(photo courtesy of JLo and Amazon prime.)
I never anticipated finding myself engrossed in a JLo movie, not because I harbor any dislike toward her. On the contrary, I deeply admire JLo’s remarkable talent and entrepreneurial spirit as a businesswoman and entertainer. Despite feeling a sense of shared growth over the years (having watched her in the eighties on the comedy TV show “In Living Color” as a backup dancer), I often questioned whether I could genuinely connect with her on a personal level amidst all the glitz and glamour.
Even when she ventured into the alcohol business Delola, transitioning from a non-drinker to a drinker, I couldn’t shake a sense of skepticism. It seemed as if her persona was conforming to the superficial mold of a typical celebrity. In my mind, celebrities remained distant figures adorned with glamorous lifestyles far beyond our grasp. As ordinary civilians, we tend to overlook that they, too, are human beings with lives just as tumultuous as our own, if not more magnified. We mistakenly believe they possess everything one could desire.
“This is me now”. JLo’s latest film, promising to unveil a more intimate side previously hidden from the public eye, has captured my attention as a must-watch. The title itself exudes boldness, and when combined with the widely known celebrity gossip of her blissful marriage to her former flame, Ben Affleck, it becomes even more intriguing. As a single woman, I couldn’t help but wonder if this new cinematic venture would take us on a journey through her path to happiness with Ben. Could this movie offer insights into the elusive recipe for turning exes into life partners?
This film marks the first installment of a trilogy of musical documentaries titled “The Greatest Love Story Never Told,” with Ben Affleck notably listed as one of the co-writers, hinting at his eventual appearance on screen. If the trailers for the other installment are anything to go by, I believe the best is yet to come.
Indeed, Ben Affleck is poised to make appearances in upcoming scenes. The film “This is Me Now” exudes a strong sense of pride, symbolizing JLo’s triumphant journey to her long-awaited happy ending. Fueled by love and authoring a new album after a decade-long hiatus, a timely companion to her third album, This is Me Then, an album inspired by and dedicated to Ben Affleck. This is not your ordinary love affair, driving her to self-finance a $20 million film. Not long after, Amazon Prime acquired the film for an undisclosed sum, making the situation genuinely intriguing.
“I did really find the beauty and the poetry and the irony in the fact that it’s the greatest love story never told. If you’re making a record about it, that seems kind of like telling it.”
Ben Affleck
The movie was a musical spectacle (no surprises there) and, of course, a predictable yet fitting choice given JLo’s background. Naturally, its release coincided with her latest album, This Is Me … Now,” a sequel to her 2002 album “This Is Me … Then, catering to mainstream tastes, it undoubtedly features tracks bound to resonate with the masses.
As anticipated, the movie resembled an elaborate surreal fantasy, weaving dreamlike sequences with glimpses of stylized reality, featuring concerned friends, lovers, and therapy sessions presented in the guise of an AA (alcohol anonymous) style dance troupe, dancing out their feelings and traumas, and with Fat Joe assuming the role of a caring therapist, which suited him well. Much better than the stew of celebrities dressed as an astrological council like Jane Fonda, Sofia Vergara, Trevor Noah, Jay Shetty, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and guru to the stars Sadhguru, which, according to the documentary, added $200,000 to the film’s budget.
Finally, we can resonate with Jenny from the block on some level with problematic love patterns, toxic, abusive relationships, yearnings for love, destructive behaviors, and loving interventions. Some scenes echoed past videos, while others echoed a Baz Luhrmann feeling. Even though he did not direct the movie, those hard-core JLo fashionistas will not disappointed by the styling, such as the monogrammed fireplace and matching carpet, and the fashion, which compassed both lux and street style with the help of Adidas Gucci written all over the show. (Puns intended).
Aside from all the Gucci fashion and stylistic set design, the viewer never forgot it was Jlo’s world dressing deep emotional pain. The film walks through her failed marriages (some abusive) and, wild single-party life, harmful cyclonic behaviors. Her salvation was a conscious effort to remain single to have a safe space to heal. With Fat Joe as her therapist, Inner Child’s work revealed the real reasons behind her love addictions and behaviors. Popular therapy has been gaining attention in recent years by celebrities like the Kardashians. Undoubtedly, it was a brave choice to share a personal healing journey with the public, and from this viewer’s point of view, I enjoyed witnessing this part of the story. As an advocate of Inner Child work, it was courageous that a mainstream pop icon like JLo would bare her soul to and for her fashionable public – but of course, with one caveat – it had to be sexy in true JLo style.
I look forward to the other films, which look more of a documentary style and less glitz and glamour. It is the greatest love story ever told, and I can’t wait to see it.
