As militant readers of this blog (a.k.a. Me) will know, I recently wrote a short analysis to a stereotypically female film, Dirty Dancing. I really enjoyed the movie and subsequently wrote on why I think it is so good and perhaps why so many women find it so appealing. In this spirit of open mindedness I sat down and watched Pretty Woman earlier today. Here is my response.
Pretty Woman is meant to be a classic romantic story with two people overcoming whatever it is that keeps them apart to love each other and live happily ever after. Now look, I am all for romance for romance's sake, I think its extremely important to have love in your life. That said, Pretty Woman has so bastardized this theme as to make it almost comical. The film follows Julia Roberts as she tries to scrape out a living in Los Angeles as a street prostitute. Roberts is breathtakingly beautiful in the this movie, which is an interesting facet to a character who lives such an ugly life. Yet, already the film begins to glamorize something it should perhaps not. I know it may be obvious but I still think it bears mentioning that there is absolutely nothing glamorous about being a prostitute. It is dangerous, unhealthy and all jokes aside, a fairly poor life decision. In any case, Roberts meets a rich business man , Richard Gere who hires her for her services while he is town. What follows is a more a less a fish out of water tale, as Roberts "civilizes" with the help of Gere's money. The two begin to fall in love, but of course how could they be together!? One is a lady of the night and the other a high powered attorney! The film ends with Gere pulling up to her apartment, prince charming like, recusing her from the horrors of prostiution and poverty. Everyone of course lives happily every after.
Its not that I don't enjoy the movie, I do and I think its very sweet. My problem with the film is that its just so unrealistic, it seems to send the message that no matter what love with solve everything. Yes love is great, yes its amazing and makes you feel wonderful, but it is never a cure all. Love will not save you from prostitution and it will not fix everything that has ever been wrong with your life. I don't feel that's a good message to send to people, but I can see how that can be such a powerful prospect. I know too many women (and more than few men) who have this kind of unrealistic (and perhaps unhealthy) notion of romantic love.
I don't want to sound sexist or belittle the female gender, but I really think its this kind of popular media is helpful for views toward relationships. There just doesn't seem to be any work involved in Pretty Woman, everything works out without any major hitches. Yet, is that really how love works? Love, like most things in life, requires work to be sucessful and sustainable. I remember vividly, conversations with women I've dated about this matter. They stated that love and relationships should just work if their meant to and I argue that it requires time and energy. A good relationship isn't worth anything (or healthy) if both people don't work hard to maintain in. And that is why while I think Pretty Woman is an entertaining film I also think it isn't good for society.
