“The Perfect Score” is a 2004 American teen comedy-heist film directed by Brian Robbins. The film follows a group of six New Jersey high school students who conspire to break into a regional office of the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to steal the answers to the SAT exam. The film explores themes of morality, individuality, and the pursuit of one’s dreams.
Key Facts
- Plot: The film follows a group of six New Jersey high school students who are worried about their future prospects if they fail the upcoming SAT exam. They decide to break into the regional office of the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which prepares and distributes the SAT, to steal the answers and ensure they all get perfect scores. The movie explores themes of morality, individuality, and the pursuit of one’s dreams.
- Main Characters:
- Kyle: The everyman high school student who needs a high SAT score to get into Cornell University’s architecture program.
- Matty: Kyle’s best friend who wants a high score to go to the same college as his girlfriend.
- Francesca: A daring member of the group who suggests the plan and has connections to the ETS office.
- Anna: The second-highest ranked student in the school who needs a good score to get into Brown University.
- Desmond: The school basketball star who needs a score of 900 or better to join the basketball team at St. John’s University.
- Roy: A stoner who becomes involved in the heist due to circumstances.
- Reception: The film received negative reviews from critics and grossed $10 million. It was criticized for not exploring its potentially socially relevant premise and being compared unfavorably to films like “The Breakfast Club”.
Plot
The film’s protagonist, Kyle, is an everyman high school student who needs a high SAT score to get into Cornell University’s architecture program. His best friend, Matty, wants a high score to go to the same college as his girlfriend. Francesca, a daring member of the group, suggests the plan and has connections to the ETS office. Anna, the second-highest ranked student in the school, needs a good score to get into Brown University. Desmond, the school basketball star, needs a score of 900 or better to join the basketball team at St. John’s University. Roy, a stoner, becomes involved in the heist due to circumstances.
The group plans to break into the ETS offices on the eve of the exam. Francesca will arrange for Kyle and Matty to have a meeting near the top floor, staying after closing. The other three will wait outside and watch the night guard until Francesca, Kyle, and Matty have successfully stolen the answers.
The plan initially goes well, but the answers are located on a computer, and only Roy can crack the password. The group decides to take the test with their combined knowledge and get the answers that way. In the early hours of morning, they are finished and have all the answers written down.
Just then, the guard comes up the stairs, and they try to escape through the ceiling; however, Francesca is left behind and is about to be discovered, so Matty sacrifices himself to save her. Everyone else escapes, but each faces a certain confrontation before the exam: Kyle’s brother asks him if he’s really worse than a thief, Matty is bailed out by Francesca, Anna finds independence from her parents, and Desmond’s mother convinces Roy to quit drugs.
Before the SAT testing begins, the group realizes that, although it will help get them what they want, they would be better off without cheating. Roy grabs the answers and randomly distributes them in the bathroom. After the decision, Matty comments that “this whole thing was for nothing.” Kyle replies, “I wouldn’t say nothing”, as he glances at Anna. Matty and Francesca also share a look, as they have also presumably started a relationship.
Each person eventually gets their desired test score without the answers: Kyle’s dream of becoming an architect is still alive by attending Syracuse University, Desmond ends up going to St. John’s, Matty becomes an actor, Francesca writes a novel (which is about six kids who conspire to steal the answers to the SAT), and Anna decides to travel to Europe for a while before starting college. Roy explains that he earned the highest SAT in the county, and, guided by Desmond’s mom, he gets a GED. He then puts his untapped intelligence to use through programming, becoming a successful video game designer.
Reception
“The Perfect Score” received negative reviews from critics and grossed $10 million. It was criticized for not exploring its potentially socially relevant premise and being compared unfavorably to films like “The Breakfast Club”.
Sources
FAQs
What is the plot of “The Perfect Score”?
“The Perfect Score” follows a group of six New Jersey high school students who are worried about their future prospects if they fail the upcoming SAT exam. They decide to break into the regional office of the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which prepares and distributes the SAT, to steal the answers and ensure they all get perfect scores.
Who are the main characters in “The Perfect Score”?
The main characters in “The Perfect Score” are:
- Kyle: The everyman high school student who needs a high SAT score to get into Cornell University’s architecture program.
- Matty: Kyle’s best friend who wants a high score to go to the same college as his girlfriend.
- Francesca: A daring member of the group who suggests the plan and has connections to the ETS office.
- Anna: The second-highest ranked student in the school who needs a good score to get into Brown University.
- Desmond: The school basketball star who needs a score of 900 or better to join the basketball team at St. John’s University.
- Roy: A stoner who becomes involved in the heist due to circumstances.
What are the themes of “The Perfect Score”?
The themes of “The Perfect Score” include morality, individuality, and the pursuit of one’s dreams.
What is the critical reception of “The Perfect Score”?
“The Perfect Score” received negative reviews from critics and grossed $10 million. It was criticized for not exploring its potentially socially relevant premise and being compared unfavorably to films like “The Breakfast Club”.
What is the ending of “The Perfect Score”?
In the end, the group realizes that, although cheating on the SAT will help them get what they want, they would be better off without it. They decide to randomly distribute the answers in the bathroom, and each person eventually gets their desired test score without cheating.
What is the significance of the title “The Perfect Score”?
The title “The Perfect Score” is ironic because the film shows that there is no such thing as a perfect score. The characters all have their own strengths and weaknesses, and they all make mistakes. The film suggests that it is more important to be true to oneself and to pursue one’s dreams, even if it means not getting a perfect score.
What is the message of “The Perfect Score”?
The message of “The Perfect Score” is that it is more important to be true to oneself and to pursue one’s dreams, even if it means not getting a perfect score. The film also shows that there is no such thing as a perfect score, and that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.