Perfect 1985

I am a millennial and never heard of this movie

I felt the whole purpose was to admire their bodies, and so why not just porn instead? John's body was good in 1986, but Tom Brock's was better, and plus i got to see his dick.

That's a shame R1.

So basically this is a movie about daddy porn?

I prefer the original source material, Rolling Stone with Michael Ives on the cover.

Thank you, Op!

I loved this movie back in the '80s. (Jamie's leotard wardrobe was an uncredited costar.)

It must have been 10 or so years ago when Jamie was a guest on Letterman. He played a clip of this movie (one of her sexier workout scenes), and had asked her what she thought of it, in his infamous manner of questioning. Jamie laughed and said, "I don't care!"

[Quote] (Jamie's leotard wardrobe was an uncredited costar.)

Leotards and jockstraps.

I haven’t seen this movie since I was a kid...it was always on HBO.

Even the soundtrack was a dud, and these were the days when every movie theme song hit the Top 40.

Fun Fact.

In Marilu Henner's book she said that she and Laraine Newman were barred from being in the workout scenes with Jamie Lee Curtis.

R10 Really? Did she say why??

No mention of porn star/director Paul Barresi (shown in R3), who was one of the first to "out" Travolta?

[Quote] No mention of porn star/director Paul Barresi

It all makes sense now.

Did Travolta suck more dicks on the set of Perfect than he sucked on the set of Staying Alive?

I think the final tally was 13 dicks on the set of each, so it was actually a tie, R14.

Hmmm - Travolta and Curtis ... two of the most sexually ambiguous celebrities of the 80s. What a weird movie that must have been. And it sounds like it couldn't stand the test of time.

The film that made Jann Wenner gay!

I actually kind of like this movie, like a mashup between Flashdance and the Jane Fonda Workout. Throw in a bit of PG porno chic as well. It was an opportunity to hit the same kind of lows as Showgirls but is actually is kind of bland and well meaning in it's tone. Like the Jane Fonda Workout, it was a fairly substantial hit on VHS.

[quote]And it sounds like it couldn't stand the test of time.

It couldn't stand the test of 1985, let alone 2017

[Quote] What a weird movie that must have been.

I've seen weirder.

R3 That's gay porn star Paul Barresi in the jockstrap and moustache. He was cast in the movie by John Travolta, who actually met Paul in the showers at his own health club. Barresi later sold the story of his romance with Johnny to the National Enquirer, then under pressure (probably by Scientology), retracted it.

Don't forget the movie's theme song and video by Jermaine Jackson! Check out his massive bulge at the 4:03 point. Mr. Jackson, you nasty!

^^ Sorry, make that at the 1:02 mark!

R13, that bulge is amazing. Who is that? Kind of fugly but the bulge!

R13 Don't know, but he looks like Roger Daltry. In the movie, he played an aerobics instructor who was living with twins. Yes, we were supposed to believe he was straight.

R24 Lee Nicholl

r21, see r12.

R11, She said there was no explanation given. Just that "there was a weird competitive vibe on the set."

[quote] [R24] Lee Nicholl

Played Jill Abbott's murderous masseuse "Sven" in Young and the Restless.

R11, With Marilou's being a trained dancer, she had thought she'd steal all dance/exercise scenes as 'background candy.' However, being an even shrewder diva, JLC immediately saw through it.

Fuck Marilu for claiming she and Travolta were lovers.

The reason she'd publicly claimed their being 'lovers' is because she knew Johnny's secret.

You do realize this movie was made when Coca-Cola owned Columbia Pictures, right?

R30 I probably would've done the same thing if i was Jamie.

R33 No i didn't know that.

Laraine Newman's best performance.

I enjoy this film and all it's 80's goodness. My only problem with it is the John Travolta character. He's a sleaze in the beginning and he's a sleaze at the end, even if the film thinks otherwise.

R36 Travolta is good at playing sleazy characters.

I agree about Laraine Newman's performance. She really is very good. I wish the film had followed up more with her after the article was released.

campy goodness

Never like Marilu Henner. Always seemed too self involved and egotistical. Constantly self promoting. She's not very pretty and moderately talented. She should be happy she even landed one TV show.

Marilu will remember that last comment.

[quote]Laraine Newman's best performance.

Which of the four did you think was her worst?

..

..

Ah, just teasing. I like Laraine, but she's mostly done voicework in her career.

I don't know of any of Jamie Lee's aerobics scenes that would have required Marilu or Laraine. Except for some shots of her teaching class, the only main aerobics scene is when Travolta takes her class. I think Marilu thought she should be the star.

[Quote] Always seemed too self involved and egotistical. Constantly self promoting. She's not very pretty and moderately talented. She should be happy she even landed one TV show.

Quite uncommon in Hollywood.

I remember this film being hugely hyped at the time of its release (and yes, I remember the Jermaine Jackson music video) and yet it seemed to flop critically and at the box office.

r22 I thought I was an 80's buff I don't remember that song although I remember the movie well. That song was a real stinker.

Carly Simon's best performance too.

How did this not get nominated for best picture of 1985?

PERFECTION!!!

They should make a musical out of this movie like they did with Xanadu.

Didn’t Laraine Newman play the gym tramp? I remember very little about the film aside from Carly Simon’s cameo, Jann Wenner’s horrible performance and Laraine Newman as an insecure gym bunny. Oh, and the hilarious aerobic sequences!

Laraine Newman gets a shot of her crotch in the last one. She looks kind of like Kathy Griffin here.

Yes, she was the gym tramp.

She got skewered in the article that was written.

Laraine actually got good reviews for her performance.

More Carly Simon action.

Laraine got good reviews but her character was maligned in the article in the movie. I think she looked better with her old nose, personally.

Gorgeous in this movie.

[Quote] She got skewered in the article that was written.

"She's the most used piece of equipment in the gym"

The leads have beautiful, pilowey lips.

Seemed like expectations were promising for “Perfect” because it reunited Travolta and James Bridges from “Urban Cowboy” — which like “Perfect” was also based on a well-regarded magazine article. But it fizzled big-time despite a big publicity push.

[quote]I remember this film being hugely hyped at the time of its release

It was especially hyped by Rolling Stone - it was based on a RS cover story (written by the same guy who wrote the article Urban Cowboy was based on, and with the same director), they put Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis on the cover again when the film came out, and Jann Wenner even had a cameo in it. All to no avail.

Jann & Carly - no fishbone in sight, unfortunately

Hit it Laraine!

ewww his little thing poking out in those ugly gray short in the video at r47

He was just excited. R64

LOL, R63!

The most immortal line in all of cinema was uttered by Laraine in this film, in a dejected moment: “I guess I will try to go scare up a gangbang.“

This movie is considered one of the worst films of all time. An embarrassment for every one involved in it.

So this is where Paul Baressi hopped on the casting couch?

So bad its good.

[quote]This movie is considered one of the worst films of all time. An embarrassment for every one involved in it.

Two of Travolta's other films were FAR worse: "Moment by Moment," and "Battlefield: Earth."

I don’t know about “All-Time Worst”, but it definitely showed up on several year-end “Worst Films” lists in ‘85. A shockingly bad film, especially from Bridges.

Must admit, though, this thread has prompted me to want to check it out again to see if it was as bad as I remember!

Twist of Fate is pretty terrible too.

[quote] Must admit, though, this thread has prompted me to want to check it out again to see if it was as bad as I remember!

I did it for you earlier this year. It is.

Thanks, R74! Your bravery is commendable!

Saw it recently and it is has the weirdest gay vibe from The Sports Erection to the gay porn extras in the gym and strip club and then the soundtrack with Whitney, Jermaine, Berlin, Wham and others. I still love it especially the weird as fuck celeb cameos like Carly "I read that shit you wrote about me" Simon and that scene where Jann wenner is making ice cream with Lauren Hutton and Susie Bono, lol.

R71 You're right, i would watch this over the tragedy that was Battlefield Earth.

Might be fun to watch for the high-80s hair and fashions!

The second-best part about "Moment by Moment" is the fact that Travolta's character is named "Strip." The FIRST is obviously the undeniable heat generated by its two leads.

Were there any rumours about Jann Wenner being bi before he came out?

Good question, R80!

The music video clips on YouTube are a hoot!

R80, there was a biography of Wenner published a few weeks ago. ("Sticky Fingers" by Joe Hagan.) I haven't read it yet, but the answer you seek might be in there.

Story is that Wenner asked Hagan to write the book, but wanted something that celebrated himself more. Once he saw that the manuscript was more "warts and all", he pulled his support for the book.

One of my favorite things about DL is how it can take a pop culture item forgotten from 20 or 30 years ago, whether it's a movie, tv show, music, or person/artist, and turn it into a humorous look back, sometimes offering new info in the process. A thread like this reminds me why I still come to DL.

I watched Perfect for the first time about ten years ago - and it was hysterical. The endless aerobicizing scenes with extended shots of crotches and ass are soft core porn in the most dated display imaginable.

JLC and Travolta look great, but their characters are empty. The only one who makes a real impression was, as stated upthread, Laraine Newman. The film could've actually been salvaged had they made her the focal point and filled it with less, much less, gratuitous aerobics ass shots.

But it would've been considerably less entertaining.

My one big problem with the movie is that they just drop the "Linda" story. The article comes out and humiliates her and then nothing. She has one more brief scene but never really gets any closure to her story. The movie then shifts to Travolta in court about that other story no one cares about.

I was 13 when the movie came out. I loved Jamie Lee Curtis so even though it was rated R my aunt took me. I loved it. I didn't really know I was gay but I can still remember being intrigued by the male stripper scene and the guys in the locker room as well as Travolta's pelvic trusts.

Very true, R83 — I feel the same way!

Newman is indeed very good in the clip at R84. Travolta comes across a little smug.

“Perfect” is a part of an 8-movie (!) DVD package on sale at Amazon for a little over $5.00 (!!) Don’t judge me, DL, but I’m tempted!

Oh, buy it!

You know you will love it.

This blog entry on James Bridges’s “The Baby Maker” was written by someone who was an extra in “Perfect”, which he mentions at the bottom of the entry, including some insider info!

[Quote] My one big problem with the movie is that they just drop the "Linda" story. The article comes out and humiliates her and then nothing. She has one more brief scene but never really gets any closure to her story.

The last scene before he goes to court basically shows all the people that worked at Sports Connection being pissed off with JT.

I think this movie captured the 80's vibe really well.......and it was like a mash-up of FLASHDANCE and PUMPING IRON.....

That's the brief scene I was talking about. No real closure.

Justice for Laraine!

[quote] “Perfect” is a part of an 8-movie (!) DVD package on sale at Amazon for a little over $5.00 (!!) Don’t judge me, DL, but I’m tempted!

I did it and did not regret it.

Pray tell r93, what are the other 7 movies?

No Small Affair - The Man Who Loved Women - Tempest - This is My Father - Violets Are Blue - Modern Romance - The Luzhin Defence

I’m one of the few who genuinely like this movie.

Imagine if this was a hyped summer movie in 2017. It probably would’ve been received much better if it was up against nothing but plotless CGI spectacles.

Plus, Marilu’s boyfriend in it was 80’s gorgeous.

Someone post the gorgeous boyfriend, STAT.

Here you go, R97!

Yeah, like Marilu Henner could pull something that fine.

That’s for sure, R99!

[Quote] Imagine if this was a hyped summer movie in 2017. It probably would’ve been received much better if it was up against nothing but plotless CGI spectacles.

Who would play the leads??

Must have been tough for Marilu to watch Travolta and Jamie Lee's love scenes as she was in a LTR with him.

Did anyone read the blog that was linked about the Babymaker?

Great dish about how JT had his crotch augmented for the gym scenes.

R102 Lol i wouldn't call their sex scenes explicit.

The stripper boyfriend was one of the most perfect men ever in cinema. Great bod, perfect blonde curls, Adonis-like face, great ass and huge bulge. More gorgeous than Jon-Erik Hexum. His name was Mathew Reed and he only ever acted in this one and only part.

Agreed R103, the “Perfect”-related comments in that “Babymaker” blog entry are indeed very dishy!

R103,

Fun read written by someone with inside scoop!

I meant, R106.

JLC left being chased by Michael Myers in the Halloween movies to do this shit?

I think Perfect was JLC's chance to 'breakout', having been first a teen scream queen and then showing off her body in Trading Places, this was the movie that she was counting on to push her up to A list status as a leading lady (much as Urban Cowboy did for Debra Winger). It didn't happen and while she has had a fairly nice movie career, she has been primarily either 'the girl' to a big name male star or a supporting player.

[Quote] In 1985 I appeared as a dance/exercise extra in the virtually unwatchable James Bridges film Perfect, starring John Travolta & Jamie Lee Curtis. Although the aerobics class scenes were shot on location at the Sports Connection gym in West Hollywood, this particular scene was shot months later on a set designed to look exactly like the gym. Aside from having to do something like six hours of pelvic tucks, what's most memorable about this particular sequence is that, after filming had begun, shooting halted in order for the costume people to figure out a way to sew up the legs to Travolta's shorts in order to give him a more pronounced package. When Travolta returned a half hour later with a more camera-ready crotch, it also appeared that a bit of filler had been added. Jack Larson produced and was often present on the very "happy" set.

[Quote] And yes, I saw Mr. Baressi a lot during the making of PERFECT and wish i could say I picked up on something between him and Travolta, but back then I only knew him from his porn stuff. The whole PERFECT shoot has a REALLY gay vibe, with all these Chippendale fellows in the cast...I remember when we shot the closing gym shots with Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner. He had not then come out of the closet, but me and some of the gay extras I befriended all had our gaydar beeping when he, Larson, Bridges, and Travolta were around. Like I said, the shoot felt like what the YMCA scene in CANT STOP THE MUSIC mus have been like.

[Quote] I wasn't privy for the dramatic scenes, but in retrospect, I'd say the overall feel of the shoot fell under "hubris." People overriding feel was that what SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER was to disco, PERFECT was going to be for the aerobics craze (which was ridiculously popular at the time). So many of the people involved in the hit URBAN COWBOY was reassembled, Travolta had not yet become a punchline, and they friggin' Gordon Willis of THE GODFATHER and MANHATTAN for cinematography. With so many successful people attached to the project there was really an air of delusion. It seemed like everyone was too sure of themselves and that we were making the perfect film at the perfect time, beating everybody to what was surely going to be a Flashdance -like wave of aerobics films. For example: Bridges told us that he wanted that ridiculous scene of dueling aerobic class pelvis thrusts to be the aerobics version to that oft-imitated sexy eating scene in TOM JONES. So, you're right, no one sets out to make a bad movie, but when we were all called back in several months later for re-shoots, by then there seemed to be something in the air that all was not well.

Okay, DL, don’t judge me too harshly, but this thread prompted me to watch “Perfect” this weekend — first time I’d seen it since its summer of 1985 theatrical run.

To me, it’s not “Valley of the Dolls”/“Showgirls” good-bad, just shockingly disappointing. At two hours, it’s WAY too long, with too many endless aerobics scenes (even if they are fun to see at first for the hairstyles and workout wear!) a pointless and unnecessary Chippendales scene (a statement I never imagined I’d ever write) and lethargically paced throughout.

The subplot regarding John Travolta’s story on the DeLorean-esque businessman was distracting and puzzling. It’s almost as if the filmmakers didn’t trust the health-club plot alone and had to attach it to another “serious” story.

Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis look good, but don’t make much of an impression beyond that. There’s a scene early on when he’s trying to coax her into an interview where they discuss Emerson that is borderline embarrassing.

As mentioned upthread, Laraine Newman does fine work, and it’s unfortunate that the filmmakers chose to shortchange the effects that Travolta’s article had on her and the other gym denizens.

Watching it, I couldn’t get over how thoroughly director James Bridges’s instincts seemed to have deserted him. Stunning to think that the man who directed “The Paper Chase”, “9/30/55”, “The China Syndrome” and “Urban Cowboy” also directed “Perfect”. After seeing “Perfect”, I wonder if those earlier films are as good as I remember!

[Quote] Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis look good, but don’t make much of an impression beyond that. There’s a scene early on when he’s trying to coax her into an interview where they discuss Emerson that is borderline embarrassing.

It made me cringe too.

Hope that DL has. PERFECT new year!

Try not to smile at this.

Paul Barresi had been one of Colt's most popular and most handsome models in the early to mid 1970s. But by the time Perfect was made, he was starting to age badly, especially in the face. He kept himself slim and toned but the bloom left the rose fairly quickly.

R115 Probably the best part of the movie for some people lol

A guilty pleasure film for me.

I know Carly Simon a bit and she told me that she had an affair with John Travolta back when she was married to James Taylor. I think they were living in the same building.

She said, "He is definitely not gay."

Me: "Maybe not for you."

Well, Carly is a bit manly looking...

Another fun “Perfect” blog entry. This one mentions the bizarre Ronnie Claire Edwards cameo and her babbling about divinity!

How could anyone have watched those credits and not thought that Jann Wenner was gay?

[Quote] Though the movie Perfect doesn't include any outright gay characters, it is filled with fruity gay extras flailing around as if they missed their chance to be on screen in Can't Stop the Music and weren't about to be left out this time.

[Quote] The apparently pansexual Baressi (a married father of three!) has since become a gay porn writer/director and had also filmed more than a few straight porn scenes before, during and after this whole debacle. Some of his gay porn efforts bear such titles as: Married Men with Men on the Side, Daddy Please!, When Johnny Cums Marching Home, Brig Bangin' and Dads 'n Lads. He has since been embroiled in a few different celebrity scandals and has fashioned himself into a sort of investigator! In any event, at this stage in his life anyway, he was indeed a good looking man.

Nice find R121

Thank you, R123!

Marilu Henner was underrated in that movie.

What was John Travolta thinking with this one?

“Perfect” probably looked good on paper — the screenwriter, director and star of “Urban Cowboy”, reuniting to explore another cultural phenomenon. But somewhere along the way, it went very, very wrong.

R125=Marilu Henner

LOL, R128!

[Quote] What was John Travolta thinking with this one?

I asked that same question when he did Battlefield Earth.

Found via the recent Debra Winger DL thread regarding this cinematic classic!

[Quote] There came the day when Jaime Lee Curtis was going to come in and audition for the part. And she came in and Travolta came in to audition with her. And we’re in the middle of a scene that they’re reading together when Debra Winger appears at the back door of our bungalow with the governor of Nebraska [Bob Kerry], who she was dating. And she comes in and sits down beside John. In the scene. So now you got a girl on each side of John. And somehow it worked out that Debra was trying to take John away from Jaime in the middle of an audition. In the middle of a fictional scene that had suddenly become real.

[Quote] Finally John got up and sat down on the couch beside the governor of Nebraska. Put his arm around him, kissed him. Debra got really pissy and stormed out. John told me later that he’d figured out the way to get to Debra was not to go after Debra but was to go after the governor. He made her jealous. He deliberately made her jealous.

[R88]n 1985 I appeared as a dance/exercise extra in the virtually unwatchable James Bridges film Perfect, starring John Travolta & Jamie Lee Curtis. Although the aerobics class scenes were shot on location at the Sports Connection gym in West Hollywood, this particular scene was shot months later on a set designed to look exactly like the gym. Aside from having to do something like six hours of pelvic tucks, what's most memorable about this particular sequence is that, after filming had begun, shooting halted in order for the costume people to figure out a way to sew up the legs to Travolta's shorts in order to give him a more pronounced package. When Travolta returned a half hour later with a more camera-ready crotch, it also appeared that a bit of filler had been added. Jack Larson produced and was often present on the very "happy" set

Just watched this last night — SO 80s in so many ways!

A closet case and a woman who looks like a man. Do they play a couple in the movie?

R135, this film and Moment by Moment are two of Travolta's most interesting on-screen pairings.

R135 You are aware of the rumors about Jamie Lee, right? That she was born with both male and female genitalia, and Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis took her to Stanford Hospital when Jamie Lee was still a toddler and had her reconstructed to be a girl?

Makes senses. Jamie Lee has been quite candid about not being able to have children of her own, which is why she adopted hers. Hmmm....why might she not be able to birth her own kids? Could it be because her lady parts are for show only?

Have you seen the hilarious editing of the aerobic workout scenes in this movie to "Rite of Spring"?

R138 That's pretty good!

The best part of this movie is the video to the theme song, in which we get to see Jermaine Jackson's impressive dick bulge at 1:02 and 2:32.

I think I recognized “Solid Gold”/“A Chorus Line” cutie Tony Fields in that video, too, R140!

Yes, you did, R140. Right at the beginning. RIP, Tony.

That is hilarious, R138!

Isn't Travolta's boyfriend Paul Baressi in this movie?

R144 Yes. Go to :24.

Half of the guys in the numerous (and endless) workout scenes in “Perfect” look like they could have wandered in from 1985 gay porn set.

At least one of them did, R146!

This was Marilu at her most beautiful. She dropped a good deal of weight for it.

[qquote]In Marilu Henner's book she said that she and Laraine Newman were barred from being in the workout scenes with Jamie Lee Curtis.

Probably because their bodies weren't up to snuff. Notice they're the only two gym characters filmed only from the waist up.

In Marilu's first scene on that exercise machine you can see her love handles very clearly and her arms are fat, not toned. For the rest of the movie they avoid shooting below her supposedly big (but actually flabby) breasts.