Matchmaker Mary

by: None

Published by: Pure Flix

Reviewed by Steven King, MBA, MEd

Mary Carver receives an “A” on the final test of sixth grade and is promised a puppy. When her father takes her to the local animal shelter, Wayside Waifs, she selects one puppy from a litter of three that serves as the catalyst for a story steeped in fantasy.

Ironically, as Mary and her father arrive at the shelter, their lives intercept Cynthia Parker, a forlorn bride whose fiancé left her at the altar. Following impossible dialogue, these two hit it off instantly and both adopt a puppy from the same litter. The entire entourage takes comfort that a home will be found for the last puppy.
Through a twist of fate, Mary has a sudden impulse to tour the grounds of the humane society, where she runs into Eric Andrews, a single, out-of-work artist, who just happens to be seated in the dog park holding an empty dog leash and is lamenting the loss of his beagle, Romulus. With totalitarian authority, Mary insists that he come with her right away. Eric is ushered into the humane society where he, predictably, adopts the last puppy.

The movie traces the nuances of puppy ownership while introducing the subplot: Mary’s parents are growing apart due to her mother’s business travels. In the aftermath of this revelation, Mary launches a master plan to introduce Cynthia to Eric under the guise of meeting each separately for a puppy play date at the dog park. Cynthia and Eric hit if off and agree to have dinner, while Mary’s babysitter, Aunt Karen, hooks up with the shelter’s owner, Cameron Banks.

Fulfilling childish fantasy, Mary masterfully convinces these four characters to conspire with her to force her parents to spend some time together. Aunt Karen convinces her sister, Mary’s mother, to meet her new love interest at the dog park. Cameron, Aunt Karen’s love interest, calls Bill Carver, Mary’s father, and insists that he return to the humane society to sign some paperwork. Magically, Mary’s mother and father realize they have been “had” and provide the requisite “I love you more than a career” kiss.

This movie is juvenile, yet endearing, in an “after-school special” kind of way.

Armchair Interviews agrees.