Sweet Home Alabama, a movie directed by Andy Tennant

Sweet Home Alabama, a movie directed by Andy Tennant and produced by Neal H. Mortiz, had a budget of $30 million. The movie was released on September 27, 2002, and grossed over $180 million. It is not based on real life or a book.

The movie begins with a fashion designer in New York City, known as Melanie Carmichael. Since she was little, she has gotten almost everything she ever wanted. She now has a great job, and is engaged to the mayor of New York Citys son, Andrew Hennings. When he proposed, she begins to think about her family back in Alabama and her husband, Jake, who for the past seven years has refused to divorce her.

Melanie decides to go back home for just a few days, and make Jake sign the papers. On her first stop back in Alabama, she goes to Jakes house. Things don’t turn out so well, and she ends up in jail. She calls her parents, whom she hasn’t talked to in seven years, to bail her out. After that night, she made quite a few scenes, especially at the local bar in her home town, where she disclosed a few secrets.

Her fiancé decides to come find her and meet her family. His first stop was the Carmichael Plantation, where Melanie said she grew up. The first person Andrew meets is Jake. Melanie is at the battlefield watching her dad, Earl Smooter, re-enact the war that took place. Jake takes Andrew to find Melanie.

This is where Andrew finds out who Melanie really is. Her real name is not Melanie Carmichael, but Melanie Smooter. She has been married the entire time she has known Andrew, and she was actually from a poor family which lived in a double wide.

Andrew walks away, and Melanie thought her life was over. Her dad found Andrew walking down the street, and he takes him to Melanie. They make up, and go on with their lives.

As the wedding approaches, all Melanie can think about is Jake. She left Jake because he wasn’t successful in life, had no focus, and appeared to be drifting. Right before the wedding, she finds out how drastically he has changed by starting his own business, Deep South Glass. It is a beautiful glass that is formed when lightning strikes sand.

On her wedding day, Melanie realized she still loved Jake. But Melanies mother wanted her to marry Andrew, because he could give her the life her mother couldn’t.

As the wedding began and she was walking down the aisle, Mr. Buford, Melanies lawyer, ran down the aisle stopping her, and told her she had not signed the papers yet. Her fiancé Andrew, gave her a choice, either him or Jake! She chose Jake, and then went to find him.

Melanie found Jake at the stormy beach trying to find where the lightning had hit the sand to help replenish his business.

He asked, Where is your husband?

She said, I am looking at him.

Then they started arguing about what they wanted. His very last question to her was, Why do you want to be married to me anyway?

Her reply was So I can kiss you anytime I want!

They finally showed up to their wedding reception, after seven years. Then they moved to New York City, and Jake started a business there. Melanie continued being a designer.

The actors in this movie were phenomenal. Each character was introduced so you knew how they fit into the relationship plot of the movie. This is by far one of the best movies I have ever seen. As a viewer, I was made to feel part of the action; very intense, but yet believable. The director guided me through his vision of true love. It was well received by the general public since it grossed over $180 million.

 CONTACT HOURS