REVIEW: Wilson and Lopez are Romantic Comedy Gold in “Marry Me”
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Marry Me is here to help you believe in love again. Starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, the story follows pop singer, Kat Valdez (Lopez) as she prepares to marry her fiancé, Bastian (Maluma) in front of millions of people. When a scandal stops the wedding, Kat takes a leap of faith and marries a random man she finds in the crowd, math teacher Charlie (Wilson). What begins as an impulsive act turns into an unexpected romance that starts Kat and Charlie on the ride of their lives.
Like most romantic comedies, this movie is extremely predictable, but it is anything but boring. The story has just enough cheesiness to keep you entertained and will leave you with a smile on your face. The movie is not all about the romance, it also focuses on the idea of, and narrative behind, love and how it is often perceived in the media. This was an interesting layer not typically found in romantic comedies. Most rom-coms stick just to romance with moments of comedy and forget about crafting well-rounded characters. Marry Me does well to combine intriguing characters with a bit of romance, light-hearted moments, and instances when you may actually stop and think about love and its resounding impact on life.
What makes this film so enjoyable is its two leads, Lopez and Wilson. Their characters couldn’t be more different and that is what makes the romance and the comedy so good. Wilson was not originally set to play the role of Charlie, Armie Hammer was slated for the part. Wilson stepped in right before production began and it was a great decision by Universal Pictures. Wilson was the perfect person to play Charlie. He brought an awkward yet charming persona to the character and was fantastic alongside Lopez. Lopez is no newcomer to the romantic comedy scene, and even though this is not her first rom-com rodeo, she brings a whole new level to the role of Kat. It may be because of who her scene partner is or that she made Kat someone to feel for. Regardless, she will have you falling in love with Kat right along with Charlie. There is one particular scene where Kat defends her decision to marry Charlie without even knowing him that left me cheering. It is one of the best scenes in the movie, in my opinion.
Sarah Silverman and John Bradley round out the cast as Charlie’s friend, Parker (Silverman) and Kat’s manager, Colin (Bradley). Silverman brings a number of laughs to the movie and she has a couple of one-liners that left me in tears, while Bradley’s Colin was just awkward enough to stand alongside Lopez and Wilson.
For those looking for a movie to watch this Valentine’s Day, whether it be with your significant other, your best friends, or just yourself, this movie is for you! Just remember, this is a romantic comedy, so it is supposed to be cheesy and over the top at parts. If you give it a shot, it will leave you believing anything is possible when it comes to love. You just have to be willing to take a leap of faith.
Grade: A