Picture Perfect Review
by Ben Hoffman (bhoffman AT ix DOT netcom DOT com)July 31st, 1997
PICTURE PERFECT
If you are looking for a romantic comedy such as we used to get in years long gone, this is it. However, don't stop reading: PICTURE PERFECT is modern in every way. Given a cast that can do comedy, screenwriters Arleen Sorkin & Paul Slansky & Glenn Gordon Caron have come up with a sprightly, fast moving movie.
Kate (Jennifer Aniston) is a beautiful young woman with an endearing smile. She would be a cinch for promotion at her job except that her boss, Mr. Mercer (Kevin Dunn) promotes only those who are married, have responsibilities and will not readily quit the job.
In the office is the Lothario, Sam (Kevin Bacon) who needs the challenge of a woman who is married, encumbered. Kate has a crush on him but as she is single, she does not stand a chance. Back at home, Mama (Olympia Dukakis) keeps bugging her. She wants a grandchild.
To the rescue comes Darcy (Illeana Douglas) a friend and office colleague who has the brilliant idea of taking a picture of Kate and some handsome man at a party and having Kate pretend he is her guy. That should make the boss happy. It also makes Sam happy because now that Kate is engaged to be married, she falls into the category that he likes. Kate, for her part, likes this arrangement because it has gotten her Sam.
Things begin to heat up when Kate has to produce, get off the dime. Everyone wants to meet her boyfriend Nick (Jay Mohr). To this end she offers to pay Nick to come to her city and pretend he is her fiance. But Nick has taken a liking to Kate . . . and who can blame him? He comes to her town but refuses to play her game . . . and the comedy really takes off.
Aniston is a delight to watch. She is currently in TV's FRIENDS and is scheduled to appear in several upcoming films. Jay Mohr is very handsome and personable. You remember him from JERRY MAGUIRE. He will appear shortly in SUICIDE KINGS. Kevin Bacon was in APOLLO 13 as well as in many other films in as many different kinds of roles.
Go see this one. It's a delight.
Directed by Glenn Gordon Caron.
2.75 Bytes
4 bytes = Superb
3 bytes = Too good to miss
2 bytes = Average
1 byte = Save your money
Copyright 1997 Ben Hoffman
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
