It may seem blasphemous to mention Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor in the same breath as Elle Woods, but considering that Sotomayor's the first Latina woman ever nominated to the bench, it's not that offensive. (We hope.) Sticking characters where they don't belong -- or where they've never been before -- makes for great comedy, but let's face it, some cinematic strange ducks are better at blending in than others. And for every oddball outsider who manages to make a go of it, there's a misfit who will never fit in anywhere except on this list, which salutes the ten iconic strangers in strange lands, from the easily assimilated to the eternally out there.

Princess Giselle, Enchanted (2007)
Fairy tales are all about outsiders trying to fit in: Mermaids trade fins for limbs, scullery maids sneak into balls, and, here, wide-eyed Princess Giselle braves the mean streets of Manhattan. Expelled from her animated world by evil Queen Narissa, Giselle does what she knows best. She summons the animals to her aid with a song (so what if they're cockroaches, flies, rats and pigeons?) and falls for a handsome divorce attorney. Not to suggest that making a frock out of your love interest's drapes is a good idea, but still.

Borat, Borat (2006)
Borat Sagdiyev's "cultural learnings" hinge on him coming off as the funny-looking foreigner in an ill-fitting suit. And does he ever. The intrepid journalist is sent to the "U. S. and A." by the Kazakh government to make a documentary about our society and customs. Once here, he dupes zealots, bigots, and frat boys with his false-naif stylings. Of course, Sacha Baron Cohen's whole m.o. depends on his not blending in with the rest of the pack, so adapting to his environment is definitely not in the cards. Very nice, indeed. Next!

Buddy, Elf (2003)
Even though he literally outgrows his home by topping six feet, sweet-natured Buddy is shocked and appalled to learn that he is adopted and human. (The horror!) When Buddy heads south to New York City to find his real family, his biological dad reluctantly takes him in, but workaholic Walter lacks the Christmas spirit. The earnest elf sways the city cynics to renew their faith in Santa while wearing baggy yellow tights -- no mean feat.

Elle Woods, Legally Blonde (2001)
You can lead a sorority girl to Harvard, but can you make her think? That's the dilemma facing bubbly Elle. She's president of Delta Nu and has a 4.0 (in fashion), yet her aspiring-politician beau dumps her before heading off to Harvard Law because she's a Marilyn, not a Jackie. Elle follows him east, where her Barbie-ish clothes and tiny dog make the students think she's as featherweight as her plumed pens. But Elle masters legal lingo -- without giving up her shopaholic smarts -- eventually winning a big case and an even better boyfriend.

Mona Lisa Vito, My Cousin Vinny (1992)
It could be argued that none of the Brooklynites in this movie belong in the Deep South, but Mona Lisa Vito seems particularly out of place, and she doesn't even bother trying to fit in. Why a lovely young woman like Mona Lisa wants an old guy like Vinny to marry her is a mystery for the ages. However, when the leather-clad lawyer asks his fast-talking fiancée to take the stand in a small hick town -- as an expert witness on classic cars -- she wows the skeptical Southerners and wins the case without compromising her outsider status.

Edward, Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Little orphan Edward does his best to fit in when a kind-hearted suburbanite brings him back to her pastel-hued homestead. He uses his the super-sharp blades that are his fingers to trim shrubs into topiary and give the neighborhood ladies wild haircuts. But his innocent nature allows others to exploit him and his deadly, clashing mitts keep him from ever getting close to his true love Kim. The sweet-natured Edward, seems destined to remain an outsider wherever he ends up. Alas.

Prince Akeem, Coming to America (1988)
Where does an African prince find a suitable wife? Queens, of course! (Remember when jokes like that were actually considered funny?) Hoping to dodge his arranged marriage and find true love, Prince Akeem opts to masquerade as a humble student in the outer boroughs. The pampered prince lives in a cruddy apartment, works at a fast-food joint, and falls for the boss's daughter. Assimilation successful!

Michael J. Dundee, Crocodile Dundee (1986)
In the midst of the "greed is good" go-go Eighties, Crocodile Dundee breezes into Manhattan like a breath of fresh air. Game for any adventure, Dundee accepts an invitation from the sweet reporter who's writing a story about him to follow her back to the concrete jungle. There the Outback outsider encounters transvestites, muggers, and the Park Plaza when he's not throwing "another shrimp on the barbie." The wonder from Down Under gets extra points for becoming the toast of the town without changing a hair on his ridiculously stereotypical head.

Madison, Splash (1984)
Madison is new to more than just Manhattan: She's a sea creature who sprouts legs to follow the man she's saved twice onto dry land. Mad's a little wobbly when it comes to mastering human attributes like not tucking into an unshelled lobster with her hands, but this literal fish out of water is willing to try anything to be with the man she loves (Tom Hanks). Heartwarming! Plus, this one also co-stars John Candy and Eugene Levy - who are pretty much out of their respective elements in every role they take. Fish out of water heaven!

Judy Benjamin, Private Benjamin (1980)
Sure, odds are the Army would never pick Judy Benjamin for their army of one. Except for one unscrupulous recruiter, that is, who cons the recently widowed blonde into enlisting with promises of yachts and condos. When the latrine-cleaning reality of army life kicks in, the spoiled socialite insists she'd signed up for a different Army. Goldie Hawn may never have been funnier (well, except in Overboard, maybe) -- and kudos to her for proving that even a pretty, coquettish blonde can be the freak if the circumstances are right.

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