Pretty Woman (Julia Roberts)

(Amazon UK link)

It’s nearly nine years since we first saw the film ‘Pretty Woman’. It’s considered almost a classic nowadays, and is the film that first made Julia Roberts’ name. I had forgotten that it was made as long ago as 1990, and that she was only 21 when it was produced.

Roberts plays Vivian, who is a prostitute in New York. This is not the kind of scenario that would usually draw me into a film. But although the situation is very sleazy, and Vivian’s clothes extremely revealing, there’s nothing explicit. It doesn’t seem as if she quite fits the scene: I can’t tell what kind of accent she has, but despite her clothes she comes across as rather more sophisticated than her friends.

Richard Gere is the co-star, playing a very wealthy businessman called Edward. He is divorced and has just broken from a long-term relationship, basically because he’s never available to her. And, indeed, we see him in his office, consulting with his lawyer, making deals. It turns out that he doesn’t actually trade in or make anything as such; he buys failing businesses, divides them up into smaller entities (often destroying their original aims) and then sells them at a massive profit. And he’s very good at his job.

He’s on his way to a hotel in preparation for concluding another business deal when he gets lost in the neighbourhood where Vivian works. She tries to solicit him, but he explains that he just wants directions. She offers to show him where the hotel is, at a cost… and he agrees. He even lets her drive when she starts criticising his style, and then - somewhat against his better judgement, it seems - he invites her to stay the night with him.

Edward needs an elegant woman to accompany him to some business dinners, and suggests Vivienne might like to stay longer, and fulfil this role… after which she has to buy elegant and expensive clothes (on his credit card), and learn which fork to use for each course….

The story is essentially a modern take on ‘My Fair Lady’ (which of course is based on the classic ‘Pygmalion’). And it works very well. The script is good, and Julia Roberts is excellent. She gradually learns to like being surrounded by luxury - and also to be much too fond of Edward. There’s some humour, some poignancy, and a slightly overdone (but entirely satisfying) fairytale-style ending.

We weren’t so impressed with Richard Gere, however. As a businessman in a suit he is mostly believable - incisive, hard-hearted, determined to make as much money as he can, irrelevant of anyone else’s preferences. However his expression rarely changes - he has a kind of slightly amused look on his face all the time, no matter who he’s speaking to, and while it’s easy to see why he is attracted to Vivienne, it’s not obvious at all that he is. Unsurprisingly his heart begins to soften a little, but neither his voice nor his face change, and it’s a bit hard to believe in his transformation.

Still, he proves to be an unexpectedly talented pianist.

On the other hand, we absolutely loved Hector Elizondo as the hotel manager Barney; he was the perfect mixture of formal and friendly. He follows the rules but acknowledges that some of his best clients sometimes break them. Some of the best scenes involve him, often with Vivien too.

It was revealing to see the attitude of some people to young women in Vivian’s profession - and how a credit card can get pretty much anything, at least in the world in which Edward lives. The amount of money he earns - and pays - seems astronomical, and that’s thinking about today’s money in a film that’s now thirty years old.

The rating is 15, which seems about right. There’s not a great deal of bad language, and only one real scene of violence, which is short-lived, although there are other threatened ones. And of course there’s a lot of discussion of what prostitutes do, and some scenes of intimacy, although most are implied and there’s nothing too explicit. In the slightly more prudish US censorship system it's rated R, which is equivalent to a UK 18.

It’s not, in any case, the kind of film that would be of any interest at all to most children or younger teens - or even older teens, necessarily, as Edward comes across as staid, almost middle-aged.

But for those over 18 wanting a good light romantic story, with a bit of humour, and who doesn’t mind the theme, I would recommend it highly.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's DVD Reviews

Runaway Bride (Julia Roberts, Richard Gere)

(Amazon UK link)

It’s almost ten years since we saw the romantic comedy film ‘Runaway Bride’, and we had pretty much forgotten the storyline. So it was a good one to choose for an evening in when we were both quite tired.

Richard Gere plays a journalist called Ike. He writes a regular column in a newspaper, which is usually somewhat negative about women. He usually leaves it to the last moment. He’s trying to find something new when he gets chatting to someone in a bar. This stranger tells him about a young woman called Maggie, in his home town, who has run away - he claims - from seven potential bridegrooms, leaving them at the altar.

So Ike writes his article without checking for accuracy, and the newspaper is sued. He loses his job, but someone else suggests he go and meet Maggie and find out the truth.

Maggie (Julia Roberts) has only, in fact, run away from three marriages. She is now engaged to a sports coach called Bob. He thinks she has been panicking so he has been helping her with guided visualisation and deep breathing. Ike meets Maggie’s friends, and interviews her former fiances, and gets to know her family… she initially dislikes him intensely, but gradually realises that he’s a nice guy.

Inevitably there’s an attraction… but she’s engaged to Bob, and convinced he is the one for her. And her wedding is just a few days away. The venue is booked, caterers arranged, and a large guest list invited. Ike realises that Maggie is something of a laughing-stock in the town, and that she’s also quite insecure.

There’s a lot of humour in this film, which is cleverly scripted, and has some nicely choreographed incidents too. There’s also a more poignant side, as we begin to see the people Maggie has hurt; we also see something of why she is so afraid of commitment. We hadn’t remembered any of the detail, so could not recall whether or not she eventually goes through with a wedding, and (if so) to whom.

It’s very well-made; there’s great chemistry between Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, and some good (albeit caricatured) support from Maggie’s friends and family. It’s rated PG, which is rare and refreshing in this kind of film, made in 1999. There’s no nudity, no overt intimacy, and only scene including minor violence. Even the language is very mild. While the storyline is unlikely to be of interest to a child, there’s nothing inappropriate for younger viewers.

Definitely recommended for a light evening’s viewing.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's DVD Reviews

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Dev Patel, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith)

(Amazon UK link)

We very much enjoyed ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ when we watched it a couple of years ago; I wasn’t sure I would like the sequel, but our son put it on his wishlist and was given it for a recent birthday. We decided to watch it together on Saturday evening.

‘The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ features many of the same characters as the first film, now living quite happily in the hotel for retired/senior citizens. At the start, Sonny (Dev Patel) and Muriel (Maggie Dench) have flown to the United States to apply for sponsorship by a large company as they hope to expand the hotel business. They are told that a hotel inspector might visit..

Most of the film then follows the residents, and two new visitors, as they go about their varying daily lives and businesses. Evelyn (Judi Dench) is startled to be offered a job, despite being almost 80; not only that, but she’s been courted, in a low-key kind of way, by Douglas (Bill Nighy) who is now separated from his wife (Penelope Witten). Judi Dench is excellent in her role, and while Bill Nighy’s character is similar to those he plays in other films, their growing friendship works well.

The plot, such as it is, weaves around the different characters, giving insights into their lives and (in a low key way) that of Indian culture. There are some amusing and also poignant sections, although I found the scenes with Madge (Celia Imrie) and Carol (Diana Hardcastle) to be a little confusing and mostly tedious; neither seemed realistic, even in a caricatured way.

However they were more than compensated for by Evelyn’s story, and also that of Sonny. Dev Patel is excellent as the overly-enthusiastic hotel founder and owner, engaged to be married to Sunaina (Tina Desai) but worried that she’s spending too much time with her brother’s best friend. He is also absolutely convinced he knows who the hotel inspector is…

It’s nicely made, with the bonus of some enjoyable dance scenes, culminating in a celebration which has its own poignancy alongside the tremendous joy and enthusiasm of most of those involved. I’m not sure I liked it quite as much as the first, and am glad to know that there won’t be a third; this one tied off several threads quite neatly, and any more would be too much.

Rated PG which I’d say is about right, although it’s unlikely to be of any interest to children or young teenagers. There’s no violence or anything explicit, but there’s a sprinkling of bad language and plenty of suggestive references.

Recommended, but not as a standalone; the first film gives so much background into the people and situations that this one, I think, would be highly confusing to see without having seen the original.

Review copyright 2015 Sue's DVD Reviews

Pretty Woman (Julia Roberts, Richard Gere)

(Amazon UK link)

Years ago someone suggested I might like the film 'Pretty Woman'. I didn't really know anything about it, but like Julia Roberts as an actress, and so it went on our wishlist. And sat on our unwatched-DVD-shelf for probably a couple of years before we decided to see it earlier this week.

What an incredible film it is! It's basically the story of a somewhat ruthless American millionaire businessman who stops to ask for directions in a backstreet, and ends up paying for the services of a prostitute for a week. Which sounds extremely sordid.. but isn't. In fact it's rather less sordid than the 1960s film 'Never on Sunday', which is only rated PG in the UK, and not at all in the US.

By contrast, 'Pretty Woman', which likewise implies 'adult' content, is rated 15 in the UK and an even stricter R (18) in the US. Yet there are no explicit scenes, no full-frontal nudity, almost no violence (certainly nothing gory), and surprisingly little bad language. Had we been the censors, we would have opted for '12' (or PG-13) on both.

As for the film itself - Richard Gere stars as the wealthy Edward, but was in my view one of the weaker characters. He's not bad - but his character didn't seem much different from that of the journalist in Runaway Bride.  He's quite likeable, but I never found him entirely believable either as a cutthroat businessman, or as someone likely to hire a prostitute - though he does express reservations for a while.

However,  Julia Roberts as Vivian is absolutely incredible. She totally makes this film, and apparently it's a significant role in terms of turning her into a star. I'm not surprised. When we first meet her on the streets, it was difficult even to recognise her.  Then the changes in her as she enjoys a life of luxury for a week are gradual but realistic.. and while the ending is perhaps a little surreal, it's eminently satisfying.

We thought that Hector Elizondo as the discreet hotel manager Barney was also excellent. His expressions were exactly right, his attitude to Vivien refreshing, and he was responsible for several lightly humorous moments in this film which we greatly appreciated.

I have to admit that it took me until the following morning to realise that the story is, essentially, that of Pygmalion - or the better-known 'My Fair Lady', set in 1990s Los Angeles... I assume that the title 'Pretty Lady', which out of context is rather feeble, was deliberately intended as a connection to the musical.

Overall, the pace is great, the story powerful and the directing works very well. I found this film totally engrossing once I got into it, and am only sorry we didn't see it sooner!

Review copyright Sue's DVD Reviews

Runaway Bride (Julia Roberts, Richard Gere)

(Amazon UK link)

'Runaway Bride' was another Amazon recommendation, when browsing DVDs for my wishlist. Probably due to both the genre of those I had previous rated, and the actors.

I'm pleased it was recommended to me. This is not a heavy film, nor is there any thought-provoking message or deep issue. Instead, it's a light-hearted romantic comedy', probably intended mostly for woman but enjoyable for a cosy evening in for a couple too.

The story features Ike (Richard Gere), a reporter who hears about a young woman who has apparently run away, at the last minute, from several weddings. He is rather intrigued by what he reads, so researches for a while and writes an article based on what he’s heard. However, his paper receives an angry rebuttal from Maggie (Julia Roberts), the young woman in question. So Ike decides to investigate further…

The style is typical ‘rom-com’, with a fairly predictable ending, but we thought it was nicely done. Julia Roberts as Maggie is excellent, as is Richard Gere as Ike. Perhaps Maggie’s fear of commitment is somewhat overdone, and her previous boyfriends - who feature both in the present and the past - are rather caricatured. But still, there were some amusing moments, plenty of action, and a fast-paced plot.

Overall, we agreed that this was an enjoyable film which didn’t require much brainpower. Rated PG in both the UK and USA.

Review copyright Sue's DVD Reviews