Sweet, but not sweet enough

Since "Legally Blonde," the name Reese Witherspoon stirs a lot of excitement among movie fans, but some may be disappointed at the overall outcome of her latest movie.\nMelanie Carmichael (Witherspoon) is living the life she never thought she would. Her boyfriend, Andrew (Patrick Dempsey), is everything a girl could want in a guy, and she's a successful fashion designer in NYC. When Andrew proposes and gives Melanie her choice of a ring from Tiffany's, it's a dream come true for her. But Melanie has a few secrets in her past.\n"Sweet Home Alabama" is an adventure for Melanie as she goes back home to Alabama for the first time in seven years. Waiting for her is her husband, Jake (Josh Lucas). Lucas is quite possibly Hollywood's newest blonde-haired, blue-eyed heartthrob. Jake is adorable, funny and loving, just like everyone and everything else in the movie.\nMelanie's past is brought back to life when she travels back home and sees that many things are just as she left them. Quite possibly the funniest scene in the movie involves a drunk Melanie playing pool at a bar. \nNow she's moved on to bigger and better things in New York City, but it's hard for viewers to envision this troublemaker-turned-fashioned designer in a transition from one to the other. The movie lacks background and explanations for a lot of key elements of the movie.\nThe movie's plot and ending can be called by anyone. It's the typical romantic comedy. It does go steps above many other romantic comedies this year, but the magic just isn't there like it is in so many older movies of its type.\nMoviegoers can't ignore the innocence and sweetness of the "Sweet Home Alabama," but a sold-out theater is a bit much for this one. Everyone seems to be saying they love it, but given time to sit and think about it, it's not as funny as it looks or sweet as it appears.