The Perfect Find (2023)

Streaming Service: Netflix

Movie Name/Year: The Perfect Find (2023)

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Length:  1h 39min

Rating: TV-MA

Production/Distribution: Confluential Films, AGC Studios, I’ll Have Another, Netflix

Director: Numa Perrier

Writers: Leigh Davenport, Tia Williams

Actors: Gina Torres, D.B. Woodside, Gabrielle Union, Aisha Hinds, La La Anthony, Tyler Antonius, Janet Hubert, Keith Powers, Devale Ellis, Sterling "Steelo" Brim, T.S. Madison, Winnie Harlow, Godfrey, Lina Green, Erica Jaye Green, Tia Williams, Jay Jean

 

IMDb Blurb: After a high-profile firing, Jenna's fashion career comeback hits a snag when she falls for a charming, much younger coworker - who happens to be her boss's son. As sparks fly, Jenna must decide if she'll risk it all on a secret romance.

 

Selina’s Point of View:

SPOILERS BELOW.

 

I had some concerns about The Perfect Find, but I was still looking forward to it.

 

My biggest worry was that it would go the way of a lot of rom-coms where the woman would give up her career for a guy and the movie would suggest that it fixed all her problems. Although the trailer looked decent, that is a common ending for most flicks that go down the same route.

 

Luckily, The Perfect Find didn’t really go down that route. There was a career change, but it was a bit out of the main character’s control and the ending does put her on a route that is fulfilling to her outside of anything to do with the guy she chooses. In short, Gabrielle Union’s character has an identity outside of which guy she decided to date.

 

As a rom-com, it felt a little less recipe than most of them. Despite the TV-MA rating, it wasn’t graphic either. Some minor marijuana use is depicted, and very mild cursing, but I’m not entirely sure it deserved the MA.

 

 

As a film with a nearly all-black cast, I loved that it paid homage to the first film, with dialogue, that also had an all-black cast. Hallelujah (1929) was a drama/musical that starred the beautiful Nina Mae McKinney (Pinky, Night Train to Memphis, Mantan Messes Up) and you don’t hear it referred to as much as you should. If you’re interested in seeing it, it’s available for rent/purchase on YouTube and Amazon for relatively cheap. (There is an earlier silent film with an all-black cast called Lime Kiln Club Field Day (1913), though I don’t believe that’s streaming anywhere.)

 

As usual, Gabrielle Union (Bring it On, Strange World, The Inspection) and Gina Torres (Serenity, 9-1-1: Lone Star, Give me an A) were absolute forces, while Keith Powers (The Tomorrow War, Before I Fall, Violet) really complimented both of them in their very different roles. As ‘prince charming’ as he was across from Union, he was just as small and childlike around Torres, who played his very powerful mother. He was the perfect choice for the two perfect women playing rivals.

 

I think The Perfect Find is a solid rom-com. I would actively watch it again in my personal time.

 

Cat’s Point of View:

The Perfect Find didn’t make my personal Top 20 list for this month, but that wasn’t because I didn’t think it would be good. I just haven’t been in a romantic movie mood lately. (Selina did put it on her list, though.) 

That being said, I was looking forward to watching it for this review. I’ve long been a fan of Gabrielle Union (Sleepless, Breaking In, Strange World) and Gina Torres (Suits, The Legend of Vox Machina, 9-1-1: Lone Star). I also really like Aisha Hinds (Under the Dome, Godzilla: King of Monsters, 9-1-1). Then, of course, I had to giggle a little along with my 19-year-old that Sterling "Steelo" Brim (Orange Drive, Rob Dyrdek's Wild Grinders, Ridiculousness) was also in this film since we’ve watched his MTV video clip show quite a bit. I digress…

As usual, I want to give full disclosure that I have not read the book that The Perfect Find is adapted from, so I can’t comment as to whether or not it stays true to the source material. I can, however, advise that the author of the adapted novel has a part in the movie - so I would hope that it honored her work adequately. 

 

I really enjoyed my experience watching The Perfect Find. It gave me similar vibes to How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) but blended with an updated story and an homage to old Hollywood cinema both film and fashion. 

The tale within The Perfect Find wasn’t reinventing the wheel, though - and I didn’t expect it to. This was a fairly formulaic rom-com with a splash of extra drama. Even with that said, I had no problems keeping my attention fixed on the screen. Union and Torres were electric as rivals and the chemistry between Union and her romantic interest played by Keith Powers (Maximum Impact, Famous in Love, The Tomorrow War) was believable and felt natural. 

I honestly wouldn’t mind watching The Perfect Find again, and my picky almost-20 daughter also really enjoyed watching it with me. As rom-coms go, I’d say it would be worth giving this Netflix original a chance. 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 72%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 63%

Metascore – 57%

Metacritic User Score – 5.3/10

IMDB Score – 5.2/10

 

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5

 

Movie Trailer: