Regan Price, daughter of a wealthy Los Angeles couple, is accepted into Harvard Law School after her boyfriend leaves her for a woman she considers more serious. She decides to go, despite having no real interest in law. What follows is a comedy about appearance, intelligence, and the value of being taken seriously.
Trailer, via Amazon MGM Studios.
Regan’s Entrance
Regan arrives on campus in pink clothing, blonde hair, and a reputation for being vain. Her roommate, Serena, is immediately hostile. Her classmates see her as a socialite who got in through connections. Her professor, Professor Stromwell, makes it clear he doubts her abilities from the start.
Regan quickly learns that law school is far more demanding than she expected. She struggles to keep up with the reading and the expectations. Her confidence wavers as she faces constant doubt from those around her.
The Case Against Regan
The film builds its case against Regan early. Her father buys her a car. Her mother worries she will embarrass the family. Her ex-boyfriend mocks her decision. Serena treats her like an outsider. Professor Stromwell dismisses her questions as trivial.
These attacks pile up fast. Regan is painted as a woman whose worth comes from how she looks, not what she can do. That is the setup the film spends the rest of its runtime trying to dismantle.
Turning Point
Regan’s turning point comes when she begins to study seriously. She reads her cases carefully. She pays attention in class. She asks questions that make her peers think. Gradually, she starts to earn respect from her classmates and her professor.
The film tracks this change closely. Regan’s transformation is the heart of the story. It moves from ridicule to admiration, and the audience is meant to feel that shift alongside her.
The Romance and Serena’s Role
Regan’s romantic life adds another layer to the plot. Her ex-boyfriend tries to win her back by pretending to be interested in her studies. Regan sees through him. She rejects his advances, choosing her education over him.
The romance is simple, but it works within the larger story. It shows Regan valuing herself beyond her relationships.
Serena serves as the foil to Regan. She is competitive, ambitious, and initially cruel. As the film progresses, Serena softens. Whether the two women form an unlikely friendship is left open to interpretation.
Professor Stromwell’s Arc
Professor Stromwell is the film’s biggest target. He is the man who doubts Regan from the beginning. Over time, he comes to respect her intelligence and her determination.
His arc is slow, but it lands. By the end, he has changed his mind about her.
Final Scenes
The film closes with Regan’s success. She passes her classes. She proves everyone wrong.
The ending is warm and hopeful. It feels earned because Regan has worked for it.
What Works and What Doesn’t Work
- Regan’s transformation is the strongest element of the film.
- The performances are solid across the board.
- The setting of Harvard Law School is used well.
-
The humor is light but consistent.
-
Some jokes land flat.
- The film leans on stereotypes about rich people.
- The romance feels thin next to the main plot.
- The villain is one-dimensional.
The film’s strengths come from its lead performance and its central idea. Its weaknesses come from a script that doesn’t always know when to let go. Taken together, the film is a pleasant watch that occasionally reaches for more than it delivers.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.





