Brian Johnson

Gilliam's final product after 25 years of wrestling with catastrophe is watchable and interesting, bearing his hallmark theme of blurring the line between fantasy and reality; but it is also messy, and not in the deliberate Gilliam way. While by no means a disaster, I did not find it nearly as compelling and gripping as other works. I sincerely hope this is not the capstone of his career, and that there is one more big, boisterous, Munchausen-esque thrill ride left in him.

"The Perfect Physique" has been tagged by some as the "Pumping Iron" for Physique models. It certainly has quite the assembly of physiques, with Jason Poston, Jeremy Buendia, and a dozen or so of the top models of the 2010's, as well as the late Greg Plitt (I believe the film was still being edited when he died in a tragic accident). The flaw in all this perfection is the format of the film. It amounts to an extended interview with the models as they talk about what it takes to achieve a great body. There are cutaways to workouts, side conversations about diets, posing practice, weigh-ins, measurements, and a tug of war between the two types of bodies present to demonstrate the reality that eye-catching muscle isn't always as strong as it may seem. But the film lacks a forward momentum to a finale, the way "Pumping Iron" was all about building to Arnold's big competition and victory. It serves almost more like a compendium of tips and advice, and a source of inspiration and motivation. I want to watch it again sometime with a notebook and pen, jotting down pointers that the models mention. But it is not crafted to provide a cinematic flow compelling us toward a big finish, making it hard to sit and watch the entire film in one sitting without getting bored at times. I'll give it a Thumbs-Up for its informational content, but know that you aren't in for an evening of rip-snortin' entertainment with this one.