Match Me If You Can

As an old boomer guy I'm not really in the demographic for this movie, and I put it on for background noise while doing something else. I didn't expect it to begin with people battling zombies in a shopping mall! (OK, not real zombies, but still...) I ended up giving the movie 90% attention throughout, instead of the 15% I'd originally planned. It has an endearing main character, some delightfully quirky bits (the zombies, the crab and puffer fish, lawnchair man,...), and a plot which was totally predictable but still left open some questions about how it was going to unroll. Another director could have given the movie a screwball pace and tone, or made it cloyingly sweet, but that would have been a bad choice. They maybe veered a little to far in the 'sedate' direction for this one, but it works.

In 1999 there was another romantic comedy with a crab, Simply Irresistible (with Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Patricia Clarkson). If you enjoyed that movie, I would say this one has a very similar overall flavor...though they are very different movies, and the acting in that one was overall far far better.

"Match Me if You Can" is a heartwarming rom-com directed by Marian Yeager about a computer nerd rejected by a dating app, blogs about her experience and ends up unintentionally leading a revolution for all the singles feeling left out. Set against my hometown of Austin, TX, the film's local charm adds an extra layer of magic for me. The characters' quirks and vulnerabilities make them instantly lovable and super relatable. And of course, who could forget the adorable mastiff and mudi pup that steal the screen for me whenever they show up :-) In a world of rom-coms, this one stands out for its genuine message - that you are enough.

"I know I'm not a real woman, my shoes don't hurt, I like math" is an actual line from this embarrassingly sexist, small-minded film. I haven't looked it up, but this was either written by an oblivious man (likely) or a self-hating woman. Whatever this film thought it was doing, glorifying things the writer associates with being "male" that "real women" don't do/don't get -- even though they are gender-neutral things like enjoying math -- is hateful toward women in an attempt to make the lead actress seem "so not like other girls." And you might think, "It's a romcom, it's not that deep." It is actually that deep. These media depictions are damaging. And honestly, who is this romcom targeting? What audience was so pick-me, they were like, "YES, I FEEL SEEN. The only way to feel good about myself is to tear down anything perceived to be feminine." I shut it off after about fifteen minutes. Maybe it comes back around and it doesn't make you feel nauseated, but it wasn't worth the gastrointestinal distress in the interim. Glad this has clearly done so poorly, as the world is better off with less exposure to it.

What a breath of fresh air in the movie world. A wonderful blend of a good script, solid acting, good direction, and it all came together to make a sweet and funny movie with a happy ending. The movie will keep you chuckling throughout. This is a clever take on the all-to real world of online dating and all the hazards that involves. All the actors portrayals of their characters are just so well done. There is good chemistry between the two leads in the film. The director has done a impressive job of keeping the film moving forward and keeping the audience interested. The film photography is also worthy of note.

Loved the message the movie send. Storyline was predictable but done in a a cute nerdy way. Very relatable and made me laugh which is what I was looking for. Loved watching a nerdy love story, female lead was funny, thought there was great chemistry. More realistic than most of these movies, or at least more relatable. The acting wasn't all great but it didn't take away from any it. I'm giving it a higher rating because being a bit nerdy myself the movie made me feel good, which the point of the kind of movies I suppose lol. Normally I never write a review but I would like for my fellow nerds out there to see this hence giving it a horrible first try.