J.Lo & Josh Duhamel star in Shotgun Wedding, an enjoyably silly action-comedy about a blessed day that goes off the rails.
The market for romantic comedies surrounding weddings is right up Jennifer Lopez‘s avenue. Last year it was Marry Me. Before that, it was The Wedding Planner. But whether she was piercing hearts with her eyes in Out of Sight, or turning up the heat with her performance in Hustlers, Lopez continues to surprise us with her versatility. Shotgun Wedding is more com than rom, allowing Lopez to exercise her killer comedic timing, along with an all-star cast present for a destination wedding that goes sideways.
The long-engaged Darcy (Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) travel to the Philippines along with their families to get married. With every marriage comes baggage, and in Shotgun Wedding it exists in the random cast of actors. Cheech Marin and legendary Brazilian actor Sonia Braga play Lopez’s divorced parents, while Jennifer Coolidge and Steve Coulter are Duhamel’s folks. The other guests include Lenny Kravitz as a bitter ex-husband, Callie Hernandez as Lopez’s ditzy sister, and D’Arcy Carden as Marin’s new girlfriend. The cast is random, but the result is delightful as we see the unpredictable pan out.
Directed by Jason Moore (Pitch Perfect) and written by Mark Hammer, the tone shifts to the outrageous when a group of pirates holds the wedding guests hostage, and plans to kill them one by one unless funds are transferred to an account. They didn’t plan for Darcy and Tom to be separated from the group. Handcuffed together, the couple takes out various henchmen one-by-one in a variety of ridiculous ways, fighting to save themselves — and their marriage — in the process. It’s here that Lopez and Duhamel’s off-kilter chemistry really works. There’s not an animal magnetism between the two, but rather a stand-off tone, as the couple discovers precisely who they were really going to marry.
To describe Shotgun Wedding as harmless might be minimizing it, but it fits. It’s also the J.Lo Show, and she’s a confident and fearless star. She’s unafraid to hang from a zipline. She hilariously passes out during a sight gag involving blood. She can be delightfully pouty, deliver a line about blowing a guy up with a grenade, and turn around with a shotgun in hand like she’s been doing it her whole life. It’s both a fun and impressive turn.
Shotgun Wedding gathers an eclectic cast of guests, wild action scenarios, and enough J.Lo to be a worthy trip down the (movie theater) aisle. The weak points are the predictable plot twists at the end, especially considering the bad guys are kept in masks the entire time, making them lackluster villains. But unlike last year’s The Lost City, there’s not much of a drop off in enjoyment. The narrative bounces between the group of guests being held hostage (particularly Jennifer Coolidge, continuing her hot streak of success) and the charming arch of Darcy and Tom’s love. At the end it’s all about the good laughs (there are plenty) and the versatile charm of its star.
Shotgun Wedding premieres on Amazon Prime January 27th.
Shotgun Wedding Trailer:
Read next: The Spool's Best New Releases
Streaming guides
The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
The praises of live TV streaming services don’t need to be further sung. By now, we all know that compared to clunky, commitment-heavy cable, live TV is cheaper and much easier to manage. But just in case you’re still on the fence about jumping over to the other side, or if you’re just unhappy with ... The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
Season 3 of the hotly anticipated Power spin-off, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is arriving on Starz soon, so you know what that means: it’s the ’90s again in The Southside, and we’re back with the Thomas family as they navigate the ins and outs of the criminal underworld they’re helping build. Mekai Curtis is ... How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re so back! To celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, the BBC is producing a three-episode special starring none other than the Tenth/Fourteenth Doctor himself, David Tennant. And to the supreme delight of fans (that would be me, dear reader), the Doctor will be joined by old-time companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and ... How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Which Netflix Country has Interstellar?
Maybe you’ve just seen Oppenheimer and have the strongest urge to marathon—or more fun yet, rank!—all of Christopher Nolan’s films. Or maybe you’re one of the few who haven’t seen Interstellar yet. If you are, then you should change that immediately; the dystopian epic is one of Nolan’s best, and with that incredible twist in ... Which Netflix Country has Interstellar?
Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
For whatever reason, The Hunger Games series isn’t available in the same countries around the world. You’ll find the first and second (aka the best) installments in Hong Kong, for instance, but not the third and fourth. It’s a frustrating dilemma, especially if you don’t even have a single entry in your region, which is ... Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
How to Watch ESPN With A Free Trial
One of the major concerns people have before cutting the cord is potentially losing access to live sports. But the great thing about live TV streaming services is that you never lose that access. Minus the contracts and complications of cable, these streaming services connect you to a host of live channels, including ESPN. So ... How to Watch ESPN With A Free Trial
How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
To date, Paramount Network has only two original shows on air right now: Yellowstone and Bar Rescue. The network seems to have its hands full with on-demand streaming service Paramount+, which is constantly stacked with a fresh supply of new shows. But Yellowstone and Bar Rescue are so sturdy and expansive that the network doesn’t ... How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
Previously “Women’s Entertainment,” We TV has since rebranded to accurately reflect its name and be a more inclusive lifestyle channel. It’s home to addictive reality gems like Bold and Bougie, Bridezillas, Marriage Boot Camp, and The Untold Stories of Hip Hop. And when it’s not airing original titles, it has on syndicated shows like 9-1-1, ... How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
How to Watch TNT Sports With A Free Trial
For many sports fans, TNT is a non-negotiable. It broadcasts NBA, MLB, NHL, college basketball, and All Elite Wrestling matches. And, as a bonus, it also has reruns of shows like Supernatural, Charmed, and NCIS, as well as films like The Avengers, Dune, and Justice League. But while TNT used to be a cable staple, ... How to Watch TNT Sports With A Free Trial
How to Watch Comedy Central With a Free Trial
It’s no coincidence that many of today’s biggest comedians found their footing on Comedy Central: the channel is a bastion of emerging comic talents. It served as a playground for people like Nathan Fielder (Fielder For You), Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson (Broad City), Tim Robinson (Detroiters), and Dave Chappelle (Chappelle’s Show) before they shot ... How to Watch Comedy Central With a Free Trial
How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad show airing on FX. The channel has made a name for itself as a bastion of high-brow TV, along with HBO and AMC. It’s produced shows like Atlanta, Fargo, The Americans, Archer, and more recently, Shogun. But because it’s owned by Disney, it still airs several blockbusters in ... How to Watch FX With a Free Trial