Enjoyable fluff

Rating: 7/10 (8 September 2008)

Overall this is a cute film but in many ways it's highly questionable. I remember when it was released a lot a people felt the film's flamboyant portrayal of prostitution sent a wrong kind of message. In many ways I agree with those people.
But putting the harsh realities of the real world aside, Pretty Woman is a fun little film. Never expecting to gross a lot of money, this was a completely unexpected hit in 1990. Keep in mind that Gere's career was going down the toilet and Roberts was still a relative unknown, despite her Oscar nominated performance in Steel Magnolias (and it was Gere who was chosen because of his looks and Roberts because of her charm and talent).
Gere and Roberts play extremely well off each other and they're chemistry is what makes the film a success. Roberts isn't believable as a prostitute for a minute but she's so charming you can't really hold that against her. Ditto for Laura San Giacomo, not always a likable performer but here she's a riot as Roberts's best friend. Hector Elizondo proves to be a real scene stealer, as always. Gere is really good as the lonely and somewhat cold business man, he's very low-key and he seems to realize that it's best to let Roberts chew the scenery with him supporting her (and he's a damn fine piano player to boot).
This is pure Hollywood fluff all the way and as such it's enjoyable. The upbeat music is fantastic (and has aged surprisingly well) and there are enough heartwarming scenes to ensure that a few hankies are in order for sentimental viewers.
Trivia note; I'll be damned if that romantic instrumental tune (credited to James Newton Howard) isn't a complete rip off of Bruce Springsteen's piano intro to "Racing in the Street" from his 1978 album Darkness on the Edge of Town. A useless trivia but I just had to mention it.