A stunning John Travolta, the tight figure of Jamie Lee Curtis dancing in aerobics class, an 80s film with a $20 million budget – what could possibly go wrong?
As it turns out, a lot of things.
Here’s the story of a film that had all the makings of perfection, but ultimately failed for a number of surprising reasons.
When John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis were announced as the stars of ‘Perfect’ in 1985, few could have predicted that the film would flop. Both were at the peak of their careers, loved by audiences and highly sought after in Hollywood.
With director James Bridges at the helm and Columbia Pictures putting an impressive $20 million into the project, the film seemed like a guaranteed hit. But once the film was released, it became one of the biggest disappointments in Hollywood history. Worldwide, the film grossed only $12.9 million.
In addition, ‘Perfect’ was nominated for three Golden Raspberry Awards, including for Worst Actor (Travolta), Worst Supporting Actress (Marilu Henner) and Worst Screenplay – alas! Not to mention the film was singled out for worst picture at the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.
For those who have forgotten, ‘Perfect’ tells the story of journalist Adam Lawrence, who is assigned to interview a successful entrepreneur suspected of being a drug dealer. But his second assignment – exposing fitness clubs – leads him to Jessie Wilson (Jamie Lee Curtis), an aerobics instructor who has no love for journalists.
So what went wrong? Let’s break down the mistakes and fun facts that made this film a disaster.
Overly revealing gym shorts
Some critics called Perfection one of the most unintentional films of the 1980s, filled with odd decisions that made it both ridiculous and strangely entertaining. From John Travolta’s overly revealing gym shorts to endless shots of aerobics classes that looked like fitness porn, the film exuded a strange energy that critics couldn’t ignore.
One of the famous aerobics scenes – with more pelvic movements than anyone would have guessed – was probably the reason for the film’s R rating. Jamie Lee Curtis didn’t like it, but we’ll talk about that later.
All those gym scenes showing close-ups of crotches and glistening bodies only enhanced what some have called the film’s ‘weird gay vibe’ – complete with a soundtrack featuring Whitney Houston, Jermaine Jackson, Berlin and Wham.
Variety didn’t hold back and gave one of the harshest verdicts to ‘Perfect’:
‘On any level, ‘Perfect’ is a disgrace and unlikely to satisfy any audience.’
How Jamie Lee Curtis lost 10 pounds of muscle
Today, if people remember ‘Perfection,’ it’s because of Jamie Lee Curtis as a top aerobics instructor. Playing Jessie Wilson, a confident and charismatic workout guru, she instantly became a sex symbol, captivating audiences with her athleticism and energy
Jamie Lee Curtis was delighted to take part in the film, revealing: ‘I’m a sporty person, somewhat of a closeted athlete. Whenever I take a gym class, I imagine myself doing it. But while I was certainly intrigued by the story, I was thrilled to work with these people.’
She trained for months before filming began, and all the aerobics scenes were shot first, followed by the dramatic parts. By the time the final workout scene was filmed during the credits, Curtis, who only ate once a day, had lost 10 pounds of muscle.
Oh, and she even made a music video with Jermaine Jackson to promote the film. Now that’s dedication!
John Travolta has no regrets about doing it
John Travolta was huge in the mid-1980s – at least he had been that way just a few years earlier. By the late ‘70s, he had become one of the biggest movie stars in the world thanks to the films Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1978). He was a pop culture icon, heartthrob and box office draw.
However, by the time the film ‘Perfection’ (1985) was released, his career began to cool down. Despite the box office failure that temporarily stalled John Travolta’s career, he does not regret taking part in ‘Perfection’.
For him, the highlight was the opportunity to work with director James Bridges again and the friendships he made with the cast.
On the other hand, critics were not so kind: some even remarked, ‘Honestly, the whole film just seems like a bunch of scenes of Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta playing sports.’
After ‘Perfection,’ John Travolta took an unexpected break from the big screen, only returning in 1989 with ‘The Experts’ and ‘Look Who’s Talking.’ It was four years before audiences saw him in another film, marking one of the longest breaks in his acting career.
The longest shoot in history?
When director James Bridges began filming Perfection, an adaptation of Aaron Latham’s screenplay about a Rolling Stone reporter, it was scheduled to last 81 days. But that schedule was quickly scrapped, and the film ended up taking 140 days to complete.
Jamie Lee Curtis, accustomed to the fast-paced world of low-budget cinema, was not thrilled with the protracted timeline. In a 1984 interview with The Boston Globe newspaper, she joked:
‘It’s not the fastest production I’ve ever worked on. We probably could have made every film I’ve ever made in the time it took to make this one.’
Another indication of how much money and time was spent on the film: Because it was impractical to shoot Rolling Stone episodes at the magazine’s New York headquarters, a nearly identical two-story replica of the office was built on two sets at Laird International Studios in Los Angeles.
However, director James Bridges justifies the drawn-out process, stating:
‘When all is said and done, when everything is put together and we’re ready to show the film, that’s the real test – if it’s right, then we haven’t spent too much time shooting. But if it’s wrong, no amount of time in the world will save it. People will let us know about it at the box office.’
Today, we know the answer.
The real star of the film
One of the most surprising roles in ‘Perfect’ belongs not to a Hollywood actor, but to Jann Wenner, the actual co-founder and editor of Rolling Stone magazine. Playing Mark Roth, Travolta’s editor in the film, Wenner brought a level of authenticity that even seasoned actors couldn’t match.
Wenner didn’t just come on set and get the part – he went through a full screen test with John Travolta! And when asked how realistic the film turned out, he didn’t hold back:
‘Absolutely accurate. Naturally there are some liberties taken, but all of Jim’s films are journalistic to some extent – they look at the scene and accurately convey it.’
Wenner also expressed hope that the film will dispel some misconceptions about Rolling Stone, saying:
‘I think the film will show Rolling Stone for what it really is. I think the film will explain Rolling Stone to a lot of people who may have a misconception of what it is.’
Whether ‘Perfect’ actually succeeds in doing that can be debated, but Wenner’s acting? Surprisingly well.
What the title Perfect meant
What did the title Perfect mean to Jamie Lee Curtis? For her, it’s not flawlessness, but personal freedom.
She explained, ‘There’s no such thing as perfection, but I think perfection is people’s right to be who they want to be. That’s what perfection is in my eyes. And that people are entitled to that right is what [my character] Jessie stands up for in the film.’ Standing up for your right to be who you want to be is what Jessie Wilson is all about.’
‘Perfect’ was a very commercial yuppie drama about journalism and fitness clubs, but word of mouth about the film often centred around Jamie Lee Curtis and to be: ‘You have to see her body!’.
The sad truth about the aerobics scenes
The aerobics scenes in the film Perfection (1985) became infamous for their provocative nature, with Jamie Lee Curtis wearing leotards that ranged from revealing to almost see-through.
The exercises she performed in these scenes, flexing her hips and tightening her pelvis, were seen by many as crossing the line from mere innuendo to outright lewdness.
Curtis herself frankly admitted to being disappointed with the way the scenes were presented.
‘These are supposed to be substitute love scenes,’ she explained in a 1984 New Yorker interview. ‘But in a way these scenes are almost more pornographic than if I were naked. That’s my big disappointment (in the film). I think the scenes are too drawn out. And because the meaning of them is so much dragged out and hammered into your head, I think if you saw me making love, it would be a little softer.’
When Curtis asked for those scenes to be cut, she was told they had already been cut. This behind-the-scenes truth about the infamous aerobics scenes shows that the provocative elements of the film weren’t just part of the plot – they became the focus of attention, which upset Curtis.
Her final ‘nude’ scene?
Despite her iconic role, Jamie Lee Curtis was bothered by more than just her sex symbol status. As she candidly explained, ‘That’s been my biggest problem since I started… I never had any training as an actress.
But I was 18 and I did a little horror film called Halloween, which was a huge, huge hit.’ Curtis revealed that she ended up starring in more horror films and even nude scenes, but promised that in the future ‘it would be negotiable for me’
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune in 1985, Jamie Lee Curtis revealed that after appearing nude in her previous two films, she was glad that her role in Perfection did not require nudity. She hoped her days of stripping on screen were behind her – and they were. Apart from a brief nipple flash in The Tailor from Panama (2001), she has not appeared nude on screen again as of November 2021.
Quentin Tarantino’s unexpected review
Although the film Perfection received harsh criticism and poor reviews upon release, it has since gained a cult following.
John Wilson’s book Official Razzie Movie Guide even listed it as one of the ‘100 Most Enjoyable Bad Movies Ever Made’.
Quentin Tarantino also praised the film in a 1994 interview with Rolling Stone, calling it ‘vastly underrated due to Curtis’ very tight performance.’ Not too bad!
A recreation of her iconic aerobics routine
Nearly four decades after starring in Perfect, Jamie Lee Curtis proved she can still move – and has a great sense of humour. Joined by Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, Curtis recreated the legendary aerobics scene from the 1985 film, bringing the hip-pushing choreography back to life in a hilariously funny performance.
The sketch begins to Jermaine Jackson and Whitney Houston’s 1985 hit ‘Shock Me’ as Curtis, in his trademark striped jumpsuit, leads an aerobics class. Fallon, stepping into John Travolta’s shoes, sweats along with her as she mimics the proverbial moves – and yes, it’s not without its jolts.
The comedy reached the point of absurdity when Fallon decided to send Curtis a video of his own dance moves. As befits a professional, Curtis pulled the phone out of her tight outfit and kissed it, before sensually eating pizza and dousing herself with champagne. Naturally, she didn’t miss a beat, making circular motions with her hips.
The pair took things to the next level with even wilder antics, culminating in Fallon releasing a pigeon from his shorts and Curtis bringing a defibrillator to get the ‘dead body’ to join the routine. Fallon, clearly impressed with the original, joked about the length of the scene, ‘That scene lasted – I’m not kidding – about five minutes, right?’
To which Curtis, laughing, replied, ‘No, no, that scene lasted about seven minutes!’.
Clearly, Curtis has lost none of her grip or sense of humour, proving that even decades later, her ‘Perfect Aerobics’ scene will always be in esteem.
I’m not going to claim that ‘Perfect’ is a cinematic masterpiece, but I think it’s better than its reputation would suggest. I’ve always been a fan of John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis, and there’s a certain charm to their acting. But what really surprised me was finding out how Jamie Lee Curtis actually feels about those infamous aerobics scenes.
I had no idea she had such mixed feelings about them! It’s amazing how what was supposed to be playful and sexy ended up being something she wasn’t quite comfortable with. Of course, one can understand that this scene could have been considered a funny moment, but hearing her talk about it made me wonder: should we rethink our attitudes towards such scenes in retro films? Maybe it’s time for a more balanced discussion? What do you think?
