I agree films don't have to be believable. However, my hatred of this rubbish film is based simply on the fact that it stinks. And Roberts is one of the most overrated, overused Hollywood actresses. As a modern US remake of Pygmalion is makes some kind of sense but as a film in its own right I find it rotten. This thing Hollywood has of romanticising the streetwalking prostitute is so pathetic. It's in my "top" ten most hated films. By the way, I don't like this categorisation of "chick flick" - it's almost as though any cut-rate hack romance can be justified as "aaah, well, it works great as a chick flick".
Notting Hill is cringey. Sleeping With The Enemy is a drawn-out one-trick pony of a film. The Pelican Brief, ha ha ha.... there's a terrible scene in that film where her character is supposed to explain what's going on and why, and she mumbles it so badly it's almost inaudible. All you can hear is p's and t's and d's. If I've seen a decent Roberts film, I can't think offhand what it is. Stunningly beautiful? Often interests me how men & women have such different ideas about female beauty. With Roberts, I don't see it at all. And she's got incredibly flat feet! (Assuming those are her feet in the cubicle in that episode of Friends, and not a "foot double").
By the way patc7641 - DON'T watch Runaway Bride, it's marginally more palatable but contrary to jump79's advice, I'd say there's little chance you'll like it if you hated Pretty Woman!