J. Alphonse Nicholson's portrayal of the hardworking and earnest pharmaceutical sales rep, Terrence, truly salvaged this movie, which suffered from multiple issues.
Perfectly Single revolves around Edie, a successful eye doctor who is turning 40 yet outside of the romance novels she devours, she is not fulfilled romantically. Then she meets a younger man, Terrence, who she doesn't encounter until halfway through the movie, which is the first problem. She meets her romantic lead without enough time left to truly explore their relationship.
Another problem was aside from our hero and heroine--Terrence and Edie--everybody and I mean everybody from the best friends, to the bookshop owner to the coworkers-talked about nothing BUT sex. I mean, there was NO other kind of conversation. They were supposed to be jokes, but after awhile, it was just too much.
Another thing is that inconsistencies plague the film. In one scene, Edie (portrayed by Erica Hubbard) and her assistant engage in a conversation with Terrence as he attempts to introduce his products to them. Suddenly, Edie remarks, "I think we need some artwork on the walls." This felt like a setup for something significant but led to nothing. The film also introduces subplots that promise intrigue but are left unresolved, like Edie's best friend claiming to have a happy marriage while secretly engaging with someone else.
Despite its potential, the film fails to explore or address the considerable age gap between Edie and Terrence or the ethical dilemma surrounding Edie using Terrence's products if they pursue a relationship. These potential conflicts are introduced but never fully developed or resolved.
Because Terrence arrives late in the movie, there were not that many romantic moments. But there was a really good scene when Edie and Terrence walked hand in hand amidst an array of lighted columns. This is where Terrence opens up about his feelings for her.
Terrence was a breath of fresh air in general. A combination of ambition, reserved behavior, and limited experience. This, in addition to the mesmerizing on-screen chemistry between Erica Hubbard and J. Alphonse Nicholson, was worth watching. Giving Perfectly Single 6 stars.
