🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Chris Nelson
- Genre: Comedy, Romance
- Release year: 2019
- Runtime (length): 1h 29min
- IMDb rating: 5.8/10 (50k votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A guy pretends to be different people to get money for college but learns that being himself is more profitable, or something, involving a girl who wears combat boots.
🍿 The Perfect Date: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Brooks’ Dilemma: Yale Dreams and Financial Realities
Brooks Rattigan, a high school senior with Ivy League aspirations, faces a significant obstacle: a lack of funds and extracurricular activities. He dreams of attending Yale, envisioning a life of prestige and success, but his reality consists of working at a sandwich shop and facing a hefty tuition bill. This sets the stage for his unconventional entrepreneurial venture.

The ‘Stand-In’ Boyfriend App is Born
Opportunity strikes when Brooks poses as Celia Lieberman’s boyfriend for a school dance. Discovering a knack for adapting to different personalities, he teams up with his tech-savvy friend, Murph, to create an app where he offers himself as a ‘stand-in’ boyfriend for various occasions. The app quickly gains popularity, providing Brooks with a steady income but also blurring the lines between his real self and the personas he adopts.

Complications and Self-Discovery
As Brooks juggles his fake dating life with his pursuit of Yale, he finds himself drawn to Shelby Pace, a wealthy and seemingly perfect girl. However, his commitment to the app and his changing identities strain his relationships with both Shelby and Celia. He begins to question his motives and the authenticity of his persona, realizing that his pursuit of Yale may be leading him away from his true self.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Brooks Rattigan (Noah Centineo): A resourceful high school student who creates a dating app to fund his college dreams, leading him on a journey of self-discovery.
- Celia Lieberman (Laura Marano): A self-assured and unconventional girl who challenges Brooks’s perceptions and helps him find his true self.
- Murph (Odiseas Georgiadis): Brooks’s loyal and tech-savvy best friend who helps him develop and manage his dating app.
- Shelby Pace (Camila Mendes): The seemingly perfect girl who represents Brooks’s initial aspirations but ultimately leads him to question his values.
- Charlie Rattigan (Matt Walsh): Brooks’s father, whose relationship with Brooks evolves as Brooks navigates his college and personal aspirations.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Celia: “You’re like a chameleon, just changing to fit in.” – Celia confronts Brooks about his constant transformations to please others, highlighting his lack of authenticity.
- Brooks: “I just want to be someone that’s worth something.” – Brooks reveals his underlying insecurity and desire for validation, driving his actions throughout the film.
- Brooks: “I spent so much time trying to be what I thought everyone else wanted, I forgot to be myself.” – Brooks realizes his mistake in trying to be someone he’s not, leading to his personal growth.
💰Box Office
- Budget: N/A
- Domestic Gross: N/A
- Worldwide Gross: N/A
💥 The Perfect Date Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, I admit it, I’m a sucker for these teen rom-coms! ‘The Perfect Date’ was exactly what I expected – cheesy, predictable, but totally enjoyable. Noah Centineo is adorable, and I loved Laura Marano’s character, Celia. The scene where they finally connect over their shared love of literature was so sweet. It reminded me of my own awkward high school days, trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted. If you’re looking for a feel-good movie, this is it!
- Who would enjoy:
- “Teen romance fans”
- “Noah Centineo fans”
- “Viewers looking for a lighthearted, feel-good movie”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Mild language”
- “Some suggestive content”
Professional Reviews
- IMDB: “While predictable, ‘The Perfect Date’ is a sweet and innocent teen rom-com. Noah Centineo is charming, and the film offers a refreshing message about staying true to yourself. It’s perfect for a light and enjoyable watch.
- Rotten Tomatoes: “Though it treads familiar ground, ‘The Perfect Date’ is elevated by its relatable characters and heartfelt moments. It’s a charming and entertaining take on the classic teen romance formula.
- Common Sense Media: “This teen romance is predictable but charming. While it covers familiar ground, it’s an enjoyable watch with a good message about self-discovery and friendship.
Audience Reactions
Noah Centineo’s charm and the sweet romance are the film’s highlights.: Viewers generally agree that the movie is predictable but enjoyable, praising the chemistry between the leads and the lighthearted tone.
The quirky and relatable characters make the story engaging.: Many fans appreciate the film’s positive message about being true to oneself and valuing friendships.
Overall Consensus: ‘The Perfect Date’ is a predictable but charming teen rom-com that delivers a feel-good experience, making it a worthwhile watch for fans of the genre.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Noah Centineo and Laura Marano previously played love interests in the Disney Channel series Austin & Ally.”
- “The movie was filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana.”
🖥️ How to Watch The Perfect Date?
The Perfect Date is currently available for streaming on Netflix. As a Netflix original, it is exclusively available on their platform. Unfortunately, it is not available for rent or purchase on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, or Google Play Movies.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed The Perfect Date, you might like these similar films:
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018): Shares the same lead actor, Noah Centineo, and explores similar themes of teenage romance and self-discovery in a lighthearted way.
- The Kissing Booth (2018): Another Netflix teen rom-com that deals with relationship dilemmas, growing up, and features familiar faces from the teen movie scene.
- Can’t Buy Me Love (1987): A classic 80s movie about a nerdy guy paying a popular girl to pretend to be his girlfriend, similar to the app idea in ‘The Perfect Date’.
- She’s All That (1999): Features a similar ‘makeover’ trope and explores themes of popularity, authenticity, and finding love where you least expect it.
🛒 The Perfect Date Related Products
- The Perfect Date Movie Poster: A high-quality reproduction of the original movie poster. Perfect for fans of the movie and collectors of film memorabilia.
- The Perfect Date Inspired T-Shirt – Brooks Rattigan’s ‘Yale’ Design: A stylish T-shirt featuring the ‘Yale’ design, inspired by Brooks Rattigan’s dreams in the movie. Made from comfortable, high-quality material.
- The Perfect Date: The Novelization: Relive the story in book form. Expands on the film with additional scenes and character development.
- The Perfect Date: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Get the original soundtrack of The Perfect Date and groove to the melodies of the movie.
🎧 Soundtrack
The Perfect Date features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
The Perfect Date is exclusively available on Netflix. You need a Netflix subscription to stream the movie.
The Perfect Date is a lighthearted teen rom-com. It has been described as predictable, but still enjoyable. Some viewers appreciate the chemistry between the leads and the film’s message about self-acceptance. User reviews indicate a mixed reception, with some finding it fun and entertaining, while others consider it cliché and unoriginal.
The Perfect Date stars Noah Centineo as Brooks Rattigan, Laura Marano as Celia Lieberman, and Camila Mendes as Shelby Pace.
🔥 Bonus Content
The Perfect Date is kinda dumb…
Ever wonder if ‘The Perfect Date’ actually holds up? Alex Meyers hilariously breaks down the movie’s plot and characters, pointing out some pretty absurd moments. Honestly, it’s a fun watch if you want a good laugh at the movie’s expense.
Noah Centineo & Odiseas Georgiadis Judge Laura Marano’s Dance Skills | Makin’ Moves | Netflix
Curious about the cast dynamics of ‘The Perfect Date’? This video shows Noah Centineo, Laura Marano, and Odiseas Georgiadis having a blast while judging Laura’s dance skills! It’s a fun little peek behind the scenes that makes you appreciate their on-screen chemistry even more.
Noah Centineo and The Perfect Date cast play INTENSE This or That!
Want to know what the cast of ‘The Perfect Date’ *really* thinks? Watch Noah, Laura, and Odiseas play ‘This or That’ and reveal their preferences for a perfect date. It’s a quick, fun way to get to know them beyond their characters!
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