‘Pretty Woman’ Retrospective: Skewing Our Generation’s Perception of Love, Even 35 Years Later

“Pretty Woman” hit theaters in 1990, and it wasn’t just a box office success — it became a cultural touchstone, cementing its place as one of the most beloved romantic comedies ever. The film popularized various conventions that are now found in rom-coms today: An unlikely love story, a glamorous makeover scene, and a “happily-ever-after” ending. But 35 years later, revisiting the film prompts us to question whether rom-coms have overly glamorized and idealized the concept of love.

The story’s roots trace back to “Pygmalion,” a play by George Bernard Shaw in which a lower-class woman is molded into a refined lady by an upper-class man. The play was adapted into “My Fair Lady,” a stage musical, and then the 1964 movie musical starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison. “Pretty Woman” takes the same formula and modernizes it by setting it in ’90s Los Angeles. The movie follows the unlikely love story between wealthy businessman Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) and Hollywood Boulevard sex worker Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts). After encountering Vivian on his way back to the hotel, Edward hires Vivian to stay with him for a week — during which they fall in love.

One of the most famous scenes in “Pretty Woman” is Vivian’s shopping spree on Rodeo Drive, when Edward makes sure she trades in her thigh-high boots and mini skirt for a chic, sophisticated wardrobe. This moment echoes a similar moment of Cockney girl Eliza Doolittle (Hepburn) undergoing an external transformation in “My Fair Lady.” Professor Higgins (Harrison) takes on the task of transforming Eliza into a woman of society by changing the way she speaks, her mannerisms, and her clothes.

The notion that love requires self-improvement — particularly a woman having to change to fit societal standards — is a troubling trope in romantic comedies. Why has the makeover sequence become a staple in rom-coms? Why must a woman’s looks or behavior change for her to be deemed worthy of love? It’s unsettling that appearances take precedence over one’s personality, values, or even emotional relationship with the love interest in depictions of romance. Since humans inherently seek connection, it’s simple to think that movies would explore the beauty of a couple forming a bond with each other. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case nowadays. Instead, romantic comedies often reinforce shallow ideas — like prioritizing attractiveness over genuine compatibility.

While “Pretty Woman” embraced classic rom-com stereotypes, it also carries darker undertones that complicate its idealized portrayal of love. Beneath its light-hearted facade, the film explores the objectification of women. According to Jeffrey Katzenberg, former Disney studio chairman, the movie was supposed to have a very different dark ending. Instead of the “happily-ever-after” ending of Edward saving Vivian as her shining knight in armor, she was set to die of a drug overdose — similar to the woman she encounters at the beginning of the film. Even with the rewritten ending, the movie explores the darker side in moments, such as Edward’s lawyer attempting to assault Vivian after Edward changed his plans over their business deal. The darker undertones of the movie add a touch of realism, grounding the story in the world in which it is set. While this is a positive aspect, the romance between Edward and Vivian remains improbable.

Beyond the movie’s darker side, “Pretty Woman” reinforces the fantasy that love happens instantly. The entire love story unfolds within a single week. Initially, Vivian has a “no kissing on the mouth” rule — she associates it with falling in love — but by the end of her week spent with Edward, she breaks her own rule. This rapid progression of events promotes the misleading message that love can occur in such a short amount of time. Those who haven’t experienced real relationships or fallen in love may expect their love stories to play out like those in romantic comedies, and they may face extreme disappointment when they don’t. Some might even begin to question whether or not what they are experiencing is love because it doesn’t resemble the movies. In reality, lust may take days, but love takes months.

The lasting appeal of “Pretty Woman” is undeniable, but it also exemplifies the unrealistic ideals about love that rom-coms have long promoted. Many who grew up watching movies like “Pretty Woman” have internalized these narratives, only to later realize that love is much more complicated. Being with the one you love can be overcomplicated by many factors including timing, global circumstances, and family dynamics. Even when with the right person, maintaining a relationship requires compromise, effort, and patience. While the idea of a “happily-ever-after” is comforting, it tends to set up false expectations.

Media plays a significant role in shaping our perspectives on love, especially for younger audiences. It is common for kids and teenagers to attach themselves to the media they consume. So if the movies they watch consistently promote the message that love is instantaneous, effortless, and dependent on some sort of transformation, it can lead to unrealistic expectations. While “Pretty Woman” remains a beloved classic movie, its portrayal of romance inspired numerous rom-com movies that further spread this dangerous message.

Not everyone stumbles upon “the one” walking down Hollywood Boulevard in a chance encounter like in “Pretty Woman.” Love isn’t that simple. The path to it isn’t as straightforward. It doesn’t always work out the way we want it to. Looking back at this movie after 35 years and reassessing the nature of romantic comedies reveals how Hollywood’s glossy narratives promote misleading ideas about love, causing a generation to grow up disappointed in their love pursuits.

—Staff writer Anastasia Poliakova can be reached at anastasia.poliakova@thecrimson.com.