The MatchMaker (1997)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Mark Joffe

Writers (WGA):

Greg Dinner (earlier screenplay)
Karen Janszen (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 October 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

A comedy for the incurably unromantic.

Plot:

Marcy is an assistant to Senator John McGlory, who is having problems with a re-election campaign. Desperate for Irish votes...

Plot Keywords:

Festival | Irish | Ireland | Matchmaker | Election

Cast

Janeane Garofalo	...	Marcy Tizard
David O'Hara	...	Sean Kelly
Milo O'Shea	...	Dermot O'Brien
Jay O. Sanders	...	Senator John McGlory
Rosaleen Linehan	...	Millie O'Dowd
Paul Hickey	...	Declan Kelly
Maria Doyle Kennedy	...	Sarah Kelly
Saffron Burrows	...	Moira Kennedy Kelly
Denis Leary	...	Nick
Olivia Caffrey	...	Annie
Joan Sheehy	...	Bus Passenger
Anne Gildea	...	Airport Assistant
Claude Clancy	...	Michael the Bus Driver
James Ryland	...	Sergeant Riley
David King	...	Local Lad No. 1

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

Ireland | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Germany:6 (w) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Cottonwood Cafe - 222 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Good Film Company

Trivia:

Ballinagra, the name of the town in the movie is a reworking on the Irish 'Baile Na Gra' which means 'Town of Love'.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Irish version of the town Ballinagra should be "Baile an Ghrá", not "Baile na Grá" as depicted in the film.

Quotes:

Marcy Tizard: It's so beautiful here. If it just had the New York Times, it would be perfect.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Comedy Central Roast of Denis Leary (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Fields of Athenry

Sweet and lovely Irish romantic comedy

I never even heard of this film when it came out, but am glad I caught it on cable.

The Matchmaker is a romantic comedy, but one with a very original and charming premise, setting and characters.

I love the fact that the two leads, Janeane Garafalo and David O'Hara, have enormous chemistry and appeal, while not looking like standard Hollywood movie stars. I'd love to see O'Hara in another lead role - he has a very offbeat sex appeal.

There are some very amusing scenes, and the bit of the American senator meeting his supposed long lost Irish relatives is hilarious. O'Hara's "We've got to talk" scene is great - for that one alone, I'll go buy the video!

If you enjoy Ireland and romantic comedies that are slightly different, then by all means rent this, it's a charming little film.