This was the BTW team's first dabble into a pure romantic comedy and it didn't end as bad as we all thought it would.
Pretty Woman is a modern-day classic released in 1990, starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in one of the most iconic on-screen couples of all time. Directed by Garry Marshall, the movie follows Edward Lewis (Gere) a wealthy businessman who hires Vivian Ward (Roberts) as his escort while he attends social events in Los Angeles.
The story opens with Edward negotiating the takeovers of businesses and hiring Vivian as an escort for dinner with a potential investor. Despite their initial differences, they soon find themselves developing feelings for each other that go beyond the business arrangement between them. Though Edward tries to deny his growing feelings for Vivian at first, he ultimately realizes that she has more to offer than her beauty; over time he comes to admire her strength, charm and intelligence as well.
Julia Robert’s performance as Vivian proved just how talented she was even early in her career; it established Roberts as not only Hollywood’s sweetheart but also a highly capable actor capable of carrying romantic comedies such as this one. Richard Gere also gives an outstanding performance as Edward Lewis; from maintaining his composure during high-pressure business meetings to displaying his softer side when interacting with Vivian - Gere keeps viewers enthralled every step of the way. Other notable performances include those from Hector Elizondo playing Philip Stuckey – Edward's lawyer and Laura San Giacomo portraying Kit De Luca – Vivian's best friend and confidante.
Pretty Woman stands out among many romantic comedies due in part to its focus on empowerment rather than simply perpetuating the traditional fairy tale “happily ever after” narrative. It explores themes such as self-esteem, acceptance and respecting one another regardless of background or upbringing which makes it timeless despite being released nearly three decades ago already.
The movie also touches upon serious issues such as gender inequality where regardless if one goes against societal conventions or not they will eventually receive judgmental comments from people who don’t understand them which reinforces why messages like those found in Pretty Woman are still relevant today more than ever before - because no matter how far we may seem to have come there are still areas we need to work on improving upon especially when it comes to understanding each other's differences better instead of trying to fit everyone into predetermined boxes or definitions set by society itself.
Pretty Woman is definitely worth watching again whether you've seen it before or not due to its replay value both comedically entertaining and emotionally engaging making this an unforgettable experience that will likely remain cherished for many years ahead no matter what age group audiences belong to.
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