by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Are you ready for a brand new romance film coming your way for Valentine’s Day? Of course! Well… I guess if you enjoy them. This is the perfect time for a new film featuring two famous personalities falling in love with each other. When the trailers dropped for Marry Me, it looked just like any old rom-com, except with a totally absurd premise. Who would believe that a pop star who was cheated on would grab a middle-aged man from the audience and randomly marry him? Well… that is exactly what happens in this sleek romance flick.
But does Marry Me capture some genuine romance for its audience? First thing’s first, you really must suspend your disbelief with how the premise plays out. But if you are going into this movie, you probably already know that is the basic premise. What you don’t know going in is that this movie delivers some satisfying charm. Sure, it is filled with clichés and tropes that you would expect to see in a big screen romance. It also plays out exactly how you would expect it to. Luckily, director Kat Coiro can squeeze out plenty of charm from the cast. The film is generally glossy and there isn’t much in terms of technical aspects to focus on, but if you are hoping for a sweet cinematic experience, then this delivers.
What about the actual story? The film starts off with the impulse marriage, but where does it go from there? Jennifer Lopez’s Kat and Owen Wilson’s Charlie go on press tours and record outings to build up the publicity. But as they spend some alone time together and Kat experiences more of Charlie’s life as a teacher and a father, real sparks begin to fly. What follows is a series of experiences that sees them get closer together, while Charlie struggles with his own insecurities about love and marriage. Throw in Bastian (Maluma), Kat’s cheating ex-fiancee, who keeps popping up, and the film has some tension. The narrative wraps up as you would expect with some lows and peak rom-com highs.
But what about the cast? Lopez is peak J-Lo with some great singing (with the songs in the film being some catchy jams) and ridiculous charm. She might be channeling some of her own persona, but she is magnetic and genuine. Wilson is such a dad, but he is able to add his light trademarks as an actor to add some interesting dimensions to his character. Chloe Coleman is sweet as always in her role as Charlie’s daughter. Sarah Silverman is delivering the peak brand of her comedian as she is a fun supporting character. John Bradley is very British and fun in his role as Kat’s manager. The weak link, though, is Maluma, who is devoid of personality (but at least he can sing).
Will this new film surprise you? Will it subvert the romance genre? Will it gain new converts for the romance film genre? This would be a big no for all those questions. BUT… this is a charming film. Whether you go to the theater or have a romantic evening at home watching Peacock, this is a sweet time that you can share with someone special (or by yourself!).
Grade: C+
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