Did I See the Right Movie?!

Rating: 1/10 (17 March 2004)

If it weren't for Julia Roberts' lead role in this film, I would have been SURE I was watching some awful spoof of the *classic* romantic comedy "Pretty Woman." Now, I consider myself a very open-minded fella, I try not to prejudice myself against chick-flicks and I'm one guy that actually likes a true romantic film. But this one is just plain overrated SCHMALTZ the whole way through. Why is it that EVERY leading man in these corny modern movies has to look exactly the same? As a movie fan, I have trouble rooting for a tall, handsome pretty-boy with an overflowing bank account who could have any woman he wants. But I guess this film wasn't made for us "unenlightened men who don't go to movies and have no need for romance in our lives." If you believe THAT, you'll believe this movie. And as in every Disney film made in the last fifty years, you have the token evil guy who also happens to be short, bald, and unattractive (Jason Alexander). Isn't this a bit of a childish cop-out, casting the short, bald semetic man as the "bad guy"? What is this, a German propoganda film?! Sorry if I'm getting a bit preachy, I just really hate the message that these films project onto a generation of lovelorn women. The whole fairy tale of the handsome knight rescuing the damsel in distress from a life of loneliness is just that; a fairy tale. The truth is, there's no such thing as the perfect man, or "Mr. Right" just like there's no perfect woman, so please stop creating this standard for perfection that doesn't exist, and stop trying to brainwash movie audiences into thinking that wealth and beauty makes a good human being. Just hope you find a kind, sensitive, and wonderful man who loves you for you! Trust me, that's as good as it gets on this warped planet. If you'd like to see a really BEAUTIFUL romance on film, check out "Picnic", "Casablanca", or "Now, Voyager!" They're OLD movies, but they were made at a time when Hollywood wasn't cranking out love stories in a tired old formula. The characters are true-to-life, the plotlines are original, and even better, BOTH sexes can enjoy these films. Ladies, even that inveterate macho guy in your life may get a little misty-eyed watching these (I know I did!)