Perfect (1985)

19% of critics liked it
(16 reviews)
27% of users liked it
(5,602 ratings)

Based on a series of Rolling Stone articles by Aaron Latham, this romance was set in the world of L.A.'s hip fitness scene. Rolling Stone reporter Adam Lawrence (John Travolta) comes to L.A. to write a story about a prominent businessman who's been arrested for drug dealing (shades of the John… More Based on a series of Rolling Stone articles by Aaron Latham, this romance was set in the world of L.A.'s hip fitness scene. Rolling Stone reporter Adam Lawrence (John Travolta) comes to L.A. to write a story about a prominent businessman who's been arrested for drug dealing (shades of the John DeLorean scandal). He's also decided to research a piece on the exercise fad and how health clubs have become the "singles bars of the '80s." His boss (real-life Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner as himself) OK's the project. At a club called The Sports Connection, an incognito Adam meets the regulars, including promiscuous Linda (Laraine Newman), airhead Sally (Marilu Henner) and aerobics instructor Jessie (Jamie Lee Curtis), a former Olympic swimmer. Adam and Jessie begin a romance, but it ends when she discovers that he's there to trash her and the club in print. Conflicted, Adam wrestles with publishing the story, but the final decision isn't his. A director of sincere, sober dramas, James Bridges was an odd choice to helm the romantic Perfect (1985), widely considered one of the decade's notorious cinematic misfires. Bridges had enjoyed much greater success with his previous collaboration with Travolta, Urban Cowboy (1980). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr.
Directed By: James Bridges
Written By: Aaron Latham
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Jun 7, 1985 Wide
On DVD: Jun 25, 2002
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
John Travolta continues his wearisome trek through America's fleeting enthusiasms, though this time he arrives a day late (wasn't aerobics over a couple of years before this?) and a few dollars short.
Variety Staff, Variety
Pic is guilty of the sins it condemns - superficiality, manipulation and smugness.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Perfect is too superficially knowing to be a camp classic, but it's an unintentionally hilarious mixture of muddled moralizing and all-too-contemporary self-promotion.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The movie is devoid of laughs, thanks to James Bridges' characteristically humorless direction.
Trevor Johnston, Time Out
Muddled saga of journalistic ethics.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Good chemistry - that's about it
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
A vanity project that went nowhere.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
One-joke Travolta comedy.
Anthony Del Valle, Las Vegas Mercury
If you're curious about why the gifted Tavolta's film career stalled in the mid-80s, 'Perfect' is the perfect explanation.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Reveals the health club fad to be a hall of mirrors filled with self-absorbed individuals.
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
Cheesy but enjoyable.
Oz, eFilmCritic.com
They don't make them like this anymore... there's a reason.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Dean M

Quite average comedy-drama, but Jamie Lee Curtis looked bloody hot.

Cast

            John Travolta as Adam Lawrence

            Jamie Lee Curtis as Jessie

            Anne De Salvo as Frankie

            Marilu Henner as Sally

            Laraine Newman as Linda

            Mathew Reed as Roger

            Jann Wenner as Mark Roth

            Charlene Jones as Shotsy

            Andrea Adams as Sports Connection Member

            Kurek Ashley as Sports Connection Member

            Candy Ann Brown as Sports Connection Member

            Laurie Burton as Mrs. McKenzie

            Frank Cavestani as TV Reporter

            Murphy Dunne as Peckerman

            Chelsea Field as Randy

            Stefan Gierasch as Charlie

            Gregory Hormel as Party Guest

            Paul Kent as Judge

            Michael Laskin as Government Prosecutor

            Lorrie Marlow
            
            John Napierala as City News Editor

            Laura Misch Owens as Receptionist

            David Paymer as Managing Editor

            Tom Schiller as Carly Simon's Friend

            Robert Stark as Government Prosecutor

            Ken Sylk as Tod

            Ann Travolta as Mary

            Sam Travolta as Hotel Desk Clerk

            Kenneth Welsh as Joe McKenzie

            Perla Walter as Grieving Woman

            Douglas Campbell as Party Pro

            Dan Lewk as Steve

            Robert Parr as Robert

            Carly Simon
            
            John Wesley as Eddie

            Julie Fulton as Martha

            Murphy Cross as Dita

            Paul Barresi as Sports Connection Member

            Stacy Bayne as Billy

            Tracy Bayne as Bobby

            Alma Beltran as Grieving Woman

            Leslie Borkin as Sports Connection Member

            Kevin Boyle as Himself

            Susan Burritt as Art Department Girl

            Brent Carlton as Sports Connection Member

            Kim Connell as Sally's Friend

            Marlene Cramer as Court Reporter

            Daniel Dayan as Maitre d'

            Anson Downes as Sub-Editor

            Ramey Ellis as City News Receptionist

            Eileen Finney as Sports Connection Member

            Bob Henry as Jury Foreman

            Beth Herzhaft as Researcher

            Rosalind Ingledew as Sterling

            Kim Isaacson as Linda's Friend

            John Michael Kelly as Guy at Desk

            Christian Letelier as Sports Connection Member

            Jean Lubin as Stewardess

            Brian Maguire as TV Reporter

            Mario Marin as Waiter

            Kai Maxwell as Kai Maxwell

            Roger Menache as Matt

            Gina Morelli as Grieving Woman

            Lee Nicholl as Jeff

            Nanette Pattee-Francini as Nanette

            Donna Perkins as Sports Connection Member

            Elaine Perkins as TV Reporter

            Dan Peterson as Roger's Friend

            Annick Romain as French Operator

            Robin Samuel as Robin

            Bruce Savin as Front Desk

            Jill Schachne as Sports Connection Member

            Wendy Shawn as Party-Goer

            Steven Solberg as Assistant Art Director

            Renee Tetro as Staff Member

            Jim Vanko as FBI Agent

            Clarke Wilson as Chippendale's M.C.

            Howard Feuer
            
            Joan Edwards as Melody's Friend
See full cast