Film:  MARRY ME

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Music

Director: Kat Coiro

Writers: John Rogers, Tami Sagher, Harper Dill

Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Maluna, John Bradley, Sarah Silverman

REVIEW

An improbable premise begets an improbable marriage which begets a funny, warm rom-com. At first glance, Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson don’t seem like a match made in Heaven. Let’s face it, a love affair between J-Lo and O-Wil is not going to make the cover of any supermarket tabloid.

Kat (Lopez) is a mega superstar who gets stood up during a worldwide telecast concert. In a moment of despair Kat spots an unsuspecting nerdy math teacher, Charlie (Owen Wilson), coaxes him on stage, and.…say it ain’t so, J-Lo!..marries him! It’s just a phony-baloney publicity stunt resulting from a heartbroken Kat being humiliated in front of the whole world, right?

It starts out that way, but slowly but surely these two “accidental” lovers begin to find common ground and begin to bond as humans. Lopez is especially good at shedding her diva persona in the story and revealing a softer more vulnerable side. Wilson has perfected his reliable “everyman” character with his uneven good looks that underscore and complement Lopez’s smoky, sexy charm.

Marry Me probably won’t win any Oscars. But there is some good music by J-Lo and Marry Me is a nice, cozy little date movie.

Studio: Universal

Producers: Courtney Baxter, Kevin Beisler, Alex Brow

Available: In Theaters, Peacock

Rating:

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TV Series  ACAPULCO 

Genre: Bilingual Comedy, Romance

CreatorS: EduardoCisneros, Jason Shuman, Austin Winsberg

Writers: Eduardo Cisneros, Eddie Quintana,  Jason Shunan, Chris Spain

Cast: Enrique Arizon, Fernando Carsa, Eqmián Alcázar, Camila Perez, Vanessa Bauche, Raphael alejandroEugenio Derbez, Chrod Oversteet

REVIEW

Will success spoil Maximo Gallardo? That’s the ultimate question underlying this funny, sparkling bi-lingual comedy set in gorgeous Acapulco, Mexico. Every episode begins with Old Maximo (Eugenio Derbez) telling his curious nephew, Hugo, (Raphael Alejandro) the story of how he acquired all his current fabulous wealth and property.

Acapulco begins when Young Maximo (Enrique Arizan) and his buddy, Memo (Fernando Carsa) land jobs at the ritzy Las Colimas Resort. Memo ends up working in the laundry room, while Maximo finds himself hobnobbing with the wealthy guests as a pool boy.  Maximo is ambitious and aims to please his boss, Diane (Jessica Collins) with well-intended, but often mixed results.

Acapulco is a morality tale within a comedy. Every story contains a moral lesson Old Maximo learned as Young Maximo, such as dealing with the special needs and secrets of certain guests, competing with a workplace rival, handling a delicate personal romantic situation, coping with his mother’s disapproval for working in a “den of sin” resort.

The real joy and pleasure of Acapulco is watching the irrepressibly charming Arizan, as young Maximo, encounter, overcome and learn from each new challenge he faces. The writing in Acapulco is 14-carat gold. Each supporting cast performance is a gem that adds value to this priceless jewel of a comedy.

Will success spoil Maximo Gallardo? Acapulco has been picked up for a second season so Hugo and the rest of us will find out.

 Production Company: 3Pas Studios

Producers: Eduardo cisneros, Alehandro Cárdenas, Chris Harris, Jake Harris

Available: AppleTV+

Rating:

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After a decade of staying away from romantic movies, Jennifer Lopez is coming back to the big screen with a love story in time for San Valentine’s. She stars in Marry Me, a romantic musical comedy-drama set for release Feb. 11.

Lopez plays famous Latin pop singer Kate Valdez, who surprisingly proposes to a stranger in one of her concerts. Originally, Kate was expected to pop the question to her music partner Sebastian, a popular singer portrayed by Colombian reggaeton artist Maluma, in a highly anticipated media event announced to the four winds and planned to stream live to millions of people as part of her Marry Me Concert Tour.

But after learning of her boyfriend’s cheating on the news just minutes before their carefully planned public engagement, a shocked and brokenhearted Kate proposes to a concertgoer holding a sign that said: “Marry me.” The stranger, a recently widowed single dad named Charlie, is played by Owen Wilson.

The film is directed by Kat Coiro, known for helming TV comedy series like Fox’s The Mick, FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and ABC’s Single Parents and comedy movies like Daddy Issues and A Case of You.

The screenplay is by John Rogers, Tami Sagher and Harper Dill, whose respective credits include Flightplan, Catwoman and Inside Amy Schumer. The script is based on a graphic novel by newcomer writer Bobby Crosby. Marry Me is executive produced by Lopez for her company Nuyorican Productions. The film’s 10-member producers team includes some that have worked with Lopez in previous movies, such as Hustlers’ Benny Medina and Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Second Act’s Alex Brown.

The rest of the main cast is rounded up by Sarah Silverman (Wreck-It Ralph), Utkarsh Ambudkar (Brittany Runs a Marathon), Jimmy Fallon (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), John Bradley (Game of Thrones), Chloe Coleman (My Spy) and Brady Noon (The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers).

The last romcom starring Lopez was the 2010The Back-up Plan, about a woman who conceives twins through artificial insemination but then meets the man of her dreams on the very same day. The film won Lopez a nomination for the Teen Choice Awards.

An actress, singer and dancer, Lopez is considered one of the most influential Latino artists in the U.S. as well as one of the most powerful celebrities on the planet, making popular lists of influential magazines like Forbes and Time. She has reportedly sold about 70 million records and boasts a cumulative film gross of more than $3 billion. Her most notable films include Selena, Anaconda, The Cell, Shall We Dance, Monster-in-Law and Hustlers. Last year she received an Emmy nomination for her live performance along with Shakira in the Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show. And this year Lopez performed a musical mashup at the inauguration of President Joe Biden, incorporating some words in Spanish.

Along with Marry Me, the musical, JLo will also release a soundtrack that includes two duets with Maluma, “Pa’ Ti” and “Lonely.” The pair performed the songs at the 2020 American Music Awards last November. And in early December, Lopez dropped the video for her ballad “On my Way,” another track from the film. The soundtrack album is slated to debut in February, too.

Marry Me, the movie, is set to be released simultaneously in theaters by Universal Pictures and on the streamer Peacock.

Featured Photo: ‘Marry Me’ (Photo: Universal Picture)

The post Jennifer Lopez Returns to Romcoms with ‘Marry Me’ first appeared on .