The winning comic finesse of Reese Witherspoon drives Legally Blonde 2. It's astonishing that the sequel could possibly be daffier than the first movie, but Legally Blonde 2 leaves reality behind like an unflattering outfit. Unemployed lawyer Elle Woods (Witherspoon) sets off to the US capitol to ban cosmetics testing on animals, after discovering that her beloved Chihuahua's own mother is being used as a test subject. Washington DC becomes a testing ground for Elle's mettle, as she grapples with callous committees, backstabbing representatives and devious aides to get her bill considered by Congress, with some help from her sorority sisters and her hairdresser friend Paulette (Jennifer Coolidge). Witherspoon bursts with charisma and dazzles with sheer performing skill; she's the comic heir to screwball comedienne Carole Lombard--which is high praise. The film also features Bob Newhart and Sally Field. --Bret Fetzer