AllMovie

There are painfully obvious whiffs of Robert Altman in Perfume, not the least of which is a large ensemble improvising its way through interconnected stories. But what's missing is relevance, intrigue, and/or wit. Director Michael Rymer wisely keeps the scenes short, cutting off his actors when they get too self-conscious or run out of steam -- which, in some cases, is very soon indeed -- but the film lacks momentum or a climax. The all-star cast is made up of mid-level talent that hasn't graced the covers of movie magazines since the '80s, but that's not to say they don't do a fine job with the material at hand, it's just that it goes nowhere. But what is Carmen Electra doing on the box art for the video? She's a cameo, not a lead. It just goes to show what a tough sell Perfume is. In the end, you learn nothing about the fashion industry, you glean no insight into the characters, and you feel as if you've watched an acting class of self-conscious performers. If anything, Perfume only serves to point out how good Altman is.