Jennifer Lopez is the ultimate star: a shining actress, singer, and dancer who exudes magnetism wherever she appears. She has maintained her victorious reign for three decades in the entertainment industry, despite the challenges faced as a woman born in the Bronx to a Puerto Rican family with big ambitions. In 2022, Lopez delighted us with the romantic comedy ‘Marry Me’ alongside Owen Wilson. And in 2023, she continues to dazzle us with the action thriller ‘The Mother’ by Niki Caro on Netflix and the romantic comedy ‘Shotgun Wedding’ on Amazon Prime Video. That’s why we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate some of her most noteworthy films, whether they didn’t receive the love they deserved at the time or simply because we want to relive Lopez’s divine moments.
A Legendary Start: ‘Selena’
One film that doesn’t need much defending is ‘Selena,’ possibly the best in Lopez’s filmography and undoubtedly the one that put her on the Hollywood map, thanks to her brilliant portrayal of the singer Selena Quintanilla. It was the late 90s, and the actress had begun to make a name for herself in the film industry. However, it wasn’t until the 21st century that her combination of film work and music would turn her into a global icon.
Unforgettable Collaborations with Renowned Directors
Throughout her career, Lopez has worked with legendary directors such as Francis Ford Coppola (‘Jack’), Oliver Stone (‘U-Turn’), Steven Soderbergh (‘Out of Sight’), Tarsem Singh (‘The Cell’), Kevin Smith (‘Jersey Girl’), and more. However, none of them gave her exactly what she always wanted: romantic comedies. “When I started, one of the things I wanted to do because I was Puerto Rican, Latina, I wanted to be in romantic comedies,” Lopez confessed during The Hollywood Reporter’s roundtable in November 2019. “I felt like all the women in romantic comedies were always the same way, they were always white. And I said, if I could do it and show that I’m like any other girl (because I’m the hopeless romantic, I am, and I’m the single working mom, I have been those things), I remember thinking, I need to be the lead in a romantic comedy.”
From Wedding Plans to Unexpected Journeys
Lopez achieved her dream in 2001 with ‘The Wedding Planner.’ Since then, we have seen her in films like ‘Monster-in-Law’ (2005) alongside Jane Fonda, ‘Gigli’ (2003) with her then-boyfriend Ben Affleck (and now, once again, in 2021: Bennifer lives!), and even her own version of Cinderella in ‘Maid in Manhattan’ (2002). Of course, not all of these films are equally praiseworthy, as many fell victim to clichés that we would like to banish forever from the romantic comedy genre. However, we must acknowledge that Lopez always took on roles that we don’t typically see as the protagonist. Single mothers with limited resources who find their own path through effort and passion, not necessarily conforming to the ideals set by capitalism. As we witnessed in the noteworthy ‘Second Act’ (2018), they set their own rules. These films may have their ups and downs, but they bring a perspective and a commitment that are inseparable from Jennifer Lopez’s persona. If you’re looking to have a marathon of her most recommended films, here are our favorites.
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