Picture Perfect (1995 film)
Encyclopedia
Picture Perfect is a film
by Feature Films for Families
(FFFF) and was first telecast October 14, 1995 on ABC. It's about two families and Ernie Barrett (played by Dave Thomas
), owner and CEO of Barrett's Natural Soda. Alan Walters (Christian Campbell
) and his mother, Vicky (Mary Page Keller
), live next door to the Thomases, George (Richard Karn
), a widower and his daughters, JJ (Lisa Jakub
) and Delia (Cecilley Carroll). Alan enters both families in a contest sponsored by Barrett's Natural Soda. Ernie Barrett comes to live with them at the Walters house for a week, to find out if they are the perfect family, and brings Marco (Von Flores
), a director and an FBI agent, to record it. To begin with, as all of their kids are close friends, Vicky and George are dysfunctional neighbors towards each other who are constantly at each other's throats over certain issues like a hedge offer that George has committed himself to, which however includes even trimming her hedges. So, with their poor relationship while the opposite between their kids, and due to all the people they have to cover for in numerous ways, problems pile up as the two families pretend to be one, and JJ and Alan try to dump Vicky's boyfriend, Bob Blanford (John Lefebvre
). The situation gets even more complicated by the arrival and meddling of fake FBI agents Sloan and Malone (Ric Reid and Peter Keleghan
). Add a very nosy neighbor named Eve Scrimmer (Nada Despotovich), who planned to tell Ernie Barrett they aren't really a family at all, but fails, and George's boss, Amanda Holt (Lori Hallier), who when convinced the truth that George is single, and in order to stay in his book business, he has to try to keep the difficult situation covered up from also her. Alan decides to use a dating service to hook up Bob with Eve. During Ernie's stay with the family, they have a fine time at the beach, and that along with barrels of laughs involving the parent's night out at a classy restaurant called Gillian's, and an open mike night at the Beef & Beer. At open mike, George gets stage fright until Alan comes up on stage and grabs an electric guitar. George and Alan sing You Really Got Me
. After all is over at the tail end of Ernie's stay, a lot of pressure builds up about how they are going to get through the contest without fail, let alone avoid getting arrested by whom they assumed is the FBI. George's boss, Amanda, just in time catches him with his pants down in the situation, where he has to give her his covered up lie, even because of the situation being in front of Ernie. George has to make a lie about her to Ernie, to avoid the embarrassment. Just in time, also Vicky's boyfriend, Bob, and Eve show up to intensify the situation, ending with them falling for each other. Just as Ernie dubs them the winners of the contest, the whole clan comes clean, blowing the whole cover to Ernie, who gets upset thinking he has to start all over again, because of how he now knows that they are not a real family. But just as he frustrates on that, he sees George and Vicky kissing, which convinces him that they finally have made up and are willing to make it work. That leads to a wedding of George and Vicky truly being married in the next and final shot, with Ernie and Marco there.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
by Feature Films for Families
Feature Films for Families
Feature Films for Families is a privately held entertainment company based in the United States. According to the company, Feature Films for Families makes films that reinforce traditional family values and morality, are suitable for all ages and contain no profanity, sexuality, violence, or...
(FFFF) and was first telecast October 14, 1995 on ABC. It's about two families and Ernie Barrett (played by Dave Thomas
Dave Thomas (actor)
David "Dave" Thomas is a Canadian comedian and actor. He was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, but moved to Durham, North Carolina where his father, John E. Thomas, attended Duke University and earned a PhD in Philosophy. Thomas attended George Watts and Moorehead elementary schools...
), owner and CEO of Barrett's Natural Soda. Alan Walters (Christian Campbell
Christian Campbell
Christian Bethune Campbell is a Canadian stage and screen actor. He is married to actress America Olivo.-Personal life:Campbell was born in Toronto, Ontario. Campbell's mother, Marnie , is a yoga instructor and psychologist from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
) and his mother, Vicky (Mary Page Keller
Mary Page Keller
Mary Page Keller is an American actress known for roles on both daytime and primetime television.-Career:On daytime, Keller played the role of Amanda Kirkland on Ryan's Hope and the role of Sally Frame on Another World...
), live next door to the Thomases, George (Richard Karn
Richard Karn
Richard Karn is an American actor and game show host. He is most well known for his co-starring role as Al Borland in the 1990s sitcom Home Improvement and his tenure as the host of Family Feud during the 2000s.-Early life:...
), a widower and his daughters, JJ (Lisa Jakub
Lisa Jakub
Lisa Jakub is a Canadian-American actress, best known for her roles in Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day.-Early life and career:...
) and Delia (Cecilley Carroll). Alan enters both families in a contest sponsored by Barrett's Natural Soda. Ernie Barrett comes to live with them at the Walters house for a week, to find out if they are the perfect family, and brings Marco (Von Flores
Von Flores
Von Flores is the stage name of Valentin Andres Tanga Flores IV, a Filipino-Canadian actor. Flores has enjoyed leading roles in a number of television productions, including the series Kung Fu: The Legend Continues and the Atlantis Films TekWar, TekJustice and TekLords TV movies...
), a director and an FBI agent, to record it. To begin with, as all of their kids are close friends, Vicky and George are dysfunctional neighbors towards each other who are constantly at each other's throats over certain issues like a hedge offer that George has committed himself to, which however includes even trimming her hedges. So, with their poor relationship while the opposite between their kids, and due to all the people they have to cover for in numerous ways, problems pile up as the two families pretend to be one, and JJ and Alan try to dump Vicky's boyfriend, Bob Blanford (John Lefebvre
John Lefebvre
John Lefebvre , is a Canadian musician, composer, entrepreneur, retired lawyer and philanthropist currently active as a songwriter, touring performer, and recording artist—as well as an activist and advocate who has made extensive contributions to the dialogue surrounding climate change issues.In...
). The situation gets even more complicated by the arrival and meddling of fake FBI agents Sloan and Malone (Ric Reid and Peter Keleghan
Peter Keleghan
Peter Keleghan is a Canadian television actor, who has played roles in several popular Canadian comedy series.Keleghan's best-known roles have been film industry CEO Alan Roy on Made in Canada, low-IQ news anchor Jim Walcott on The Newsroom, and Ranger Gord on The Red Green Show...
). Add a very nosy neighbor named Eve Scrimmer (Nada Despotovich), who planned to tell Ernie Barrett they aren't really a family at all, but fails, and George's boss, Amanda Holt (Lori Hallier), who when convinced the truth that George is single, and in order to stay in his book business, he has to try to keep the difficult situation covered up from also her. Alan decides to use a dating service to hook up Bob with Eve. During Ernie's stay with the family, they have a fine time at the beach, and that along with barrels of laughs involving the parent's night out at a classy restaurant called Gillian's, and an open mike night at the Beef & Beer. At open mike, George gets stage fright until Alan comes up on stage and grabs an electric guitar. George and Alan sing You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me
"You Really Got Me" is a rock song written by Ray Davies and performed by his band, The Kinks. It was released on 4th August 1964 as the group's third single, and reached Number 1 on the UK singles chart the next month, remaining for two weeks...
. After all is over at the tail end of Ernie's stay, a lot of pressure builds up about how they are going to get through the contest without fail, let alone avoid getting arrested by whom they assumed is the FBI. George's boss, Amanda, just in time catches him with his pants down in the situation, where he has to give her his covered up lie, even because of the situation being in front of Ernie. George has to make a lie about her to Ernie, to avoid the embarrassment. Just in time, also Vicky's boyfriend, Bob, and Eve show up to intensify the situation, ending with them falling for each other. Just as Ernie dubs them the winners of the contest, the whole clan comes clean, blowing the whole cover to Ernie, who gets upset thinking he has to start all over again, because of how he now knows that they are not a real family. But just as he frustrates on that, he sees George and Vicky kissing, which convinces him that they finally have made up and are willing to make it work. That leads to a wedding of George and Vicky truly being married in the next and final shot, with Ernie and Marco there.