This Is Me… Now: A Love Story – Film Review
Jennifer Lopez has been reluctant to describe This Is Me… Now: A Love Story, the visual companion to her new album, This Is Me… Now, as a film but I would argue that it is more of a movie than a visual album.
There is a narrative that runs through the project, self-financed by JLo, and connects the widely different and ambitious musical setpieces (or music videos). This is all about her love story, particularly her rekindled relationship with now-husband Ben Affleck. But it is told through The Tale of Alida and Taroo, lovers who were torn apart and spent years searching for each other after being turned into a red flower and a hummingbird.
After the introduction of the fairytale, the film begins with Lopez’s heart being broken. The first music video is for Hearts and Flowers, an ambitious and CGI-heavy segment set in a Heart Factory. The mechanical heart, which is powered by red flowers, is malfunctioning and the workers try to save it. You understand the metaphor.
I won’t go through all of the music videos and spoil the surprises but it follows a semi-autobiographical and fictionalised narrative about her quest for true love. But I want to mention my favourite, Can’t Get Enough. Lopez pokes fun at herself by getting married three times, with onlookers making comments about her romantic decision-making. In another self-aware moment, she attends a Love Addicts Anonymous (LAA) meeting, led by Paul Raci. She sees the gossip about herself and joins in on the joke.
Those expecting to see a lot of Affleck may be disappointed, but there are a ton of great celebrity guests here. The music videos are connected by Lopez’s conversations with her therapist, played by Fat Joe (yes really), and the star-studded “Zodiac Council” observing her from the sky and making comments about her romantic decisions. My favourites were Keke Palmer, Jane Fonda, Trevor Noah and Post Malone, all representing different star signs, because they made me laugh the most.
This isn’t quite a visual album because not all of the songs are given accompanying music videos and they are presented out of order to fit the narrative. Some are just played during the credits too. I must admit that none of the music stuck with me but I was impressed by the choreography and the cool sets, although they were heavily CGI. I should have expected this given that director Dave Meyers often uses VFX in his music videos (think Ariana Grande’s No More Tears Left to Cry).
I can see why Lopez self-financed this 65-minute movie – it was important to her to reclaim her narrative and present her music in this way. It may be weird and unusual, but it is a fantastic showcase of her talents and I’m sure her fans will happily watch it over and over again.
On Prime Video from Friday 16th February