The MatchMaker (1997)

Marcy is an assistant to Senator John McGlory, who is having problems with a re-election campaign. Desperate for Irish votes, McGlory's chief of staff Nick sends Marcy to Ireland to trace ... See full summary »

Director:

Mark Joffe

Writers:

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

Stars:

Janeane Garofalo, David O'Hara, Milo O'Shea

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Marcy is an assistant to Senator John McGlory, who is having problems with a re-election campaign. Desperate for Irish votes, McGlory's chief of staff Nick sends Marcy to Ireland to trace McGlory's relatives or ancestors. Marcy arrives at the village of Ballinagra when it is preparing for an annual Matchmaking Festival. A well-dressed, handsome and single young lady, she becomes the center of attention for two professional matchmakers, Dermot and Millie, as well as for bartender Sean.

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Plot Keywords:

festival | ireland | irish | matchmaker | election | 

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Taglines:

The most successful matchmaker in Ireland is about to hit a brick wall.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

Ireland UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amori e imbrogli

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

DEM 232,932 (Germany) (24 April 1998)

Gross:

DEM 232,932 (Germany) (24 April 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Good Film Company, Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

In a scene where the senator (still in the US) is in a limousine, there are Ivory Coast flags flying from the car (orange, white and green, rather than the green, white and orange of the expected Irish flags). As this is exactly the kind of mistake a clueless wannabe-Irish politician might make, it might have been deliberate on the part of the film-makers.

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Quotes

Marcy Tizard: Hey Patty! Patty! Guess what! I'm gonna stay here and fuck these two guys.
Local Lad No. 1: [to his friend] And you wanted to go see a film.

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Crazy Credits

Neat end credits pan diagonally from the lower right to upper left through pictures of the movie.

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Connections

References The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)

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Soundtracks

"And a Bang On The Ear"
Written by Michael Seam
Performed by The Waterboys

User Reviews

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match....

This sunny comedy, directed with great verve by Mark Joffe, kept reminding me of the whimsical comedy "Local Hero" by Bill Forsyth. The film cashes in the folklore of Ireland as no other film, in recent memory does. "The Matchmaker" will charm, as well as disarm all those viewers looking for a nice time at the movies by immersing in its wonderful spell and taking the trip of discovery to Ireland.

The story relies on all the color of the Emerald Island and its people. Where could there be a matchmaking festival, but if not in Ireland? The local characters live in a magical world. In a way, those people having lived in the area where the film takes place, are richer in traditions than we city folk are. It's a sobering experience for Marcy, the otherwise cynical girl that goes searching for her boss' roots in the old country and ends up being enchanted by what she finds there. It's an experience she will not forget easily.

Jeanane Garofalo is wonderful as Marcy. This actress always projects an intelligent aura into everything she plays in films. Milo O'Shea is always amazing in anything he plays; he is no exception on this film. Mr. O'Shea is simply marvelous. David O'Hara, Paul Hickey, Maria Boyle Kennedy, Saffron Burrows and Denis Leary, among others, do excellent work under Mr. Joffe's direction.