Turning tricks is what the high school dropout Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) has to do when money is short and rent is due.  It is not something she strives to do for a professional career, but her situation leaves her no other options than to seek monetary refuge in the oldest of professions.  Carefully Vivian approaches her job with protection of latex and cleanliness, as dangers lure around every corner.  In addition, Vivian must take care of her roommate Kit De Luca (Laura San Giacomo) who easily falls in the hands of the wrong company and drugs.

On occasion dreams come true, but there are no more knights in shining armor that come and save the day.  Instead the sharp businessman and billionaire Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) approaches Vivian’s street in a Lotus Esprit that he handles feebly.  Lost and disoriented Edward requests Vivian’s help, but she does not help him for free.  The situation leads Edward to hire her as a guide back to Beverly Hills where he is staying in a luxurious hotel’s penthouse.  In turn it leads to a night and then a week that Edward hires Vivian’s company, as he also has just broken up with his girlfriend hours before he met Vivian.

The time that Edward and Vivian spend together displays the differences between the two through awkward, yet amusing moments.  There are also moments where the social differences are accentuated through offensive behaviors towards Vivian and her presence while shopping in expensive stores.  However, Edward’s presence, or known existence seem to be all Vivian needs in order to get out of trouble.  This strongly suggests that money rules, and a scene when Edward takes Vivian out shopping displays the ultimate truth of human greed.

The director Garry Marshall creates a fairy tale where impossible happens, a rich businessman falls in love with a cheap hooker.  For many it might be a dream, a dream worth dreaming, but it is also important to understand that dreams only come true through hard work.  This hard work is present in the film through Edwards’ relentless efforts to continue to build his empire, which has helped him build fortune.  Another notion that emerges during the viewing is they both help one another to find a happier existence, which suggests that wealth is not everything in life.  All of these moral messages are brought out amidst the contrasting similarities in Pretty Woman, which delivers an adult and lightly amusing contemporary fairy tale.

One thing that hurts the film is its R rating, as the film presents adult material with a PG approach.  The notion of an adult themed fairy tale should be pondered in the light of the Brother’s Grimm stories, which were disturbingly bloody and intended for children.  Nonetheless, Pretty Woman also offers the idea that violence and horror is not necessary to present at message.  However, the gentle method of telling the story of Vivian makes it a little too one-dimensional for an adult, and more intended for a teen audience.

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