"The Perfect Guy" starts off with an intriguing premise, and the first thirty minutes of the film sizzle with a romantic relationship between Leah (Sanaa Lathan) and Carter (Michael Ealy). But the film then takes a U-turn to a dismal and predictable story of a deranged stalker and subsequent revenge taken by the victim.
Lathan and Ealy are both good in the parts. The chemistry was excellent, and there was a wonderful scene where she introduced her "perfect guy" to her parents. But after that heartwarming trip, a pit stop at a gas station changes everything when Carter nearly kills a harmless bystander in a frenzy of jealous violence.
The gas station attendant calls the police, who never arrive to press charges against Carter. An ongoing problem with the film was the complete incompetence of the slow-acting police in response to the clear endangerment of the life of Leah.
SPOILER ALERT: By the final third of the film, it was clear that Leah had to play the role of vigilante, much like Charles Bronson in his "Death Wish" films. Incredibly, the advice that Leah received for how to kill her persecutor was given by the inept police detective. Apparently, it is not police protocol to give such advice at the station, but it is acceptable if given in a coffee shop!
Overall, "The Perfect Guy" was well-photographed and included a good cast. But there could have been more creative choices to breathe life into a tired formula.
Lathan and Ealy are both good in the parts. The chemistry was excellent, and there was a wonderful scene where she introduced her "perfect guy" to her parents. But after that heartwarming trip, a pit stop at a gas station changes everything when Carter nearly kills a harmless bystander in a frenzy of jealous violence.
The gas station attendant calls the police, who never arrive to press charges against Carter. An ongoing problem with the film was the complete incompetence of the slow-acting police in response to the clear endangerment of the life of Leah.
SPOILER ALERT: By the final third of the film, it was clear that Leah had to play the role of vigilante, much like Charles Bronson in his "Death Wish" films. Incredibly, the advice that Leah received for how to kill her persecutor was given by the inept police detective. Apparently, it is not police protocol to give such advice at the station, but it is acceptable if given in a coffee shop!
Overall, "The Perfect Guy" was well-photographed and included a good cast. But there could have been more creative choices to breathe life into a tired formula.