Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Match Me If You Can’

8/11/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Georgina Reilly as Kip Parsons in ‘Match Me If You Can’. (Photo Courtesy of Bianca Greene.)

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Match Me If You Can’. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the film being covered here wouldn’t exist.

It is definitely safe to say that we live in quite the quirky era when it comes to dating. For gone are the days of casual meetups to find potential partners, that has been replaced by the advent of online dating and well… the digital world of romance has proven to be quite confusing to say the least. After all, each app out there demands different things of singles and that can generate matches that really aren’t matches. Not to mention, the detachment of a being behind a screen can embolden men to be supremely crude and gross in their ‘wooing’ of a potential partner. Not to mention, online dating introduced all of us to the nightmare that is ghosting and to complicate matters further, if you’re a hardcore geek or a nerd, this whole process only gets weirder and more difficult.

Because online dating allows for some bias to come into play, and well… all those elements, alongside what it takes to set up a profile on the jillion dating sounds there… makes this whole process weird and exhausting. As do the horror stories about online dating and the fact that at its core, it just doesn’t seem to work. But alas, in this digital age, this is the new norm and singles must adjust to it like it or not. Which then begs the question… how then… do we make this process work? Because there has to be something singles are missing when it comes to online dating and there has to be flaws in the system. But perhaps the real issue with online dating, goes deeper than shoddy algorithms and lengthy questionnaires. And it just so happens that a brand-new romantic comedy offers up some bold answers about what is really making online dating so difficult in our modern world in Match Me If You Can.

A feat that this film accomplishes by introducing us to a woman named Kip Parsons. Who is a giant nerd and is also looking for love in all the wrong space ports. Because despite her best efforts, she simply cannot find the right partner to join her on her nerdy voyages in life and that prompts her one fateful night, whilst under the influence of margaritas, to try the hot new dating website, I Promise. Because why not? But it doesn’t take long for Kip to realize what a mistake that decision was, since the software fires back that she has no matches in the most malicious manner possible. Prompting her to speak out on the web about I Promise’s uncouth nature, and how online dating can be a massive pain in the rear, and that in turn… brings forth unexpected conflict and fame for Kip. Because her words resonate with the masses and strike fear into the family executives that keep, I Promise running, and now it will be up to Kip to figure out how to navigate this new normal and the ire of a corporation, as she still works to find love in a world where digital dating rules the day.

(L-R) Brad Ofoegbu, Kanwar Singh, Georgina Reilly, and Brian George as LB Solen, Sanjay Srinivasan, Kip Parsons, and Meta in ‘Match Me If You Can’. (Photo Courtesy of Bianca Greene.)

Which at first glance appears to be a story that is a grand satire of the modern dating world and there is merit to that assumption. Since the story does in fact lampoon the process and showcases its troubles. But once we really get to know Kip and understand her plight do we begin to learn what this film really wants to express. In that, it isn’t the apps and the sites that are the problem, it is the users. Because people have unrealistic expectations about online dating, as though every swipe right will suddenly bring forth happiness and joy and when folks don’t get a fast response or the ones, they want… they immediately think the worst about themselves and fear that they are fated to being alone, and that’s problematic for certain since it creates undue pressure. The kind we see exhibited here by Kip’s nervousness and outright fury over that response. Giving rise to commentary about how people must approach online dating differently and really understand that it is a process that requires care instead of constant swiping. Because no one is buying an air fryer, it’s about trying to find a life partner.

But while that commentary alone could have carried this entire motion picture, there’s more to be found here when it comes how people are the real roadblock when it comes to online dating. For Kip’s eventual flirtation with the true owner of I Promise gives rise to some powerful moments that inform us… prospective daters also need to be ready to date with intention and have a real understanding of what they want and above all… need to be happy with who they are. Because all too often, people believe that dating and relationships is what fixes a person and inspires them to be better or can make them whole and make them feel as though they are enough. When, true love should genuinely complement a person. And in order for that to happen… the self-work has to happen first, and people need to be inspired to be more and realize that they are enough, and that no one needs a lover or a partner to feel complete. Which is a powerful message to find within this romantic comedy, but it is indeed there and all of this powerful commentary, brings forth one magnificent motion picture.

One that is deep and reflective, and never becomes overwhelming thanks to the comedic elements present here. Since that helps to break up the heavier stuff and keep us engaged on a journey that we deeply care about. For Kip is someone we relate to since we’re either in her shoes now or have been there and we want her to find what we seek or fought hard to obtain all of which adds depth to this brilliant modern spin on the romantic comedy. Since it truly reflects the times and our current frustrations, all while offering up some hard truths about dating. Not to mention, all of these elements are sold in a believable manner courtesy of some wonderful performances, with Georgina Reilly stealing the show as Kip Parsons. But the best news of all is that you can see Match Me If You Can right now, since it is in theaters and available on demand and hopefully you do indeed give it a look. Since it truly offers up some refreshing perspective on matters of love.

Watch ‘Match Me If You Can’

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