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Pretty Woman
EMAILPRINTBuena Vista Pictures
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 15 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Romance
Written by: J.F. Lawton
Directed by: Garry Marshall
Release Date:
Theatrical: March 23, 1990
DVD: January 14, 2003
Running Time: 119 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: R for sexuality and some language
Starring Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Ralph Bellamy, Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo, and Hector Elizondo
When successful corporate mogul Edward Lewis (Gere) meets carefree call-girl Vivian Ward (Roberts), their two lives are worlds apart. But Vivan's energetic spirit challenges Edward's no-nonsense approach to life, and soon they are teaching each other -- and falling for each other. (Buena Vista)
Also On Metacritic
FILM: Georgia Rule Raising Helen Runaway Bride The Other Sister The Princess Diaries The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jay Scott
The intelligence and wit of this glass-slipper heart-of-gold fantasy are shocking.
Read Full Review >Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
The sweetest and most openhearted love fable since "The Princess Bride."
Read Full Review >Washington Post Rita Kempley
Roberts and Richard Gere costar in this bubbly scamper, which goes to the head like champagne -- the cheap, sweet kind that leaves you with a throbbing head. And yet this monstrously derivative romance is great giddy fun.
Read Full Review >Empire Joe Berry
A modern-day treatment of Pygmalion and Cinderella rolled into one, it is graced by first-class performances from two easy-on-the-eye stars and a sharp, funny script.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Desson Thomson
But it's Roberts's memorably comic performance that is the most distinguishing aspect of the movie. As the gawky professional companion, she's ticklishly appealing.
Read Full Review >Variety Staff (Not Credited)
Roberts handles the transition from coarse and gawky to glamorous with aplomb.
Read Full Review >The New Republic Stanley Kauffmann
No one is expected to believe Pretty Woman . We're just supposed to enjoy it... Pretty Woman wants only to engage us for two hours, and it does. [16 Apr 1990, p.26]
USA Today Mike Clark
For the first time in years (even counting his excellent work in “Internal Affairs”), Richard Gere's acting gears aren't too obviously apparent; Julia Roberts, though the breadth of her emotional range remains in question, is beautiful and can act - a not-bad blueprint for continued employment. [23 Mar 1990, Life, p.4D]
TV Guide Staff (Non Credited)
The silly script lurches from one jarring, implausible moment to another, and Marshall directs like he was wearing earplugs and boxing gloves on the set.
Read Full Review >Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
The message is plain: Men, especially rich men, have all the power. So be sure to do what they tell you, and maybe they'll treat you nicely… It's not one I like to hear. [27 Apr 1990, Arts, p.10]
Los Angeles Times Sheila Benson
Nothing works, except perhaps the sight of Julia Roberts' lean, well-tempered midsection and her roughly eight yards of legs that, in this frail comedy, are worked until they're almost a story point of their own. [23 Mar 1990, Calendar, p.F-14]
Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum
Proves that the Disney people can sell just about anything--including a misogynistic celebration of big business and prostitution.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
Starts out as a neo-Pygmalion comedy, but the film is slow, earnest, and rhythmless.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle
It's one of those self-consciously cute pictures, about as hard to take as a person who stands in front of a mirror and preens all day. [23 Mar 1990, Daily Datebook, p.E1]
Chicago Tribune Dave Kehr
It sounds like standard Cinderella stuff (and the script comes complete with plenty of allusions to princesses in towers), but it's played here with an emphasis on possessions and possessing that borders on the obscene… It's a pretty ugly movie. [23 Mar 1990, Friday, p.C]
Time Richard Corliss
A ticket to Pretty Woman buys you mechanical titillation and predictable twists... Old-fashioned, assembly-line moviemaking without the old panache. [2 Apr 1990, p.70]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 7.1 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Max gave it a10:
This movie is great to watch with your girlfriend. It is romantic and looks great.
hjkggjh hjkhhl gave it a10:
This movie is full of romance and happiness and saddness. It is heart ripping and heart warming. It is a movie i recommend to anyone.
Tony B. gave it a5:
Intellectually and emotionally dishonest in that because it wants to be "Cinderella," it never depicts what this "pretty woman" really does to earn a living.
Milly A gave it a4:
A very slick, polished, rom-com go deeper and you'll find its pretty shallow. All its talk of fairytale ending, equality and dreams coming true sits side by side in a materialistic, greedy and class orientated Hollywood. Cold and calculated.
Abby L gave it a7:
This was a good movie. Light and romantic.
Monica gave it a9:
Perhaps only hopeless romantics like me can appreciate and give this movie a 10. I'm giving it a 9 though. The story is perfect. Funny, light and romantic. They could've changed the ending though, make it more dramatic.
Ally L. gave it a0:
It's perfect it stars Richard Gere as he is so smug that you can really believe the only person who likes him is someone he buys. I cannot believe anyone thinks this movie is romantic. She's his latest purchase. There should be a sequel where he gets a trade in for her.
