"Cinderella" never dies...

Rating: 6/10 (22 February 2009)

Bright combination of the Cinderella heroine and the modern makeover comedy, with happily-ever-after trimmings. I know people who watch "Pretty Woman" every time TNT broadcasts it (commercials and all); even though they may already have the film on disc, they stop everything to tune in again. Why? It must be the unspeckled charm of a fresh-faced Julia Roberts before she turned dramatic, Richard Gere before he became self-serious, and the whole knight-in-shining-armor bit before every other studio tried to duplicate it. Harmless fluff has a Los Angeles prostitute hired by a wealthy businessman to be his escort to society functions; naturally, his partners and friends are anxious to know who this vivacious girl is, but will the two deal-makers be able to turn their transaction into true love? Whether he's stealing romantic highlights from other movies, sugar-coating this streetwise scenario, or turning the businessman's affairs into mere multi-million dollar afterthoughts, director Garry Marshall manages to keep a good grip on his stars (and supporting players), and the picture is fun if extremely lightweight. **1/2 from ****