Perfect *** (1985, John Travolta, Jamie Lee Curtis) – Classic Movie Review 11,775

Director James Bridges’s 1985 American romantic drama film Perfect stars John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis, along with Anne De Salvo, Marilu Henner, Laraine Newman, Matthew Reed, and Jann Wenner.

Magazine reporter Adam Lawrence (Travolta) is sent to take the lid off Los Angeles health clubs but has a clash of loyalties when he falls for sexy aerobics instructor Jessie (Curtis). The two perfectly delightful stars throw themselves body and soul into the material, an attractive romantic comedy with adult themes and intelligent thoughts about journalistic ethics, plus a bit of sexy aerobics.

Travolta and Curtis show plenty of charm and sex appeal in this thoroughly likeable old-style movie with new 80s trappings. It was a much derided film with many negative reviews and poor word of mouth that damaged the careers of its two stars, but why, when it is much less vacuous and far more entertaining than most Hollywood outings?

It is written by director Bridges and Rolling Stone reporter Aaron Latham, who writes in a part for his old boss, real-life Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner, as Mark Roth. It is based on Latham’s Rolling Stone short story. Carly Simon and Lauren Hutton appear as themselves.

It is produced by Delphi III and Pluperfect and was released on 7 June 1985 by Columbia Pictures. It grossed only $12.9 million in the US against a budget of $20 million.

Perfect listed in the The Official Razzie Movie Guide as one of The 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made.

The cast are John Travolta as Adam Lawrence, Jamie Lee Curtis as Jessie Wilson, Jann Wenner as Mark Roth, Marilu Henner as Sally Marcus, Laraine Newman as Linda Slater, Anne De Salvo as Frankie, Mathew Reed as Roger, John Napierala as City News Editor, Stefan Gierasch as Charlie, Ramey Ellis as City News Receptionist, Alma Beltran as Grieving Woman, Perla Walter as Grieving Woman, Gina Morelli as Grieving Woman, Philippe Delgrange as Maitre d’ in New York, Tom Schiller as Carly Simon’s Friend, Paul Kent as Judge, Murphy Dunne as Peckerman, Kenneth Welsh as Joe McKenzie, Michael Laskin as Government Prosecutor, Robert Stark as Government Prosecutor, Laurie Burton as Mrs. McKenzie, Ann Travolta as Mary, Nanette Pattee-Francini as Nanette, Steven J. Zmed as hypochondriacal hustler, Robin Samuel as Robin, Robert Parr as Robert, Rosalind Ingledew as Sterling, Chelsea Field as Randy, Paul Barresi as naturally muscled gym patron, Kenny Griswold as Kenny, Ronnie Claire Edwards as Melody Wilson, Julie Fulton as Marta Young, Carly Simon as Herself, and Lauren Hutton as Herself.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,775

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