|
|
By Melvin Twigg Mason
If ever oh ever a great pic there was, “Marry Me” is the one because of the wonderful story it has!
Okay, it doesn’t quite rhyme like it should, but this new romantic comedy from Universal Studios has it all; intriguing storyline, infectious music, fabulous costuming. . .and Jennifer Lopez (“Enough,” “Maid In Manhattan”).
To anyone watching, you might almost think it’s an autobiographical peek into J- Lo’s actual marital memoirs.
Produced by Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions, “Marry Me” is the story of a pop superstar who finds out moments before she says “I do” that her fiancé has been cheating on her.
Singer Katalina “Kat” Valdez (Lopez) must call off the live nuptials that were about to occur in front of thousands of her adoring fans. That is until, in her saddened stupor, she sees one man holding a sign saying “marry me,” to which she replies, “Yes. I’ll marry you.”
Thus begins an amazing, rather far-fetched but emotional, marriage-at-first-sight journey. Though such an undertaking would be highly unlikely in normal space and time, Lopez‘s delivery in that moment brings you along for the ride. As her character states, “If you want different, you have to do differently.” 
In an interview on ABC’s The View, Lopez admits to the numerous similarities between her character and her own life. Kat Valdez is a music icon who has been married twice, and her impending marriage to “Bastian” (played by 28-year old Colombian singer, Maluma) would have been #3. As for J-Lo, she also has been married three times, with a couple of boyfriends tossed in-between.
But like her celluloid counterpart, Lopez “believes in marriage” and love, when the people and the time are right. You can read in her face that this screenplay is personal for her. “I found this role very cathartic,” she told The View’s Ana Navarro.
The movie is directed by Kat Coiro (Marvel’s “She-Hulk” and TV’s “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”), written by John Rogers, Tami Sagher, and Harper Dill; from the graphic novel of the same name by Bobby Crosby.
Actor Owen Wilson (“Night At the Museum,” “Wonder”) is the local math teacher, Charlie Gilbert, who gets swept up into Kat’s marital madness. Englander John Bradley (HBO’s “Game Of Thrones,” and this month’s “Moonfall” with Halle Berry) stands out as Kat’s caring personal manager, and the ever-youthful comedienne Sarah Silverman (both “Wreck-It Ralph’s,” and “School Of Rock” with Jack Black) turns in a wonderful & heartwarming performance as a co-worker & close friend of Gilbert.
J-Lo is bejeweled and dazzling as always in various costumes thanks to designer Caroline Duncan. 
The dance performances are classic Jenny-from-the-Block. The original music, which is actually sung by Lopez, and will appear on her upcoming album, is electrifying and beautiful, especially the title song and both versions of “On My Way” (I recommend the ballad version).
This is a great movie release for Valentine’s Day, or anytime you want to celebrate the triumph of love.
Now available on Peacock streaming service.