Perfect (1985)
We’ve all seen that scene from “Perfect” where John Travolta is humping his way through a Jamie Lee Curtis aerobics class, but there’s another two hours to this 1985 box-office bomb. And we had to watch all of it.
Longtime Shat The Movies beer buddy Scott in Friendswood, Texas, was kind enough to commission a film about Gene Lyons’ three favorite topics: journalism, fitness and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Not to be left out, Dick Ebert had lots to say about sex with elite athletes. And Ash got into a car accident.
What genre is “Perfect?” Do newsrooms run on self-loathing? How is 2024 gym etiquette different from 40 years earlier, and did we need so much footage of Jamie Lee Curtis driving? Find out for yourself in this week’s episode of Shat The Movies.
Plot Summary: In the 1985 drama Perfect, directed by James Bridges, John Travolta stars as Adam Lawrence, a journalist for Rolling Stone magazine, assigned to investigate a high-profile political scandal. However, while researching his story, Adam stumbles upon a very different cultural phenomenon: the rise of the fitness craze in Los Angeles. His interest piqued, Adam begins exploring the world of health clubs and aerobics, leading him to the trendy “Sporting Life” gym, where fitness and social life intersect.
At the gym, Adam meets Jessie Wilson, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, a charismatic aerobics instructor who embodies the fitness obsession sweeping the nation. Despite her initial distrust of journalists, Jessie and Adam develop a complicated relationship as he delves into her life and the culture surrounding the fitness movement. As Adam immerses himself in the world of toned bodies, celebrity trainers, and high-energy workouts, he begins to question his own motives and the ethical implications of his story.
As Adam balances his exposé on the political scandal with his investigation into the fitness world, the line between personal and professional becomes blurred. Jessie, haunted by a troubled past with the media, struggles to trust Adam, creating tension and conflict in their budding relationship. The film highlights themes of body image, media sensationalism, and the moral dilemmas faced by journalists in pursuit of a story.
Perfect offers a snapshot of 1980s fitness culture, combining drama, romance, and dance-filled aerobics scenes that reflect the era’s obsession with physical perfection. Join our podcast review as we dive into this flashback to the 80s, discussing Travolta and Curtis’s dynamic performances, the film’s portrayal of fitness culture, and whether Perfect still resonates with modern audiences.
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