Pretty Woman

Ok here's a confession - last week was the first time that I caught the whole of Pretty Woman at one go. Can't seem to figure out why I never got around to watching the movie. It was released in 1990 when I was still in school - that's the only reason that fits the bill.

Every generation has its favorite love stories and Pretty Woman was up there on the list for the 90s. A modern day fairy tale of the handsome kinight rescuing the beautiful Princess from her miserable life.

Watching the movie at the age of 31 and shedding silent tearswhen Roberts' character Vivian Ward tells Gere's Edward Lewis "You hurt me; don't do it again" -it just hit me why the movie affects a gay guy so much.

Of course there's the dashing, suave and much younger Gere. But, its for Roberts' Vivian that you root for.
She literally drives into the life of rich, hansdsome Edward. Even as she falls head over heels for him, Edwards is not looking for love and makes it clear to Vivian that she is on hire. They play lovers for a week and by the end of it... you know what happens.

Many a gay guy - who've had their share of one-week relationships - can identify with the character of Vivian. A hooker and a misfit on Rodeo Drive, Vivian gets to live this incredible life of a society girl in love - even if its just for a week. Vivian scorned by sales women in a botique, and coming back the next day to show them thier place are classic camp revenge fantasies.
And, who hasn't met guys who are ready for anything but insist they won't kiss on the lips!