In the past, rom-coms starring Jennifer Lopez often saddled her with professions that are just too unbelievable. “Maid in Manhattan”? “The Wedding Planner”? Not our Jenny from the Block. So it’s refreshing to see J.Lo, in a much-heralded return to the romantic comedy fold, playing a character who just makes sense for her: a global pop superstar. But it’s not just a professional life that Lopez shares with her character, Kat Valdez, in “Marry Me,” directed by Kat Coiro, based on a graphic novel by Bobby Crosby, and that’s a good thing.
Lopez brings authenticity to her portrayal of Kat Valdez, a heightened version of Lopez herself. Kat Valdez plays huge concerts at Madison Square Garden wearing spangly unitards. J.Lo plays huge concerts at Madison Square Garden wearing spangly unitards. Kat Valdez has been married three times; J.Lo has been married three times. Kat Valdez has a messy public breakup with a charming cad, Bastian (Colombian Latin pop singer Maluma), who is caught on social media kissing her assistant; J.Lo had a messy public breakup with a charming cad caught on social media messaging a Bravo star. Kat Valdez finds true love with a bland white guy, Charlie (Owen Wilson), and J.Lo, well, she’s found true love again with her favorite bland white guy, Ben Affleck.
This delightfully meta Venn diagram of character and star is placed within a preposterously high-concept scenario for a rom-com. Massive superstar Kat is publicly humiliated at what’s supposed to be her wedding to Bastian, a huge concert at which they will perform their duet “Marry Me” before saying their vows. Right after she performs a number dressed as a (checks notes) golden crucifix, surrounded by sexy latex-clad nuns, she dons a wedding dress right before she discovers Bastian’s infidelity, an illicit smooch caught on camera. In a moment of desperation, Kat sees a sign in the crowd, held by a milquetoast math teacher and single dad, Charlie (Wilson) reading “Marry Me?” She says yes and the two get married on stage, at first sight, in front of the whole world.
Can these two fall in love while managing their differences across a high-profile PR fiasco? As Kat and Charlie attempt to maintain their dignity after Kat’s impulsive decision, they grapple with the high-visibility expectations placed on Kat, the newfound attention Charlie doesn’t want. Though the situation is far from realistic, the dynamically directed and swiftly paced “Marry Me” remains emotionally grounded, which is crucial to the execution. Written by Harper Dill, John Rogers and Tami Sagher, though the scenario is pie-in-the-sky, the feelings are relatable. Kat and Charlie have both loved and lost before, and are nervous about being hurt again. Though the situations are outlandish, most everyone can relate to feeling insecure and jealous, scared to put yourself out there.
It might be Kat’s unflagging belief in love that bleeds over the most with the star we’ve come to know as J.Lo, who has publicly loved, lost and loved again, time after time, in front of the world, like a modern Elizabeth Taylor. That belief in the power of love, not that it conquers all, but that it can, and will, bloom again, is the beating heart of “Marry Me,” an otherwise frothy, and deeply silly rom-com. There’s only one person who could play Kat Valdez, but more importantly, only one person who could sell that true blue belief in the persisting power of love, and that is, of course, Jennifer Lopez.
———
‘MARRY ME’
2.5 stars (out of 4)
MPAA rating: PG-13 (for some language and suggestive material)
Running time: 1:52
Where to watch: In theaters and streaming on Peacock Friday
———
