Product Details

• Actors: Wallace Shawn, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Hermione Gingold, Sarah Boyd, Kate McGregor-Stewart
• Directors: Joan Micklin Silver
• Writers: Bruce Harmon, Stephen Manes
• Producers: Mark Gordon
• Format: Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Goldhill Home Media
• VHS Release Date: November 21, 2000
• Run Time: 58 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304161573
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,239 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Based on the novel, "How to Be a Perfect in Just Three Days." A very young Ilan-Mitchell Smith ("Weird Science", "The Chocolate War") stars as accident prone Milo Crimpley, something that seems to have gotten worse over time. Milo, however, finds an opportunity to get rid of embarrassing accident-prone nature when he stumbles across an advertisement from Professor Silverfish (the hilarious Wallace Shawn), who has a sort of seminar on "How to Be a Perfect in Just Three Days." So, Milo signs up. Basically, it is just a test in self-esteem, though Milo expects to be an absolutely perfect kid. Silverfish's little three day assignments are meant to make Milo a bolder person, one with will power, and one who is willing to accept challenges when he doubts his abilities most. In actuality, the assignments are just intended to get Milo to accept himself. Because, as Silverfish says: "Why would anyone want to be perfect, anyway? You can't do anything wrong. So, then you don't do anything."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Family and Kid Movie, January 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: How to be a Perfect Person in Just 3 Days [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My mom used this movie in teaching junior high students nearly 20 years ago, and I've remembered it ever since. Now that I am a middle school teacher, I ordered the video to use with my students. Most kids and teens can relate to a boy who seems to do everything wrong, he just has the worst luck ever, and can understand his desire to take a class in perfection. Through the completely crazy stunts he has to pull to "become perfect," he realizes that perfection isn't all it's cracked up to be. All in all, this is a movie about appreciating yourself and finding out what you are good at. It's perfect for a homeroom class, an advisement group, or a counseling group on self-esteem. Although it's clearly an early '80s movie, teens today still enjoy it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING MOVIE!!!, April 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: How to be a Perfect Person in Just 3 Days [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie needs more publicity than it currently has. It has gotten to the point where people need to see it for its outstanding performances by Ilan Mitchell-Smith {Milo Crinkley} and Wallace Shawn. The movie starts off as a young boy named Milo Crinkley has a knack for getting into mishaps until he meets a "wizard" to help him on the road to perfection. He is to perform three tasks on three consecutive days. At the end of the third day, after winning the kite contest, he is let down with a knowledge that perfection isn't what Milo had in mind. And hey, this movie is "Perfect" for someone who wants to see how perfection gets in touch with reality, kind of like me. This movie NEEDS TO BE OUT ON DVD ASAP!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Good movie, June 7, 2009

By 

Deanna "Deanna" (Georgia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to be a Perfect Person in Just 3 Days [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My students and I read the book "Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days." I did not think there would be a movie made from this book and was surprised when this showed up when I decided to check and see. Since the movie is from the nineties, it only comes as a VHS. This movie is in good shape. As usual with some movies made from books, the story was changed slightly but not too much and the message was retained. The students enjoyed it. It didn't even seem too dated.