Elle Review – A Fabulous Prequel That Lives Up to the Legally Blonde Legacy
Elle landed on Amazon Prime Video in May 2026, and many Legally Blonde fans have tuned in to relive the nostalgia of the films that catapulted Reese Witherspoon to fame.
But Reese is also back behind the screen, this time sharing her creative input as a producer. The film is a nod to girlhood and growing up. You get the same feel of the memorable 2000s flick, with friendship, first loves, teenagehood and so much more.
Here’s my review of Elle.
- Genre: Comedy / Drama / Coming-of-age
- Stars: Lexi Minetree, June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott
- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 8
- Runtime: 49 minutes per episode
- Creator: Laura Kittrell
- Release date: 2026
What is Elle about?
Elle Woods is a 16-year-old girl who unexpectedly moves from her beloved home in Los Angeles to Seattle in 1995. Played by Lexi Minetree, Elle is headstrong, confident and determined. She strives for perfection and has a passion for high fashion, boys and beauty magazines. But her values change when she moves across the country, where social change and standing up against injusticeis more important than vanity and shopping.
Between finding new friends, learning to adapt to a completely different way of life and navigating unexpected crushes, Elle is thrust into a new world full of challenges. She experiences life outside the comfort of her privileged LA bubble, and is forced to question her beliefs and discover what truly matters to her and finding your voice.
What I like about it:
Lexi Minetree perfectly captures Elle. She is bubbly and outgoing, but she’s also caring and smart. Minetree feels like a natural fit for the role, making Elle instantly likeable.
The tone and cinematography are also major strengths of the show. The pink and black colours reflect Elle’s personality and style, while the grittier look of Seattle shows just how different her new life is going to be. The show explores themes of identity, grief and love, experiences that many teenagers go through. The feels relatable and honest.
The series is an enjoyable comedy that balances humour with high and low moments in Elle’s life. The casting is another standout feature, with a colourful and interesting group of supporting characters. I also loved the show’s clear ode to the classic teen film The Breakfast Club.
Elle is a great addition to the much-loved Legally Blonde franchise, while also feeling like it’s own show. As a prequel, it fits easily into the world fans already know.
What I didn’t like about it:
Elle includes a classic love triangle trope we often see in teen TV shows. For me, it was a bit predictable, especially the ending. I feel that the series already had enough going on without needing to rely on it.
Across the eight episodes, we get to see Elle Woods grow as a person and adjust to her new life, but I would have loved to see more of her journey. I hope future seasons feature a few more episodes, giving the writers more time to explore Elle’s character, relationships and her personal growth.
Overall thoughts:
I think Elle is the perfect coming-of-age series for lovers of Legally Blonde. It’s fun, entertaining and nostalgic. The series captures the bubbly and charisma of the original and explores Elle’s life before college in a believable way. Elle is an enjoyable watch and I can’t wait to see what ths gets up to in future seasons.
