Articles that list classic films that have supposedly not “aged well” name Pretty Woman (1990) almost more than any other movie. It’s no surprise – given the premise of a young prostitute (played by Julia Roberts) hired by a wealthy businessman (played by Richard Gere) to accompany him in upper-crust social circles.
The romantic comedy has also been subject to criticism over the age gap between its two lead actors, something that adds greater weight to the criticism that the relationship at its heart is somewhat predatory.
How old were Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman?
Pretty Woman was shot in the summer of 1989 and released on March 23rd, 1990. This would make Julia Roberts (born October 28th, 1967) and Richard Gere (born August 31st, 1949) approximately 21 and 40 years old at the time of filming, respectively.
In 2023, this would be roughly the equivalent of a romcom starring Jenna Ortega and Chris Hemsworth, which may not go down so well with moviegoers. There are a number of reasons why the age gap between the two stars was so large, with the biggest factor likely the contrasts between male and female movie stars and their perceived peak attractiveness.
Now, popular romcoms tend to have a similar age between the male and female stars. Take for example, Netflix’s global hit To All The Boys I Loved Before (2018), which starred Lana Condor and Noah Centineo, who were 21 and and 22 at the time of release, respectively. 2000’s romcom 13 Going on 30 (2004) starred 32-year-old Jennifer Garner and 36-year-old Mark Ruffalo.
Pretty Woman’s age gap is pretty emblematic of the time, and the first 70 years of Hollywood film as a whole. Take for example — Indecent Proposal (1993), released within a similar window of time, stars a 56-year-old Robert Redford and 30-year-old Demi Moore. Going back to Hollywood’s golden age, Singin’ in the Rain (1952) is led by a 19-year-old Debbie Reynolds and 40-year-old Gene Kelly, which is almost identical to Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.
Over the years, men in the spotlight who typically date decades younger have become subject to much greater public criticism (hello, Leonardo DiCaprio) than in the past. The age gap in Pretty Woman will not go down so well with some younger viewers, even if the chemistry between Roberts and Gere is hard to deny. However, as is the case with romantic comedies, the fantasy element, often derived from the tastes of moviegoers at release, are the dominant force in shaping the storytelling and the world the characters operate within.
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