Plot: What’s it about?
Marriage is a big step. There’s no doubt about that. It requires a huge commitment from both parties concerned. That’s the exact problem Leah (Sanaa Lathan) is facing. She seems to have a great relationship with her current boyfriend, Dave (Morris Chestnut), but when she wants things to go further, and for them to consider getting married, Dave retracts. The two ultimately break up, and eventually, Leah begins seeing Carter (Michael Ealy). The two meet at a coffee shop when Carter shows a strong sign of chivalry as he lets her go ahead of her in line. It doesn’t take long for the two of them to grow closer. All seems to be going well until Leah witnesses Carter snapping at a man at a gas station. The man wanted nothing more than to take a picture of his car, but Carter clearly misread the situation and severely overreacts. This is enough for Leah to break up with Carter right away. It’s here that he begins stalking her and harass her with endless phone calls and breaks into her house. She informs a police detective Hansen (Holt McCallany) about this, and he doesn’t offer much help outside of her keeping tabs of anything Carter does in the future. Eventually Dave contacts Leah to discuss getting back together, and she agrees. Since he’s aware of Carter and his behavior, he’s careful to give Leah advice and protect her. Carter and Dave had an intense encounter earlier in the film as well.
Admittedly, the film is something of a guilty pleasure, but it doesn’t go far enough in that direction. The PG-13 rating limits it, and the film ultimately becomes a standard predictable thriller that we’ve seen countless times. There are close encounters, shots fired, lots of running up and down stairs and lots of fumbling as well. Don’t expect originality from a film of this sort. That’s its ultimate undoing as it can be enjoyable at times. The cast plays a big part in the success as all of the actors fit their respective parts very well. I appreciate that Leah isn’t the typical weak female lead like these films tend to often have. It doesn’t take her long to see Carter’s behavior as a problem and she seeks help right away. Usually in these films, the female character will continue being forgiving and give the antagonist second chances. That doesn’t happen here. I also appreciate that the Morris Chestnut character isn’t just a cliché. He seems genuine and isn’t the needy boyfriend that’s usually depicted. Michael Ealy also does well with his role. We believe him as a nice guy and the transition into a crazy man is believable as well. All these elements work to make the film a decent rental. At no time does it veer into greatness, but it’s not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Video: How’s it look?
While not an overly flashy film, the transfer still serves the film nicely. The print is clean and free of flaws as well. Details remained strong and colors nice and smooth. Background details were also strong. So fans of the film should have no complaints. The image is AVC encoded with a 2.39:1 ratio.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The audio (DTS HD) is about on par with the video. It’s perfectly fine for this film, but it’s also nothing groundbreaking. Vocals remained clear and concise with noticeable issues. The rears kicked in at times as well. The last act of the film is when most of the action takes place. Like the transfer, fans should have no issues here.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Lust and Obsession – A pretty standard look at the making of the film. We get some interviews with the cast and crew. You’ll watch it once, but that’s about it.
- Previews
The Bottom Line
Predictable and a bit too tame, The Perfect Guy still offers enough decent entertainment value to warrant a rental. The three lead actors help elevate the material as well. There are far better films in this genre, but it works well enough to stand on its own.
