Cinema Sunday: Pretty Woman

Last week's Cinema Sunday was about a 9 To 5, a workplace comedy that was originally conceived as serious drama.

This week's Cinema Sunday takes a look at a beloved romantic comedy from 1990 that was originally supposed to be a dark and cautionary tale about prostitution but somehow evolved into a Pygmalion fantasy.   That movie is Pretty Woman.

It's been a few years since I last saw this movie all the way through.  Recently though my wife Andrea happened across it and I joined her at about the half way mark. 

Which is when the really good stuff happens.

High powered super rich business guy Edward Lewis has hired prostitute Vivian Ward to be his girlfriend for a week. 

Vivian slides into her role with a comfortable charm with a dazzling new wardrobe and even more dazzling smile that only Julie Roberts can pull off. 

There's a bit in the middle where Edward whisks Vivian, resplendent in a scarlet gown and sparkling diamond jewels,  away on his private jet across the crimson sunset sky to take her to see La Traviata at the San Francisco Opera. 

Vivian is a bit awkward, unsure how exactly to work opera glasses and wondering how she'll understand anything if all the singing is in Italian. But as Edward watches in growing adoration, Vivian responds emotionally to the story unfolding on stage.   

OK, this is how rich I want to be, to make shit like that happen with zero effort, a private sunset jet ride to go see an opera with a woman and just wow her! 

I'm also a bit jealous of Vivian, a person who perceives her options in life as limited only to be thoroughly amazed at how wonderfully good life can be. 

Sadly the week ends and so does the business arrangement and they say there farewells. 

But of course this has moved beyond any sort of business arrangement and Edward goes back for Vivian. 

OK, I'm  big ol' softy for a classic love story happy ending. 

Of course, it's not the kind of classic love story happy ending one would expect from a dark and cautionary tale about prostitution.

Of course, dark and cautionary went out the window when director Garry Marshall got involved. Garry made his rep as a TV writer and producer for shows like Happy Days, The Odd Couple and more.  He would re-invent himself as a film director known for a light comedic touch with personable characters.  Garry Marshall's film may not be ground breaking high art but Garry knows his away around a camera and knows how to tell a story that appeals to the heart. 

Also dark and cautionary seem unlikely when your main prostitute character is played by a young Julia Roberts, early in her career as America's sweetheart. Julia's Vivian is a tad too innocent to be involved in anything too dark and cautionary.  Julia Roberts' patented mega watt smile shatters the darkness.  

Richard Gere as Edward is a bit understated, even flat but I think that is by choice.  No good at personal relationships, he throws himself into his ruthless calling as a corporate raider, buying companies on the cheap and selling off the parts for a profit. Edward softens a bit under Vivian's charming influence as he decides to pursue loftier goals with his acquisition target. Instead of breaking down companies, he decides instead he's going to build things. 

Nearly stealing the show whenever he's on camera is Héctor Elizondo as Barnard,  the dignified but soft-hearted hotel manager who always treats Vivian with respect, whether she's in her hooker wig and thigh high boots or tasteful Donna Karan suits.  

It's time now for that Cinema Sunday staple I like to call....

The "It's That Person Who Was In That Thing" Dept. 

Jason Alexander, aka George Costanza from Seinfeld is Edward's jerk ass lawyer who brings some dark and cautionary into this otherwise light and frothy mix when he tries to rape Vivian.  (Really? Really! Vivian fights him off and Edward throws is sorry ass out!) George Costanza, we can't stand ya! 

Laura San Giacomo who was "adorkable" on the sitcom Just Shoot Me long before Zooey Deschanel made it a thing is on hand as Kit De Luca, Vivian's sarcastic wisecracking Italian-American best friend and roommate who taught her the prostitution trade. Kit is a small hint of the more dark and cautionary elements of the original story idea, a reminder that a prostitute's life is hard one.  

Amy Yasbeck from Wings and Robin Hood: Men In Tights is on hand as is Simpsons voice actor Hank Azaria. 

And stand up comedian Larry Miller makes an appearance, apparently as part of some kind of legal requirement for Hollywood comedy films to have some kind of cameo for Mr. Miller in every movie.  

Pretty Woman is a fantasy movie, a tale of incredible luck as an outcast prostitute meets a man for whom wealth is a super power and they make each other happy for reasons beyond sex. 

(OK, there is one really awkward scene where Vivian gives Edward a blow job and it just doesn't feel right. It's Julia Roberts, for God's sake!) 

Pretty Woman is My Fair Lady but without musical numbers, no English accents and half the running time because Garry Marshall runs a tight ship.   

We're not quite done with Pretty Woman on the blog. Next weekend's Songs For Saturday will look at some tunes from the soundtrack. 

Next week, Cinema Sunday moves from romantic fantasy to science fiction for a classic film that takes a dark and cautionary turn:

Hal will not open the pod bay doors. 

Until next time, remember to be good to one another.