When I first saw the trailer for Marry Me, the newest romantic comedy, starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, my first thought was, "Is it 2009?" I truly don't mean that to sound insulting. It's just the days of the romantic comedy starring two big names seems so far behind us, even though just 10-15 years ago, you could count on at least a handful every year. Marry Me proves that the formula can still delight.
Jennifer Lopez is international superstar Kat Valdez. She is the biggest name in music and her relationship with Bastian (Maluma) is on the cover of every magazine and the headline of every news channel. The two plan to get married before a live audience of fans. Just as the ceremony is to start, Kat finds out that Bastian has been cheating on her. In a moment of uncertainty and confusion, Kat does what anyone else would do. She gets onstage, picks out someone from the crowd, and asks to marry them.
The someone, of course, is Charlie (Owen Wilson), a single-father schoolteacher, who spends most of his evenings at home. Although Charlie doesn't particularly like the attention nor does he really know who Kat Valdez is, he reluctantly agrees, seeing the hurt in her eyes. From there, the two begin a whirlwind romance that is part PR, part something more.
About as Expected, in a Good Way
Marry Me is an entirely formulaic rom-com. You know where it is going by the time you get thirty seconds into the trailer. Even still, it works largely based on the chemistry from its leads. Admittedly, I don't have strong feelings about either actor. I like both of them in some movies but neither one has ever blown me away. Let me be very clear - after Marry Me, they still haven't. BUT they did make me enjoy the movie significantly more than I anticipated.
Maybe it's the lack of sweet, innocent movies like this in recent years. Or just the general lack of theatrical movies in the last two, but I found Marry Me to be a fun, charming time at the movies. In addition to the two leads, supporting turns by Sarah Silverman and John Bradley, are genuinely funny. Lopez also pulls double duty, as she has several original songs in the film that I have been humming for a few days now.
Sit Back & Enjoy
Ultimately, Marry Me is going to be one of those movies that most people will randomly watch over the next five years on a rainy Saturday afternoon on a streaming service or a cable TV channel. While not the ideal fate, other movies have received much worse. It is a fun, easy watch and thanks to the actors involved, it is impossible to hate. Go into it with the mindset of relaxation and you will come out feeling satisfied.
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