movie takes on a softer tone. I appreciate the way it openly talks about unintended pregnancy and pregnancy loss, and the effects it can have on both relationships and your sense of self. In a scene that captures the bespoke complexity of loss, Jake asks Melanie, “You ever wonder what would’ve happened if we hadn’t gotten pregnant?” He continues, “I thought that baby would be an adventure. And it took me awhile to realize it would’ve been your only adventure. I guess mother nature knew better, huh?”. I love his ownership of his shortcomings, and honest explanation of how his perspective changed over time. There’s a real respect for her path here. Melanie replies, “I was so ashamed. Cause I felt relieved. And all of a sudden, I just…needed a different life”. As we know, there’s no shame in feeling relief after an unintended pregnancy ends. Even if there’s a lot of pressure telling us otherwise.

Side note: Jake has used the past 7 years to build his glass-making business, which culminates in the grand opening of a storefront. Craftsmanship is sexy!

melanie attends w/ her NY friends, somehow still unaware of the connection