It’s fair to say I typically like pretty dark movies. My current top 10 movies of 2025 ranking includes five horror movies, and “Alien” is my favorite movie ever. I also adore thriller flicks. While I have a soft spot for indie coming-of-age comedies, I’m not typically one for romantic comedies. So back in 2022, when “Marry Me,” a bubbly rom-com starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, arrived in theaters (and day-and-date on Peacock), based on the vibes the trailer gave me, I was pretty confident I was going to not just mildly dislike it, but outright loathe it.
As the old saying goes, “never judge a book by its cover,” or a rom-com by its glossy marketing materials, because while “Marry Me” is certainly not a trailblazer for the genre, it’s an effective crowd-pleaser and managed to mine a lot of charm from its leads' chemistry. If this movie passed you by at release, it’s just arrived on Netflix this weekend, and even if you’re a cynic like me, you might be pleasantly surprised at this rom-com's heartfelt nature.
What is ‘Marry Me’ about?
![Marry Me - Official Trailer [HD] - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Ebv9_rNb5Ig/maxresdefault.jpg)
Pop megastar Kat Valdez (Jennifer Lopez) is set to marry her musical collaborator Bastian (Maluma) on stage at a concert event streamed to millions around the globe. However, moments before saying “I do” in front of a sold-out crowd, she discovers her fiancé has been having an affair with her assistant.
Humiliated, and in a moment of complete madness, she decides to pluck a stranger from the crowd, a single dad named Charlie (Owen Wilson) at the concert with his young daughter, and marries him instead. With the media speculating that she only pulled the stunt out of desperation, she decides to stay married to Charlie for just a few months to save face.
However, as Kat and Charlie pretend to be a loved-up couple in front of the cameras, they start to discover some common ground, and real sparks fly. But they come from completely different worlds, and their blossoming relationship is threatened by intense public interest.
I thought I’d hate ‘Marry Me’, but it surprised me
There really is nothing new about “Marry Me.” Its central hook of two people pretending to be in a relationship only to slowly fall in love for real has been seen in everything from “The Proposal” to “What Happens in Vegas.” Even the wrinkle of a “normal” person dating a popstar doesn’t feel unique following 2023’s “The Idea of You,” though in fairness, “Marry Me” did get there first, but I’d wager more people have seen the Anne Hathaway Prime Video original movie than have watched "Marry Me."
So don’t come to “Marry Me” for bold new ideas, but what you will find is plenty of charm and delightful chemistry between its leads. Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson bounce off each other wonderfully. Naturally, Lopez is extremely well suited to playing a global popstar (little acting required), and Owen has been playing an affable everyman for decades.
Even when it follows a well-worn rom-com pathway, it keeps you invested because its two leads are so likable, and you’ll find yourself rooting for their relationship to work out in the end. The supporting cast also includes “Game of Thrones” alumnus John Bradley and former SNL cast member Sarah Silverman, the latter adding comedy chops to the mix.
“Marry Me’s” ultimate message about embracing life and saying yes to the unexpected is, again, nothing original for the genre, but it’s a well-meaning one, and just because something is a bit cliche doesn’t mean it can’t still resonate. And that’s sort of “Marry Me” in a nutshell, lacking fresh ideas, but packaged up in such pretty wrapping you don’t mind.
Critics often slaughter rom-coms, but “Marry Me” enjoyed a respectable reception, scoring 61% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is enough for a fresh rating. Meanwhile, viewers loved this one, awarding it a 92% score on the review aggregate site. See what I mean about it being a crowd-pleaser?
“Marry Me” isn’t going to challenge you, and it’s certainly not going to be the most memorable movie you watch this month, but it has an easy-going attitude, a few chuckle-worthy moments and characters you will care about. When it comes to rom-coms, that's enough in my book, so apologies to “Marry Me” for writing you off before watching.
Looking for something else to watch on Netflix this week? Here’s a guide to everything new added to the streaming service this month, which includes more movies and TV shows.
Watch "Marry Me" on Netflix now
More from Tom's Guide
- New on Netflix in August 2025
- Netflix just added a new romantic comedy series
- Your next Netflix rom-com obsession just dropped a trailer
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