Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) are looking forward to their destination wedding on a picturesque island. However, leading up to the ceremony, the couple finds themselves embroiled in serious arguments, teetering on the brink of a breakup. The arrival of the bride’s ex-boyfriend, an uncomfortable wedding dress, and doubts about each other all seem trivial in the face of an impending catastrophe. Pirates seize control of the celebration, holding the guests hostage, forcing Darcy and Tom to set aside their differences and rescue their loved ones.
Jennifer Lopez as Darcy in a still from “Shotgun Wedding”
Jennifer Lopez’s Rom-Com Reign Continues
It’s rare to find a Hollywood wedding movie without Jennifer Lopez. From last year’s “Marry Me” to the iconic rom-com “The Wedding Planner,” the actress seems to enjoy donning white dresses. In “Shotgun Wedding,” however, Lopez’s character spends most of the film unhappy with the extravagant dress she inherited from her fiancé’s mother (Jennifer Coolidge). Discussions about Jason Moore’s film have been ongoing for so long that the pop diva has had time to change her partner in the fight against pirates more than once. Initially, the role of Tom was to go to Ryan Reynolds, but he passed the baton to Armie Hammer, whose scandalous personal life forced him to leave the project. Ultimately, Josh Duhamel had to take care of the wedding arrangements – perhaps the ideal candidate, with whom Lopez genuinely sparked chemistry.
Jennifer Coolidge as Carol in a still from “Shotgun Wedding”
A Plot Less Exciting Than Its Production
Unfortunately, the behind-the-scenes stories of the film seem more interesting than the plot itself. The director combines two genres: rom-com and action. In both cases, Lopez and Duhamel feel at ease. Whether it’s tearful moments against the backdrop of a picturesque island or fights with criminals, the duo gives their all. However, this is not enough to keep the viewer engaged. The plot twists are unsurprising, the action scenes are uninspired, and the short runtime of one hundred minutes feels like two hundred – the dynamic pace does not capture attention, but, on the contrary, is unforgivably exhausting. In addition to the lead actors, Jennifer Coolidge is a delight to watch – the actress is no stranger to stealing the show and taking up arms at a hot resort.
Josh Duhamel as Tom in a still from “Shotgun Wedding”
A Thinly Veiled Lesson in Relationships
Of course, the pirates and the struggle for survival are just window dressing for lessons about relationships. Darcy and Tom seem like a perfect couple at first glance, but it soon becomes clear that the characters do not know how to express their desires and listen to each other. Darcy didn’t want a big wedding to begin with but gave in to her future husband. Tom planned every detail of the celebration but forgot to consider his beloved’s opinion. The rescue operation becomes an opportunity for the newlyweds to work as a team. All that remains is to get rid of the robbers, expose the traitors, help the shocked relatives, and finally go to the altar without unspoken words and grievances against each other.
Final Verdict: A Forgettable Romp
“Shotgun Wedding” will not join the collection of golden romantic comedies of all time. With a flat narrative, formulaic tropes, and not particularly funny jokes, the film burst into the filmography of famous stars certainly not for rave reviews from critics. It is an absolutely hooligan entertainment, barely leading out of a state of boredom, but performing the function of a thousand paintings of this kind - background viewing during cooking, manicure, cleaning (insert whatever your heart desires).