Director: Kat Coiro
Screenwriters: John Rogers, Tami Sagher, and Harper Dill
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, John Bradley, Sarah Silverman, and Chloe Coleman
Cinematographer: Florian Ballhaus

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Latin-Pop music stars Kat Valdez (Jennifer Lopez) and Bastian (Maluma) plan to get married in front of 20 million fans. But moments before Kat hits the stage, she learns that Bastian has been cheating on her with the assistant. A public meltdown was all too assured. She begins to question loyalty and love as her heart breaks in front of millions. But after one glance with a stranger, Kat picks up the pieces to her shattered heart and turns them into spontaneity. She’s ready to make a different choice. And that choice is marrying Charlie Gilbert (Owen Wilson), the stranger from the crowd.

Based on Bobby Crosby’s novel of the same name, Marry Me is the romcom I never knew I needed. And at one point, it felt like it would never come. Like most movies within the last two years, Coiro’s feature fell victim to release date hell. It was originally set to hit theaters on February 12, 2021. After several delays, Universal Pictures finally decided on a date. Romance has returned during Superbowl weekend 2022.

And thank goodness for that. This production team evidently and strongly believes in love. The film is a romcom fan’s dream, as it’s riddled with nonstop humor and delight. What’s especially unique about it is that these moments are during the interactions with Kat and Charlie. So, there’s no forced anything. There’s already an inevitable awkwardness that comes with marrying a stranger. But this adapted screenplay leans into this discomfort and makes a sweet story about choosing a new love path.

The filmmakers make it so easy to fall in love with this chosen path too. For one, the production and set designs left me spellbound. At times, it felt like I was sitting front row at a concert with great music. Additionally, the cast radiates star power with an energy that I haven’t seen in a long time. Jennifer Lopez is at the forefront of it all. I think it’s about time we crown her as the queen of romcoms. She is effortlessly compelling as she talks about heartbreak on screen. JLo brought her heart, soul, and experience to this script.

Scenes with Owen Wilson are even better. Their on-screen chemistry is simply magnetic. It all makes me wonder one thing. Why hasn’t Owen Wilson been in more romcoms? He’s the perfect good guy who should not finish last. I can’t help but wonder if we as viewers have totally been sleeping on him all these years… Whatever the case, I need more of him in romances. He plays charming perfectly.

Like with most romantic comedies, it’s hard to escape the flimsy and predictable nature. But there’s a point at which I stopped caring about the cheesiness of this film. I just let myself become mesmerized by it. And that’s exactly the kind of romantic comedy I’ve missed. Enjoying a film without caring that it’s predictable. Grinning from ear to ear while tilting my head with adoring approval. At some point, Marry Me knew exactly how to reel me in, and there was no pushback from me. I’ll even go as far to say that I am now a believer in unforeseen love. A big “I do” to more romcoms, please!

See the trailer below for Marry Me – in theaters February 11, 2022