FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE YET TO SEE MARRY ME, THIS IS A NON-SPOILER REVIEW.

Lost in the Reel’s video review for Marry Me.

Before I start off this review, I think it’s important to note that I am a massive Jennifer Lopez fan.  Not only did I grow up on her romantic comedies of the early two-thousands, but I also love a lot of her music and am inspired by her relentless drive.  So, I might be a bit biased going into Marry Me… please keep that in mind.  And while I admit that this film feels like one big manufactured piece of entertainment created solely for product placement and to sell a soundtrack, it also has a genuine charm and sweetness that is undeniable.

WHAT IS MARRY ME ALL ABOUT?

Kat Valdez is half of the sexiest celebrity power couple on Earth with hot new music supernova Bastian. As Kat and Bastian’s inescapable hit single, “Marry Me,” climbs the charts… They are about to be wed before an audience of their fans in a ceremony that will stream across multiple platforms. When Kat learns, right before the ceremony, that Bastian has cheated on her with her assistant, her life turns left as she has a meltdown on stage, questioning love, truth, and loyalty. As her perfect world falls apart, she locks eyes with a stranger— a face in the crowd.  And in a moment of inspired insanity, Kat chooses to marry Charlie. What begins as an impulsive reaction evolves into an unexpected romance.

HOW RIDICULOUS IS THE PLOT?

The plot of Marry Me is probably one of the most incredulous things about it, but it also is what makes it so much fun.  The idea of pinning JLO and Owen Wilson together in a romantic relationship must be one of the craziest ideas Hollywood has come up with in a while… but, for the most part, it works.  There’s a fish-out-of-water aspect with Owen Wilson’s Charlie being completely in over his head, thrown into this world of fame and fortune… that allows him to almost be a surrogate for the audience, to vicariously live through him.  And this “two opposite people from different worlds being brought together” formula is well-worn, but done to such an overblown extent here that it feels different and fresh enough.  

HOW IS JLO AND OWEN WILSON? DO THEY HAVE CHEMISTRY?

Jennifer Lopez is always able to bring such charisma and tenderness to any role and with Kat Valdez, it’s no different.  This popstar living with unimaginable fame and fortune could have come off as a diva so disconnected from the real world, but Lopez is able to allow the audience to connect with this character… because she instills Kat with such heart.

 Owen Wilson is fine in Marry Me, but definitely plays second-fiddle to Lopez and doesn’t add much more to the role than just an everyman-likeability factor.  I think any actor with an iota of charm could have played Charlie because the part is so thinly-written… but, even the fact that these two performers are able to get the audience to root for them to be together is a feat in and out of itself.  I do wish they both had a little more chemistry with each other. Especially since Maluma and JLO have tons of it together… there were times I struggled to believe that there was any kind of passion between Charlie and Kat. But, by the end, they had done their job of selling it to me.

HOW ARE THE ORIGINAL SONGS?

One thing that I was not expecting going into Marry Me is how music-forward it is.  Although I wouldn’t necessarily call it a musical, there are a ton of original songs in the film… and while not all of them are overly memorable, they definitely are well-produced and catchy.  I was proudly tapping my toes and humming along, through the entire duration of the movie.  On My Way is probably the most effective song, a soul-stirring ballad that plays multiple times throughout… and I could not get enough of it.  During Marry Me, I kept thinking how much it reminded me of The Lizzie McGuire Movie, not just with the music, but also the fish-out-of-water plot too… so, I think that will give you an idea if you will like this film or not.

HOW FUNNY IS THE FILM?

The biggest qualm I have with this romantic comedy… is that the comedy is pretty non-existent.  I might have chuckled a couple of times throughout and that’s about it.  So, if you are expecting laughs to go along with your romance, I would definitely watch Amazon Prime’s I Want You Back this Valentine’s Day Weekend instead.  The movie is also cheesy to a fault, but if you knew the ridiculous plot of the film going into it… then that probably shouldn’t surprise you. 
Marry Me is not going to win over the naysayers of Jennifer Lopez. Or reignite your belief in the romantic comedy genre.  But, if you have a spot for the actresses’ prior work in Maid in Manhattan, The Wedding Planner or Shall We Dance?… and are just looking for a movie that will make you smile from ear to ear for two hours, then Marry Me is a must-watch.

Marry Me will be Streaming on Peacock and In Theaters Friday, February 11th, 2022.

For more Reviews, make sure to Stay Tuned to That Hashtag Show!