"Take care of you!"

Rating: 9/10 (13 August 2002)

A very entertaining film. It has its flaws, but you really don't care about them. Richard Gere re-animated a somewhat moribund career with this film by playing against type. His character is low-key, modest, quiet, and even a bit shy. And of course Julia Roberts in the title role really hit the big time with this one. She has such charm, such compelling charisma on-screen, that one doesn't notice her limited acting range. (Noticeably expanded by now, I'm speaking of her 1990 range.) For those who disparage Miss Roberts' looks, they seem immune to the spell she casts on me. True, her features are somewhat irregular, and she's a bit too thin, but that megawatt smile of hers covers every possible flaw. Laura San Giacomo did some of her best work here in a part that was regrettably much too small. Ditto for Hector Elizondo. Both came close to stealing the show, and would have definitely done so with a larger part, and a lesser performance by Roberts.