Pretty Woman: 15th Anniversary Edition
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
Welcome to Hollywood!
First released in 1990, this Cinderella story with a modern twist was an instant hit and played off the chemistry of stars Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.
A typical and predictable "hooker with a heart of gold" meets Mr. Right film, it is nonetheless engaging, amusing, entertaining, and endearing. Richard Gere is just right as the cold businessman who warms up with the love of the right woman, and Julia Roberts has just the right blend of street savvy innocence that makes the whole storyline work. Sure it's a romance, and sure, it's predictable and has been done a million times before, but it still works, and it's still fresh even after 15 years.
The story follows Vivian, a Hollywood Boulevard prostitute who lucks out when a Lotus Esprit, driven by businessman Edward Lewis, gets lost in the wrong part of town. Vivian shows Lewis how to get back to the Beverly Hills landmark, the Regent Beverly Wilshire, and the rest is history. The supporting cast, notably Jason Alexander as the scheming and tacky lawyer, Ralph Bellamy as the innocent business owner Edward wants to demolish, and Laura San Giacomo as Vivian's partying roommate all make this film more than a simple romance. It's fun, it's witty, and it's poignant, and it's the last classic film of the 1980s decade. Another big plus is the soundtrack, which really adds depth and an 80s feel to the film.
DVD Additional Features
The 15th Anniversary edition of this DVD, released in 2005, contains a bevy of special features, including several scenes not included in the original film. It also includes behind-the-scenes interviews and documentaries, a music video, and audio commentary by director Garry Marshall. The new release is worth the price of admission, even if you have the older edition, because of all the additional scenes and footage.