An entertaining modern-update of a classic fairy tale

Rating: 7/10 (13 July 2005)

"Pretty Woman" was the film that made Julia Roberts a star and a major player in Hollywood (for a while she held the record for being the highest-paid actress in Hollywood).
"Pretty Woman" is one of her better films. She plays a prostitute who's "employed" by a rich playboy (Richard Gere) to pose as her girlfriend for a little while. He tries to culture her and instill good taste, manners and general class; meanwhile others raise a suspicious eyebrow when she embarrasses herself in public, clearly not belonging in the upper-class group.
The film follows a standard fairy-tale-style formula of an abused girl falling in love and being rescued from her old lifestyle. The movie spins this into a modern update with more relevant themes - mainly prostitution.
Ironically this is one of Roberts' first movies and the only one in which she has ever revealed any nudity. Sometimes actors deliver their finest performances before they develop egos and clauses in their contracts. She dares to go out on a limb here more so than she usually does - and the movie succeeds.
The direction is suitable, the soundtrack and stylings of the film are oh-so-eighties... overall it's just an entertaining, well-done romantic comedy that doesn't try to be anything it isn't. Not a classic, but hardly bad, either.