Pretty Woman (1990)

Edward (Richard Gere) is a wealthy industrialist who is feeling lonely one night while on a business trip.  While cruising Hollywood Boulevard, he meets a prostitute named Vivian (Julia Roberts) and he decides to hire her for the week to stay with him....what he didn't count on was falling in love. :o And what resulted was one of the most popular romantic comedies of all time, a worldwide phenomenon which launched Julia Roberts into the stratosphere.   It was directed by the late, great Garry Marshall (Beaches, The Princess Diaries) and also co-starred Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo, and Hector Elizondo.  It had a hugely popular soundtrack and features several iconic scenes.....but how does it hold up?  On the eve of its 35th Anniversary AND Valentines Day, let's head back to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and Rodeo Drive, and find out.....

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Transcript

PRETTY WOMAN - 1990

Directed by Garry Marshall

Starring Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Laura San Giacomo, Jason Alexander, Ralph Bellamy, Alex Hyde-White, Hector Elizondo, Amy Yasbeck, Elinor Donahue, Judith Baldwin, and Larry Miller

Genre: Romantic Comedy? (Audio clip)

When I was in college, I had a long-running argument going with one of my best friends about this movie - this was around '94, a few years after it had come out and it seemed as if every other female freshman or sophomore had this videotape in their dorm...or at least the ones I might have had the pleasure to visit at the time. She LOVED this movie and I didn't - our back-and-forth was as to which film was more romantic: this or The Crying Game. 😮 

For me, it wasn't even close: in 'Crying Game, Fergus sacrifices his freedom (and potentially his LIFE dammit!) to demonstrate his love for Dil....and in Pretty Woman, Edward (Gere) punches out Jason Alexander and drives up in a limo with roses to prove his love to Vivian (Roberts)....WOW, please. 😕 The whole structure of the story always rubbed me wrong from a romantic standpoint: the two protagonists have sex about a dozen times....but....but...it MEANS something when they finally kiss. 😛 I just did not get why every straight female under the age of the 25 at the time was SO enamored with this movie.  So for more than 20 years, I had only talked shit about this movie, maybe it's time to revisit it? And so recently….I did…..

And….now having rewatched it...it's solid, not bad. There's some chemistry there and while I still have some major issues with the setup, there are some very good dialogue scenes between Roberts and Gere which make it more palatable. Gere's a bit of a cold fish for much of the movie and it's far from his best performance playing Edward...funny how his actual best performance was probably the same year with Internal Affairs. Roberts is very good as Vivian...is she Best Actress nomination good? Oh I don’t know but she succeeds in making her character very likeable at the very least....and not gonna lie the way the film ends is very sweet. 😘 I completely 100% get in retrospect how she became America's Sweetheart after this took off....personally I don't think she hit her stride as a full-on strong actress in these types of movies until the late '90's (My Best Friends Wedding, Runaway Bride) but she's clearly got charisma!

Marshall's directed better romantic comedies than this (Frankie & Johnny) and worse (Exit to Eden) but props to him for bringing his old standby Hector Elizondo along for the ride as the hotel manager...HE MIGHT…be the MVP for this movie….I said might. Yes his character is a rom com cliche as old as Pygmalion but Elizondo plays this guy with such warmth and elegance that his scenes with Roberts and his last scene with Gere pretty much bring the romance home. 

The whole kissing thing noted above is STILL kind of weird but I get it - I'm more in agreement with that sentiment now vs. 30+ years ago having been around the block a few times since then. 😉 But halfway through, they take a long bath together....THAT'S not intimate?? Just some weird Showgirls-type shit that anyone could lie naked in a tub washing some one else several dates BEFORE kissing them. Both films DID come out in the '90's..

Best Needledrop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film): 

Undoubtedly one aspect of this film which contributed towards it becoming a genuine phenomenon was the soundtrack which was a genuinely successful collection of original pop music VERY much of its time including some notable songs from Go West, Peter Cetera, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and one of my favorites….Natalie Cole, who gave us the very catchy “Wild Women Do” which plays during Vivian’s first – though ultimately less successful – shopping spree in Beverly Hills. (Audio clip) 

But for me, the musical highlight remains what was THE biggest hit from this soundtrack….a mid-tempo ballad which was pretty much unavoidable during the spring and summer of 1990 and it came from one of Sweden’s most BELOVED pop duo…Maria Fedriksson and Per Gessle….straight out of Halmstad, ROXETTE.  We hear this song late in the movie during what of course is one of THE more common romantic comedy or drama tropes…the BREAKUP MONTAGE.  Vivan has turned down Edward’s offer to stay in her employ….for obvious reasons of course.  And the song kicks in as we see Edward looking out his window longing for her….hey I still think it holds up, I’m of course referring to the lovely…”It Must Have Been Love.” (Audio clip) 

Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film):

One jarring negative then and now: the scene where Jason Alexander's lawyer assaults Vivian is wrong and just does not need to be there....it's a bizarre choice for this late in the story and it just sours things a bit tonally. You introduce that kind of element into the story and then just brush it aside?? 😒 I'm guessing it was part of the original, much darker screenplay written by JF Lawton and was just kept in there...but it should have been excised. Definitely a poor decision on director Gary Marshall's part and honestly….I’m not sure if having this character in the story was even necessary as there is already a  necessary amount of conflict inherent within the nature of the central relationship.  Nothing against Alexander as he does the best he can given what’s on the page….

Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):

Now from what I gather, by far THE most iconic scene in the film is the shopping spree sequence on Rodeo Drive which occurs around the half-way point of the movie….this is of course when we also hear the title song…bonus at least that we hear the original song sung by Roy Orbison and not some treacly and/or dance/pop remake.  But no that’s my personal choice for needle-drop NOR for overall scene….but we’re getting warm. (Audio clip) 

No MY personal choice is a brief but very humorous appearance by an actor who at the time was actually one of my favorite stand-up comedians…I’m referring to Valley Stream, Long Island’s OWN favorite son….Larry Miller who YES at the time was mainly known as a stand-up comedian.  In fact, he would do a BRILLIANT one hour special the following year on HBO, “Just Words.” (Audio clip) 

But back to Miller in this movie…this was only his second feature film appearance and would end up being the start of a nice career of mostly witty supporting roles like this one….here he plays Mr. Hollister….the eager-to-please clothing store manager whom Gere’s Edward has a brief talking to on Vivian’s behalf.  Their back-and-forth is not only for me the biggest laugh-out-loud moment of the movie and a showcase for Miller’s droll comedy stylings….but it’s one of Gere’s wittier moments too. (Audio clip) 

MVP (person or people most responsible for the success of this film):

Now for one thing, it’s NOT Hector Elizondo as invaluable as his performance is to the overall tone of this movie…but he’s great no doubt.  And it’s not Gere or Gary and any one else…..there can be ONLY one and it’s in the title of the movie.  Of course I’m referring to the Pretty Woman herself….Julia Fiona Roberts from Smyrna, Georgia, she was only 22 during production but had already done six feature films garnering some buzz with early roles in Satisfaction and Mystic Pizza before actually receiving an Oscar nomination just the year before for a very memorable, tear-jerking turn in Steel Magnolias. (Audio clip) 

So she was already on the come-up by the Spring of 1990….but this role, THIS performance took her to the stratosphere.  The film opened well in March but played through the summer and became a word of mouth SMASH to the tune of $463 million Worldwide on a $14 million budget no less.  And on a level really only approached the decade prior twice before – by Tom Cruise and Eddie Murphy – she became an instant household name, the most bankable actress in the world.  Her presence, charisma, wit, and beauty of course elevate this movie….enough to make even the most cynical viewers buy into its overall premise.  No small feat….for pulling off one of the more iconic movie star performances of the ‘90’s, Julia Roberts is the MVP. (Audio clip) 

Final Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5 

All in all, a better movie than I remember but still too dated in concept to call it a GREAT romantic comedy to rival When Harry Met Sally or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Annie Hall. It might even be time to revisit The Crying Game just to see how badly THAT'S aged….check out that review by the way.

Oh yeah the current elephant in the room…how does this compare to previous episode ANORA….which as of this recording is still getting tons of Oscar buzz and has in many circles been compared to THIS very film, the set-up being a sex worker who engages in a whirlwind romance with a wealthy client.  I LIKED Anora but didn’t love it….some significant third act issues as I feel like it drags its way to its conclusion though it DOES tell a darker, bolder story.  So Pretty Woman is a TIGHTER movie as it’s a full half hour shorter….but overall, Anora’s probably a bit better just based on Mikey Madison’s performance.  If nothing else, they could make for an interesting double feature. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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And that ends another Big Mistake BIG…HUGE review!