A Delightful Rom-Com With Style —Review Of The Perfect Find (2023)

After her mother asks her to leave the house, Jenna starts over in Brooklyn. She meets with her friends and they go clubbing one night where she makes out with a cute, young man. The next day, Jenna meets Darcy (played by Gina Torres), owner of Darzine, a fashion magazine, to give her the job of a creative editor.

It turns out that Darcy holds a grudge against Jenna but gives her the job. Then Darcy pairs Jenna up with her charming son, Eric (played by Keith Powers) a videographer. Jenna is shocked as Eric happens to be the young man she made out with at the club. Will Jenna and Eric be able to keep their relationship strictly professional or will society prevent them from exploring their feelings?

Review

I like movies, especially rom-coms, that take me by surprise. This genre is over-flogged and can be cliché sometimes but when the filmmakers give it a new or tantalising edge, they get their audience's attention. This is about the controversy of an older lady in a relationship with a younger man who happens to be her boss' son! And this older lady is played by none other than the beautiful Gabrielle Union.

One thing that sticks out about the storytelling is that a lot was covered within the viewing time of one hour and thirty-two minutes. I love those kinds of movies—loaded, fast-paced in an enjoyable way and fascinating.

From the opening credits displaying a collage of newspaper clippings, small paper cuts and photos, viewers are told the backstory of the leading lady, Jenna Jones. We see how she breaks up with her boyfriend of ten years and also loses her job in the process. From there, the film jumps right to the meat of the story. Jenna Jones springs back on her feet in an astounding way that sheds light on her charisma—she goes for what she wants and never settles for less!

Another impressive part of this film is the performance of the cast. They are simply outstanding. The chemistry between Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers is off the charts and they are very convincing. I like that they allow a scene where the two lay down after sex in each others' arms and talk and viewers see how they truly connected.

I enjoyed the chemistry between Jenna and Darcy. I'll say their acting makes The Perfect Find worth watching. Their verbal quips are comical and refreshing. They are a perfect picture of how frenemies should relate, but only in such a fantasy world. Or else what frenemy would let you, an older lady, marry her younger son?

I also enjoyed the touch of fashion and old cinema with the mentions of Nina Mae McKinney and Greta Garbo. There were features of familiar black celebrities like Remy Ma, Dwyane Wade (Gabrielle's husband), La La Anthony, Ts Madison Hinton and Janet Hubert.

However, the part I did not enjoy so much is the ending. It's like the story loses its appeal from the scene where Jenna reveals she's pregnant and thereafter, everything is rushed. It was disappointing to see Eric stay silent after his mother finds out about his relationship. His compelling image of a 'boy-man who knows what he wants and won't let society dissuade him' from the beginning of the film withers at this point. Oh well, nothing is perfect in life.

Overall, The Perfect Find is a delightful and fun romantic comedy that portrays a world into which the audience can escape; a world of fashion, style, wit and love, regardless of age. I'll give it 4 stars out of 5.

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^{Other images are screenshots from the movie}