MARRY ME
US, 2022, 112 minutes, Colour.
Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Sarah Silverman, Maluma, John Bradley, Chloe Coleman.
Directed by Kat Coiro.
“A guilty pleasure!”. Not exactly the expected opening for a review of this romantic comedy. For fans of Jennifer Lopez, definitely a pleasure, not a scary guilt. For those who are not Jennifer Lopez fans, yes, probably a guilty pleasure.
“An insane response to a manic situation.” Well, that is what one of the characters states early on in the film – and, just saying it out loud, it does seem manic, preposterous. Here is a top American singer, on television, 20 million viewers, about to be married on screen, singing a duet with her partner, and suddenly discovering while on stage that he has been unfaithful to her.
Stop the marriage! And, the most manic moment is Kate Vogel, Jennifer Lopez’s character, surveying the audience, seeing an innocuous non-fan in the spotlight, holding a placard given to him by his daughter with big letters of the name of the song, Marry Me. She chooses him for an instant ceremony. And it happens!
At this stage, non-fans of Jennifer Lopez (and probably a big percentage of critics) are squirming in their seats. What could possibly happen?
In fact, what happens is a variation on the romantic comedy, although, to be fair, the audience knew the background of her choice when she didn’t, Owen Wilson playing Charlie Gilbert, divorced, having time with his 12-year-old daughter, Lou (Chloe Coleman), a very nice man who teaches maths in a creative way at school. And, he has a most boisterous friend, Parker, Sarah Silverman doing a lively Sarah Silverman! It is she who dragged Charlie to Kate Vogel’s concert/marriage.
Jennifer Lopez wrote nine new songs for this film and there are some lavish stagings as well as very quiet ones, (and that opening number is a highlight of showbiz kitsch).
We can’t help liking Charlie, who was quite bemused by the whole shenanigans, especially by his kindness in just helping out. And one of the main questions, of course, is how he is going to survive all the media hype. One of the interesting things about the screenplay is that there are quite a number of lines, situations, critically sending up the media, the stars entourage, the paparazzi and the everlasting cameras, (with Parker at one stage firing an extinguisher contents at the pursuing pack).
Yes, this is the story of the mellowing of the superstar, her having to face a few realities at school, for instance, rather than in her luxury jet. She has to become practical. And, she has to weigh up promoting her Grammy nomination with the reality of the relationship. And Charlie, charmed, fascinated, gradually falling in love, has to make decisions about Kate, Lou, and his students who are competing in the state Mathathon (with Lou as one of his stars but suffering from nervousness).
Realistic? Of course not, the film doesn’t claim to be. But, a dose of realism in the lives of these characters? Certainly!
A guess would be that at the end, not on stage but at the Mathathon, there’s probably a tear or two and sniffle around the cinema. Guilty!
- Title? Straightforward? Marriage and the variation on the theme, the wedding on television, 20 million viewers? The song, singing it on television before the wedding? Charlie and the placard?
- An insane response to a manic situation? The observation about the situation on television and the wedding? Plausibility? Audiences suspending disbelief?
- The world of the media, television stations and studios, sets, performance? Costumes and decor? Managers, dresses, affluence, private jets…? The paparazzi, photos, magazine articles, social media? Some of this film’s dialogue critical of the media and hype?
- The introduction to Kate, celebrity, Jennifer Lopez? Bastian, his singing, fiance, preparations for the wedding on stage? The song, performance, the kitsch background dancers and costumes? The information about his infidelity, video, social media? Finding out, her reaction? Banishing Bastian? Look around the audience, seeing Charlie and the placard, summoning him, the official, her marriage to “Somebody”? The aftermath, her reaction, Charlie’s reaction, trying to help out? Going home?
- Audience knowledge of Charlie, Owen Wilson’s presence in style, his ex-wife, his times with his daughter, 12-year-old, teaching maths, his style and skills with the students? Parker as his friend, her boisterous personality, wisecracks, intervening, taking him to the concert?
- The repercussions for the wedding? On Kate, continuing with her career, keeping up the facade for some time, the media? Interviews? Her meetings with Charlie, with Lou? Learning more about him? The repercussions for Charlie, seeing him in the classroom, the preparations for the Mathathon, Lou and her participation? Staff at school? Parker and her interventions?
- The discussions between Charlie and Kate, the outings, her manager and the discussions, her assistant, the preoccupation with her career?
- The more personal sequences, the effect on Charlie, at home, with Lou, at school? But seeing more, going to the recording session? His trying to teach her to be practical, to go out of her world, to discover more? The effect on her? Their time together, the sexual encounter?
- The possibilities for the relationship, the news about the Grammy nomination, her never having had a nomination? Her decision? The performance with Bastian, the media and the response of their being back together? Her stern stance?
- The background of her life, the jet, comfort? Her realisation about love, trying to get the plane ticket, Parker meeting her, $1000 for the van, the Mathathon, Lou and her nervousness, the tactics of the opposing team, coughing and spurning? Kate arriving, the happy reunion all round? The touch of tears?
- The film and its dramatising of the nature of true love, falling in love, the practical consequences of love?
