Director: Robert Luketic Cert. 12; Dur. 97 mins Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Matthew Davis, Holland Taylor, Victor Garber, Jennifer Coolidge

It wasnt Clueless that really started the trend of laughing at the ridiculously pampered princesses of Beverly Hills, though it was Clueless that actually sought to make us laugh at them.

Years before that the demise of the A-Team had seen our Saturday tea-times become infected with Beverly Hills 90210. It was a bizarre idea that kids from all areas of British society would tune in to watch the pouting problems of the teenage offspring of ridiculously wealthy inhabitants of that zip code. What could we possibly have in common with them? Whatever their problems (Porsche wrong colour, wallet too heavy, her new nose is pointier than mine) how could we possibly care?

And yet millions did. Of course it was just escapism. A material heaven. A high school life with fast cars and parties where even the ugly people are beautiful people in glasses.

Some time later, as if to torture the debutantes of Rodeo Drive further, along came Clueless. It wasnt amazing in its style or story but Alicia Silverstone and her gaggle of girlfriends were witty while laughing at the styles of language and life observed from the upper class LA zeitgeist. Well, heres a new film that isnt, but feels as though it could be, a kind of 2001 sequel to Clueless.

Legally Blonde is a comedy about a rich girl whos got to the age where such females apparently become obsessed with bagging the right husband. Dont get me wrong these arent late 30 somethings with biological alarms ringing, these girls are just post school!

Anyway, Reese Witherspoon plays Elle Woods, rich girl with very rich eligible boyfriend. She is convinced that hes going down on one knee on their dinner date but instead he breaks up with her. Being the male version of her hes of course a pompous, callous, cad, who needs someone more intelligent, not so blonde, for his career in politics after Harvard Law school.

Not to be defeated Elle Woods gets in to Harvard Law herself and proves through many resourceful and witty comedy set pieces that shes actually pretty good at Harvards law lessons even if she is blonde (not my sentiments)!

Eventually, Im sure youre already ahead of me, there is a court room showdown and its the legally blonde, Elle Woods, who is defending.

OK. So this isnt the most original film youll see this year. Its Hollywood laughing at itself. Something the movie business does a lot, it has to be said. The thing is theres so much thats easily enjoyable about this film that youd find it hard to really hate it. Its hardly long enough to work up a good detestation and its really funny in places. Like Clueless, Legally Blonde depends solely on its star and Reese Witherspoon is just stunning.

With this film surprising the studios by making more than $100 million were bound to see a lot more of her over the next few years. Vaughan Sivell