My reaction to Elle, a prequel to the Legally Blonde films, mirrors my reaction to the films themselves: it's a light, featherweight comedy that's easy to watch and easy to dismiss. This franchise gets its strength from Elle Woods, a charming character memorably brought to life by Reese Witherspoon, and I am happy to say that Lexi Minetree proves more than capable of generating and sustaining Woods's lovely appeal (I'll refer to her by her surname throughout this review to distinguish her from the show's title). Minetree gets that weird crying noise, that funny yet sweet accent—the whole smart-but-also-ditzy personality completely right. She even makes it believable that this teenage Woods could naturally grow into Witherspoon's version a few years later. The casting works well.
What I am not convinced about is the existence of this series depicting the life of a 16-year-old Woods in 1995. Did we really need the backstory of this blonde, bubbly woman? Is it necessary to expand, to inflate the story of just about every character in this streaming era? Woods is a funny, likable person, but the two Legally Blonde movies were enough. In fact, things peaked with the first film itself, and further expansions, both in the form of a sequel and this show, come across as largely needless. It often feels as though Elle was attached to Legally Blonde mainly for brand recognition. Many people are already familiar with Legally Blonde, which means a sizable audience is almost guaranteed to click the play button on July 1. The rest can gradually become acquainted with Woods and, by extension, the two movies, ultimately expanding the fan base for both the character and the franchise. More Elle Woods cheerleaders will eventually line up to buy tickets for the third Legally Blonde sequel.
Elle, in that sense, is a good business investment. Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, what it is not is a good artistic project. It's riddled with the usual sort of teen movie cliches: an unwelcoming high school, mean girls, a teen protagonist caught between two love interests, unlikely friendships forming between students who wouldn't normally sit together even during lunch break, and an unpopular or uncool character winning over their detractors. Some of the scenes seem to be directly "influenced" by the first Legally Blonde. The drab Rainier West High School not only reminds you of Harvard Law School, but the students in both institutions initially see Woods as a Malibu Barbie from a different, pink-colored planet. In Legally Blonde, Woods wants Warner to propose to her, to marry her, to pay attention to her. Gradually, however, she develops feelings for Emmett. Something similar occurs with the young Woods in Elle: she wants Miles's (Jacob Moskovitz) affection, but she gradually develops feelings for Dustin (Zac Looker) as well. If you're wondering whether there are also courtroom scenes here, then I'll simply nod and won't elaborate further. Remember how Woods was tricked into wearing a costume at a party in Legally Blonde? Brace yourself for another similar incident that also sort of explains why Woods, in the movie, handled the situation so well.
There are some conflicts that nudge the series toward something more serious, as when two best friends argue because one neglects her "tour guide duties" for the other or when there is a clash between a mother and her daughter. Elle, though, is so committed to its fluffy, candy-colored surface that it resolves these issues with a slight wave of the hand. It doesn't even allow Woods to be a little flawed and off-puttingly desperate by suggesting that she is so concerned with gaining the approval of her Seattle friends that she ignores her LA friends. Her peppy, optimistic personality is pleasing yet predictable. Elle rarely finds any new beats to play with, and the ones that make you think they might yield something fresh are immediately suppressed in favor of what's already familiar. I also hated the sequence of events that unfolds in the penultimate episode, which undermines Woods's hard work and turns her into a villain once again in the eyes of her Seattle classmates. I wasn't sure whether I was angrier at the ignorant characters or at the writers for concocting such a flimsy excuse for an obstacle.
With lines like "Book reading is for people who can't afford TV" and "My head is Gemini and the rest of the body is Cancer," Elle does have its share of amusing moments. Look out for a sign saying "Gold Seller" that turns into "Go Elle" in Episode 8. Nonetheless, the series mostly reheats a stale dish whose sole highlight is its titular character. Before the end of the first season, Woods realizes that she loves challenging herself. Elle, by contrast, remains safe, formulaic, and comfortable from beginning to end. I won't call it "bad." In the company of someone like Woods, one is bound to have, if nothing else, at least a smile on their face. It's just that the series is blandly, unremarkably watchable. Simply put, the pink pages of this Cosmo haven't gained any new color with the arrival of Elle. You can even try sniffing the pages; the fragrance is the same.
Final Score - [4.5/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times
Note: All 8 episodes are screened for this review.
Premiere Date: July 1, 2026, on Prime Video