On P List of Movie Reviews
(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)
Perfect (1985)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
6/20
6/20:
Here's a film that got bad reviews but I happened to like: Perfect.
What a perfect pair: John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis. These two were the most charming thespians of the
80's, and I was wondering who would win by going against each other. Well, it's John Travolta in a runaway with
the dike-looking Jamie Lee Curtis barely getting off the blocks. Of course, they embarrass themselves by having
sex with each other mentally through their pelvic thrusts during one aerobic workout.
It's the plot that drew me in: a Rolling Stone reporter does an expose on the 80's fitness craze by
visiting a gym in Los Angeles and listening to the patrons' testimonials of why they joined. Comparing the
similarities and differences between then and now, I'll say not much has changed, but gyms as singles bars
today? I don't think so. Regardless, my favorite line is: "It's a lot more fun looking for Mr. Goodbody than
Mr. Goodbar." How true. By the way, it's a good but sad performance by Laraine Newman.
The other parallel thread is Adam Lawrence getting an exclusive story of a successful entrepreneur who's accused
of dealing drugs and then defending his source. Unfortunately, it's not compelling to follow and therefore
should be deleted for the sake of continuity. By the way, Adam's boss is Jann Wenner who's actually the editor,
publisher, and co-founder of Rolling Stone, a magazine I never read and don't care for. Today, it has
zero credibility because of the Boston Bomber cover and the UVA "rape" story.
If John Travolta can wow anyone in the "looks" department, Jamie Lee Curtis does it for aerobic fitness, putting
Jane Fonda to shame. However, her character telling Adam Lawrence how to write properly...eh, count me out. He
should've moved on, but the cheap, corny ending says otherwise.
Here's a fun fact: As you know there's a lot of tie-in with Rolling Stone, Jamie Lee Curtis had these
magazines all over her table for research. One day, she happened to see a picture of Michael McKean, Christopher
Guest, and Harry Shearer from This Is Spinal Tap in the May 1984 issue,
pointed out one of them to somebody next to her, and said, "This is who I am going to marry." She had no idea who
Christopher Guest was or of the movie's existence. Five and half months later, they got married and continue to be.
All in all, Perfect is a decent movie, regardless of what critics think.