Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases


The Perfect Man (2005)

Director: Mark Rosman

Average user rating
No reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Fed up with moving home every time her mother Jean (Heather Locklear) splits up with another boyfriend, teenager Holly (Hilary Duff) takes matters into her own hands by posing via email as a handsome admirer. She hopes that a captivated Jean will stay away from unsuitable men – but no-hopers still come a-knocking and Holly has to step up her game. She draws inspiration from her friend’s uncle Ben (Chris Noth) by grilling him on romance, and composes saccharine emails designed to make poor, insecure Jean feel loved – never mind that a bright, pleasant woman who looks like Heather Locklear could have bagged a millionaire with a heart of gold by now. One supposes that the prospect of Jean and Ben’s eventual meeting is designed to create tension, but Holly’s attempts to prevent this from happening (as it would expose her deception) merely irritate. Unfunny set-pieces are punctuated by quasi-romantic interludes as Ben spouts clichés and Holly ignores the perfect man right under her nose. None of the leads convince or engage, and supporting characters are either gay stereotypes, routine little sisters or functional best friends. Rather than a romantic comedy, this prim PG is a saccharine family drama which overpowers any prospect of genuine sweetness with its dull, deceitful characters. And let’s face it, there was never anything particularly appealing about a girl trying to seduce her own mother in the first place.

Author: AS

Time Out London Issue 1826: August 15-24 2005


What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields




Most popular on this site


Top Stories

Has David Cronenberg turned tame?

Has David Cronenberg turned tame?

Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?

The 10 worst date movies

The 10 worst date movies

Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made

Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films

Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films

Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas

10 unlikely badboy biopics

10 unlikely badboy biopics

Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects

Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'

Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'

The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing

Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day

Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day

Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing