The plot sounds cheesy—boy meets hooker with heart of gold, boy hires hooker as escort, boy loses hooker and of course, boy tries to get hooker back.

Though the concept has been done before, “Pretty Woman” is still an effective movie. Judging from the packed audience’s reactions, it was also a very funny one.

Julia Roberts (“Mystic Pizza,” “Steel Magnolias”) plays Vivian, a Hollywood Boulevard call girl with a wacky sense of fashion and humor. Richard Gere is Edward Lewis, a workaholic New York corporate raider who’s in L.A. to close a business deal and happens to cruise the Boulevard after a dull night in his friend’s Lotus Espirit.

As luck would have it, he happens to ask Vivian, standing on the corner in full wig and leather thigh-high boots, directions on how to get back to his hotel. She hops in and tells him personally—the start of a beautiful, if not different, relationship.

Lewis hires Vivian as his escort around town, since he needs to impress his business associates. After getting pointers on manners from Lewis’ posh hotel manager (subtlely and nicely played by Hector Elizondo), Vivian begins her Cinderella-like ascent.

Lewis makes every girl’s dream come true for his call girl “employee”—he gives her free rein of his credit cards, informing the Rodeo Drive boutique managers to “suck up” to Vivian and himself if they want a big purchase. Vivian emerges a new person, swanky and smooth in classy clothes, a tamer hairstyle and less makeup.

Throughout the course of the week, Vivian and Edward look like they’re falling in love, but constantly remind themselves they are just “business partners.” By the end of the film, both need to make a choice—the typical “should I follow my heart?” decision.

Roberts puts in a charismatic and believable performance as the prostitute with potential, evoking audience “oohs” and whistles every time she appears on screen in her different outfits.

Gere, the American Gigolo himself, is surprisingly subdued, letting his expressions and soft-spoken power take over. It helps that Roberts and Gere look good together as a couple—they have definite chemistry.

Supporting performances, by Elizondo, Laura San Giacomo (as Vivian’s fellow prostitute and roommate) and the aging but professional Ralph Bellamy, are also top notch. Jason Alexander, as Lewis’ sleazy lawyer, is believably smarmy.

For a good escape and a romantic, whimsical evening, go see “Pretty Woman.” Roy Orbison would be proud his song has taken on a new meaning.