I have said it before and I will say it again – if there is one genre of movies I want to stick fairly close to a set formula, it is the rom-com. The tried and true calculus of “Act 1 meet cute + (Act 2 relationship bliss + contrived conflict) = Act 3 reconciliation due to giant romantic gesture” is a proven formula and it works. Marry Me is no different.
Pop star Kat Valdez is one of the biggest names in the music industry and as she is currently dating superstar Bastian, one half of the hugest power couple. The two have recorded a song called Marry Me and intend to really get married while performing at Madison Square Garden. Just before Kat takes the stage, she learns that Bastian cheated on her with her assistant. Despondent and frustrated after all her failed relationships, she vows to try something different and in a flash decision, spots math teacher Charlie in the crowd, holding a “Marry Me” sign given to him by his friend Parker who dragged him and his daughter to the concert. After Kat’s people bring him on stage, Charlie says yes, and the two get married.
What follows is completely predictable, but undeniably charming. Kat and Charlie get to know each other over what her team promises will just be a few weeks and then they will let him get back to his normal life. Kat is charmed by his work with kids and his precocious daughter. Charlie is charmed by Kat’s desire to be more true to herself and not give up on love, despite what the rumors about her say. Inevitably, Bastian shows back up to throw a wrench into things and Charlie worries he’s not enough for Kat. After a short split, she shows up at his math competition to provide the required big gesture to seal the deal.
The character of Kat is so similar to Jennifer Lopez’s real-life persona that I had to check if she wrote this (she did not). The tried-and-true story is exactly what you expect, but what makes a successful romcom is never the story or content – it is the cast and how skillful they are at elevating the material. Lopez is a natural in this, mostly because she is playing herself. It would be easy to find her privileged and out of touch, but there are just enough moments where she seems genuine with the kids and the desire to remain a romantic even in a world that wants to tear that apart that Kat remains a character you can cheer for, I particularly enjoyed the scene where they go bowling, and Charlie assumes she cannot bowl, and she absolutely can and gets a strike - charming and fun.
Owen Wilson is perfect as regular-guy Charlie who is dealing with his own insecurities as a single dad, wondering if he’s doing enough for his daughter and compounded by curiosity about his ex-wife’s new man. He is great in the scenes with all the kids in the school as he coaches the mathletes. He has such a pleasant likeability that he is just perfect here, again – someone you can root for. It's also fun to see these two together again after first seeing them in Anaconda, a true gem of a creature-feature.
The surrounding cast helps to add fun moments while never pulling focus from or upstaging the leads. Maluma is a bit of a non-factor as Bastian – he’s there to be pretty and sing beautifully, which he does perfectly.
John Bradley shows up as Kat’s manager – who cares so much about her well-being that I wondered if he was in love with her and maybe that was a side plot that was cut? Michelle Buteau plays Kat’s personal assistant and, as always with Buteau, adds some perfect comic moments.
Sarah Silverman is dependably funny as Charlie’s best friend Parker and Chloe Coleman from My Spy is charming as fun as Charlie’s daughter Lou.
Overall, the movie delivers exactly what it promises, two likeable leads in a well-executed romcom that is perfect for streaming on Peacock on Valentine’s Day between winter Olympic Curling matches. And bonus – some of the new JLo songs are great!
6 out of 10
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