When Lola, a successful wine buyer for a large company in L.A., gets a promising lead on a new client, Vaughn Family Wines in Australia, she excitedly tells her work bestie, Audra. Audra, however, doesn’t have such pure intentions — at the staff meeting the next morning, Lola finds Audra pitching Vaughn Family Wines to the team in an attempt to steal Lola’s client and pending promotion. And Audra has already secured a meeting with Hazel, the owner of the Australian vineyard, as soon as she returns from a month-long sabbatical. This betrayal, coupled with her boss’s inability to stand up for her, is the final straw for Lola. She decides to leave the company to start her own business, Salut Imports, and secure the prestigious Vaughn Family Wines on her own. Lola books a flight to Australia, prepared to pitch her company to Hazel in the midst of her sabbatical, but instead finds herself working as a ranch hand at Hazel’s family sheep station as she tries to gain her trust (and the approval of the cute lead ranch hand, Max).
The plot of A Perfect Pairing includes the typical cliche rom-com storyline — a big city girl thrown into a rustic work environment while she works toward her dream job. And (spoiler alert), of course, she falls in love and reaches her goal in the end. While the film doesn’t tell a totally new story, it does, however, place a unique, and somewhat believable, spin on the romance narrative we all know and love.
This heartwarming film is filled with comic obstacles that Lola must face, but each of those obstacles also leads to the strengthening of her character and her recognition that life is too short to prioritize those who fail to respect her. While it does include cursing, mild violence and borderline nudity, a clearly budding relationship between Lola and Max, and, un-surprisingly, alcohol, A Perfect Pairing also showcases integrity, loyalty to oneself, and the importance of apology and forgiveness. It’s also important to note that, while those negative factors are present, their prominence is on the milder end. Lola exemplifies an imperfect human who, despite mistakes, continues to do her best.
With genuine characters who don’t always fit the traditional rom-com mold, A Perfect Pairing shows how trusting your gut and staying true to yourself can be far more rewarding, not to mention healthy, than keeping the status quo. In light of the fact that this is an entertaining, feel-good movie, parents should be mindful of the following aspects: it does include cursing, Lola is shown in her panties and a t-shirt at the pool, there are scenes that display intoxication, and, while this isn’t a major part of the movie, there is a lesbian couple. Overall, A Perfect Pairing is a cheerful film, filled with breathtaking scenery, characters who complement one another, and a lead who proves that staying true to oneself is far more valuable than giving in to peer pressure.
A Perfect Pairing is Dove approved for ages 18+.
The Dove Take
Victoria Justice delivers a quirky, yet passionate, performance as an upscale wine buyer from L.A. who will stop short of nothing to reach her goals — even if it means working for two weeks as a ranch hand on an Australian sheep farm to secure her dream client.
