What It's About:
Edward (Richard Gere), a billionaire sociopath devoid of normal human emotion, gets lost in Hollywood and pays Vivian (Julia Roberts), a streetwalking prostitute, to give him directions back to his hotel. He pays her for the whole night, leading to one of her best lines: "I appreciate this whole seduction thing you've got going on here, but let me give you a little tip...I'm a sure thing." He decides to offer her $3,000 to spend the week with him as his "companion," eye candy for a series of business meetings. After a week of great sex with someone who's genuinely not impressed with his wealth and power, Edward's cold heart thaws out. He decides not to screw over the elderly CEO he was previously planning to ruin (Ralph Bellamy), fires his scumbag lawyer (Jason Alexander at his slimiest), and professes his love for Vivian.
Why It's Worth Watching:
Seriously, do I need to explain this? Are there any lifeforms on the planet who haven't already seen this movie? It's #21 on AFI's Top 100 Romances, directed by the late, great Garry Marshall, and features Richard Gere looking like a silver fox with Julia Roberts looking like...well, a young Julia Roberts. All sarcasm aside, this is Cinderella for grown-ups, a love story with a cynical edge that nonetheless ends up with a happy reunion (one the original screenplay eschewed for a more bitter and realistic resolution). Sharp supporting roles by Laura San Giacomo as Vivian's street-smart hooker mentor and Hector Elizondo as the hotel manager add to the overall wit and charm.
What's in it for Her:
Of course, no woman dreams of growing up and becoming a prostitute, but the dream of a rich, handsome, charming man sweeping her off her feet is the stuff of fairy tales and soap operas. But it's more than that; Vivian finds herself along the way, and she gains an inner strength that she didn't have before, one that enables her to walk away from her callgirl life and insist that Edward give her the whole fairy tale, happily ever after and all, or nothing at all. That, and it is oh, so delicious to watch her tell off those snooty bitches in that Beverly Hills boutique that wouldn't wait on her.
What's in it for Him:
There's a country song called "Trashy Women" that hits at the root of the appeal for men; part of the appeal of strippers and hookers, other than the obvious, is the idea that she may be faking it for everyone else, but if she really knew me, I'd be the guy. It's not true, of course, but the "hooker with the heart of gold" trope is found throughout countless movies for a reason. There's a bit of a white knight in many men, and this is the ultimate indulgence of that little fantasy.
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