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Parents' Guide to

Picture Perfect

By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Tired '90s romcom filled with deception, sexual innuendo.

Movie PG-13 1997 105 minutes
Picture Perfect Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

Kate (Jennifer Aniston), 28 and single, has a crush on playboy coworker Sam (Kevin Bacon), who is not interested until he learns she's engaged. But the fiancé is an invention of a well-meaning colleague trying to make Kate appear more grounded in the eyes of their ad agency boss. After her promotion, Kate wants to perpetuate the lie to keep Sam interested even as the audience understands that Sam only wants what belongs to someone else. The fake fiancé, Nick (Jay Mohr), has genuine feelings for Kate and she treats him with blunt insensitivity. After hurting Nick, she realizes he's worthy of her attention.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

Teens looking for an entertaining romcom can find much better. As Kate, Aniston uses her trademark comic timing to play the kind of wavering, passive-aggressive character she perfected on the television show Friends and has been entertainingly playing ever since. But some may tire of yet another of these similar performances. The urge to root for her is strong, but one is hesitant when Kate treats a nice guy so shabbily. After all she does to him, it's difficult to believe he wouldn't be glad to wash his hands of her.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Kate's scheme. Do you think an employer cares if an employee is in a relationship or not? Would a boss really want to work with someone who so elaborately lies?

  • Sometimes lies hurt other people. Are there times when telling a lie can prevent another person from getting hurt?

  • Why might someone only want to date people who are committed to other people? Do you ever want something just because someone else has it?

Movie Details

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