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.