I object to this would-be wedding romcom.
In the past decade, I’ve heard two movie songs that have been playing on the radio for months before or after their film’s release dates. And I’ve heard polarizing reactions towards them. The first song was Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” from the “Despicable Me 2” soundtrack that drove my sister nuts while my mother wants it to be played at her funeral. And the second was Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” from the “Trolls” soundtrack that drove some of my buddies nuts. As commercial as they sound, I actually enjoy listening to them.
Jennifer Lopez’s new romcom “Marry Me” is both the movie’s title and hit theme song that everyone wants to play at their own weddings. Reason for that song is because Lopez as music sensation Kat Valdez is marrying Grammy winner Bastian (Maluma) during a big concert show.
Consider previous movies of its kind-a celebrity or princess having a romantic connection with a nobody. “Roman Holiday” gave Audrey Hepburn her Oscar as a Princess, who sneaks out with Gregory Peck as a journalist visiting Rome, and “Notting Hill” starred Julia Roberts as an actress who visits a book shop and connects well with the owner Hugh Grant. Those films were charming on their own terms, whereas “Marry Me” seems too consumed by all the social media and publicity to even allow us to see that kind of chemistry.
Owen Wilson co-stars as a teacher and single dad named Charlie Gilbert and Chloe Coleman (still with the Tatum O’Neil disposition) as his independent daughter Lou, both of whom are roped into going to the big concert/wedding with his BF Parker (Sarah Silverman). Bastian has been caught red handed cheating on Kat with her assistant, makes a speech about how true love is few and far between, and says “Yes” to Charlie, who is holding a “Marry Me” sign.
So, they make their vows, and are married, even if Charlie doesn’t know much about her or social media. She decides to stay married to him for the new few months to avoid much media problems. Outside the press tours, Charlie and Kat are able to connect, as expected in this particular genre.
It’s labeled as a romcom, but it’s not funny. It’s more dull and flimsy than comical. Like it’s supposed to be funny when Silberman’s Parker has to pretend to kiss another teacher (Stephen Wallem) or when Lopez’s Kat forgets to put the lid on a blender when making smoothies. And how Kat has to take a regular plane ride with no champagne or hors d’oeuvres to find and support her new true love. Much worse romcom (like “Good Luck Chuck” or “Sex and the City 2”) have handled these situations poorly, but even in “Marry Me,” they feel so tedious.
Lopez and Wilson are both likable with how the latter has to teach the former about how winning grammies doesn’t distinguish a person’s talents, but rather what they can accomplish within themselves. They do their best to channel on Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts or Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, but “Marry Me” doesn’t do them much justice. It’s more of the same things, and it just gets boring.
I don’t follow up on concerts or social media that much, so I don’t think a wedding/concert show would be a good idea considering the movie’s problems. Don’t they have these things in private? Tell me that in the comments section. Sorry I’m not as hip as you.
If you’ve never seen any of my two alternatives to “Marry Me,” then maybe this would be the right time to see and compare and contrast them.” “Roman Holiday” and “Notting Hill” are both original, not “Marry Me.”
In Theaters and Streaming on Peacock
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