Sweet Home Alabama

New York fashion designer Melanie Carmichael suddenly finds herself engaged to the city's most eligible bachelor. But her past holds many secrets—including Jake, the redneck husband she married in high school, who refuses to divorce her. Bound and determined to end their contentious relationship once and for all, Melanie sneaks back home to Alabama to confront her past.

Critics largely dismissed the film as a formulaic romantic comedy, though nearly all of them exempted Reese Witherspoon from the blame — her charm was treated as the only thing separating a tired premise from an unwatchable one. The audience response was far warmer than the critical reception, suggesting the film lands exactly what its target viewers are looking for even when reviewers find the road predictable.