Picture Perfect (1997) Reviews

• If you're a fan of the actors, it's reasonable to say you'll find something to enjoy here.

  MovieAddict20162005-12-06

  I only saw this film because of Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Aniston both being in it. Not a huge fan of either of them, but nevertheless I thought it might be interesting to see Aniston (during the peak of "Friends'" popularity) crossing over into mainstream film. For the most part, it works. She's basically playing Rachel, her character from the TV show, again. Aniston's character is a shy, awkward business woman who isn't promoted due to the fact that she is considered "unstable" - no husband, family, etc. So she hires a fake boyfriend, Nick (Jay Mohr), to pose as her lover. She ends up winning the affections of a man she has a crush on in her office (Bacon), but then Nick begins to actually fall in love with her. The title derives from the fact that she works at a picture agency, and that's where a lot of the film's scenes take place. It gets a little weary after a while, and is very predictable - but if you're a fan of the actors, it's reasonable to say you'll find something to enjoy here.

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• This is beyond charming - it has heart

  ruby_fff1999-01-28

  A seemingly small movie yet it's beyond charming, it has heart. Don't dismiss this as an expanded version of the TV series Jennifer is in, she's what she is, yet she fits into this story so well, playing opposite Jay Mohr and Kevin Bacon, with Ileanna Douglas as her best friend and Olympia Dukakis as her mom – it's Jennifer Aniston perfect. The heart may not be evident in the beginning, especially with Jennifer's central character, but hang in there, heart becomes more and more ever present as you follow the story closely. My appreciation for the nuances of this movie did not come deeper until I sat through it again on cable over the weekend. I remember I liked the movie in general and that Jay Mohr gave a very good performance – he's just as becoming as Jennifer is. They do seem like a perfect pair. This could be a date movie: especially for a single young woman with career ambitions (here it is in advertising), who thinks she can be self-sufficient without any ties or warmth from others, including mom. It is very much a city woman movie. It is maybe for the 20 to 30 something's, yet there are lessons in loving that anyone can take away with. Essentially, it is about how we can take for granted the people around us and not realize the little things in life that are free and in abundance for us to receive and enjoy – if we would only open our eyes, pause - truly listen, and let the heart do the rest. Trivia: There was a play on the movie title as it first appears and appears again. Ha! Have fun and enjoy.

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• A lovely, light romance. Aniston is terrific.

  nz man2000-01-04

  There is quite a bit of divergence here with the Imdb comments for this movie, which may reflect where people's hearts were at when they viewed it. This is not a block buster or Academy Awards winner, but I found it to be very enjoyable and certainly agree with all of the positive comments below. Actually, I was surprised how I liked it, since I am a 50 year old man and do not normally care for 'fluff movies'. The acting by Jennifer Aniston and John Mohr was very good, and the film gives an overall positive message for us all (Hollywood style, but it feels great). Watch it with someone you love, or if you have a warm romantic heart.

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• Predictable but nice

  rbverhoef2003-01-18

  Jennifer Aniston is not really her Rachel from Friends but she comes close in Picture Perfect as Cate. I like her in Friends and I think because of that I liked her in this film. The story is even more predictable than movies as Notting Hill and Addicted to love, but I did like it. It is simple, it makes you feel good, there's no real bad guy or girl, there is some chemistry and we all know it will end very happy. You can like Aniston here, or may be you don´t because she is too much Rachel. I liked her because she is. Kevin Bacon was a little disappointing in a role that might be too easy for him and you will like Jay Mohr. If you want to feel good and sleep with a nice feeling, you might want to watch this. 6/10.

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• One star away from awful

  the-suey2009-11-14

  *** contains spoilers *** I watched this as an Instant Play on Netflix. I enjoy the romantic comedy genre, so I gave it a shot. I won't say that Picture Perfect was completely awful because I did watch it all the way through. I will say that this film paints humanity in an ugly light. Kate is utterly self-centered, showing the total lack of awareness of others. The entire film is predicated on the decisions she makes out of her self-centeredness. Even the "happy ending" depends on Kate's lack of awareness for anyone else but herself. It doesn't occur to her that she's ruining a stranger's wedding because she can't wait 30 minutes to get out her apologies. The film's writer insults the viewer by assuming that because Kate manages a few tender moments while she's being selfish, we then are supposed to be endeared to her. Nick shows no dignity for his own self. The more he gets to know the self-centered Kate, the more he falls in love with her?? She insults him with her proposal, she is disrespectful and rude to him, she shows weak moral character by her "affair" with a colleague who is using her for thrill-sex... and yet, he professes that he likes her more and more. The viewers are expected to endear ourselves to him too. Kate's colleague, played by Kevin Bacon, only sleeps with women who are married or otherwise committed. Enough said. Kate's boss only shows his female staff respect based on whether or not they are "stable", which in this case is determined by whether or not Kate is showing signs that she's in a committed relationship. Kate's friend encourages her to lie and cheat in order to fool her boss into thinking she's "stable". Kate's mom is portrayed as an overbearing mother whose self-worth depends on the constant reassurance that her daughter cares about her. Kate's other work colleagues are portrayed as gossip-mongering and thoughtless. Don't be tempted to watch this. Whether it's intended or not, the film ends up being a commentary about the inherent selfishness of and lack of self-dignity in humanity.

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