When I was sent to see this film I instantly had my doubts. The title: The Perfect Man? Maybe they were being sarcastic, but I couldn't help thinking that this movie was going to be a bit of a blowout. But when the lights went down and the screen lit up, so did my heart. I was dying to see this film! (Mainly because Mr. Big from Sex and the City was in it…grrr sexy!) So I shoved the thoughts of doubt to the back of my mind and settled into my big comfy chair in the Denzille Lane Cinema.

Suffice to say I should have gone with my gut! This movie was crap! I must apologise to my Mother for being unable to put it any other way, but it really really was! Don't get me wrong, I love a good old-fashioned rom-com, but this was way too much rom and not nearly enough com!

Heather Locklear plays the role of a typical single Mom struggling to do what's best for her kids. This seems like a simple yet touching role to play, but don't be deceived. This Mom's idea of doing what's best for her kids is going out with a million and one guys in the hope of finding the perfect one, and when she gets dumped time after time after time she packs up the family and moves to another state! Add to this a super-cringe-worthy plotline: she dresses up this upheaval of family life by calling it an "adventure"!? I found it very hard to feel sorry for this demon of a Mother, especially when she looked amazing for her age, and in reality could have any man she wanted!

Hilary Duff deals with this constant moving by setting up her own webpage, and keeps people up to date with how she is dealing with the angst of the latest change in her fragile teenage life. Having said that she deals pretty well. The latest move for the family is to New York and, as Duff arrives at her new school on her first day, it's just so stereotypical I don't even have to describe it. Put it his way, just imagine how you think a stereotypical New York school looks like, include what you think the stereotypical New York students would look like, and Hey Presto, you might as well have been watching the film with me. Anyway, Duff arrives and she gets a few odd looks because she's the new girl. One of the stereotypes asks her where she got her "kick's" (i.e. shoes, boots, general footwear), and when it turns out they have the same boots they become firm friends in that very same instant. How nice! With their newfound friendship, they use stereotypical friend's Uncle to figure out what the perfect man is like, and eventually Duff decides that he should be with her Mom. A series of harebrained, predictable events occur as those crazy kids try their level best to force two people together – awww!

Chris Noth plays stereotypical friend's Uncle. I don't want to talk about it. I was very disappointed in him. He should know better. Next!

I'm going to be honest: If you want to go to a movie and think about anything else except the movie, this is the film for you. If you believe that the perfect man is out there, and all you need is Hilary Duff to give you some pointers on how to find him, this is the film for you. If you enjoy a good rom-com, and enjoy a good cringe from time to time, this is NOT – I repeat NOT – the film for you. Your face will be cringed to a pulp and you'll lose all faith in rom-coms forever. Don't do it to yourself!!!

Rated PG (see IFCO website for details)
The Perfect Man is released on 19th August 2005.
The Perfect Man – Official website