A Perfect Couple (1979)

Review by All Movie Guide
A sweet, sedate, and more or less conventional film from Robert Altman, A Perfect Couple is an amiable and agreeable diversion that would have benefited from a stronger plot and greater exploration of its characters and themes. Couple has many of the ingredients that have clicked before in other romantic comedies, including a pair of lovers that seem to be quite mismatched on the surface but are a better match on the inside. Unfortunately, these ingredients used here lack the necessary flavor. Much of what works in the film are the rock band sequences, which are very lively and inspire some very fine work from cinematographer Edmond Koons. Koons' work is impressive throughout the film, but these segments really give him a chance to let go. Perhaps drawn to the power of the musical numbers, Altman overuses them at the expense of further exploring the main story line. Paul Dooley is quite engaging and helps to give the film a lot of its charm. Marta Heflin is also fine, but the part calls for someone who can be more effortlessly appealing. A minor effort from Altman, Couple is far from perfect but fairly pleasant. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide