The engaging empathy of Wicked star Kaylani Lei lifts "Almost Perfect", a routine star vehicle helmed by her favorite director, Michael Raven (nearing the end of his career).
The screenplay by Raven's regular scripter Jennifer Allison seems to have mainstream film aspirations, as it is thoughtful and actually less edgy than your usual Hollywood rom-com. That keeps this well-made picture from grabbing the viewer, remaining too timid, especially for today's audience a decade later.
The theme is easy to respond to, as our contented couple (four years together but still unmarried) has fallen into a rut, and Kaylani yearns for more spontaneity and oomph in her life. Lover Chris Cannon is not domineering, but their prematurely middle-aged behavior is gnawing at her, amplified by BFF from college August's emphasizing "live it up".
The sex scenes are routinely choreographed by Raven with the usual positions plus Wicked's condoms in use, and casting Barrett Blade as the tempting sleazeball is not merely corny but detracts from the story's credibility (he ends up humping August outside a bar rather than Kaylani, keeping her wholesomeness intact). Ending is weak, as duo tries harder to be more loving (read: hot sex) and of course closure comes in a Hollywood Ending of Kaylani declaring "We're almost perfect".
