You might not realize it in a media environment that's ravenous for teen celebrities, but Hollywood is a little short on young stars these days. Tom and Julia have been up there for ages; Vin Diesel and The Rock are not so much human beings as Soviet-era statuary. Yes, there are gifted, charismatic actors out there waiting to take over, but they don't always get the movies to match their talents.
Reese Witherspoon, 26, was a critics' darling (especially in Election) before she earned fame last year in Legally Blonde. Superficially, Sweet Home Alabama is a similar fish-out-of-water scenario. Blonde...