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Art
Imitates Hope
The
dawn of the 21st Century has brought a renewed fervor for
social activism, as well as proof that groups of committed
individuals—even small groups—can make a huge difference in
the world.
Want proof? Well, it’s on its way to a multiplex near you
in the form of a fluffy comedy with a heroine with a penchant
for Jimmy Choo shoes, pink suits, and Jackie Kennedy pillbox
hats. It’s Elle Woods, the ditzy but far-from-clueless protagonist
of Legally Blonde 2.
Working as a legislative aide in Washington, Elle storms the
halls of power armed with her trademark blend of brains, grit,
and retro fashion sense.
Convinced that “doing the right thing is in everybody’s best
interest,” she initially tries to operate within the Washington
system—only to discover just how broken that system really
is. Even the seemingly goodhearted politicians are irrevocably
beholden to their big-buck backers.
Disillusioned, Elle makes a late-night visit to the Lincoln
Memorial. Despite its corniness, it’s a powerful moment—much
the way that Jimmy Stewart taking in Washington’s monuments
from a tour bus in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington can
still send a patriotic shiver up your spine and put a “proud
to be an American” lump in your throat.
Unfortunately, things in the real D.C. have only gotten worse—much,
much worse—since that 1939 populist classic. So bad, in fact,
that even a politician as pure as Stewart’s Jefferson Smith
couldn’t make much of a difference in today’s political quagmire.
The initiative for change now must come from outside the system—something
Elle eventually realizes. “I’m here to speak for those who
can’t speak for themselves,” she says. And these days, that’s
a lot of people.
A frothy comedy is an unexpected place to find a clarion call
to movement building. But that’s OK, because it’s this very
unexpectedness that gives the movie its impact.
When Elle announces, “I believe in the people,” a cynical
Congresswoman replies: “The people believe what you tell them
to believe. . . . You can’t get the people to care.” But Elle
is undaunted: “Watch me.”
She then launches a wacky and wonderful grassroots campaign,
complete with cheerleading interns, free beauty makeovers
for dowdy members of Congress, a phone tree manned by valley-girl
sorority sisters, and a Million Dog March.
In real life, MoveOn.org, with its 1.6 million members, proves
that grassroots campaigns can spring from the most unlikely
places. With just four young employees working from home around
the country, MoveOn.org has raised millions of dollars and
become a force to be reckoned with in the Democratic party’s
nominating process, as well as on the major issues of the
day, from the war in Iraq to FCC deregulation.
Elle and MoveOn.org both teach modern-day activists a valuable
lesson: You can use the system to defeat the system. Elle’s
weapon of choice is a little-known legislative maneuver—the
discharge petition. As screenwriter Kate Kondell, a 30-year-old
Stanford grad, told me: “We are hoping that Legally Blonde
2 will do for the discharge petition what Mr. Smith
did for the filibuster.”
Elle’s efforts culminate with a rousing speech in front of
a joint session of Congress in which she reminds the rest
of us how important our involvement is to the well-being of
our democracy: “I forgot to use my voice. . . . Now I know
better. I learned that one honest voice can be louder than
a crowd’s. . . . So speak up, America. Speak up for the home
of the brave. Speak up for the land of the free gift with
purchase. Speak up, America!”
Sitting between my teenage daughters while watching Elle take
on the U.S. Congress, I was struck by the palpable affect
it had on them: They left the theater inspired, empowered,
and talking about the things they wanted to change, and the
ways they might be able to change them. None of which would
have happened as a result of a lecture from mom.
Most studio executives blanch at the mere mention of making
a movie with a message, often invoking the tired, old show-biz
adage, “If you wanna send a message, call Western Union.”
As MGM’s Chris McGurk told me, “I know that people run away
from movies that have a social conscience because they’re
afraid they’ll be received as spinach. But sometimes the stars
line up and you can produce a movie that is very entertaining
and also delivers a powerful message.”
Besides, adds Kate Kondell, “as Elle would tell you, anything
is more palatable if you dress it up in pink.”
Of course, there is nothing more American than ordinary people—whether
dressed in high-fashion pink or in overalls—taking up the
gauntlet to solve the problems and right the wrongs of our
times. Elle’s battle is to pass anti-animal-testing legislation,
but throughout our history, whatever the cause—from the struggle
for civil rights and the drive for women’s suffrage to the
fight to end the war in Vietnam—it wasn’t elected officials
who were in the vanguard, but outraged and engaged citizens
demanding reform.
So while the spotlight is currently on our political leaders
vying for control in Washington, Legally Blonde 2 reminds
us that we can find the next generation of leaders by just
looking in the mirror. And if you need to apply a fresh coat
of lip-gloss while you’re looking, go right ahead.
—Arianna
Huffington
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