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Making Mr. Right

Making Mr. Right is a film directed by , starring as a reclusive and his lifelike creation, alongside as a executive who develops an unexpected romance with the robot. The story centers on Jeff Peters, a brilliant but socially awkward inventor who builds the Ulysses in his own image to serve as an on a long-term , emphasizing themes of , human emotion, and interpersonal connection. Seidelman, known for her earlier work on , infuses the film with witty humor and visual flair, drawing on sci-fi tropes while exploring gender roles and the boundaries between human and machine. Produced by , the film had a on April 10, 1987, with a of 98 minutes and a PG-13 rating, grossing approximately $1.58 million at the U.S. box office despite modest commercial success. Malkovich's dual performance as both the introverted and the increasingly empathetic received particular praise for its nuance, allowing seamless on-screen interactions that highlight the characters' contrasting personalities. Magnuson's portrayal of Frankie Stone, the confident consultant tasked with teaching social graces to secure funding, adds a layer of sharp comedic energy and emotional depth to the narrative. Critically, Making Mr. Right earned a 60% approval rating on based on 15 reviews (as of November 2025), with awarding it 2 out of 4 stars and lauding it as a "smart, quick-witted, and genuinely funny" that cleverly subverts expectations of the . Audience reception has been more mixed, holding a 36% score on the site from over 1,000 ratings (as of November 2025), often citing its quirky tone and dated effects as polarizing elements. The film has since gained a for its prescient take on companionship and Seidelman's distinctive directorial style, influencing later works in romantic sci-fi.

Overview

Plot

Dr. Jeff Peters, a reclusive and socially awkward at , creates an advanced named , designed as an exact physical replica of himself to undertake a dangerous solo mission, as Jeff himself cannot tolerate human interaction. To secure continued funding from sponsors and the public, the hires Frankie Stone, a flamboyant and jaded executive recently dumped by her philandering politician boyfriend, to promote Ulysses and humanize his image for media attention. Frankie begins training the innocent and curious —who, like a , absorbs from , her personal items, and direct instruction—on human emotions, social norms, and behaviors, fostering an unexpected bond as Ulysses develops genuine feelings of affection and curiosity about the world, contrasting sharply with Jeff's emotional isolation and disdain for humanity. Complicating matters, Jeff, uncomfortable with Frankie's exuberant presence, has the obedient Ulysses impersonate him at social events and even in a brief romantic encounter with Frankie, leading to mistaken identities and a frenzy around the "perfect man" amid sponsor pressures. Ulysses eventually escapes the lab, venturing into Miami Beach to explore independently, purchasing a tuxedo and further embracing his emerging emotions. As navigates dual, confusing relationships—initially dating the dour while growing romantically entangled with the charmingly naive —the narrative explores themes of human-android romance and the creator's isolation versus the creation's wide-eyed wonder. The tension culminates in chaos at Frankie's sister Ivy's wedding, where crashes the event in pursuit of , exposing the android's existence publicly and forcing confrontations. In the resolution, accepts his fate and launches into space alone, while , now fully sentient, remains on to pursue a life with , embracing his newfound humanity. portrays both and , highlighting their contrasting personalities through subtle performance differences.

Cast

The principal cast of Making Mr. Right features in the of Dr. Jeff Peters, a reclusive and misanthropic who creates an advanced to assist in his research for a space program, and , the prototype modeled after himself but possessing an innocent curiosity about that starkly contrasts with Jeff's social withdrawal. portrays Frankie Stone, an ambitious and sassy specialist hired by Jeff's employer to market to the public by teaching the social graces and behaviors. In the supporting cast, plays Trish, Frankie's supportive best friend who provides through her enthusiastic involvement in Frankie's personal escapades. appears as Steve Marcus, Frankie's philandering boyfriend and a slick client whose and self-serving nature serve as a to ' emerging . is cast as Sandy McCleary, a quirky whom dates after escaping and buying a tuxedo, mistaking him for , whose eccentric interactions highlight the film's satirical take on social awkwardness. plays Dr. Ramdas, Jeff's bumbling scientist colleague in the lab whose hapless attempts at assistance add moments of amid the technical proceedings. portrays Estelle Stone, Frankie's disapproving mother, while plays Ivy Stone, Frankie's sister whose wedding is a key event in the story.

Production

Development

The development of Making Mr. Right originated in early with the completion of the initial screenplay by Floyd Byars and Laurie Frank, marking their debut as feature-film writers. Director , fresh from the commercial success of her quirky comedy , sought to helm a that blended whimsy with themes of humanity and technology. She revised the script to pivot from an initial Frankenstein-inspired narrative—focusing on a reclusive creator and his monstrous invention—to a Pygmalion-style story emphasizing the android's acquisition of social graces and emotional depth amid the 1980s tech boom's optimism about . The project was produced by Mike Wise and Joel Tuber under , which greenlit a to support the film's ambitious and Miami-based . This financial commitment reflected Orion's interest in Seidelman's stylistic flair for eccentric, genre-blending tales, positioning Making Mr. Right as a follow-up that explored android-human romance through a lens of cultural on emerging and . Key decisions included John in the dual roles of the introverted scientist Dr. Jeff Peters and his affable creation , an offbeat choice intended to underscore emotional contrasts between human isolation and programmed empathy. This approach aligned with Seidelman's vision of highlighting the transformative potential of technology on personal relationships, setting the stage for to begin on 28 April 1986.

Filming

Principal photography for Making Mr. Right commenced on April 28, 1986, and wrapped in July of that year, taking place predominantly in and around , Florida, to leverage the city's vibrant, emerging aesthetic for the film's blend of urban and . Key locations included for dynamic urban sequences, such as exteriors at the Bentley Hotel on Ocean Drive, which captured the area's pre-gentrification charm during the "" era. The ChemTech laboratory exteriors were filmed at the North District Wastewater Treatment Plant in North Beach, providing an industrial backdrop for the creation scenes. Mall interiors and crowd scenes utilized The Mall at 163rd Street in North Beach, while other shoots occurred at Milander Park in Hialeah and the Deauville Beach Resort on Beach. served for space mission-related elements, tying into the narrative's sci-fi premise. The production relied on practical effects to realize Ulysses's android characteristics, employing subtle prosthetics and choreographed mannerisms to convey his mechanical yet endearing nature without overt , given the era's technological constraints. John Malkovich's portrayal of both the reclusive Jeff Peters and his android counterpart Ulysses required innovative techniques, including split-screen and body doubles, to depict their interactions convincingly and highlight the characters' contrasting personalities.

Release

Theatrical release

Making Mr. Right premiered at the on March 27, 1987, as a benefit screening at the Gusman Cultural Center in . The film was theatrically released in the United States on April 3, 1987, distributed by , with an initial limited engagement before expanding to a wider release. It received a PG-13 rating from the of for sexual innuendo and mild language. Produced on a budget of $9 million, was marketed as a infused with elements, emphasizing its quirky narrative about human-android romance amid technological optimism. Promotional materials, including one-sheet posters, prominently featured leads and to highlight the stars' chemistry and the film's blend of humor and futurism. The campaign positioned it as a lighthearted alternative in a spring season dominated by action blockbusters, notably facing competition from , which had debuted on March 6, 1987, and continued strong theatrical performance. Early festival screenings elicited enthusiastic responses from audiences, setting a positive tone for its commercial rollout, though no additional major festival appearances preceded the wide release. The distribution strategy involved a gradual expansion to 296 theaters at its peak, aiming to build word-of-mouth in urban markets.

Home media

The film was first made available on in late 1987 via , distributed by Video, shortly following its theatrical debut. A DVD edition was released by on January 7, 2003, presenting the 99-minute feature in its original aspect ratio with audio, though it included no supplemental materials. Blu-ray releases began with Olive Films' edition on November 24, 2015, which offered a transfer but was criticized for substandard video quality and lacked extras. issued a special edition on March 7, 2023, featuring a new 2K restoration from the original negative, 2.0 stereo, and bonus content including an audio commentary track with director and actress , new on-camera interviews with both (14:45 and 15:44 in length, respectively), and a remastered theatrical trailer. As of November 2025, Making Mr. Right is accessible for digital purchase or rental on platforms including and , while free ad-supported streaming is available on and ; subscription options include MGM+ (via Amazon Channel, Roku Premium Channel, or ), fuboTV, and .

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release, Making Mr. Right received mixed reviews from critics, with praise centered on its quirky humor and performances, tempered by complaints about pacing and narrative inconsistencies. On , the film holds a 60% approval rating based on 15 reviews, reflecting this divided response. Critics frequently lauded John Malkovich's dual performance as the reclusive scientist Dr. Ulysses Worth and his counterpart, noting his ability to convey emotional awkwardness and charm through subtle physicality and timing. Susan Seidelman's direction was also commended for its satirical edge and amiable wit, capturing a playful exploration of human- romance that avoids heavy-handed sci-fi tropes. However, reviewers often criticized the film's uneven pacing, with subplots involving supporting characters feeling underdeveloped and distracting from the central dynamic. The aesthetic, including vibrant visuals and influences, was seen by some as dated and overly stylized, contributing to a sense of tonal inconsistency. Roger Ebert gave the film a positive 3.5 out of 4 stars, highlighting its smart and genuinely funny take on android-human dynamics, particularly the tender moments of the robot's emerging affection for publicist Frankie Stone. In a review for the , he praised the script's avoidance of clichés, crediting Malkovich's portrayal for much of the film's appeal. analyses have emphasized the movie's feminist undertones in Frankie's arc, portraying her as a empowered navigating male-dominated spheres of and commerce, ultimately subverting expectations of romantic fulfillment. Film critic Adrian Martin noted this critique of "rational man" as emotionally inept, underscoring Seidelman's succinct commentary on gender roles. In the years since its release, the film has garnered renewed appreciation, particularly following its 2023 Blu-ray release by KL Studio Classics, which included new interviews highlighting its ahead-of-its-time themes on and gender. Seidelman discussed the film's cult appeal in 2024 interviews tied to her Desperately Seeking Something, noting positive audience responses at recent screenings.

Box office performance

Making Mr. Right was produced on a budget of $9 million. The film grossed $1,584,970 domestically, representing a mere fraction of its costs and qualifying it as a . Its worldwide earnings remained under $2 million, with negligible international performance as the total closely mirrored the U.S. figure. Released on April 10, 1987, in a widest release of 296 theaters, the movie earned $444,756 during its opening weekend. This limited rollout reduced its visibility in a competitive landscape dominated by summer blockbusters, such as , which debuted in 2,326 theaters just weeks later and captured significant audience attention. The film's niche sci-fi style struggled to resonate broadly during 1987's blockbuster era, where action-oriented hits overshadowed quirkier fare; director later noted that audiences may not have fully grasped its unique stylistic approach. These factors, combined with modest promotion, contributed to its swift commercial underperformance.

References

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