Julia (Piper Perabo) is a fetching college student with a host of admirers and big dreams of a career. Enter Drew. He is a law student and from the minute he sees Julia, he chases her relentlessly. When he finally captures her, Drew convinces Julia to move cross country with him to California. He has good job prospects. However, she has to give up a nice career opportunity in Chicago. Despite the fact that she has only known him two months, Julia agrees to the move. But, will it be love everlasting or will there be complications? This would be a good movie to recommend to anyone who is on the verge of rushing into a relationship. Julia and Drew are genuinely in love, they believe, yet their love is definitely tested, by other relatives, by job choices, by attractive co-workers, etc. The two stars are beautiful people and this fact adds much to the film's enjoyment. Also, the film features the most darling DOG ever put on screen and a charming little apartment setting, complete with flamingo decor. No, the movie is not perfect. Yet, for those who love the tales of romance and are forever searching for a new one, this is a good addition. Because, yes, the film is perfect for a cozy evening in the dead of winter. Cook up the hot chocolate and wrap yourself in this story as well as a suitable afghan.
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Centering around a fresh out of college couple, this story of two young lovers begins with how they met at school, moved in together, and all the happenings before, during and after.
With Martin Henderson leading and narrating the film, you see generally only his perspective of the story. Piper Perabo, plays his girlfriend, and true love. Although the film can be a bit slow at times, and a little silly...it does have some very funny situations and moments.
I enjoyed it, and will probably see it in the future as well. It's not the best film out there, but for the budget they probably filmed it with, and the locations and actors, it's really not bad at all.
A light romantic comedy, which is probably best suited for either a lonely Friday night at home, or a good date movie. -
Buddy-517 February 2005In "Perfect Opposites," Drew and Julia, two college grads from "a school in the Midwest," decide to head to L.A. to start life together as a committed couple (not much of a move, as it turns out, since the college scenes were actually filmed at USC). However, in no time at all, the pressures of trying to establish their careers, combined with Drew's innate fear of commitment, end up putting a serious strain on the relationship.
"Perfect Opposites" is a fairly conventional romantic comedy that does at least offer a few flashes of insight into the complexities of man/woman relationships, even though the motivations for some of the characters' actions are strangely arbitrary and inscrutable at times. Nevertheless, as the complications arise, we find ourselves identifying with the two main characters more than we expect to at the beginning of the story. Unfortunately, the film insists on parading a bunch of cutesy L.A. stereotypes before the camera, severely undercutting the sense of reality it establishes in the scenes between Julia and Drew. There is one very funny scene in which Drew's old college roommate lays out his theory about where men and women fit in the evolutionary scheme of things, but the film doesn't achieve that level of comic cleverness very often.
As Drew and Julia, Martin Henderson and Piper Perabo make an attractive, likable couple, and the secondary performers do what they can with the characters they've been handed.
"Perfect Opposites" is a hard film to call because it feels both artificial and realistic in roughly equal measure. It takes a slightly more mature view of the world than most films of its type, building to a final scene that is a tad more thoughtful than what we are accustomed to in a romantic comedy. For that reason alone it deserves some recognition. -
CAMACHO-424 July 2005this story which revolves around Martin Henderson and Piper Perabo's characters Julia and Drew is about two college students who fall in love. Right before graduation they fall helplessly in love and they decide to move to Hollywood to start Drew's career. While Julia is completely in love with Drew she begins to regret putting her life on hold for him. The story then centers around whether or not they should break up. Overall the film does have a predictable plot but Henderson and Perabo have great chemistry which makes the movie worth watching at least once. This straight to video romantic comedy is good to watch with you spouse or special someone but don't expect to watch a great romance classic.
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Wes4720 November 2011I guess they thought they were being innovative by starting after the beginning, but I like things to start at the beginning. Call me a stick-in-the-mud if you will, but that doesn't change my preference.
So I didn't like that this film starts about 1/4 of the way through, then goes back to the beginning. I also don't like the voice-over, another "innovative" technique that I think has been done to death.
I also didn't like that she dumped her boyfriend to go out with the main character, and he didn't respect her boundary that she was already taken. Treat each other with disrespect from the beginning, and you'll go right on doing it.
That's what eventually broke this couple up - he didn't keep his promises to her nor keep his eyes to himself. She didn't let him have a say in the decisions that they were supposed to make as a couple.
Both of them blame the other person and don't accept responsibility for their trail of broken relationships. So although it's no surprise that they're both single at the end of the film, they are inexplicably thinking about getting back together again.
This movie goes in my "Watch it Once and Only Once" category. -
jpschapira14 May 2006Any movie that begins with a title in written like: "A film made by everyone who worked in it", is a movie that was realized with people having fun; people enjoying the term of "filmmaking". It shows in "Perfect Opposites" that everybody worked with happiness and dedication. It's a comedy, but it's well made, funny and good.
The story is told by Drew, played naturally and confidently by Martin Henderson. He wants the viewer to know what happen to him and a girl he is in love with. He places himself in Los Angeles about to get it on with her, but suddenly the movie stops. Drew has stopped it; to go back in time and tell us how both of them met (it has been done before, but it's constantly repeated here and it works every time) Julia is the name of the girl.
There was a movie I saw a long time ago about some girls struggling for their life and trying to be independent, and one of them wanted to be a singer. It was called "Coyote Ugly", and I don't remember liking the movie very much, but the girl in the main role; a beautiful and talented actress called Piper Perabo who illuminated the screen and still does today, here as Julia.
Julia and Drew suffer every couple's problems, and the movie does a very good job putting them on screen. Drew's friend Danny (Jason Winer) has a theory about the monogamy of men: "They can't have sex with one woman only". And Drew starts to think about that and concludes that if he stays with Julia he'll have sex with only one woman in his life.
But he loves her, and although she loves him and it should be enough, we know that most of the time it's not. They become friends of an older couple (a null Jennifer Tilly and a wonderful Artie Lange) who gives advice to each of them when they go through rough times. It happens that we know what we want but we are not able to show it.
The movie is an example of the comedies with pleasure we should be getting every week in theaters. Pieces about people with feelings and aspirations Like Drew, who works for Louis (an excellent Joe Pantoliano) and forgets about Julia. But we laugh then, because they are very similar and they find themselves because of it; and we smile when they kiss with passion.
Director Matt Cooper causes that effect on us, and he should be proud. Stewart Zully, who wrote the picture with Cooper, should be proud too. They do their best to skip the clichés of the genre, and they skip a lot of them. And the few they show are so in the tone of the film that they don't seem like clichés. They are connected to the characters and their forms of being, and we believe it.
Because in every romantic comedy, whether good or bad, the clichés are just clichés because they need to be in the film. Not here; this is a comedy at a different level, away from everything you've seen lately. Take my word. -
Boy meets girl, things are good, but then there is conflict! Holy mackerel this is unpredictable.
I had waves of a sick-feeling while watching this moving at how corny and predictable the dialogue and situations are.
I've never heard so many clichés about relationships.
This is a very stale romantic comedy. The stars look tired and bored. Most tiresome were the attempts to show a little uniqueness by the narrator freezing the frame and winding back certain scenes and playing them again. Too corny.
Don't see this. -
claudio_carvalho22 December 2005In the Midwest of USA, the sweethearts Drew (Martin Henderson) and Julia (Piper Perabo) are graduating in the college. Drew convinces Julia to move with him to Los Angeles, where his sister Terri (Kathleen Wilhoite) lives and got a job for him. The young couple become close friends of their neighbors Elyse (Jennifer Tilly) and Lenny Steinberg (Artie Lange), who owns a small real estate business. However, the immature Drew breaks the relationship with Julia, afraid of the consequences of their commitment.
"Perfect Opposites" is a little gem in the genre of romantic comedy. The cute story presents funny, romantic and dramatic situations in right doses and pace, and has a very appropriate inconclusive end. The chemistry of Martin Henderson and Piper Perabo together of the humor of Jennifer Tilly and Artie Lange and good lines make this sweet movie a surprisingly great entertainment, and therefore highly recommended for fans of a delightful romantic comedy. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Opostos Perfeitos" ("Perfect Opposites") -
adriel_michaud23 March 2005Generally I've got a pretty high tolerance for crappy movies. I've sat through Gigli, Battlefield Earth, etc. But this movie was unremorseless in it's lack of thought. The main characters are completely pathetic and the stuff that they have to say to drive this plot (into the ground) is completely non-sensual. Not only that, but they obviously show in the movie that the two main characters hate each other, only to narrate something different in the end to make a cushy ending.
I'm pretty sure that the guy who gave this movie 10/10 didn't even watch the same movie. There is nothing redeeming about this movie. No "funny" romantic comedy parts, no insight into relationships, the supporting roles are bland. . .Do not take movie recommendations from anyone who recommends this movie. -
sweetnspice729 February 2012Well, this is one of those movies which are not rated so well, but surprise you.
Its about a young college couple who move in together and then, how life follows, how life changes.
I think it will resonate with those of us more, who are in a serious relationship/have been in a serious relationship/ fallen out of love / lost the love.
Its a nice, feel good movie. Which teaches a thing or two. Pleasant watch.
PS: A good watch for people who want to learn something about relationships/men/women too! :) -
madmadi0929 December 2006i don't even know where to begin. maybe we should start at the awful selection of wardrobe: the high cut pants in floral prints, worn in every scene by a supposedly popular,'hot' lass. not working, especially given that it was made 10 years after they went out of fashion. secondly the characters were both hideously unlikable. ironically, considering the name of the film, neither were perfect and by the end of the first scene i found myself wishing both them and myself were dead. i hoped it couldn't get any worse and stuck out the other 70 minutes.. but miraculously it managed to descend to a new low in script writing and film that i never knew existed.. leaving the climax to be a guy wiping his nose with a tortilla. i'm giving it a '2' merely for the performance of the acupuncturist, who did an outstanding job, unfortunately did not end up killing drew with his needles like i had hoped. maybe if they would've considered adding a scene like this in it might have managed a '3'. all i can say is i'm glad i didn't have to pay money for it, although i am rather sad i wasted a free voucher on it and i now need counseling, which is costing me a fortune.. so really it didn't end up being free after all =[ at least now i have the comfort of knowing that if i fail life i can write a ridiculously s***, supposedly 'romantic-comedy' and it'll have as good a chance as this movie of being made onto DVD. better luck next time folks. actually.. don't bother trying again. peace out.
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NASH7773 April 2003Recently at the movies, there hasn't been a lot of GOOD romantic comedies without either being 1) cheesy and predictable, or 2) sappy and not funny. A Piece of my Heart (aka My Last First Date) not only has some great scenes about the 'truth of dating', it also provides some comical fillers and connections between the lives of all the characters. Based from the play 'Heart', this script had many truthful analogies about what each sex is thinking. It covers both sides of a relationship (Martin Henderson and Piper Perabo) and then gains more insight from the friends watching the relationship. This movie is brutally honest and I believe that EVERYONE who goes to see this movie will say (at least once), 'That's happened to me before'. Finally, it's a good romantic comedy since last year.
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this movie wasn't the greatest most spectacular movie I've ever seen, however it does have that certain hopeless romantic predictability one feels like watching sometimes. it's one of those movies u can sit and watch on a lazy Sunday morning when nothing else is on. overall, it was cute even though u know what's going to happen, but it's one of those movies u watch and think wow if only it was real life. the story was pretty much inevitable but it was cute, the clichés thrown in got a little much at some points, but they did have to do with the story so I guess they were okay. Overall Piper Perabo is a much better actress and doesn't need to do made for TV movie but if it's one of those days when u don't feel like getting out of your pajamas this movie is for u.
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As much as I love the perpetual eye-candy known as Mr. Martin Henderson, I couldn't stomach this movie at all. Piper 'Julia Roberts wanna-be' Perabo is a very irritating excuse for an actress (I've only liked her in one role from her entire career thus far and I've forgotten the title of that film so don't ask) trust me I gave this one my all but I stopped watching after 15 minutes because I felt like I was wasting my time. I didn't like the fact that Martin's character was doing a voice-over either as that sort of thing is flipping' clichéd. He kept pausing and rewinding scenarios as if watching it once wasn't torture enough. Please save yourselves and watch something better instead of this fluff.
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Lady_Targaryen2 January 2006This movie is the second one I watch with Piper Perabo. The first movie I watched with her was Coyote Ugly ,wich was also in my opinion, the best movie she made,specially compared with ''A Piece of My Heart'', which she is actually ''weak''. I didn't like very much ''A Piece of My Heart'' also because I don't like very much predictable endings, and when Julia says to Drew in the end of the movie that she got divorce I already knew she would end up being with him again. I thought that Julia's character was too good to stay with Drew,a guy who was so much malleable and susceptible to make wrong choices. The good thing about this movie, is to show some of the real problems and discussions that we do have in a serious relationship(specially between men and women) and starts to make our lives complicated.
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mikidutza_the_best18 February 2007From the beginning this movie had a nice story,a bit predictable but you can't see much creativity in teen movies : all come back to the same story : young people falling in love(you know the end).But even if it's not the best comedy/romantic I saw I must admit it's pretty interesting and the acting is good.The acting really makes you interested,moves you in a certain way.It's a good take-home movie.The story puts you in a romantic mood,it even makes you feel a bit sad because of the breaking-up part.But as in almost all romantic movies it has a nice ending leaving you with the feeling that even in real life love conquers all,even it's not completely true.It's worth seeing and I had a comfy evening watching it.
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mich317-14 July 2003I loved this movie! Usually these test screenings are painful for me because I am a critical person. This movie worked for me on so many levels-chiefly the casting was flawless and their performances hugely satisfying. What is most surprising is that the movie succeeds in creating that old fashioned romantic comedy where the leads are true 'movie stars'. You love them because they have charisma, screen presence and chemistry and you simply can't look away! In these movies, the supporting players are true character actors that, due to the generosity of the leads, steal every bit scene they're in. It's been years since a romantic comedy has had any success or appeal to me. Usually these are tortured films with post-Freudian/post-modern angst attempting to re-invent the genre by making the leads as unattractive and neurotic as filmmakers think audiences can relate to. "Love and Sex" is a case on point of the nadir post-whatever romantic comedy. This film stars the improbable coupling of the ex-bond girl/Woody Allen alum/model Famke Jansen struggling to be modern in NYC and having a warm and fuzzy time with Jon Favreau the once favorite anti-movie star. Or "Happy Accidents" the Marisa Tomei-Vincent D'onofrio romantic comedy which suffers from and even greater desperate need to attenuate the genre by making its lead a space alien without having watched the wonderful "Starman" with Jeff Bridges for pointers. These and others like them represent the soulless grasping of clueless filmmakers trying to re- invent the wheel only to end up with a sloppy, narcissistic acting exercises on tape.
It seems to me that these "quirky" indie romances have a chip on their shoulder; as if they had been backed up into an angry corner, screaming their head off. Their look and style is usually suffocating and claustrophobic. I found "Piece of my Heart" refreshing and familiar, the way old fashioned movies with their movie stars and predictable formulas always promised a good time, a true escape. At the screening there were a group of fourteen year old girls. The film had been an obvious success with them and someone commented that they were the true audience of this film. I disagree. I have sat through films designed for this demographic, replete with ribald fart jokes and enough stupidity and insincerity to last them through High School. " A Piece of my Heart" is too sincere and guileless too do that. It succeeds despite the obstacles of a jaded 'post-modern' audience because it truly has the elusive ingredient that love stories (no matter when) have always reached for-Chemistry!
And yet, as old fashioned as it seems it has such verve and modern flair. The characters are totally contemporary. The look is a fun kaleidoscope of LA living. The editing has all the wit and modern vernacular youth culture has come to expect and love. All that is no simple achievement in my estimation. What comes through is true movie magic! -
Andaeiii12 March 2016this movie has a lot to say, and i tell you.. its more like we never tend to see life thru the eyes of someone that persists to fall in our circle against all odds.. taking people for granted is relative when that person is culled out for you....
this movie is just so simple and explains perfectly what thats about.. not the official action packed kind of movie but makes a Lot sense.. and speaks a lot... awesome act.. never take for granted someone thats loves the live out of you, i mean there are so many fakes out there. people should pray for relationships as this.
it makes a lot of sense to see a movie carved out to speak to relationships, and families in the making.
and for Piper Perabo, lovely.. i mean, perfect act...