Parents' Guide to

The Perfect Guy

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Predictable thriller wastes strong cast; some sex, violence.

Movie PG-13 2015 100 minutes
The Perfect Guy 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?

After two years of dating, Dave (Morris Chestnut) still isn't willing to commit, so Leah (Sanaa Lathan) sadly feels forced to break up with him. A few months later, Carter (Michael Ealy) sweeps into her life -- handsome, charming, devoted, and definitely ready to give her everything she wants. Yes, he seems like THE PERFECT GUY ... until he starts revealing his dangerous true character. And when Leah dumps him, Carter starts to stalk her, becoming more and more obsessed and progressively more of a threat.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Fair warning: You will not be surprised by anything that happens in The Perfect Guy; we've seen this story told -- and told better -- many times. (See: Fatal Attraction.) There's not much creativity in the movie's storytelling, and the primary way it moves from one scene to another appears to be the very basic fade to black. And why pad the ending when, if had been trimmed a few minutes earlier (we won't reveal too much, though the finale won't be a surprise, either), it would have had much more impact?

Which isn't to say The Perfect Guy is 100 percent imperfect. Lathan, Ealy, and Chesnut bring their A-game to a script that needed a fresh rewrite, and they almost pull it off. By the end, you're almost along for the ride. But not quite.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Perfect Guy's violence. Does it have more or less impact than what you might seen in an action or horror movie? Why do you think that is?

  • Is Leah a role model? Why or why not? Why do you think she broke up with her first boyfriend? What made her willing to start seeing Carter?

  • Why is Carter so appealing at first? What are the initial warning signs that he might not be as great as he seems? Do you think there are really guys out there like Carter? How should people deal with obsession in real life?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: September 11, 2015
  • On DVD or streaming: December 29, 2015
  • Cast: Sanaa Lathan , Michael Ealy , Morris Chestnut
  • Director: David M. Rosenthal
  • Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors
  • Studio: Screen Gems
  • Genre: Thriller
  • Run time: 100 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: violence, menace, sexuality and brief strong language
  • Last updated: January 2, 2023

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