Are sports clubs the singles bars of the ‘80s or is there something deeper going on behind the sweatpants & leotards? Urban Cowboy writer-director James Bridges and co-writer Aaron Latham re-team to adapt a series of magazine articles by the latter on the Los Angeles health club craze, following a manipulative-but-likable Rolling Stone reporter (John Travolta) who becomes too close to two stories: a potentially explosive exposé about an entrepreneur accused of selling drugs, and a portrait on a successful fitness instructor (Jamie Lee Curtis) who is skeptical of his intentions. As deadlines loom, he’ll have to make tough decisions. Considered a sort of fiasco upon release, Perfect has aged well, with Bridges & Latham playing with LA/NY stereotypes to good effect and Travolta interesting as an imperfect protagonist. Plus, a fantastic supporting cast (Jann Wenner, Marilu Henner, Laraine Newman) and scope cinematography by Gordon Willis!
