Appealing romantic-comedy works well even with a formula

Rating: Null/10 (1 September 2003)

Pretty Woman (1990) Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Ralph Bellamy, Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo, Hector Elizondo, Alex-Hyde White, Amy Yasbeck, Larry Miller, D: Garry Marshall.
By surprise, this romantic comedy working from an outdated love formula comes out successful: a suave, solitary businessman and eligible bachelor (Gere) staying in Beverly Hills picks up a Hollywood Boulevard hooker (Roberts) and asks her to accompany him for a week, where he spruces her into a pretty woman and pays her $3,000-what she doesn't expect is to have feelings for him by the end of her stay.
Utterly entertaining, charming, and heartfelt Cinderella story (without being sleazy apropos prostitution), and still popular after its release, with a delightful Roberts in a tailor-made role that built her as a star. The two leads shine well together, and join up again nine years later, in RUNAWAY BRIDE. Look for Marshall in a cameo.
Running Time: 125 minutes and rated R for language and sexual content.

RATING: *** (out of ****)