Must Love Dogs

• Romance
• Comedy

A divorced schoolteacher navigates the unexpectedly chaotic world of online dating, not through her own agency, but as the subject of an elaborate matchmaking scheme orchestrated by her relentlessly optimistic, and occasionally overbearing, family. This isn’t a story of finding ‘the one’ as much as it is a gently humorous exploration of reclaiming independence and rebuilding self-worth after loss. The film’s charm lies in its realistic portrayal of awkward encounters and the delicate balance between familial support and suffocating interference, culminating in a hopeful, but refreshingly un-idealized, view of modern romance. It’s a comforting story deeply rooted in the specific anxieties of post-divorce life and the quiet joy of rediscovering personal passions, like building wooden boats, amidst the dating chaos.