The Perfect Man (2005 film)

The Perfect Man is a 2005 American romantic comedy film directed by Mark Rosman and starring Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear, and Chris Noth.

The film centers on Holly Hamilton (Duff), a teenager whose mother, Jean Hamilton (Locklear), has a pattern of starting relationships and then quickly ending them, prompting frequent moves. Tired of the constant upheavals, Holly concocts a scheme to create a fictional "perfect man" who will romance her mother, hoping it will provide Jean with stability and stop the cycle of moving.

Holly enlists the help of her friend Adam (Ben Feldman) to send Jean emails and flowers from this imaginary suitor. However, the situation becomes complicated when Jean starts to genuinely fall for the nonexistent "perfect man." Holly is forced to seek help from Adam's Uncle Ben (Noth), a charismatic restaurant owner, to impersonate the fictional persona in person.

The film explores themes of family dynamics, romantic relationships, and the challenges of deception. As Holly and Ben work together to maintain the charade, both she and her mother begin to develop unexpected feelings, leading to romantic entanglements and ultimately forcing Holly to reveal the truth behind the fabricated relationship. The film concludes with Jean finding genuine love, and Holly learning valuable lessons about honesty and the complexities of relationships.