A rom-com that was everything you were expecting

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MOVIE REVIEW

Marry Me – 2022 (Comedy, Music, Romance)

Genre: Comedy, Music, Romance
Released: 2022
Rating: PG-13
Director: Kat Coiro
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Maluma, John Bradley, Sarah Silverman, Chloe Coleman, Michelle Buteau
Where To Watch: Peacock and in theaters

What do you get when you mix Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, and a weirdly placed Sarah Silverman? You get a forced rom-com that has its moments but, as a whole, feels like another story we’ve seen over and over again.

That’s not to say it's all bad; Lopez turns in a consistently strong performance where she feels like she’s playing herself. I thought the same thing when I first saw this trailer in theaters; I assumed that it was some sort of weird biopic.

I should have prefaced the entire review with the fact that you have to be willing to know what type of film you’re watching before you watch it. You can’t go into a movie like this and expect “12 Angry Men.” This is a rom-com starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Lopez; I always think it's essential to keep your frame of mind realistic. I always found it odd when people would criticize a film because it wasn’t their favorite genre, etc. If you follow me, you probably know that “art” films aren’t my thing; when I say “art” film, I mean ones that just try to be artsy because they can be. I watched “The Tragedy of Macbeth” yesterday, and while I wasn’t a massive fan of the film, I can appreciate it for what it is.

“Marry Me” is brought to us by director Kat Coiro (“The Mick,” “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia”). While this is only her third feature-length film, she has plenty of experience behind the camera. She has also directed six episodes of the upcoming “She-Hulk” series for Disney+ (one of my favorite aspects of Disney and their big-budget films and TV series, they give relatively inexperienced directors the spotlight to shine.)

At times this film felt more like a showcase for Lopez’s songs than the film it was meant to be. It was incredibly predictable for the most part, but so are most rom-com movies. They’re not meant to challenge the viewer from a surprise aspect. You’re meant to explore the story, follow with the ups and downs, and then ultimately fall into the conclusion of the story.

The funny thing about Owen Wilson is that I’ve come to terms with the fact that he plays himself in every film he’s in. From “Wedding Crashers” to any of the many Wes Anderson films he’s been in. He ultimately plays himself, occasionally with a slight twist. It’s not a knock on him entirely but just something I’ve noticed over the years of watching his movies. You could create an Owen Wilson universe because his characters are always interchangeable.

When push comes to shove, this isn't a bad choice if you want a movie just to sit back and watch. It’s got a few moments that will make pretty much anyone smile (whether they’ll admit it or not.) My biggest knock as a whole would be that I feel like the film comes in about 20 minutes too long. I noticed a few times I’d check to see how much time was left; coming in just under two hours feels like just too long for a film like this.

P.S. There is a random call-out to Peoria, IL (it’s not often that you get that in a feature film anymore.) I guess this one did “play in Peoria,” so to speak. After you’ve seen the movie (or if you don’t plan on seeing it, I would suggest checking out this great article from “Variety.”
https://www.vulture.com/2022/02/an-important-note-on-math-marry-me-and-peoria-illinois.html

Where to watch:
On Peacock and in theaters now

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