The Perfect Man (2005)
Starring: Hilary Duff, Chris Noth, Ben Feldman, Aria Wallace, Mike O Malley, Caroline Rhea, Vanessa Lengies, Heather Locklear and Carson Kressley Release Date: August 2005 Directed by: Mark Rosman, Universal Pictures Reviewer: Siane Daley
"How come when you're looking at a man, you are blind to his flaws, but when you look at yourself, flaws are all that you see?" (The Perfect Man)
As a single-mother of two girls, Jean Hamilton (Heather Locklear) is constantly looking for Mr Right to complete her life. However, when her misjudged relationships inevitably fail, Jean uproots the family and moves to a new town to begin again.
Teenage daughter Holly (Hilary Duff) grows weary of this constant upheaval and craves emotional and physical stability. So, with the help of new-best-friends Amy, (Vanessa Lengies), and Adam (Ben Feldman), Holly invents the perfect man for Jean; especially as she is about to embark on yet another unsuitable romance, with hapless work-colleague Lenny (Mike O Malley).
Holly vents her frustration and teenage angst in an online blog/diary, which narrates her life and feelings in a similar way to Carrie from 'Sex and the City'. Another similarity is that the 'perfect man' is based on Amy's suave-yet sensitive, Uncle Ben (Chris Noth, who also played 'Mr Big' in SATC).
Director Mark Rosman struggles with the story which is essentially a multi-perspective thesis on; match-making, love and romance, family relationships and learning to love yourself. However, these themes are introduced all at once in the early part of the film, but are not fully explored. To add to the confusion, the blossoming romance between Holly and Adam runs parallel to the central romance between Jean and her perfect man.
It is therefore difficult to identify with the characters, and the film is slow-moving and clumsy for the first forty minutes. Ironically, the use of modern computer technology to fulfil Jean's romantic search is a euphemism for the film itself; a 'cut and paste' job of different themes and influences from popular films and television. This is also reflected in the 'predictability' of the plot and the characters' dialogue. A cameo appearance from camp, quick-witted Carson (Queer Eye, USA ) provides much needed, light-hearted relief.
The film does get better in the second half. Particularly moving is the scene where Holly is impersonating 'Ben' during an online conversation with Jean, and discovers another side to her mother; a vulnerable woman who raised her daughters alone at the expense of fulfilling her own dreams and ambitions. This helps heal Holly's anger towards her mum for moving so often and creating an unsettled home life.
After this the film picks up speed, but it's a case of too little, too late. 'The Perfect Man' is indeed, far from perfect.
Written by: Siane Daley
Starring: Hilary Duff, Chris Noth, Ben Feldman, Aria Wallace, Mike O Malley, Caroline Rhea, Vanessa Lengies, Heather Locklear and Carson Kressley Release Date: August 2005 Directed by: Mark Rosman, Universal Pictures Reviewer: Siane Daley
"How come when you're looking at a man, you are blind to his flaws, but when you look at yourself, flaws are all that you see?" (The Perfect Man)
As a single-mother of two girls, Jean Hamilton (Heather Locklear) is constantly looking for Mr Right to complete her life. However, when her misjudged relationships inevitably fail, Jean uproots the family and moves to a new town to begin again.
Teenage daughter Holly (Hilary Duff) grows weary of this constant upheaval and craves emotional and physical stability. So, with the help of new-best-friends Amy, (Vanessa Lengies), and Adam (Ben Feldman), Holly invents the perfect man for Jean; especially as she is about to embark on yet another unsuitable romance, with hapless work-colleague Lenny (Mike O Malley).
Holly vents her frustration and teenage angst in an online blog/diary, which narrates her life and feelings in a similar way to Carrie from 'Sex and the City'. Another similarity is that the 'perfect man' is based on Amy's suave-yet sensitive, Uncle Ben (Chris Noth, who also played 'Mr Big' in SATC).
Director Mark Rosman struggles with the story which is essentially a multi-perspective thesis on; match-making, love and romance, family relationships and learning to love yourself. However, these themes are introduced all at once in the early part of the film, but are not fully explored. To add to the confusion, the blossoming romance between Holly and Adam runs parallel to the central romance between Jean and her perfect man.
It is therefore difficult to identify with the characters, and the film is slow-moving and clumsy for the first forty minutes. Ironically, the use of modern computer technology to fulfil Jean's romantic search is a euphemism for the film itself; a 'cut and paste' job of different themes and influences from popular films and television. This is also reflected in the 'predictability' of the plot and the characters' dialogue. A cameo appearance from camp, quick-witted Carson (Queer Eye, USA ) provides much needed, light-hearted relief.
The film does get better in the second half. Particularly moving is the scene where Holly is impersonating 'Ben' during an online conversation with Jean, and discovers another side to her mother; a vulnerable woman who raised her daughters alone at the expense of fulfilling her own dreams and ambitions. This helps heal Holly's anger towards her mum for moving so often and creating an unsettled home life.
After this the film picks up speed, but it's a case of too little, too late. 'The Perfect Man' is indeed, far from perfect.
Written by: Siane Daley