MovieChat Forums > Sweet Home Alabama (2002) Discussion > Was Anyone From Alabama Offended by this...

Was Anyone From Alabama Offended by this Movie???

posted 22 years ago by kerryandtodd
277 replies | jump to latest

Come on guys.. we have got to stand up for ourselves.. this movie is an insult to the people of Alabama.. Although I don't deny we do have the "redneck,,white trash,beat up truck driving,beer drinking,baby making "billy bob".. but it definately does not represent the MAJORITY of Alabama. We are very classy, & well educated; and we have not JUST recently discovered recliners! If you do not live in or have never visited our beautiful State .. Please do not judge Alabama by this movie. Granted the hospitality & manners were right on!

I have an aunt who is 58 years old and has lived in New York for 40 years ^^^ she recently moved to Alabama because when she visited every Thanksgiving/Christmas she fell in love with the people and State as a whole. Although she does make fun of our southern accent a little.. I tell her as Jake told Melanie . just because we talk slow doesn't mean we're dumb! ;-)

[–] Minkster1973 22 years ago

All I can say is that I feel your pain. I'm from Kansas. Enough said. I visited New York several years ago and when I stated where I was from the first question was, "Do they have paved roads and indoor plumbing in Kansas?" I couldn't believe it!

Because of movies, Kansas is viewed as a backwards country bumpkin trailer park. By the way, in Kansas.....the rich people use recliners too. They're not just for the poor, white trash. That part of SHA cracked me up!

I've driven through Alabama. I loved it! I think most movie-goers realize that the lifestyles of people in movies is way over-exaggerated. At least I hope so anyway!

[–] 22 years ago

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[–] kerryandtodd 22 years ago

You have a point..I loved the movie.. but yet... still offended! I love the state of Alabama and hate to see it portrayed the way that it was.. Noone ever said it represented ALL of Alabama.. but they certainly led viewers to believe..

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[–] daydreamer_hakunamatata 18 years ago

I agree. I'm not from Alabama and I've never been there but I know not to stereotype from what I see in movies. If anything, the movie makes me think that people from Alabama are laid back, welcoming, all around cool people. And certainly not dumb!

I do feel your pain and understand completely. Having your country/state/hometown represented in movies/tv shows isn't always fun. I'm from Australia and personally, I cannot stand it when Aussie accents are portrayed as sounding British. Nothing against British accents, they're just not Aussie though people assume so. I cannot stand comments about Aussies not meant in a warm, positive light. I live in a city, I have a computer (and cable tv, though it's called Foxtel), I don't live off vegemite and yes I see kangaroos...in the bush....so I understand fully.

Sorry for the ramble. Just letting you know that while some make judgements, not all of us non southerners do. :)

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Mini_Griff 16 years ago

I live in Gloucester in England... The only thing people know about us is Fred and Rose West (the couple that murdered loads of people and buried them in their garden!)

[–] JCollins1016 18 years ago

Heck...I live in CT...about 45 minutes from NYC...and we have little small hick towns.....loved the movie and love where I am from....Why do some people get so offended...... :)

[–] DixieBlue67 22 years ago

I wasn't offended by the movie and I am from a small town in Alabama and proud of it but did anyone but me notice the credits at the end of the movie where it said it was filmed in Georgia NOT Alabama. If I was offended by anything it was that.

[–] cancerian74 15 years ago

I'm from Canada - 10 mintues away from the NY State border. And I still can't get over how stereotypical people are! Last winter I vacationed down south and I had people ask me if we have Igloos's in our town and think it snows 12 months out of the year! And they were completely serious. Unbelieveable! Don't people learn anything in school? Talk about small minded...I know it's probably a rare few that actually still think this way - but still...gesh!

[–] clwowski 15 years ago

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

[–] kerryandtodd 22 years ago

I cannot believe someone asked you that question (indoor plumbing/paved roads) How predictable. Fortunatly I have never heard/seen anything negative about Kansas... but if I ever do I'll be sure not to judge ;-) There is a new movie being filmed in Daleville, Alabama I think the name of it is "Big Fish".. I cannot wait to see how it portrays us.. if it does at all? ;-)))))))

[–] usaf_grl21 19 years ago

Big Fish was not filmed in Daleville, but rather Wetumpka and Tallassee. The reason I know this is because I am from Eclectic, which is right between those two cities. My cousins were actually used as extras in that movie. Another movie that was filmed in Wetumpka Alabama was The Grass Harp, which starred Walter Matheau, although it wasn't very good.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] kelly_fisher 17 years ago

Well I am from a small redneck town in Tennessee (Bristol, TN) but I recently moved to Portland Oregon. I really HATE to say this but the only point I almost turned around the Uhaul and freaked out about moving across country was driving through the state of Kansas. There was NOTHING around for one thing (the same went for Wyoming but at least it was beauitful country). However, my dad and I stopped at this convenience store in Kansas and I was appalled at how country and ODD the people were in that place. I literally said "GET ME OUT OF HERE!". I cried the rest of the way through the state until we hit Colorado and then things seemed normal again.

SORRY! That was my experience!

[–] BronwynBliss 22 years ago

I feel your pain too. I was born and raised in Indiana, and still here. Anytime I visit other states I am asked where I'm from with my "accent". When I tell them, I'm asked if I live on a farm, have cornfields & cows and love basketball. I have also been asked several times if I know John Mellencamp.

First of all, I can detect no difference in my speaking voice than their own, most of the time. I'm not sure Hoosiers have an accent. Secondly, I don't live on a farm or have cows, but the high school I attended was surrounded by cornfiends on all sides. To the shame of my state, I am not a basketball fan, but I hesitate to admit that. Hoosier Hysteria does exist concerning the game. Lastly, I do not know John Mellencamp personally. I do not know where his house is located, nor have I ever seen him in person except at a concert.

People from Indiana are constantly portrayed in the media as being backward, slow, boring fools who have nothing better to do than fornicate in barns, run the farm, and be in general behind the times.

Yet every May in racing season, where can you find celebs and the "jet set"??? Sitting at the speedway, sipping beer and listening to "Back Home In Indiana". . . .lolololololol

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[–] shannonmarie05 19 years ago

It's exaggerated a bit, but there's a lot of truth in it, too.

[–] Westaz316 17 years ago

Give me a break! I live in Georgia and you people take yourselfs intirely too seriously. I would bet anything that when someone says something about New York or northerners ya'll just laugh ya'lls heads off, but when someone downs the south it just chaps ya'lls hides. Get over it.

[–] Lilibetp 15 years ago

Yeah, I'm from Oklahoma and people in New York have asked me if I know any Indians and do they still live in teepees.

[–] ceebeegee 13 years ago

Besides The Wizard of Oz, what movies take place in Kansas?

[–] texastreasure517 11 years ago

"In Cold Blood" is the first one that comes to mind.

[–] kristen1165 9 years ago

All I can say is that I feel your pain. I'm from Kansas. Enough said. I visited New York several years ago and when I stated where I was from the first question was, "Do they have paved roads and indoor plumbing in Kansas?" I couldn't believe it!

Because of movies, Kansas is viewed as a backwards country bumpkin trailer park. By the way, in Kansas.....the rich people use recliners too. They're not just for the poor, white trash. That part of SHA cracked me up!

I've driven through Alabama. I loved it! I think most movie-goers realize that the lifestyles of people in movies is way over-exaggerated. At least I hope so anyway!

That's sad to hear ! It really is. You should ask them all if they realize that The Wizard of Oz movie is from 1939, because it seems like that's where they get their impressions about Kansas from.

[–] linds1318 22 years ago

You guys just need to deal with it. There have been a lot of stereotypes about other states' residents that are worse than what is shown in Sweet Home Alabama.

I'm from Oklahoma. My town is right on the border of Arkansas (my nana lives there so it's kinda like my second home state). Anyway, if I got mad at every stereotype about Oklahoma or Arkansas, I would go insane. People have actually been surprised that we Oklahomans actually wear shoes and that my parents, as well as everbody else's parents that I know, aren't related.

I watched the movie and I like it. It didn't seem like it made fun of the state to me. The town shown in the movie even seemed a little like my home town (granted, we have not JUST recently discovered recliners, either). I didn't think that anything shown about Alabama was particularly offensive. Nothing was wrong with how the people and the town were portrayed.

Come on, people. It's just a movie. Lighten up.

Sometimes I think I'd be better off dead. No, wait, not me...you.

[–] JackSRenton 22 years ago

Did you guys also not happen to notice that they potrayed those native of alabama as the better people..?? It shouldnt be taken as a insult to alabama (Which, from where i visited, pretty nice) but as a celebration of alabama, you taking it as an insult reflects that you have low esteem for your state

[–] linds1318 22 years ago

I agree with you. Right on!

Sometimes I think I'd be better off dead. No, wait, not me...you.

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[–] blue_lipstick 19 years ago

It really goes all ways. I'm from Michigan, and the only idea people get about my state is from 8 Mile, Four Brothers, or Grosse Pointe Blank, none of which are accurate representations of Michigan. Perhaps 8 Mile does represent certain parts of Detroit, but I think Detroit is a pretty cool city. I love Michigan and plan on living here my entire life.

I also think a lot of people in the north know that not everyone has thick southern accents down there. And hey, sure you may get offended, but we get offended as well when we're called yankees.

[–] maa-5 19 years ago

This is a nice movie. I have been to New York City several times, I would rather have my tonsils removed with a dull knife than live in NYC. Unlike New York City and other places above the line, Alabama is a wonderful place to be born, raised, and live.

Robert E. Finley

[–] XfilesMystic 16 years ago

What else is new?

Movies never accurately portray things. Hollywood is SO GOOD at distorting things.......that is why no one understands the real world.

I am from the North East and I can say that people from our part of the country have an arrogance and ignorance of many things.

[–] marie111 20 years ago

Hi linds, I'm sorry but I disagree, I DO think that we, in the midwest and in the South need to stand up for ourselves! The media, which is based in the northeast and the left coast obviously mock us every chance they get. Everytime anyone in the media mentions the South, something hateful usually follows. We are sick of it. I have met many people from the Northeast and it is my opinion that ALOT of these people are elitists. They dismiss our part of the country, they dismiss our opinions. I am sick of it!

[–] Luco0307 18 years ago

I so agree it was a romance movie.. and the town and the ppl didnt come off in any other way than normal to me..

if i was to judge wat a hick is and trailer trash its gonna be from JERRY SPRINGER not sweet home alabama

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] queencat18 22 years ago

Being from Chicago myself, I don't exactly know what the South is actually like, but I saw this movie, and I knew right off the bat that all Southerners weren't like that. Just as when I see any other movie, I know that they are just using a small group of people, and it shouldn't reflect on the entire area. The filmakers and scriptwriters weren't trying to make people think that all of Alabama is filled with rednecks, just the particular town that Melanie (Reese Witherspoon) was from. Besides, if they used some big city and had many different characteristics, I'm sure that the movie wouldn't be half as funny as it is. It's a romantic comedy, just meant to be watched to be enjoyed with a bucket of popcorn.

Maybe it's because I'm from Chicago and whenever we're portrayed in a movie, it's a big city feel that I don't mind things like this, but I really feel that people need to lighten up. Just watch and enjoy, and try not to take movies so seriously.

[–] ashiva 22 years ago

Please, Americans! How often in discussions have Americans been totally surprised to find:
Australians speak English as their mother tongue;
Kangaroos do not bounce down the main street of Sydney (You mean grizzly bears don't wander through Times Square? Duh!);
Australia has electricity and telephones;
And they certainly can't figure out why we have a higher ownership per capita (they usually have trouble with that word)of cell 'phones, computers, Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals, micro wave ovens etc tha the US and most western countries;
Australia was also in the Vietnam War with a higher committment of troops per capita (there's that word again)than the US but because we knew what we were doing the VC & NVA kept away from our province and attacked you lot as you blundered around the jungle (usually patrolling down jungle paths wondering why you get ambushed all the time, or flying to landing zones in the middle of valleys in noisy helicopters and are surprised to find VC/NVA waiting for you, shooting down from the hills above the landing zone!!!).

Get used to such misunderstandings. I thought it was a charming piece, but I didn't for a moment think everyone from Alabama was akin to the characterisation represented in the movie. But it did show the people of Alabama as warm and loving and proud and humble and ready to stick togetether in difficult times. And those are characteristics that are more enduring and valuable than the so called sophistication of other places. It also taught us not to judge the supposedly simple as represented by Jake.

[–] fuzy_white_strawberries 21 years ago

i have never believed in any Australian stereotype, but i do think that they, in the past, they have been portrayed in the movies horribly. it would be stupid for anyone to watch crocadile dundee and believe that australians have never seen a car before.
and just as a note. i hope that you don't think that we think that australia is like that. everyone i know thinks that australia is awesome. we had a poll in my school of what country you would like to go to the most and australia was number 1.

[–] shempsstuntdbl 18 years ago

Wow. Do I detect a little anti-American snobbery; "...per capita (they usually have trouble with that word)"? You may not have thought that everyone from Alabama was as portrayed in the movie, but you seem to think that all Americans are idiots (like those you apparently encountered) who can't master the concept/pronounciation of "per capita." And just because some blundering jackass couldn't master battlefield tactics forty years ago, this hardly qualifies the entire nation as just some ignorant, blundering "lot." Should I assume that all Australians harbor such a narrow view of--not just Alabamans-- but all Americans?
I was born in Oklahoma and lived there 29 years. I have also lived in Indiana, Alabama, Florida, and currently live in Texas. I have traveled the United States from stem to stern, as well as to Mexico and Ontario and discovered this: there are all kinds of people everywhere. There are fat, stupid, brutish Americans by the bushel in every state through which I have traveled. There are many more intelligent, literate, mesomorphs than there are of the other types. (Okay, we are a running a little short of mesomorphs). I assume that this phenomenon is not only an American one. When I travel to Australia in a few years from now, I expect to find that same phenomenon there. I will not pronounce all Australians the same. I've always had a great admiration for Australia and the Australians, and I'll not let one case of snobbery originating from that continent color my perception of every person there.

"Anyone man who judges people by the group is a pea wit." --Buster Kilrain in The Killer Angels

[–] awezome 22 years ago

Excuse me...? Offended? Why would anyone be offended by this movie? I think that, perhaps a little misrepresented, it would only make a person from a small city, such as myself, like Alabama even MORE. The homey-ness and everything about this movie brings warmth. Why anyone would be offended is beyond me.

[–] trevormorganlover04 22 years ago

Well, I was born in Altus, OK, then moved to Guam when I was 3, then to Washington when I was 6, and finally to Arab, Alabama when I was 8. Now, at 17 I wan't to get the heck out of here and move to Canada. Has anyone here been to Arab. It's the biggest redneck place in all of Alabama. There are a few places in Alabama that are ok, but go to places like Holly Pond, Union Grove, Arab, etc, and you will see what I mean.

Jessica

[email protected]

[–] 22 years ago

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[–] finefingcossack 22 years ago

I got this movie for Valentine's Day and watched it just a couple of hours ago. I don't live in Alabama, but I live in a small hick town in Ohio that would never even think of being on the map. I really understand the small trailers and dumpy looking everything. I don't feel offended. The reason was to make it look like she was trash going into a world of high class and snobs. I wouldn't consider her trash, but many upperclass (the mayor) would. Its just the different cultures and they try to show the extremes of both.

[–] 22 years ago

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[–] ShedEnd 22 years ago

Did this movie offend me? An emphatic NO!

I grew up in Alabama and moved to Washington, DC nearly 3 years ago. When I got this movie, I was apprehensive about their treatment of us Southerners, but I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, they are stereotypical. No, not everyone in Alabama drives a truck. No, most people don't own coon dogs. No, not everyone is nice.

However, this movie made me homesick. Little things in the movie made me quite aware of how different things are in the South. An example - When Reese went up to Bobby Ray's (is that the character name?) SUV and carried on a conversation with him in the middle of the street. Oncoming traffic just drove around them. You try something like that up here, you're taking your life into your own hands.

This movie reminded me of how great things are down there. Granted, everything isn't perfect, but it sure beats things around my current area, and I'm looking at coming back.

[–] 22 years ago

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[–] rmanieri 22 years ago

Maybe some folks would be offended.
As an Army brat, I spent four years in Dale County Alabama and finally stopped moving as a teenager; landed and stayed in New Jersey, but I go to Tusacaloosa for Alabama football games. Now, some people say that folks from New Jersey should be offended by "The Sopranos", especially those with Italian last names, like me. However, I am "The Sopranos" biggest fan in South Jersey. So take "Sweet Home Alabama" for what it is, a movie. A movie that is trying to use regional differences as a part of the story line. The Hollywood types aren't trying to show Alabama in a bad light any more than they were trying to show that all Italian Americans from New York are ignorant buffons in "My Cousin Vinny". Regional differences are present throughout this country, and they can be humorous - as these are in this movie.