{"id":8193,"date":"2009-07-13T13:44:40","date_gmt":"2009-07-13T20:44:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8193"},"modified":"2021-01-29T21:46:41","modified_gmt":"2021-01-30T04:46:41","slug":"perfect-couple-a-1979","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8193","title":{"rendered":"Perfect Couple, A (1979)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think you two should be kissing while I&#8217;m suturing.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Poster-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Poster-1-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-66971\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Poster-1-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Poster-1-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Poster-1-176x270.jpg 176w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Poster-1.jpg 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAn aspiring singer (Marta Heflin) and a Greek antiques dealer (Paul Dooley) meet through a video dating service, but find their budding romance foiled by their overbearing families and roommates.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dating<\/li>\n<li>Musicals<\/li>\n<li>Robert Altman Films<\/li>\n<li>Romantic Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Star-Crossed Lovers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThe opening scene of this would-be romantic comedy by Robert Altman promises an amusing look at the vagaries of dating: an obviously uncomfortable couple out on their first date get drenched by a rainstorm at the Hollywood Bowl, only to find their increasingly disastrous evening together miraculously redeemed by an electrifying goodnight kiss. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Kiss.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Kiss-1024x569.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Kiss-1024x569.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Kiss-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Kiss-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Kiss-768x427.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Kiss-1536x853.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Kiss-486x270.png 486w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Kiss-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Kiss.png 1827w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, however, the film completely fails to live up to its initial potential. Most egregiously, Dooley&#8217;s character comes across as obnoxious: he&#8217;s pushy, self-absorbed, and possessive (he beats up another man who wants to go out with Heflin), and is rarely worthy of our sympathy. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Dooley.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Dooley-1024x577.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66979\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Dooley-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Dooley-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Dooley-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Dooley-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Dooley-1536x866.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Dooley-479x270.png 479w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Dooley.png 1833w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, waifish Heflin is, despite her fine voice, utterly unbelievable as a backup singer in a communal rock band (her bandmates are all ten times more energetic than her), and her distractingly skeletal body makes one cringe for her well-being. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Heflin.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Heflin-1024x578.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66975\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Heflin-1024x578.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Heflin-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Heflin-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Heflin-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Heflin-1536x867.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Heflin-478x270.png 478w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Heflin.png 1791w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Side stories involving members of Dooley&#8217;s overbearing Greek family fall utterly flat:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Greek.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Greek-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66977\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Greek-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Greek-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Greek-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Greek-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Greek-1536x865.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Greek-480x270.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Greek.png 1803w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; as does a recurring visual &#8220;joke&#8221; involving a true &#8220;perfect couple&#8221; (Fred Bier and Jette Seear), whose presence is meant to serve as a comedic counterpart to Dooley and Heflin&#8217;s troubled courtship. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Perfect-Couple2-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Perfect-Couple2-1-1024x571.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"357\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66978\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Perfect-Couple2-1-1024x571.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Perfect-Couple2-1-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Perfect-Couple2-1-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Perfect-Couple2-1-768x429.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Perfect-Couple2-1-1536x857.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Perfect-Couple2-1-484x270.png 484w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Perfect-Couple2-1.png 1801w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The film&#8217;s primary redeeming quality is Heflin&#8217;s band (&#8220;Keepin&#8217; Em Off the Streets&#8221;), whose incessant rehearsals inappropriately dominate the screenplay, but ultimately provide a welcome respite from the tedious storyline. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Watch for charismatic Ted Neeley (&#8220;Jesus Christ Superstar&#8221;) as the band&#8217;s domineering lead singer &#8212; what inspired casting! <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Neeley.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Neeley-1024x569.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66973\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Neeley-1024x569.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Neeley-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Neeley-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Neeley-768x427.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Neeley-1536x854.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Neeley-486x270.png 486w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Neeley-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Neeley.png 1837w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A host of fun &#8217;70s-era songs by &#8220;Keepin&#8217; Em Off the Streets&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Song-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Song-1-1024x579.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66980\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Song-1-1024x579.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Song-1-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Song-1-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Song-1-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Song-1-1536x869.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Song-1-477x270.png 477w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/Perfect-Couple-Song-1.png 1805w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo; unless you&#8217;re a true Altman-completist, feel free to skip this one. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0079710\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1979\/04\/06\/archives\/screenperfect-couple-altmans-musicalraising-questions.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/a-perfect-couple-1979\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allmovie.com\/movie\/a-perfect-couple-v105892\/review\">All Movie Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/reviews\/21392\/robert-altman-collection-mash-a-wedding-quintet-a-perfect-couple\/\">DVD Talk Review (scroll down to third review)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/86494\/a-perfect-couple#articles-reviews?articleId=172111\">TCM DVD Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/a-perfect-couple\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think you two should be kissing while I&#8217;m suturing.&#8221; Synopsis: An aspiring singer (Marta Heflin) and a Greek antiques dealer (Paul Dooley) meet through a video dating service, but find their budding romance foiled by their overbearing families and roommates. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Dating Musicals Robert Altman Films Romantic Comedy Star-Crossed Lovers Review: The opening scene of this would-be romantic comedy by Robert Altman promises an amusing look at the vagaries of dating: an obviously uncomfortable&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8193\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8193"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66981,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8193\/revisions\/66981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}