THE PERFECT DATE
A charming teen rom-com best saved for home viewing.
Should You Watch It?
The Perfect Date is a predictable but charming teenage romantic comedy. The two leads have strong comedic chemistry, and the story eventually lands on a worthwhile truth: family and friends matter more than money, status, or an idealized future.
The cost is substantial language that the story does not need. The writing also leans heavily on clichés and takes time to develop its characters into the likable people they should be. That makes this a better home viewing choice, where you can decide whether the humor and moral turn outweigh the content concerns.
For teenagers and adults who enjoy romantic comedies and can handle frequent profanity, wait for home viewing.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESHigh school senior Brooks Rattigan wants to attend Yale, but he needs stronger extracurriculars and more money. After agreeing to serve as a stand-in date, Brooks and his programming-genius friend, Murph, create an app that lets people hire Brooks for dates and special occasions.
Business quickly grows. Brooks also meets Celia, his first stand-in date, and the girl of his dreams, Shelby. Soon, his pursuit of money, college, and romance begins to put his friendships and family at risk.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is an enjoyable but imperfect romantic comedy. The film is funny, charming, and satisfying, while its two leads have great chemistry and bounce easily off one another.
The weaknesses are in the writing. The story relies heavily on clichés, and character development is sometimes slow. The result is a predictable teenage rom-com that does what its audience expects, even if it does not always make its characters as likable as they should be.
The Worldview
The film has a strong Romantic worldview. Brooks romanticizes two goals: attending his dream school and winning the girl of his dreams. Money and achievement become part of the life he thinks will make him happy.
The movie does offer a meaningful correction. Brooks eventually realizes that he has romanticized his future and that family and friends matter more than material things or money. He also learns to be thankful for what he has and comes clean about his lie. The film includes strong capitalist elements, presenting money and business as major forces in Brooks’ choices.
The film also includes a homosexual character whose crush on someone who comes into where he works is visible to the audience. This is part of the film’s broader focus on romantic desire and relationships.
The film’s central lesson about valuing people over possessions aligns with Scripture: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong Romantic worldview where character romanticizes getting into his dream school and getting his dream girl, two characters fall in love after being friends, but there’s some light moral elements that include positive family portrayals, character realizes that family and friends matter more than material things and money and comes clean in his lie, character also realizes he needs to be thankful for what he has, and some strong capitalist elements, plus there’s a homosexual character where the audience can see he has a crush on someone who comes into where he works
Foul Language
19 obscenities, 12 light profanities (mostly OMGs), and one scene where character talks about going to the bathroom
Violence
Girl slaps guy in the face during fake breakup
Sex
No sex scenes or sexual immorality but there are two kisses between couples, and a guy kisses his guy friend on the neck as a joke for being thankful for him
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
No alcohol
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Lying, greed, selfishness, two characters in a fake dating relationship, and characters are very sarcastic in their banter towards one another.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Brooks learns that family and friends matter more than material things. What people or relationships might you be tempted to value less while chasing success?
Matthew 6:19–21 · Philippians 2:3–4Brooks becomes caught up in money and his dream of Yale. How can ambition become unhealthy, and how can you pursue goals faithfully?
Proverbs 16:3 · Colossians 3:23Brooks eventually comes clean about his lie. Why does honesty matter even when telling the truth costs you something?
Ephesians 4:25 · Proverbs 12:22The Final Word
The Perfect Date is a funny, charming teen rom-com with good chemistry and a worthwhile lesson about valuing people over money. Its clichés and unnecessary foul language make it better for home viewing. For teenagers and adults, the answer is WAIT FOR HOME — TEENS AND ADULTS.
