Movies…with a little bit of obscure culture and sports mixed in
“A man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets… only to fall in love.” Director: Garry MarshallWriter: […]
“A man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets… only to fall in love.”
Director: Garry Marshall
Writer: J.F. Lawton
Staring: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo
Release Date: March 23, 1990
IMDB
I finally saw it. I get it.
Pretty Woman (1990) is magnetic, but Julia Robert is irresistible. This classic romantic comedy lives up the hype and stands the test of time. Roberts is truly outstanding in an Oscar nominated role, and Gere is dapper as all hell. The chemistry the pair share makes Pretty Woman a memorable and rewatchable recommendation.
Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) is a prostitute but her life changes when she runs into millionaire Edward Lewis (Richard Gere). The recently single man is just looking to get home. He is lost, but he finds his way, both literally and emotionally, when Vivian accompanies him and provides directions. The two hit it off, become trash talking friends, and come to understand that there is more than one way to feel fulfilled.
I read that last paragraph and it sounds so dramatic and sappy. Pretty Woman doesn’t dwell on the drama. Sure, it has some, but this movie has more smiles in it than you can count. Pretty Woman is different. Rather than watching some potential lovers dance around the idea of dating and falling in love, Pretty Woman puts the couple together right away, and you are rooting for nothing but their happiness. The movie is filled with optimism, and that glistens off Julia Roberts.
You watch this and tell me it is not the most adorable thing you have ever seen?
I am 33 years late to this movie and I just need to share some of my favorite moments, and this bathtub scene, is the first scene where I was totally sucked in. Roberts, someway, somehow, with an extra layer of accent and some head whips, makes this look like the most believable and karaoke-able sing-alongs ever captured and put on screen. Who doesn’t love prince? Who wouldn’t look at the person singing this song longingly? Edward walks into the bathroom and he knows right away that he wants to take Vivian on a date she is totally unprepared for. He doesn’t care. He is a man that lives a lonely life, and for both an obvious but unknowable reason, Vivian makes him feel some sort of alive.
Now let’s go shopping.
“BIG MISTAKE. BIG. HUGE.”
I mean it is iconic. It is the scene that my friends quoted to me when I told them I was going to watch Pretty Woman. Everyone likes to be dolled on every once in a while and this scene is the ultimate example. If you have a credit card with no limit and no restrictions, then you would go bonkers as well. Vivian was feeling a bit down after she was turned down by the preppy store runners at first, but Edward comes to the rescue with his charisma and bottomless checkbook. Money can open doors, and Edward made sure Vivian was welcomed in with open arms.
Again, this scene is all Roberts. It is a rare thing to have pure fun captured on camera, and it appears like Roberts is having exactly that trying on all of these clothes. She is effervescent. I would be willing to sit on mall benches and wait for Vivian the character and Roberts the actress. Also if I ever had a girl who got to scream in someone’s face how badly they fucked up, I would be fist pumping behind them like the biggest god damn cheerleader.
Genuine laughs are the best. Julia Roberts does the best damn thing again with the cackle after Gere clothes the necklace holder on her hand. The Pac-Man chomp seen around the world is something that genuine relationships have. It is a guy, in a sweet moment, doing something silly to accent it even more. It is a risky proposition, but when the chemistry is right, success is written in the stars.
Could you imagine going on a date like this? What is this lifestyle like? It is intoxicating to look out and take in. Now, granted, I have been to the opera and it is not my cup of tea, but I am glad that Vivian liked it. Edward pulled out all the stops for Vivian. He is trying to close the deal. He goes above and beyond. He has the means to go noble and extreme. It is part of the aura around him. Vivian takes it in but she she does not become it. She is around all of fancy-dressed older persons and her youthful eyes taking in all the new experiences reminds the audience about how extraordinary these regal dates are.
Among all the other things that take place in Little Woman, you have a shopping spree, a new dress, a fancy jewelry showcase, travel via a private jet and an eventual happy ending. Is this what The Bachelor universe was inspired from? Every season has a fashion show date. Seemingly every date has fancy travel as part of the date, often including private helicopters and small sea-based planes. Every bachelor season has the “will they, won’t they” moment, followed by the lead coming to his grips and understanding what he has been missing.
Everyone likes to be treated like a princess every once in a while, and Vivian Ward got to live it out on the silver screen for all of us.
STANKO RATING: B+
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