The Matchbreaker (2016 film)

The Matchbreaker
Official poster
Directed by	Caleb Vetter
Produced by	Wesley Elder Caleb Vetter Seth Rice
Screenplay by	Torry Martin Marshal Younger
Story by	Caleb Vetter Wesley Elder
Starring	Wesley Elder Christina Grimmie Osric Chau Tessa Violet Victoria Jackson
Music by	George Pauley
Cinematography	Cory Vetter[1]
Edited by	Caleb Vetter
Production company	Vetter Brothers Filmworks
Distributed by	Stadium Media
Release date	October 7, 2016 (2016-10-07) (United States)
Running time	94 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Matchbreaker is a 2016 independent romantic comedy film produced and directed by Caleb Vetter, and starring Wesley Elder, Christina Grimmie, Osric Chau, Victoria Jackson, and Tessa Violet. The film follows a man whose occupation is breaking up girls' relationships for their deploring parents, and at the same time trying to win over a girl he had a crush on in grade school.

The film premiered at Arclight Cinema Dome, Los Angeles, California on October 4, 2016,^[2] and was released in selected theaters on October 7.^[3] The film was released for digital download on December 6.^[4]

This film features the only motion picture performance by the American singer and pianist Christina Grimmie, who was killed at a meet and greet on June 10, 2016, following her performance at The Plaza Live^[5] in Orlando, Florida.^[6]

Plot

The film opens with Ethan Cooper, a clerk at a computer repair shop, retelling a story to his roommate Sam about his long-lasting infatuation with a girl he knew in middle school.

Ethan and Sam are late on their rent payment, so Ethan is planning to ask his boss for a raise. Unfortunately, he gets fired from his place of employment for refusing to accept a number of payments for fixed computers.

One day, while visiting his sister Lexy Cooper, a florist, at a flower shop, Ethan gets an offer from Mrs. Taylor to get rid of her daughter's, Veronica's, boyfriend in exchange for some money. He succeeds, but accidentally causes Veronica to become infatuated with him. Upon succeeding, Mrs. Taylor recommends Ethan to other disapproving parents, thus making him a match-breaker, and making his "business" prosperous.

Sometime later, he gets a yet another offer from a dissatisfied parent. To get more information about the daughter's boyfriend, Ethan meets her at a jazz club, where she apparently sings at nights. It turns out that the daughter is actually Emily Atkins, the same girl whom Ethan was gushing about to his roommate, Sam. He tries to talk to her but quickly loses his sanguinity and fails.

Ethan decides to meet up with her again, this time, at an art gallery, where Emily works. He learns that her boyfriend Brian likes to go to the gym. At the gym, Ethan tries to figure out some of Brian's flaws, but ultimately, it seems that he does not have any.

Meanwhile, a puerile rich young man named Mitchell is getting pressured by his parents at a formal party to find himself a future wife, as they are not confident enough in their son's abilities of taking care of himself, and want him out of their house. He is displeased by the women at the party but becomes interested in a waitress named Tricia. Unfortunately, his parents do not approve of his new-found love interest.

Mitchell's parents hire Ethan to dismantle the couple, and he learns that the father is a record producer. Mitchell's mom introduces Ethan to him as a confidence coach. Ethan proposes to Mitchell to go on a double date with him. Ethan brings Lexy along to act as his girlfriend. They try to make Mitchell and Tricia dislike each other, but fail.

Sometime after, Emily invites Ethan to a restaurant where Ethan learns Emily's apparent displeasure with her boyfriend. Later, Ethan gets a surprise visit from Emily's mother, from whom he learns that Emily has broken up with her boyfriend on her own. The mother offers Ethan a reward, but he declines.

Ethan and Emily decide to hang out for some time. Emily learns that Ethan had and still has a crush on her. Also, Ethan learns that Emily is not as flawless as he made her out to be, as she is revealed to be a slob, likes bad movies, such as the Twilight films, a loud chewer, a reckless driver, and likes to crack her bones. Despite her flaws, Ethan kisses Emily, but Emily disapproves of the kiss.

Emily gets a call from a friend who is in need of help and asks Ethan to come. It turns out that Emily is close friends with Tricia. Ethan learns that Tricia and Mitchell broke up.

Annoyed with Veronica's affection with him, Ethan decides to tell her that he has no interest in her.

Sometime later, at a formal party, Emily notices a check written by her mother for Ethan in her mother's handbag. Ethan rushes over to the party as Sam texts him to let him know that someone is trying to seduce Emily. When he arrives, Emily, who is infuriated, confronts Ethan about the check. Ethan notices that Veronica has followed him. Engulfed with emotional trauma, Veronica exposes Ethan to be a match-breaker in front of a crowd, as she has stalked him since they first met.

The next day, Emily's mother tells Emily that Ethan refused to take the check for the assumed dismantlement of the couple. Meanwhile, overwhelmed with guilt, Ethan gets Mitchell back together with Tricia, and offers Mitchell's father to visit the jazz club tonight, where Emily will be performing. Later, Tricia informs Emily that Ethan helped Mitchell to win Tricia over again.

Later that night at the jazz club, Emily notifies Ethan that a record producer wants Emily's demo and expresses joy that Ethan got Mitchell and Tricia back together.

Six months later, Tricia and Mitchell have gotten engaged, Ethan has written a relationship book, and started a romantic relationship with Emily.

Cast

Production

The shooting principally took place in Kansas City, Missouri,^[7] whose some of the landmarks can be seen, such as the Kauffman Center, The American, and the Green Lady Lounge, and in Leavenworth, Kansas. Leavenworth's landmarks were also featured in the film, such as the Leavenworth theatre and the Tampico Restaurant. The gas station, FavTrip, on the 4th street was also used during the filming, and some of the interior houses as well.^[7]

Release

The film's first premiere was held at the Arclight Cinema Dome on October 4, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.^[2] The premiere had an immense focus on honoring one of the lead stars of the film, Christina Grimmie, and it was attended by her family and friends.^[8] The second premiere was held in Caleb Vetter's home town of Kansas City, Missouri at the Alamo Drafthouse.^[9] The film was released in selected theaters across the U.S. on October 7.^[10]

Home media

The film was released for digital download on December 6, 2016. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 7, 2017.^[4] The film was released on Netflix in 2017.^[11]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was released on November 29, 2016 in the U.S. by Vetter Brother's Filmworks.^[12][13] The soundtrack features songs whose vocals were provided by the actors themselves. The music was composed by George Pauley.^[14]

On December 6, 2016, a music video for the song "My Buddy" was released.^[15]

Track listing

References

External links

• Official website
• Official trailer on YouTube
• The Matchbreaker on IMDb