Over the years, we’ve watched Jennifer Lopez fall in love multiple times, not just on the screen, but in real life too. We’re about to see her fall in love yet again (this time with Owen Wilson) in Marry Me, now playing in theaters and streaming on Peacock.
Bringing some 2000s energy, Marry Me is based on a webcomic that begins with Charlie Gilbert (Wilson)—a ho-hum math teacher and single dad—and Kat Valdez (Lopez)—an international superstar who’s about to marry her pop-star boyfriend, Bastian (Maluma)—at a mega concert that will also be streamed across multiple platforms.
Charlie’s not a fan, but he takes his colleague (Sarah Silverman) up on an offer of free tickets to impress his daughter. And then, minutes before Kat is about to exchange her vows, she learns that her fiancé has been cheating on her. Distressed, she looks out in the crowd and sees Charlie holding his daughter’s “MARRY ME” sign and decides to marry him instead.
Marry Me sounds delightfully sappy, and considering the state of the world at the moment, we could all use a bit more sap in our lives. To celebrate J.Lo’s return to the rom-com, we’ve rounded up a list of our favorite screen romances featuring the former Fly Girl (who’s still pretty fly).
Maid in Manhattan
Yes, we will acknowledge the fact that this movie is as cheesy as a pizza pie. Despite that, it’s still a sweet, modernized version of Cinderella. Lopez stars as Marisa, a single mother raising her weirdly way-too-into-politics son Ty (Tyler Posey) while also working at the fancy-pants Beresford Hotel in Manhattan. One day, as she and her sassy friend (every rom-com needs one) are cleaning a socialite’s room, her sassy friend encourages her to try on a Dolce & Gabbana coat. Meanwhile, Ty befriends senatorial candidate Chris Marshall (Ralph Fiennes), who Ty takes to meet his mother. Since she’s in a Dolce & Gabbana coat, Chris assumes that she is a socialite and the pair hit it off. Hijinks ensue as Marisa and her friends try to keep up the ruse and there’s a big fall out. But come on, this is a rom-com, so of course they end up together. The fashion is to die for and Marisa is actually worth rooting for.
Watch it on: HBO Max
The Wedding Planner
This classic rom-com has got all of the staples: a quirky best friend, a swoon worthy guy, questionable decisions, and a lovable heroine. This time around, Lopez stars as Mary Fiore, the ultimate wedding planner. If you want that fairytale wedding, this is the woman you hire. While Mary is a boss at work, she’s definitely not when it comes to her love life. However, when Mary (literally, and I mean literally) falls for a gorgeous pediatrician (Matthew McCoughnaey), her life becomes a lot more complicated: he’s the groom in the biggest wedding of her career. She’s got to decide if she’ll help him plan his wedding to another woman, or if she will break tradition and become his bride herself. Could this happen in real life? It’s a very long shot, but in the rom-com world, it’s as delicious as a decadent slice of wedding cake.
Watch it on: Peacock, Fubo, USA
Hustlers
Technically this isn’t a romance or a comedy, but J.Lo and Constance Wu have more chemistry with each other than most leading couples do, so we’re counting it. Notable for a scene in which Lopez performs a jaw dropping pole dance at the age of 50, Hustlers is based on the true story of a group of NYC strippers who concocted a scam to steal their clients money by drugging them and running up their credit cards. While this may sound despicable, most of their marks are garbage Wall Street bros, and considering the fact that the girls are mostly just trying to provide for themselves and their children, you can’t help but root for them. However, the ladies don’t escape unscathed, and the film can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about—dare we say—hustling.
Watch it on: Hulu
Gigli
Sure, Gigli may be a complete and utter train wreck, but that’s what makes it so fun to watch. Starring Ben Affleck and J. Lo (who are now back together, proving that love truly conquers all) Gigli follows Larry Gigli (Affleck), a lowly member of the mob, who is hired to kidnap the mentally challenged brother of a California district attorney (just wait, it gets even more insane). The job becomes more complicated, however, when Ricki (Lopez) shows up to make sure he doesn’t screw it up. Despite the fact that Ricki prefers the company of ladies, she and Gigli fall in love, because, why not? With infamous lines like, “It’s turkey time. Gobble, gobble,” (while referring to a sexual act) how can you not not laugh at this cringefest? The film’s one saving grace is that it’s where Lopez and Affleck met, so in a weird alternate reality rom-com plot in which two people star in a terrible film, fall in love, break up, and then fall in love again.
Watch it on: HBO Max
Selena
Again, Selena isn’t exactly a rom-com, but Lopez is amazing in it, there is a romantic subplot, and it’s a love letter to the Queen of Tejano, Selena Quintanilla-Perez, so it needs to be included. In her breakout role, J.Lo starred as the late, great singer. The audition process for the role was quite complex; Lopez was asked to sing, dance, and act out the elopement scene. There was a bit of controversy surrounding Lopez’s casting since she is of Puerto Rican descent and Selena was of Mexican descent, but Lopez won over Selena’s family and critics with her performance. Lopez truly embodied the spirit of Selena, and let us not forget that this is the film that brought us this classic scene.
Watch it on: HBO Max
Out of Sight
A heady blend of rom-com and stylish crime thriller, Out of Sight follows bank robber Jack Foley (George Clooney) after his escape from prison. His plans are thwarted when federal marshal Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez) witnesses his escape, so he kidnaps her. In the midst of all of this madness, the unlikely cop-and-robber pair fall in love. Based on a novel by Elmore Leonard and directed by Steven Soderbergh, the film comes with a solid pedigree and was hailed by critics upon its initial release in 1998. It proved that Lopez is indeed a force to be reckoned with, and still holds up more than two decades later.
Watch it on: Apple TV or Amazon (for rent)
Shall We Dance?
Lopez got to show off her smooth moves on the dance floor in this ballroom-inspired rom-com. Based on a Japanese film of the same name, Shall We Dance? centers around John (Richard Gere) who, despite having a seemingly perfect job and family, feels like something is missing in his life. One day, he walks past a dance studio and becomes enamored with the beautiful woman in the window, Paulina (Lopez). He decides to sign up for ballroom lessons, but gets more than he bargains for. He ends up falling in love with dance—and with Paulina. The film doesn’t have the traditional rom-com happily-ever-after ending, but that’s what makes it unique.
Watch it on: HBO Max
Second Act
After long drought without any new J.Lo rom-coms to sustain us, she returned to the world of romance with a literal Second Act. The film follows Maya (Lopez), who, after once again getting passed on for her promotion at her job, suddenly finds herself in a fancy new position thanks to a few lies on her resume. Maya then has to live a double life. While the plot itself is a little all over the place, Lopez gives a charming performance, reminding us all why we fell in love with her in the first place.
Watch it on: Hulu
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