Is “Marry Me” A New Rom-Com Classic?

READER WARNING! Some minor spoilers lay ahead- continue at your own risk!

This Valentine’s Day, Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson welcomed their dazzling film Marry Me to silver screens and televisions. Laced in sparkly costumes, pop-centered ballads and causal boasts of wealth, this movie has many key aspects of the perfect romcom. Directed by Kat Coiro, Marry Me follows pop star Kat Valdez and math teacher Charlie Gilbert as they navigate life as newlyweds in a complicated manner; minutes after finding out her fiancé has been exposed for cheating, Valdez chooses Gilbert from a crowd of adoring fans to wed. After this very public meet cute, the two must figure out if they are meant to be or just for publicity. 

Marry Me includes a few important things in it’s overall plot line. To start, both Gilbert and his daughter have a healthy relationship with his ex-wife, rather than following the typical trope of the villainous ex-wife or deceased mother. When asked by his new wife why he got divorced, he responded simply without any objection- they just grew apart, and he realized they would be happier separately. This is a rather important choice on the filmmakers behalf, breaking the mold that most ex-wife’s in romantic comedies fall into. Additionally, this movie gently shuts down negative stereotypes about women who have had multiple marriages, which partner should propose, and challenges the ideas behind a “traditional” relationship. These seemingly miniscule things make a big difference to the communities usually targeted by these negative tropes. 

On the other hand, the main conflict of this film isn’t all that exciting. The couple grows apart due to Valdez’s former partners attempts to regain her enamor, and the subsequent bad feelings that arise in Gilbert from this. This is an overused and slightly outdated trope that nearly suggests women aren’t trustworthy partners, and are sure to return to their manipulative former partners. This major lack of communication is an overused plot line in many stories, often bringing frustration to viewers. 

Overall, Marry Me rebuffs negative stereotypes typically pushed by romantic comedies and poses them in a new light rarely seen in Hollywood. This fun and lighthearted movie might just be the perfect romantic comedy for you this season, and could easily become a new classic.