Let's be honest. We've all done the Bend and Snap at least once in our lives. If you haven't, you're lying to yourself.
Reese Witherspoon brought the iconic Elle Woods to life 18 years ago, and she is still living on in our hearts. Legally Blonde is basically one of the most classic rom coms in modern cinema. Over time, it has become a cult classic of the genre and seems to be quoted on a regular basis, no matter how long it's been. The story of the ditzy blond breaking stereotypes and coming into the world as a smart lawyer is one that has resonated with all of us at some point.
If you miss this movie, we've got great news. Legally Blonde 3 is happening. Witherspoon confirmed the news herself, and it's set to be released next year. So, while we still have another year to go until we can get an all-new lineup of iconic quotes, let's take a look at some of the most memorable lines from the original Legally Blonde.
HAPPY PEOPLE DON'T SHOOT THEIR HUSBANDS
"Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands. They just don't."
This type of logic had the rest of the law team thinking Elle was a big joke. But this line actually showed Elle's dedication to her client and her belief in the fact that Brooke was innocent. Elle never wavered from believing in her workout guru, and that's what made her a great lawyer.
Also, we don't know that there isn't any truth to this statement. It seems pretty legitimate. Has a happy person ever killed their husband? Probably not.
THE COMEBACK
"When I dress up as a frigid b**ch, I try not to look so constipated."
Let's face it. We all loved hearing Elle say those words to Vivian, who absolutely had it coming. Pulling the "it's a costume party" trick is a horrible thing to do to anyone. But Elle turned it all around. In saying these words, she proved that she's not only quick on her feet, but she can deliver a burn just as well as anyone else.
This was actually inspiring in a way because Elle is basically teaching the world to stand up to your bullies. Vivian thought she'd have the last laugh by embarrassing Elle, but not this time. We could all use a little bit of Elle's confidence.
BEND AND SNAP
"If all else fails, just bend and snap."
Of course, the bend and snap had to make it in this list. This is one of the most memorable dance scenes in any rom-com. It's been replicated and parodied by so many people, even in Ariana Grande's "Thank U, Next" music video. And if you ask Elle, it's one of the most important tools a woman has in the dating toolkit. The move does have an 83% return rate on a dinner invitation, you know. And a slight chance of breaking someone's nose, but that's only happened once.
Here's a funny tidbit about the signature move: the idea came to the writers when they were drinking in a bar and started drunkenly making up moves. Don't all great dance moves involve alcohol, anyway?
THE MOMENT OF CLARITY
"Don't stomp your little last season Prada shoes at me, honey."
Elle Woods didn't say this line. But it's the line that basically changed her entire life because it tipped her off about the lying pool boy. It gave her so much confidence when she realized she had just discovered some groundbreaking information that could prove Brooke was innocent.
It's also the point when her fellow legal students started to realize she actually did have potential in her. We'd also be lying if we said we didn't quote this one ourselves from time to time. Next time someone starts to get impatient with you, give it a try.
GIRL POWER
"If you're going to let one stupid prick ruin your life, you're not the girl I thought you were."
This is another line that Elle didn't say but had a profound impact on her life. It was her motivation for going back and taking on the world. Screw Warner. No one really knows why her law professor happened to be in the salon right as she was having a breakdown, but it's a good thing she was.
This line also sums up one of the main lessons of the movie that is so powerful for just about anyone watching. That lesson is that you should never let one person's actions ruin your life or make decisions based on what some guy thinks. Or anyone, really. It doesn't just have to be about a guy. Don't let anyone stop you from living your dreams!
ALL FOR THE DOG
"I'm taking the dog, dumba**!"
Jennifer Coolidge's character Paulette utters this line after a newfound sense of confidence, thanks to our girl Elle. Who hasn't wanted to scream this at an ex-lover while you're boldly taking your stuff back? So empowering. In fact, who hasn't just added the word "dumba**" on to the end of a statement to make it more powerful?
Let's just admit we were all so proud of Paulette when she uttered this line. Also, this is one of those moments when Elle realizes that she can help a lot of innocent people as a lawyer. Her dedication starts at this point on, so it's worth nothing.
RELIABLE FASHION ADVICE
"Whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed."
That's our Elle. Not only does she know how to navigate the law, but she also knows fashion. Orange will never be the new pink, so we can really trust her on this one. And so can Cameron Diaz, who Elle talked out of buying a horrible orange sweater and was the reason for this statement.
Even celebrities get fooled by these false statements sometimes, so we could all use an Elle in our lives. This line could easily be adapted to just about anything, and it is commonly used to this day.
RESPECT FOR REDHEADS
"I have always respected redheads as members of a hair color minority."
Anyone who's a natural redhead can understand this line. This is Elle relating the struggle of redheads to the struggle of being in a minority, which many could interpret as being insensitive to actual minorities. But to Elle, this is her way of acknowledging the differences in others.
She's also not wrong. It's estimated that 1% of the world's population has red hair, which is technically actually a hair color minority. She's just standing up for the redheads everywhere.
BYE, BONEHEAD
"If I'm going to be a partner in a law firm by the time I'm 30, I'm going to need a boyfriend who's not such a bonehead."
Most women have been able to relate to some version of this line at some point in their life. Getting rid of a bonehead boyfriend who is just dragging you down, even when he comes crawling back. This movie was all about girl power and doing things for yourself, not for some guy who doesn't appreciate you.
So, this zinger Elle said to Warner is so on point. He never deserved her. Let's also not forget that this line was actually a twist on the line that Warner delivered to Elle at the beginning of the movie: "Elle, if I'm gonna be a senator by the time I'm 30, I need to marry a Jackie, not a Marilyn." Now that's a real burn!
TEACHING A DOG NEW TRICKS
"I taught Bruiser to shop online. I think I can handle Congress."
This line is iconic because of Elle's comparison between training a dog and handling Congress. There are a lot of political jokes we could throw in here, but we like to keep politics out of it. And in all seriousness, how amazing would it be to have a dog that could online shop for you? What a time saver.
You go, Elle.