Most critics receive Pretty Woman warmly as a glossy romantic fable, with Julia Roberts providing the clearest point of agreement. The praise centres on her humour and natural presence, alongside the chemistry with Richard Gere that makes the unlikely romance persuasive. Several reviews also credit the supporting cast and comic encounters with giving the fairy-tale plot enough character and warmth to work as escapism.
The reservations concern the familiar formula, materialism and treatment of women, though most critics see these as flaws they can forgive. The New York Times acknowledges underlying misogyny but finds Roberts makes the film difficult to resist. The Los Angeles Times is the sharp dissenter, finding Garry Marshall’s direction broad and the leads emotionally unresponsive. The spread is therefore wide, but the disagreement is concentrated: most reviews accept the fantasy, while the strongest objection challenges the performances that others find so winning.