by Jennifer Lopez’s Favorite Funny Movies
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Jennifer Lopez is one of the most iconic entertainment figures of the last few decades. Known primarily for her music career and roles in major motion pictures, Lopez has proven herself a versatile talent capable of both dramatic and comedic performances. While there is no definitive list from Lopez herself of her all-time favorite funny movies, we can analyze the comedies she has starred in to get a sense of the genres and styles of humor she enjoys bringing to audiences. In this article, we will take a closer look at 3 movies Lopez has appeared in that are widely considered hilarious – The Wedding Planner, Maid in Manhattan, and Second Act.
The Wedding Planner (2001)
One of Lopez’s earliest leading roles in a major romantic comedy was the 2001 film The Wedding Planner. Directed by Adam Shankman and also starring Matthew McConaughey, the film tells the story of Mary Fiore, a wedding planner based in San Francisco. Mary is very dedicated to her career and laser-focused on making each wedding she plans perfect down to the smallest detail. However, her workaholic tendencies have left her without much of a personal life.
All of that changes when Mary is hired to plan the wedding of Dr. Steve Edison, a wealthy pediatrician played by McConaughey. From their first meeting, there is an instant spark and chemistry between Mary and Steve. However, Mary doesn’t realize that Steve is actually her latest client she is planning a wedding for. Hijinks and misunderstandings ensue as Mary finds herself falling for the groom while still trying to do her job planning his wedding to another woman.
The romantic entanglements and comedic situations Lopez’s character Mary finds herself in are full of laugh-out-loud moments that have made The Wedding Planner a classic romantic comedy enjoyed by many. Whether it’s Mary trying to hide her growing feelings for Steve from his fiancée or dealing with overbearing clients and their demanding wedding requests, Lopez brings plenty of humor and charm to the role. Her on-screen chemistry with McConaughey’s playboy doctor also adds to the fun and romance of the movie.
The Wedding Planner demonstrated Lopez’s talent for comedy and proved she was just as skilled at eliciting laughs as she was at delivering dramatic performances. Her co-stars and director have praised how effortlessly funny and likable she made Mary. It’s clear from this movie that Lopez enjoys roles where she can show off her comedic timing and ability to bounce jokes off other talented funny performers like McConaughey. The Wedding Planner remains one of Lopez’s most beloved movies from her filmography and established her as a bankable star capable of leading major studio rom-coms.
Maid in Manhattan (2002)
Hot off the success of The Wedding Planner, Lopez reunited with director Wayne Wang for another romantic comedy – 2002’s Maid in Manhattan. In this film, Lopez takes on the role of Marisa Ventura, a single mother living in New York City and working as a maid at a luxury hotel. Marisa is proud of her job but keeps her occupation a secret, not wanting her young son to know she cleans hotel rooms for a living.
One night, when the hotel is hosting a charity event, a guest mistakes Marisa for a socialite after seeing her try on an expensive dress left behind in a suite. The guest is none other than Chris Marshall, a handsome and wealthy political figure played by Ralph Fiennes. Chris is instantly smitten with the mysterious woman he meets and pursues a romance with “Laura”, unaware of her real identity as a hotel maid.
The comedy in Maid in Manhattan comes from the fish-out-of-water situations Lopez’s character finds herself in as a working class woman pretending to be high society around Chris and his wealthy friends. Whether it’s Marisa struggling to navigate high-end restaurants and galas or keeping her dual identities secret, Lopez is charming and hilarious as the fish-out-of-water lead. She also has great comedic chemistry with Fiennes that enhances the humor in their class-crossed romance.
Like The Wedding Planner before it, Maid in Manhattan was both a critical and commercial success thanks in large part to Lopez’s star power and comedic abilities carrying the romantic plot. The film showed Lopez had range within the genre – she could do bubbly and enthusiastic rom-com roles like Mary just as well as fish-out-of-water leads like Marisa. Maid in Manhattan further cemented Lopez’s status as the reigning queen of 2000s romantic comedy.
Second Act (2018)
After taking a step back from romantic comedies for several years, Lopez returned to the genre in 2018 with the movie Second Act. Directed by Peter Segal, Second Act tells the story of Maya Vargas, a 40-year-old woman stuck in a dead-end retail job despite her years of experience and business knowledge. Feeling overlooked and underestimated, Maya decides she wants more out of her career.
In a twist of fate, Maya gets the chance to prove herself when she runs into an old friend from college who offers to help fabricate a resume to get her an interview at a major corporation. With her fabricated Ivy League background, Maya lands a high-level job in the company. However, she must then keep up the ruse and learn the ropes of her new position fast without anyone finding out about her fake credentials.
Second Act allowed Lopez to showcase her comedic talents in a different type of role than her previous rom-coms. As Maya, Lopez brings humor to the fish-out-of-water situations her character finds herself in as a street-smart retail worker pretending to be an MBA-holding executive. Whether it’s struggling with technical business lingo or adjusting to the cutthroat corporate world, Lopez is hilarious as the ambitious underdog trying to prove her worth.
The film is full of laugh-out-loud moments as Maya navigates her new high-powered job and personal life while keeping her secret. Lopez has fantastic comedic timing and delivery that lands each joke and situation perfectly. She also shares funny chemistry with her co-stars including Leah Remini, who plays her supportive best friend. Second Act proved Lopez still had what it takes to anchor and elevate a modern romantic comedy even over 15 years after her earlier hits in the genre.
Conclusion
While Jennifer Lopez herself may not have publicly named her all-time favorite funny movies, the romantic comedies she has starred in offer clues to the type of humor she enjoys bringing to audiences. Through roles like Mary, Marisa and Maya, Lopez has shown a knack for fish-out-of-water leads who find themselves in hilarious situations outside their comfort zones. She also excels at playing energetic and enthusiastic characters like wedding planner Mary.
Across The Wedding Planner, Maid in Manhattan and Second Act, Lopez consistently delivered laugh-out-loud performances thanks to her incredible comedic timing, charm and ability to bounce jokes off talented co-stars. These films cemented her status as the reigning queen of 2000s romantic comedy and proved she was just as skilled at comedy as she was at drama. Whether leading manicured wedding planner Mary or blue-collar undercover executive Maya, Lopez brings humor, heart and likability to every role.
While we may never know Lopez’s personal top three favorite funny movies, it’s clear from her track record in romantic comedies exactly why she loves the genre so much. She has a true gift for making audiences laugh that has endured for over two decades. Lopez’s comedy roles like these have undoubtedly brought her much joy both on screen and off.
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