“Pretty woman—walking down the street” is today’s theme as we celebrate 36 years since the initial release of the classic romantic comedy Pretty Woman. Starring Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward, the movie follows the lives of characters Vivian and Edward who initially met through a hotel drive. The pair make love before developing a connection leading to Edward asking Vivian to stay at his suite.
The two face the ups and downs of their newfound relationship as Vivian must adapt to a new environment and far more advanced lifestyle while Edward must embrace a new relationship into his life as he manages his future business goals and endeavors. During some moments within the film, Vivian feels that Edward treats her more like the person that she used to be—-a prostitute.
Edward’s “friend”, Phillip, becomes outraged with Edward as he costs them financially through his change in business plans. Philip blames Vivian for Edward’s change and abuses her before Edward comes to her rescue. Edward asks Vivian to stay another night, but she politely declines his request.
Vivian plans to move to finish school and get a better job. Before she leaves, Edward visits her and acts out Vivian’s fantasy of a knight rescuing her. The two share a kiss at the end of the movie.
Yes, I will admit—I’m a sucker for a good romcom. There’s just something so encapsulating about a light-hearted connection blossoming into a romantic relationship. It’s the one genre where you can root for the central characters to fall in love while laughing at a few incredibly clumsy or awkward interactions. And seeing a guy stand up for a woman he loves, especially against a total douchebag—ahhh, it just does something for me.
Truth be told, Vivian Ward is an icon. She’s the ideal woman that many women aspire to be—and before the rebuttal begins where everyone mentions her history of prostitution and street walking, let’s keep in mind that it is this background that makes her character quite exceptional. She learned to value herself and not to allow people to define her because of what she has and how she presents herself. Her transformation from a struggling woman to a beautiful woman with a bright future is commendable, and her resilience and ability to adapt to survive such a grueling society make her an iconic and memorable character.
The movie emphasizes how love can change people for the better as Vivian evolved into a more confident and self-assured woman and Edward learned to love and accept romance into a life full of obligation. The two characters were admirable, and their story makes the popular film a classic, even today.
