The Love Tables Turn on Terrence J in ‘The Perfect Match’

Dyan James

Just when you’ve convinced yourself you don’t want love in your life, you find the perfect match. Or do you? So it goes in this indie rom-com starring Terrence Jenkins (aka Terrence J) as Charlie, a charismatic playboy who has persuaded himself that love is dead. While his therapist sister Sherry, played by Paula Patton, attempts to make him think otherwise, Charlie remains steadfast that there’s no room in his fun and fast life for serious romance. That is until his buddies (one of which is played by Donald Faison) make a bet with him: If he stays with one woman for at least one month, he’s sure to fall in love. Convinced there is no way he’ll ever fall in love, Charlie gladly accepts the bet.

Enter mysterious Eva (Cassie Ventura) who joins the ranks of Charlie’s one nighters (or so he thinks) and embarks on a casual affair with him. Pretty soon, Charlie finds himself falling for this lady only to get a taste of his own medicine when he discovers the feeling may not be mutual.

This film has been compared to movies like “Boomerang” (Eddie Murphy, Halle Berry, Robin Givens) and “Two Can Play at That Game” (Vivica Fox, Morris Chestnut, Anthony Anderson) in which the womanizers end up the victims of their not-so-vulnerable lady counterparts. While not an original storyline, the cast and crew provide promise of a fresh look at the battle of the sexes. Directed by Bille Woodruff, director of “Beauty Shop” in 2005 and “Addicted” in 2014, the film is produced by Jenkins and Patton as well as the formidable Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Entertainment. Not one to embark on cliché, GRAMMY Award-winning Latifah is respected for putting out authentic material, whether it be in TV, film, or music.

Audiences will know Jenkins as one of the hosts of “E! News” and “E! Live From the Red Carpet” as well as the presenter of the 2015 “BET Awards.” He also played Derek in the TV Series “Truth Be Told” as well as himself in the series “Entourage.”

“The Perfect Match” opens nationwide Mar. 11.