Kat Coiro's Marry Me is the first of several romcoms heading to theaters in 2022, and if the rest of the year's offerings are anything like this one, it's going to be a good time for hopeless romantics. For years now, it's looked like streaming is the only place to find a good old-fashioned romantic comedy — and, to be fair, Marry Me will be available to stream on Peacock as well as in theaters. However, this movie also makes the case that traditional studio fare still has something to offer when it comes to the romance genre. Coiro's film, while not necessarily bringing anything revolutionary to the genre's format, has a lot of charm. Marry Me doesn't quite follow through on all of its potential, but leading stars Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson will still make viewers swoon.
Beloved pop star Kat Valdez (Lopez) is in love, and the whole world knows it. Literally, since her wedding to fellow music sensation Bastian (Maluma) will take place during a concert streamed for millions of people. However, just before they're about to say their vows, Kat learns Bastian has cheated on her. Heartbroken and desperate to avoid public ridicule, she spots single father and math teacher Charlie (Wilson) standing in the crowd holding a sign that reads "Marry me" and says yes. A whirlwind wedding later and the unlikely pair is married. Kat's loyal manager Collin (John Bradley) proposes they scrap the sham marriage and move on, but Kat instead decides to stick it out with Charlie, leading to a bond the two never expected.
On paper, Marry Me's meet-cute is a bit too contrived to really work in real life, but in the cinematic world of romance, anything goes. Coiro, working off a script by John Rogers, Tami Sagher, and Harper Dill (which is based on a graphic novel by Bobby Crosby), keeps the pace quick and light; viewers barely have enough time to question why Charlie's friend and co-worker Parker (Sarah Silverman) conveniently has three tickets for the Kat Valdez concert before the two adults and Charlie's daughter Lou (Chloe Coleman) are in the crowd. Any gripes one might have about how Charlie and Kat meet fade because Marry Me leaves no doubt about why these two would agree to this shotgun wedding. Kat's afraid of being the punchline, and Charlie wants to ease her pain.
From there, Marry Me progresses with all the hallmarks of a classic romcom, from the getting-to-know-you stage to the obligatory grand gesture that makes up its climax. Coiro gives the proceedings a fizzy, warm touch. Kat and Charlie are characters who are easy to love and their connection is believable. Where Marry Me stalls a bit is with its musical numbers. There are a number of songs in the film, including the titular duet between Kat and Bastian. And while these songs definitely add some realism to Kat's career, they also slow down the love story because Coiro stages them like a concert movie. It almost seems like Marry Me's decision to occasionally focus more on the music comes at the expense of some development that falls to the wayside. For example, there are two moments early on where Kat watches Jimmy Fallon mock her on television, thus backing her determination not to become a joke. However, she's deprived of the chance to truly take hold of her public image outside of her relationship.
Now, seeing as Marry Me is a romcom, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. More wishful thinking, perhaps. The love story should take precedence in a movie such as this, and as far as love stories go, Charlie's and Kat's is quite sweet. It helps that Wilson and Lopez click in a way that seems unexpected on paper. Lopez perfectly embodies all of Kat's personas, from untouchable pop star (which might not be much of a stretch, admittedly) to a woman tentatively, eagerly falling in love. Wilson, as the more down to Earth of the two, brings his typical wry humor to the role. He also knows when to tug at the heartstrings with a more sensitive touch, particularly when he's with either Lopez or Coleman. Of the supporting players, it's Bradley who is the most pleasant surprise, though Silverman is also a great onscreen presence.
Marry Me might not have what it takes to become an enduring classic for the romcom genre, but it doesn't need it. With movies like these, all one wants is to see love flourish in sweet and silly ways for two hours. Lopez and Wilson are a surprisingly delightful pair and there is more heart to their onscreen meeting than the premise would suggest. Marry Me could've gone deeper with some aspects and laid off the musical numbers a little bit, but it will still be the perfect movie for anyone looking for some romance this Valentine's Day.
Marry Me releases in theaters and on Peacock Friday, February 11. It is 112 minutes long and rated PG-13 for some language and suggestive material.
