A charming cast and an unusual story take Kat Coiro’s Marry Me to the next level with its charming romcom appeal.
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Marry Me sees sensational Latin pop star Katalina “Kat” Valdez (Jennifer Lopez) set to tie the knot before the eyes of the world with her rockstar fiancé (Maluma). Seconds before the ceremony, she learns of his infidelity with her assistant and in the heat of the moment, the chanteuse decides to marry a stranger (Owen Wilson), who happens to be carrying a “Marry Me” signboard for a friend.
The polar opposites of the two leads is oddly endearing. Lopez brings her superstar qualities to the big screen with her role as Kat. She looks absolutely stunning, and that itself is probably a good enough reason to watch this film.
Wilson plays the role of Charlie Gilbert, the divorced math teacher Kat decides to marry on impulse. His disillusioned disposition gets annoying at times, but there wouldn’t have been a 112-minute runtime if he wasn’t as assertive as he was.
Throughout the film, their juxtaposing differences in lifestyles are what seems to bring them together. Kat's open-mindedness and Charlie’s patience for her buzzing lifestyle seem to fit like puzzle pieces, and their chemistry feels all so cozy and warm.
The soundtrack is uninspiring, to say the least, and most of the songs featured sound bloated and bland (*cough* Church *cough*). Fortunately, it's not entirely dire - the track "On My Way" is a simple, poignant ballad. The accompanying piano melody is gorgeously melancholic, and Lopez came up to scratch with her soaring (though slightly overproduced) vocals. The track comes in at the perfect time and it grabs your heart with no intention of letting go.
The plot, however, does lack technical standpoints. There’s no way a pop superstar whose security should be the utmost priority should consider marrying a stranger. But then again, that’s the beauty of film - imagination can transcend into something as fantastical as the lives of Kat and Charlie. (Notting Hill, anyone?) Its cliche tropes from romances that battle against all odds might leave you feeling quite blasé - but for all its cheesiness, Marry Me delivers a great deal of warmth and joy.
And as far as bizarre romance stories go, it’s hard to complain when it comes to a feel-good flick like this one. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, treat yourself to this cloying film as a reminder that love can blossom even if the odds aren’t in your favour. As Kat says in the film, "if you want something different - you have to do something different."
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