article_snippet: Some critics complain the Garry Marshall film, whose female lead is an unrefined prostitute rescued from the streets by Richard Gere's elegant millionaire, degrades women and glorifies materialism.
article_snippet: Here are some of the leading pro-and-con arguments about the movie.
article_snippet: the movie whitewashes the realities of prostitution .
article_snippet: the movie glosses over the less-than-glamorous motivations that can lead women into sex work, says Katie Hail-Jares, a board member of the Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP USA).
article_snippet: Admire Julia and Richard's beauty, and sing along to Orbison or Roxette, but never forget that it is one of the most misogynist, patriarchal, classist, consumerist, and lookist movies ever to come out of Hollywood.
article_snippet: As slick entertainment, the movie works .
article_snippet: Sure, the movie story is ridiculous on many levels.
article_snippet: For all the movie modern trappings (and R rating) the movie's also deeply old-fashioned
article_snippet: : Take out the sex and prostitution and the movie could be a Disney movie.
highlights_snippet: Pros: Roberts (as Vivian) is empowered and shows humanity; there a real "zingers" in the dialogue .
  
highlights_snippet: Cons: The movie glosses over harsh realities of prostitution and celebrates consumerism .