The Matchmaker Review
by James Sanford (jasanfor AT MCI2000 DOT com)January 13th, 1999
THE MATCHMAKER
Directed by Mark Joffe
Every so often a new talent appears on the scene and instantly wins a devoted following. That was certainly the case with Janeane Garofalo last year: Her not-so-ugly duckling turn in "The Truth About Cats and Dogs" proved to be an inspiration to millions of women who don't look in the mirror and see Julia Roberts. It also provided plenty of room for Garofalo to show off her sassy, self-deprecating style, previously seen only in small doses in "Reality Bites" and "Bye Bye Love."
"The Matchmaker" probably seemed like a solid choice for a follow-up vehicle, another romantic comedy casting Garofalo as a tough cookie with a tender heart, who finds love when she finally breaks out of her usual insulation. In this case, she's an American single women who finds herself stuck in a small Irish town during the annual matchmaking festival, a set-up that should have been the perfect springboard for Garofalo's stinging observations about cultural differences and the mysteries of the heart.
Unfortunately, though Garofalo is still a treasure, "Matchmaker" proves to be a crock of fool's gold. The screenplay was penned by one writer and reworked by three others, and the story bears the fingerprints of too many hands. Often there's so much going on in this tale director Mark Joffe doesn't have time to capitalize on what should have been sure-fire comic ideas. Nor does Garofalo get many chances to fling her customary zingers, which could have put some much-needed punch into this nicely photographed but uninspiring blarney. James Sanford
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