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Pretty Woman

1990 romantic comedy film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere

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Pretty Woman - 1990

Oct 11, 2008

by SusiDee34

Rating:

Pros: Roberts, Gere, Elizondo

Cons: ...

The Bottom Line:
"Nine a.m. on the hour hand
and she's waiting for the bell
and she's looking real pretty
just wait for her clientele"
~Donna Summer

Released in 1990, Pretty Woman couldn't have picked a better time for Richard Gere and Julia Roberts to join forces for a weird take on Cinderella. They were probably at their most attractive time in their life and Julia just has that incredible laugh that encompasses her entire being.

The story, directed by Garry Marshall and written by J. F. Lawton, was nominated for 17 awards, winning 7. It is the typical rich boy meets working girl story with the white knight included.

Gere plays Edward, a rich businessman that takes over companies and then sells them off, piece by piece, to gain his fortune. He has little regard for the companies or the employees he effects in his take overs. One night, lost in LA, he runs across Vivian, played by Roberts, working her street corner. Vivian isn't a long time prostitute, fairly new to the trade, but long on knowing how you can get stung in a relationship.

Of course Edward hires Vivian to be his date for a week while he is in town for the take over of another company. He has the penthouse suite at the Hilton and the looks of the staff as she passes through is priceless. Especially that of hotel manager Barney Thompson, played by Hector Elizondo.

Things and relationships evolve over the week and some pretty funny scenes are there for our viewing. There are also some tense moments as Edward's attorney, Philip, played by Jason Alexander, learns who Vivian really is and makes a total a-s-s out of himself. Also in fairly prominent roles in the film are Laura San Giacomo as Vivian's roommate, Kit DeLuca, and Ralph Bellamy as James Morse, the owner of the company Edward is planning on acquiring.

I won't bother to say this is earth shattering or outstanding film but, for the genre and the times, it was highly entertaining. Naturally we'd all like to believe that all our shiny dreams will come true some day, but let's be practical. It is more likely that you will still be standing on the corner then it is that you will be riding off into the sunset on the back of the stallion with your white knight. Life is what life is.

As many times as I've seen this movie it is one I never tire of, despite its corny story. I completely appreciate the chemistry shown between these two in this film. It doesn't matter if they despised the ground the other walked on in real life, in this film they played wonderfully together. I also appreciated the little pis_sing contest between Vivian and those snooty sales girls on Rodeo Drive and the way she came back later and rubbed their noses in the proverbial pile of doo-doo. But what I really like the best, and have always admired about Roberts, is her ability to pull that laugh out of her and embrace you with it, making you smile as well.

So, yeah, campy and corny. As improbable as anything will ever be, but, really, who gives a flying rats pootie?

Thanks,
Susi

This movie is my submission to the Good Movies Write-Off 2, hosted by captaind

Recommended:
Yes

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More Pretty Woman reviews

review by jbeswick. November 17, 2009

The most dishonest film ever made?

Ok, I'm going to get a little worked up on this one - I know I'm usually all Carmax and Google-loving, but I just caught an hour of this on TV last night and have been in a bad mood ever since. This shallow piece of dishonesty grossed over a half billion dollars, just so you know. If I was female, I would detest this film even more than I do after six cups of coffee this morning. Given the number of women in the world, Hollywood would have us believe that they generally … more

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Quick Tip by Dekeboo. November 27, 2009

A Quick Tip by Dekeboo

Its ok, my 78 yo grandmothers favourite film of all time followed a close second by breakfast at tiffanys!

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review by beckytcy. December 22, 2003

Pretty Woman: A Dangerous Modern Day Fairy Tale

Pros: fun, escapist, Julia Roberts Cons: such a bad message! The Bottom Line: Look how fun it is to be a hooker! Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie''s plot. It's down to me The way she talks when she's spoken to Down to me, the change has come She's under my thumb - The Rolling Stones I’m not a raging feminist. In fact, I like “Under … more

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review by abhaille. January 23, 2000

People CAN Change!

Pros: Sweet, funny movie Cons: minor violence Can a prostitute have ethics? Can a lawyer? In Pretty Woman they can, or they can learn to. Julia Roberts plays a good hearted prostitute with a childlike sense of delight. She warms the heart of Richard Gere, a stuffy hard-hearted corporate shark. Roberts' transformation from streetwalker to lovely lady is fun and delightful to watch. The hotel manager, … more

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see all Pretty Woman reviews (5)

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Susi Dawson (SusiDee34)
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About this movie

Wiki

Pretty Woman is a 1990 American romantic comedy film. Written by J.F. Lawton and directed by Garry Marshall, the film features Richard Gere, Julia Roberts and Hector Elizondo. Pretty Woman's plot centers on down-on-her-luck Hollywood prostitute Vivian Ward who is hired by a wealthy businessman, Edward Lewis, to be his escort for several business and social functions, and their developing relationship over the course of Vivian's week long stay with him.

Originally intended to be a dark drama about prostitution in New York, the film was reconceptualized into a romantic comedy with a broader budget. The film was a critical success and became one of 1990's highest grossing films, and today is one of the most financially successful entries in the romantic comedy genre, with an estimated gross of $464 million USD.Roberts received a Golden Globe Award for her role, and received a nomination for an Academy Award, in addition screenwriter J.F. Lawton was nominated for a Writers Guild Award and a BAFTA Award.

-Wikipedia

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Details

Cast: Hank Azaria, Julia Roberts, Ralph Bellamy, Jason Alexander, Richard Gere, Lucinda Crosby, Larry Miller, Hector Elizondo, Alex Hyde-White, Tom Nolan, Nancy Locke, Lloyd Nelson, Dey Young, Larry Hankin, Elinor Donahue, Amy Yasbeck, Abdul Salaam El Razaac, Robyn Peterson, John Carson, Dianne Crittenden, R.C. Everbeck, Judith Baldwin, Frank Campanella, Tracy Reiner, William Gallo, Jane Morris, Laura San Giacomo, Jeff Michalski, Patrick Richwood, R. Darrell Hunter, Stacy Keach Sr., Amzie Strickland, Patrick D. Stuart, Lloyd Williams, Carol Williard, Jacqueline Woolsey, Shane Ross, Alex Staltler, Douglas Stitzel, Jason Randal, Barbara Knox, Marty Nadler, Julie Paris, Calvin Remsberg, Steve Restivo, Rodney Kageyama, Harvey Keenan, Allan Kent, Norman Large, Kathi Marshall, Scott A. Marshall, Mariann Aalda, Rhonda Hansome, Lynda Goodfriend, Gary Greene, James Patrick Dunne, Bruce Eckstut, Don Feldstein, Michael French, Daniel Bardol, Mychael Bates, Reed Anthony, Bill Applebaum, Valorie Armstrong, Tracy Bjork, Marvin Braveman, Laurelle Brooks, Minda Burr, Karin Calabro, Cheri Caspari

Director: Garry Marshall

Genre: Comedy

Release Date: March 23, 1990

MPAA Rating: R

Screen Writer: J.F. Lawton

Runtime: 1hr 57min

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