Perfect (1985)
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19% of critics liked it
(16 reviews) -
27% of users liked it
(5,672 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… 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
- Directed By
- James Bridges
- Written By
- Aaron Latham
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
R,
- In Theaters
- Jun 7, 1985 Wide
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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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.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Pic is guilty of the sins it condemns - superficiality, manipulation and smugness.
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Trevor Johnston, Time Out
Muddled saga of journalistic ethics.
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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.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The movie is devoid of laughs, thanks to James Bridges' characteristically humorless direction.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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John Travolta
as Adam Lawrence
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Jamie Lee Curtis
as Jessie
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Anne De Salvo
as Frankie
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Marilu Henner
as Sally
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Laraine Newman
as Linda
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Mathew Reed
as Roger
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Jann Wenner
as Mark Roth
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Charlene Jones
as Shotsy
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Andrea Adams
as Sports Connection Member
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Kurek Ashley
as Sports Connection Member
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Candy Ann Brown
as Sports Connection Member
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Laurie Burton
as Mrs. McKenzie
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Frank Cavestani
as TV Reporter
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Murphy Dunne
as Peckerman
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Chelsea Field
as Randy
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Stefan Gierasch
as Charlie
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Gregory Hormel
as Party Guest
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Paul Kent
as Judge
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Michael Laskin
as Government Prosecutor
- Lorrie Marlow
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John Napierala
as City News Editor
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Laura Misch Owens
as Receptionist
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David Paymer
as Managing Editor
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Tom Schiller
as Carly Simon's Friend
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Robert Stark
as Government Prosecutor
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Ken Sylk
as Tod
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Ann Travolta
as Mary
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Sam Travolta
as Hotel Desk Clerk
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Kenneth Welsh
as Joe McKenzie
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Perla Walter
as Grieving Woman
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Douglas Campbell
as Party Pro
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Dan Lewk
as Steve
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Robert Parr
as Robert
- Carly Simon
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John Wesley
as Eddie
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Julie Fulton
as Martha
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Murphy Cross
as Dita
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Paul Barresi
as Sports Connection Member
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Stacy Bayne
as Billy
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Tracy Bayne
as Bobby
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Alma Beltran
as Grieving Woman
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Leslie Borkin
as Sports Connection Member
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Kevin Boyle
as Himself
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Susan Burritt
as Art Department Girl
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Brent Carlton
as Sports Connection Member
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Kim Connell
as Sally's Friend
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Marlene Cramer
as Court Reporter
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Daniel Dayan
as Maitre d'
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Anson Downes
as Sub-Editor
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Ramey Ellis
as City News Receptionist
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Eileen Finney
as Sports Connection Member
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Bob Henry
as Jury Foreman
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Beth Herzhaft
as Researcher
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Rosalind Ingledew
as Sterling
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Kim Isaacson
as Linda's Friend
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John Michael Kelly
as Guy at Desk
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Christian Letelier
as Sports Connection Member
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Jean Lubin
as Stewardess
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Brian Maguire
as TV Reporter
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Mario Marin
as Waiter
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Kai Maxwell
as Kai Maxwell
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Roger Menache
as Matt
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Gina Morelli
as Grieving Woman
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Lee Nicholl
as Jeff
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Nanette Pattee-Francini
as Nanette
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Donna Perkins
as Sports Connection Member
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Elaine Perkins
as TV Reporter
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Dan Peterson
as Roger's Friend
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Annick Romain
as French Operator
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Robin Samuel
as Robin
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Bruce Savin
as Front Desk
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Jill Schachne
as Sports Connection Member
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Wendy Shawn
as Party-Goer
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Steven Solberg
as Assistant Art Director
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Renee Tetro
as Staff Member
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Jim Vanko
as FBI Agent
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Clarke Wilson
as Chippendale's M.C.
- Howard Feuer
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Joan Edwards
as Melody's Friend
