The Perfect Man

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The Perfect Man

PG

2005

1h 40m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

6%

Tomatometer

127 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Every time Jean (Heather Locklear) goes through a bad breakup, she moves her two daughters elsewhere. Determined to make a home in New York, their latest destination, eldest daughter Holly (Hilary Duff) creates a fake online secret admirer for her mother, based on her friend's uncle. But as the "romance" develops, Holly encounters obstacles as her mom falls for the lie. Meanwhile, Holly has found her own love interest this time around in her cute classmate Adam (Ben Feldman).

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Critics Consensus

Preposterous and predictable, The Perfect Man manages few laughs with its poorly paced sitcom script, cookie-cutter characters and contrived plotting.

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Aug 4, 2014

I kept steepling my hands and hiding behind them.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Jun 7, 2013

1/5

Watching this unspeakably rubbish teen romcom is, to quote David Lodge's classic description of National Service, like a punishment for a crime you can't remember committing.

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David Germain

Associated Press

Jun 7, 2013

The movie is a toxic buzz of sweetness that Duff's teen gal fans might lap up, while all others suffer through a prolonged sugar fit.

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Adam Smith

Radio Times

Jun 7, 2013

1/5

Even ardent Hilary Duff fans will have a hard time swallowing this thoroughly dim-witted romantic comedy.

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

Jun 7, 2013

The intrigues are laboriously contrived, the film exudes disingenuous sentiments, and it has three happy endings -- one for Mum and one for each daughter.

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Christopher Borrelli

Toledo Blade

Jun 7, 2013

2/4

[Hilary Duff movies] never do solve their one nagging flaw: Duff's characters are remarkably self-possessed for teens but not enough to recognize the sitcoms they inhabit.

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Tim M

@tgmacman Feb 24, 2026

With a contrived plot that strains the limits of human behavior, The Perfect Man is far from ideal family viewing.

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Joel T

@RT59909890 Mar 31, 2025

Sweet comedy for little girls and Duff/Locklear fans.

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Angela V

@RT09531711 Feb 14, 2025

The plot is utterly ridiculous. There is no way the working class mother could afford to move around so frequently, let alone be classified as a suitable mother. The supporting cast have no connection to the central cast aside from being tired clinches. This movie is very forgettable.

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Geke g

@RT40239519 Aug 10, 2024

Perfect man was the perfect

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Munkh T

@RT64187897 Aug 1, 2024

Very charming to watch blonde girl’s life tours.

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Bahad j

@RT27093708 Jul 25, 2024

I really liked the characters and actions of the actors.;)

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Mark Rosman

Director

Hilary Duff

Holly Hamilton

Heather Locklear

Jean Hamilton

Chris Noth

Ben Cooper

Mike O'Malley

Lenny Horton

Ben Feldman

Adam Forrest

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Synopsis

Every time Jean (Heather Locklear) goes through a bad breakup, she moves her two daughters elsewhere. Determined to make a home in New York, their latest destination, eldest daughter Holly (Hilary Duff) creates a fake online secret admirer for her mother, based on her friend's uncle. But as the "romance" develops, Holly encounters obstacles as her mom falls for the lie. Meanwhile, Holly has found her own love interest this time around in her cute classmate Adam (Ben Feldman).

Director: Mark Rosman
Producer: Marc Platt, Susan Duff, Dawn Wolfrom
Screenwriter: Gina Wendkos, Heather Robinson, Michael McQuown
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG (Some Mildly Suggestive Content)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 17, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.2M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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