The Perfect Match (1988) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A low-ambition man seeks companionship, creates a false professional image, and must face reality when the relationship is tested.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Searching Through Disappointment

Tim decides to find a nice girl and places an advertisement in the LA Reader. The many unsatisfactory responses nearly convince him to give up.

Key Events

• Tim Seeks a Partner — Tim, almost thirty, decides to look for a nice girl. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Los Angeles
• The Advertisement — Tim places a personal advertisement seeking a suitable relationship. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: The LA Reader
• Responses Arrive — Tim receives many responses to his advertisement. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Tim's home
• Unsatisfactory Matches — The responses disappoint Tim because they do not meet his hopes. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Tim's home
• Tim Nearly Gives Up — After repeated disappointment, Tim is almost ready to abandon his search. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Los Angeles

The Promising Reply

A reply from a seemingly nice girl renews Tim's hope. The correspondence develops as both sides begin presenting themselves to one another.

Key Events

• A Promising Reply — Tim receives a reply that appears to come from a nice girl. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Tim's home
• Hope Returns — The promising reply renews Tim's hope for a relationship. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Los Angeles
• First Impressions — The correspondence develops into an exchange of personal impressions. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Unspecified meeting place
• The Ambition Gap — Tim's limited ambition becomes part of the relationship's underlying tension. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Unspecified meeting place
• Career Claims Begin — Tim and the correspondent present embellished versions of their work. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Unspecified meeting place

False Professional Images

Tim claims to be an entrepreneur, while the correspondent claims to be a professor. Their exaggerated careers create an unstable foundation for the relationship.

Key Events

• Entrepreneur Claim — Tim claims to be an entrepreneur to make a stronger impression. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Unspecified meeting place
• Professor Claim — The correspondent claims to be a professor, creating a false impression. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Unspecified meeting place
• The Relationship Deepens — Despite the exaggerations, Tim continues pursuing the relationship. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Unspecified meeting place
• Reality Intrudes — The gap between the claims and reality becomes increasingly difficult to maintain. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Unspecified location
• Job Truth Emerges — The exaggerated descriptions of work begin to unravel. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Unspecified location

Truth Tests the Match

The professional claims are exposed as exaggerations, forcing the relationship to confront reality. Tim and the correspondent scramble to preserve their connection.

Key Events

• Tim's Ambition Exposed — Tim's actual lack of ambition conflicts with his entrepreneur claim. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Unspecified location
• The Other Claim Collapses — The correspondent's professional exaggeration is also revealed as untrue. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Unspecified location
• Relationship at Risk — The newly formed relationship is threatened by the discovered deceptions. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Unspecified location
• Preserving the Bond — Tim and the correspondent scramble to preserve their relationship. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Unspecified location
• A Possible Match — The relationship reaches a resolution after both false images are exposed. Characters: Tim Wainwright Location: Los Angeles

Story Breakdown

• Tim's Search — Tim decides that he wants to find a nice girl.
  • Need For Companionship — Tim is almost thirty and wants a suitable relationship.
  • Personal Advertisement — He places an advertisement in the LA Reader.
• Disappointing Responses — The first stage of Tim's search produces frustration rather than connection.
  • Many Replies — Tim receives numerous responses to his advertisement.
  • Nearly Giving Up — The unsatisfactory responses almost end Tim's search.
• Hopeful Correspondence — A seemingly promising reply changes Tim's expectations.
  • A Nice Impression — The reply appears to come from a nice girl.
  • Renewed Hope — Tim becomes willing to continue pursuing a relationship.
• Professional Exaggerations — Both sides embellish their work to impress each other.
  • Entrepreneur Claim — Tim describes himself as an entrepreneur.
  • Professor Claim — The correspondent describes herself as a professor.
• Reality Revealed — The relationship becomes unstable when the professional images prove false.
  • Claims Unravel — The exaggerated job descriptions cannot be maintained.
  • Ambition Exposed — Tim's limited ambition conflicts with his claimed career.
• Saving The Relationship — The final conflict concerns whether the relationship can survive the truth.
  • Trust Under Pressure — The discovered exaggerations put the relationship at risk.
  • Preserving The Bond — Tim and the correspondent scramble to keep the relationship intact.

Directed by

Mark Deimel

Key Cast

• Marc McClure — Tim Wainwright
• Jennifer Edwards — Nancy Bryant
• Diane Stilwell — Vicki
• Rob Paulsen — John Wainwright
• Karen Lorre — Tammy (as Karen Witter)