Based on the notion "better late than never" this is a late review.Notes For Posterity: * what were they thinking? Marshall usually knows better but Hollywood, the land of "high concept," often falls for its own nonsense * you would have to be from another planet not to know that the original pairing in PRETTY WOMAN was one of the most successful films of all time. I think even now it is mandatory for young girls to see the film before they reach their teens. (Hey, don't smirk, if they can force you to take vaccinations, they can force you to watch a film) * even the best Hollywood Power Agent can't fight Father Time. Gere was 50 when this was filmed, Roberts some 20 years younger. Trivia question for readers of the future: was he playing YOUNGER or was she playing OLDER? Actually -- surprise! -- not a bad movie if you "get" it is about the stars working with outrageous material and yet somehow pulling it off -- sorta -- by sheer force of will. Plus, I am a big fan of Joan ("Are you breaking up with me?") Cusack. SKIP THE LAST 15 MINUTES. SERIOUSLY. HAVE I EVER LED YOU ASTRAY?Back in Hollywood's glory days they used to test the ending with a live audience before release. Had Marshall done this -- instead of spending all his time looking in the mirror and telling himself how clever he was -- he would have noticed the movie had a really solid ending about 15 minutes before the ending he used. The actual ending is horribly annoying.

Just watched this film today on my HBO channel, and I just had to write review about it since it was driving me crazy!One of the things I truly have to complain about this is the character Maggie that Roberts play as. The movie makes it seem we have to feel /bad/ for her because she doesn't know what she wants. Wrong. To me I felt frustrated, angry, of how selfish and how dumb this woman was for leaving these poor groomsmen at the alter. Not once did I see this woman feel bad about them because the next scene we see her doing her daily thing like nothing happened. If someone doesn't know what they want, then don't. get. married. right. away. And then she gets angry if someone points it out, like the editor who wrote something true about her and she throws a grumpy fit. How mature, lady. I also don't like how her and the editor suddenly /fall in love/. It just seemed too rushed. Arggh, this movie raged me too much. I need some tea now.

Ike (Richard Gere) writes a column for a major New York City newspaper. But, he's a "last-minute" man, that is, he works better under pressure to complete each piece, barely making the paper's deadlines. One day, the inspiration pipeline is running dry and he grabs at a last minute tip to conjure up a column about a very cold-footed bride, Maggie (Julia Roberts) who has run away from the altar three times. Getting the facts seriously wrong means bye-bye Ike, as his boss and ex-wife (Rita Wilson) lets him go to avoid a lawsuit. Naturally, Ike is dismayed but, then, he is courted by another paper to do an in-depth study of Maggie, for she is about to walk down the aisle again in a matter of days. Traveling to the small city of Hale, Maryland, Ike sets up residence in the town's lovely inn and starts snooping. However, very shortly, the whole village, including Maggie, knows he's there and friends and neighbors try mightily to impede his investigation. They do this because they all have hope that Maggie's fourth nuptials will result in a marriage to the town's high school football coach, Bob (Chistopher Meloni). But, even with best friend Peggy (Joan Cusack) hovering around Maggie, could our Mags somehow be attracted to the handsome Ike, even when he's out to expose her foibles? This is a warm, funny, and touching romcom about the uncertainties in attraction, love, and marriage. How does one know for sure that their beloved is THE one? The answer here is that one must first know oneself well. The cast is a delight, with Roberts and Gere shining brightly in roles that are not necessarily predictable. The supporting troupe is also wonderful, as Cusack, Meloni, Wilson, Hector Elizondo, and others are as entertaining as they come. As for the setting, the lovely little Maryland town in the film is most beautiful and the costumes, photography, script and direction are all worthy, too. So, do not runaway from the chance to see this darling little romcom. It has some very fine lessons, love, and laughter to offer audiences of any age.

Julia Roberts seems to be one of the most hated celebrities on this website. I can't really understand why. I find her to be talented and charming as well as engaging and usually likable, until I saw Runaway Bride. I thought I was going to like this one but it offered some of the most unlikable characters I have ever seen in a romantic comedy. Generally, the audience should want to cheer for the two people to get together but I couldn't care less. I don't think Maggie Carpenter (Julia Roberts) actually deserved to be in a marriage because she was selfish, immature and seemed incapable of love. I just couldn't fathom why anyone would actually be attracted to her. She has weddings like there no big deal and she probably wasted a lot of money between the four failed ones she had. She has her fiancé invest all of his time into the relationship, trying to show her that he does indeed love her only to be left at the altar. I guess the situation was supposed to be humorous and I shouldn't have taken it so seriously but it was tough to overlook all of the garbage the film was trying sell to me.Acting wise the film was decent, which did save it a little. Julia Roberts gives an okay performance, although it's one of her worst. However, she is working with rather weak material and she's portraying a woman that is just so hard to like. Richard Gere was also decent although nothing special. The chemistry between these two was basically non-existent which made their relationship seem completely fake and unrealistic. It was hard to buy that a cynical man would fall for a woman that has no problem trampling all over a man's heart. They did have a few funny scenes together though which made the film more enjoyable. Unfortunately, the film runs for an inexplicable 116 minutes so there are a lot of dead spots.Romantic comedies shouldn't really be loathsome movies. The characters should be likable and engaging so it's easy to get behind them and the story shouldn't be too far-fetched. Unfortunately, Runaway Bride commits the worst sin for a romantic comedy by offering unlikable characters, making it basically impossible to really get into the movie despite how talented the cast may be.