The new romantic-comedy Marry Me offers fans a perfect Valentine's Day treat. It stars Jennifer Lopez as a pop star who spontaneously marries an ordinary guy (Owen Wilson) at one of her concerts. It is a fun mixture of an odd couple romance and a fish-out-of-water comedy with laughs and a lot of heart.
But if fans are still looking for a rom-com that hits those same notes there are plenty of other great ones to choose from. From classics of the genre to some possibly overlooked gems, viewers who had fun with Marry Me should check these ones out next.
The Proposal (2009)
While Kat (Lopez) and Charlie (Wilson) are good people, the relationship starts off as a bit of a lie to everyone else. After a spontaneous moment at her concert, these two attempt to sell their romance to the world without really buying into it themselves and knowing it won't last.
That is a similar setup for the rom-com The Proposal starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Bullock plays a pushy boss who forces her assistant (Reynolds) to pose as her fiancé in order to secure a green card.
Win A Date With Tad Hamilton (2004)
Along with the grand romantic story of Marry Me is a classic movie love triangle. As Charlie grows closer to Kat and their relationship begins to genuinely form, he needs to contend with her ex who also happens to be an international pop star.
There is a similar dynamic in the rom-com Win a Date with Tad Hamilton. Topher Grace stars as a man in a small town who is secretly in love with his friend. But when she wins a date with a famous actor, Grace sees his chances with her threatened.
Fools Rush In (1997)
The quick escalation of the relationship between Kat and Charlie makes for a fun way to kick off the movie. These two are married in front of the world before they even have a chance to get to know each other and then have to fill in the blanks.
Fools Rush In is another winning rom-com about a relationship that moves incredibly fast and the couple then has to actually get to know each other. Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek play two people whose one-night stand leads to a pregnancy and marriage proposal as they attempt to build a new life together as virtual strangers.
Maid In Manhattan (2002)
Jennifer Lopez is certainly no stranger to romantic comedies and has many beloved entries in the genre. One of her most popular movies is Maid in Manhattan which is an interesting reversal of sorts from her role in Marry Me.
Lopez plays an employee at a luxury hotel who is mistaken for a socialite by a wealthy politician, leading to a romance. This is another fish-out-of-water story with Lopez bringing considerable charm to the role and having surprisingly good chemistry with co-star Ralph Fiennes.
Pretty Woman (1990)
Pretty Woman is one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time and has influenced many movies in the genre since then. Marry Me even directly makes a reference to the movie in an early scene, but it is also easy to see similarities in the two movies.
This is another story of two people from very different social standings forming a fake romance before it grows into something real. Richard Gere plays a businessman who hires a prostitute (Julia Roberts) to be his date to various functions, only to fall for her.
America's Sweetheart (2001)
Marry Me begins with a celebrity relationship that is a subject of media fascination suddenly falling apart. From there, Kat seeks to find a more meaningful romance with someone who is not in show business.
The setup is similar to another Julia Roberts romantic-comedy with America's Sweethearts. John Cusack plays a Hollywood actor whose movie star wife cheats on him in the midst of a highly publicized movie together. As he deals with the breakup, he begins to fall for his ex's assistant.
Love, Actually (2003)
Love, Actually is a favorite of the holiday season as it tells multiple stories about romance set around Christmas. One of the best storylines involves a similar relationship between a figure in the public eye and an average person.
Hugh Grant plays the newly elected Prime Minister who quickly falls for a new assistant working for him. With Grant's charm as a rom-com lead, the romance comes off as quite sweet.
What Happens In Vegas (2008)
As with many rom-coms, viewers need to suspend their disbelief somewhat in order to enjoy Marry Me. The initial premise hinges on these two people agreeing to impulsively marry each other in front of the whole world which is farfetched yet gets the story moving.
What Happens in Vegas is a similarly ridiculous premise that sees the two main characters forced together. Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz play two people who drunkenly get married in Las Vegas and are ordered by a judge to live as a couple for a limited period of time before ending the marriage.
The American President (1995)
A big part of the fun of Marry Me comes from the struggles of carrying out this romance in the public eye. Kat and Charlie have to deal with talk shows joking about their relationship, paparazzi constantly following them, and everything they do being questioned.
This is also explored in The American President. Written by Oscar-winner Aaron Sorkin, it stars Michael Douglas as the widowed President of the United States who begins a new relationship with a political reporter.
Notting Hill (1999)
As Julia Roberts is one of the biggest stars in the rom-com genre, it is not surprising that so many of her movies could be seen as influencing other movies like Marry Me. And Notting Hill is another charming story about an everyman falling for a celebrity.
Hugh Grant plays a mild-mannered owner of a small bookshop who happens to meet one of the biggest Hollywood stars, played by Julia Roberts. He then has to deal with his feelings for her and the anxiety of being thrust into the spotlight.
