'Marry Me' shines the spotlight on Jennifer Lopez in a 'meet dumb' rom-com
CNN
Designed to showcase Jennifer Lopez playing a character that could hardly be called a reach, "Marry Me" trades in the "meet cute" rom-com formula for "meet dumb." Lopez still gets ample opportunities to sing a hummable soundtrack, but even within the genre's parameters, the silly premise deals the movie a blow from which it never entirely recovers.
The fascination with Lopez's personal life -- and her romantic history with other famous folk -- sometimes overshadows her talents, which is an underlying theme in this film that she also produced. Her return to this territory will surely represent a cause for Valentine's Day celebration in some quarters, after past entries like "The Wedding Planner" and "Maid in Manhattan."
That said, the set-up feels especially strained, even before you get to the "Notting Hill"-like notion of the special challenges when an ordinary guy becomes involved with a glamorous entertainer. In a movie that hinges on an impulsive decision, it's hard not to wish somebody had spent at least a little more time agonizing about the script, which is actually based on a graphic novel.