Matchmaking 2 keeps the laughs (and drama) coming as the film continues the story that its predecessor started in a way that is no less hysterical.

As surprising as it may be–since Matchmaking 2 is sure to be a hit on the festival circuit–it didn’t receive any Israeli Ophir Award nominations following its October 2024 release. Regardless, there are some solid performances here and of course, plenty of laughs.

The thing about sequels is that they cannot be forced. One doesn’t just do it because it’s a money grab. No, there needs to be a story to tell. And sure enough, there is. We continue the story of Moti Bernstein (Amit Rahav) and Nechami Biton (Liana Ayoun) as they were last seen celebrating a vort in anticipation of their marriage. If you didn’t think a sequel could add more laughs to their situation, think again! The door was also left open for Baruch Auerbach (Maor Schwietzer) to be matched with his bashert with the aid of matchmaker Malki Levine (Irit Kaplan). Matchmaking 2 is basically starting were the latter left off.

The Levines leave Baruch with the responsibility of picking up their daughter, Shira (Omer Nudelman) from the airport. Shabbos is coming in quickly and they’re stuck at the airport. Baruch soon has a problem because he’s fallen for Shira but Malchi doesn’t see him as a suitor. She sets up him with Ruth (Niv Sultan) but he has his eyes set only on Shira. Things more or less go as one would imagine. It wouldn’t be a comedy if it didn’t get off the rails at some point.

Baruch is 28 years old so he’s not getting any younger. In fact, he’s rather old for being a yeshiva bochur and still single. That he’s still living in a small room at the yeshiva certainly does him no favors in finding his bashert. He matches Shira with Moishe Carlebach (Noam Imber), thinking that he’d get Shira after Moishe drops him.

In an added twist to the casting this time around, Maor Schwietzer and Niv Sultan are married in real life! Obviously, the two of them have great chemistry together. It just takes a while for Maor’s character to get it together. Even though it’s Baruch going on multiple dates through a matchmaker in this film, Matchmaking 2 is not a complete rehash of Matchmaking–well, aside from the continuing tensions between the Bernsteins and the Bitons. Will Baruch continue to focus on Shira or will he end up with Ruth? Watch the film and see how the process plays out!

Much like the earlier film, it’s impossible to ignore the difference in customs between Ashkenazi and Sephardic/Mizrahi Jews in Matchmaking 2. It isn’t just the spicier food, although this alone leads to more comical moments. No, it’s the fact that they have different customs when it comes to marriage, especially when it comes to both the yichud room and covering one’s hair after the wedding. In Sephardic tradition, the bride and groom don’t fast and so there’s no need for a yichud room. It obviously leads to tension in the days and weeks leading up to the wedding. Similarly, the same tradition doesn’t require that Sephardic brides cover their hair until the day after their wedding.

I wouldn’t recommend going into Matchmaking 2 without watching the earlier film. This may pose a problem for audiences catching the sequel during Jewish or Israeli film festivals in 2025. As far as I can tell, the first film never found an American distributor. Yes, these are niche films but having a Jewish or an Israeli focus shouldn’t stop a distributor from acquiring them! But that being said, it won’t be altogether impossible to catch onto the narrative.

There are plenty of laughs to be had in Matchmaking 2.

DIRECTOR: Erez Tadmor
SCREENWRITERS: Hava Divon, Erez Tadmor, Yaki Reisner
CAST: Maor Schwietzer, Niv Sultan, Liana Ayoun, Amit Rahav, Omer Nudelman, Irit Kaplan, Raymonde Amsallem, Roy Assaf, Netta Shpigelman, Guy Loel, Noam Imber

Matchmaking 2 (Bochurim Tovim 2) holds its Atlanta premiere during the 2025 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. Upcoming screenings include the Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema. Grade: 4/5

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