Over the weekend, I watched Jennifer Lopez’s musical “film,” This Is Me… Now: A Love Story. She self-financed the hour-long movie for $20 million and she really did not need to do any of that. Like, it should have been just a series of music videos released on her YouTube page. She could have even turned it into a few “short films” like Taylor Swift did with “All Too Well.” The problem is that… the music wasn’t actually very good. You could argue that the “story” of the film was kind of camp and hilariously stupid, but the whole point of the film was that it was supposed to be a companion piece to this new album and the album is…not good. The music was so bad, you guys. Even then, I would consider J.Lo to be a great dancer who can “perform” her music well, but none of the choreography was working either. All of this is being reflected in the numbers:
Jennifer Lopez has made a big deal about investing her own money in her new project. JLo says she put $20 million into “This is Me…Now,” the title of her new album, and the video that goes with it on Amazon Prime.
The project unfurled on Thursday night. There are no numbers yet, but there’s some indication of a soft launch. The album went to number 1 upon release, but now it’s number 4 on iTunes. What goes down on pop charts doesn’t usually come back up.
The album has also not birthed any hot tracks. The lead single, “Can’t Get Enough,” is at number 76. There are no other tracks from the album on the top 100. A good indicator of an album’s strength is it immediately dispersing tracks throughout the top 100. It seems like the fans could indeed get enough.
As for the video, “The Greatest Love Story Never Told” doesn’t hit Amazon Prime until February 27th — next Sunday. By that time, the album and the single may not be in a position to help it.
I’m actually going to watch the documentary because I want to see how cringe it is and how much Ben Affleck appears in it. I’m also interested in seeing how thoroughly J.Lo documented the fact that everyone in her life told her to just skip the musical film. I kind of think she should have skipped the album too, but whatever. Again, I love Jennifer Lopez and I’m still really sad and outraged that she didn’t win an Oscar for Hustlers. She has every right to do whatever she wants, but oh my god, was this whole three-part album/film/documentary thing a huge miscalculation. Still, I think it was like an itch she had to scratch – she wasn’t going to let it go until she figured out a way to do it.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, Backgrid.
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- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 13: Ben Affleck and wife Jennifer Lopez (JLo) wearing a Zuhair Murad Couture gown with Joseph Saidian and Sons vintage Van Cleef & Arpels diamond earrings and A.Jaffe diamond rings arrive at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘This Is Me…Now: A Love Story’ held at the Dolby Theatre on February 13, 2024 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 846503912, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, JLo, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 13: Ben Affleck and wife Jennifer Lopez (JLo) wearing a Zuhair Murad Couture gown with Joseph Saidian and Sons vintage Van Cleef & Arpels diamond earrings and A.Jaffe diamond rings arrive at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘This Is Me…Now: A Love Story’ held at the Dolby Theatre on February 13, 2024 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 846504026, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, JLo, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 13: Jennifer Lopez (JLo) wearing a Zuhair Murad Couture gown with Joseph Saidian and Sons vintage Van Cleef and Arpels diamond earrings and A.Jaffe diamond rings arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘This Is Me…Now: A Love Story’ held at the Dolby Theatre on February 13, 2024 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 846505624, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Jennifer Lopez, JLo, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 13: (L-R) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon MGM Studios “This Is Me…Now: A Love Story” at Dolby Theatre on February 13, 2024 in Hollywood, California.,Image: 846558953, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Credit line: Jeffrey Mayer / Avalon
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- Hollywood, CA – The premiere of “This Is Me…Now: A Love Story” at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California. Pictured: Jennifer Lopez BACKGRID USA 13 FEBRUARY 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Hollywood, CA – Celebrities attend the Los Angeles premiere of Amazon MGM Studios “This Is Me…Now: A Love Story” at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. Pictured: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez BACKGRID USA 13 FEBRUARY 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: Juan Rico / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Celebrities at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘This Is Me… Now: A Love Story’ Featuring: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 13 Feb 2024 Credit: Ryan Hartford/INSTARimages.com
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- Celebrities at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘This Is Me… Now: A Love Story’ Featuring: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 13 Feb 2024 Credit: Ryan Hartford/INSTARimages.com
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- Celebrities at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘This Is Me… Now: A Love Story’ Featuring: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 13 Feb 2024 Credit: Ryan Hartford/INSTARimages.com
Guess JL never heard of TMI. Personally, I think she is a horrible singer, and not much better at acting. She’s not my cup of tea, but she apparently is to others.
Have you seen ‘out of sight’? Gosh, I loved that movie, but I have loved J.Lo since she was a fly girl.
Out of Sight is so good! The scenes in the trunk and hotel are beyond! I wish she got to do more films like that.
Out of Sight is an incredibly sexy movie. I definitely fell in love with her and George Clooney in that movie.
Same. Love Bennifer and I love everything she’s achieved for herself, but she’s just neverrrrr been a singer or actress to me. I WILL say that cheesy romantic comedies are her alley (I still watch Monster In Law whenever I see it come on TV because her, Jane Fonda, and Wanda Sykes were a whole vibe), and I do like that movie she did 800 years ago called Enough. Outside of that, she’s one of those people who just takes herself too seriously, and should just have a good giggle at this blunder and move on.
If you had seen the movie, you wouldn’t say she takes herself seriously in it. Half of you commenting didn’t watch it but are giving her your sage advice and calling a movie at the top of streaming charts a failure.
@Gem she took herself seriously making a flop production that everyone in her immediate circle told her not to do. THAT is what I was commenting on, not the actual movie itself. Go up her rotten tomato reviews if you’re that worried about other people’s opinions on a consistent swagger jacking celebrity.
Gem, I watched it. It was not good.
Agree 100% with everything you said. Not a huge fan of hers, but at the end of the day she’s a human being & I remember all those years ago thinking the way she loved Ben was just different. You could tell by the way she looked at him & spoke about him that he was “the one” for her. Heartwarming to see them back together now.
When she was a fly girl was the last time I liked her.
The same goes for me!
I watched the movie and i like it. I get why she needed to do it. She wanted to tell her story from her prospective and not the prospective of media. She was truthful and vulnerable. And for that she desrves the respect.
I agree with the comments on her singing and acting. And I know she’s a trained dancer but I can’t get into her dancing. She may be technically great but in the clips I’ve seen she looks by turn angry or concentrating really hard. When I enjoy watching people dancing, they look effortless and like they’re having a lot of in-the-moment fun while executing these amazing moves – like they’re celebrating life. JLo’s dancing looks effortful to me. She always looks tense at some level.
I watched it over the weekend and I enjoyed it. Then again, I wasn’t expecting much. I appreciated the story she was trying to tell.
Saw the Bob Marley movie, it was not bad, started slowly.
I wanted to see that until I saw Brad Pitt’s name associated with it, and I said not today or over!
Wildly unpopular opinion, perhaps: I liked it! I thought it was weird, silly, introspective, sweeping, indulgent and ….Weird. I loved the dancing. Some sets were downright stunning, and it just had this escapist vibe that I dug. The music was fine (I don’t know much about her music anyway, and I did wonder a few times: did she actually sing any of this?)
I hope it gets lots of love as the days go on. It’s an escape from everyday darkness and completely unnecessary and Very Leo, but still I dug it!
I could use with an escapist romp. And if it’s really that bad, I’ve got something to talk about.
Yes, super escapist! I think that’s why I liked it too. It was visually stunning and very self aware and funny to me. I thought the music sounded the same as all her other music, highly produced as ever but it definitely didn’t stand out to me as sounding terrible.
Unpopular opinion here too, I also liked it. It was fun, and visually stunning, didn’t mind the songs, the choreography was cool and I actually really liked her acting, yes it’s corny, cheesy, over the top and very Leo…but earnest? I mean it’s one hour of harmless entertainmet, I don’t get the hate
Agreed! I think she was brave to be so emotionally open about her life’s journey, and while it was quite strange (the astrological entities!) it was actually quite fun, and often visually stunning.
I 100% agree. I loved it. Entertaining, enjoyable, fun to watch. Great visuals and the zodiac crew was a fun addition lol. Though where were Capricorn and Aquarius ? lol
I am enjoying the dance numbers and the music, although not my style, is very J.Lo, which is exactly how they are meant to sound. The numbers might not be there because her audience might not be into dance music as they were before…
I also really enjoyed it – it was pretty much what I expected it to be and as a Sag, I loved that we got Jane Fonda in the Council (though I agree with Laura about missing the other signs).
I agree. I felt it was unique and very entertaining. Plus, I thought all of her new songs worked in the movie, and that is something hard to pull off.
With Neil Degrasse Tyson talking to Kim Petras as signs of the Zodiac, who needs drugs?
It’s a wonderfully bonkers movie in the tradition of that ego fest Michael Jackson made in the eighties.
She’s in love with love it’s too much. What are the odds a fourth marriage works? I want to see JLo running her business empire please enough with this ridiculousness.
This woman has an incredible work ethic. I used to use her dance tunes back in the day to run or bike at gym. I do see this project though as bit of a turn off for me she can be narcissistic. I would never pay to see it. if it was free I may watch 5 minutes and that’s it. Seems like a vanity project but I’m not sure she sees outside that world. She is always a performer. Which in someways I admire it can be tiring.
Often, whatever the industry, when they go on about how hard they work, they’re selling you that fantasy of a meritocracy whilst being ruthlessly self-interested. Or it’s a credibility issue in terms of “talent”. I’ve read some of the Kardashians saying they “work hard” too, LOL.
I feel like the first post in here was panning it just because some people told her not to make it. The bias is then that she shouldn’t have done it. Why? Why is the narrative not: she believed in herself and her vision no matter what?
I’ve watched it six times. I actually love it, and a lot of young women in my life—including my daughter—love it. It spoke to them about loving their younger parts. I recommended it to a client even.
And her dancing? Never been better. So free. I wept the first time at “Broken Like Me” because it touched something in me about healing from the sh— of life. It was technically so precise. And the joy she exudes in “Hummingbird” was breathtaking.
I’m not a super fan by any means, and the plot was simple. But I felt her heartbreak and her joy I felt her freedom at mid-life after having been through it. I know that woman because I am her too.
She didn’t lose the plot or make a fool of herself. She made art for herself with her own money. Good for her! Men do it every day and don’t care who they hurt in the process. Art is subjective. You don’t have to love it or like it. But for Goddess’s sake, let the artist live! Don’t bash her for making it. Praise her for taking a risk and putting herself out there because she believed in herself that much.
We’d all be blessed to have that kind of belief in ourselves.
This is such a lovely and positive persepective. Thank you @Jac for sharing it. If we can afford it – let us all believe and invest in ourselves.
Well said, Jac. I haven’t watched it but don’t see the point in ppl being such haters about it.
We watched it this weekend and while I didn’t love it, my perspective has been very much – I am celebrating creativity and artists making art. We’ve all watched her live this Fool for Love role for the last 30 years. Making art from it (and telling it in her own way) is entirely her prerogative.
Also, something about this makes me think of how women’s sexuality is used to sell all manner of products that make money for others (generally men), but when women decide to benefit themselves using their own sexuality, then suddenly it it a Very Big Problem.
She made art for herself and with her own money. Let her live.
People are trying to basically say look at the numbers it did and then call it unsuccessful. I have serious issues with that. Mind you, she didn’t loose any money because Amazon bought it with a hefty sum. I am glad she took a bet on herself. There’s nothing wrong with it.
You give me some different perspectives. Maybe I will watch….
@Jac Yessss! ❤❤❤
I agree with what others said about your perspective. It’s lovely and you’ve convinced me to watch! Also her passion for this project is clear, and when so many movies and shows are just craven attempts to $$$, it’s really wonderful to see something SOMEONE clears about.
Haven’t seen it but love your perspective, good on you for bringing it to the internet you brave soul.
Thank you for this comment. I loved it! I agree with every word. When I read Jennifer did this even though people around her told her not to do it, I immediately wanted to see it. I love that she didn’t listen to them and did what she felt was right.
Hard agree @Jac, with all and that men get more latitude in art and what is art and what’s worthy art via their lens. She’s so talented and I hope it inspires more risk-taking by girls and women. I also read this great article about Taylor Swift (her again!) and being mindful of how we speak on backlashes, with the underlying message of how horrible it is to be a woman in power, with our children listening, especially the girls. You are obviously undesirable, not smart, speaking on things you shouldn’t, bad at relationships and on and on – when it’s truly fear. It’s not that either are perfect role models and why should they be? I’m glad to have a gamut of role models of artists and any positive leaders, really. Some of my worst mistakes saved my life, so I can’t judge this as a bad thing or not.
I watched it on the weekend and disliked it. The metaphors are laughably ham fisted, practically screaming at the audience.The music is not good and the acting is outright bad(Fat Joe as the therapist!). I do think that the over the top acting was a stylistic choice that didn’t work. The dancing however is really good and the choreography was interesting.
As a piece of art, it is one of the most self-indulgent things I have ever seen.
I do like that JLo is willing to take risks and bet on herself like this even if the resulting project is a mess.
I enjoyed it but I have to admit I popped an edible before so…
🤣🤣🤣
Ha! I will remember to do the same when I get around to watching it !
That was a good idea! I watched it straight and although I made it through, it was a little too cringe-y. I don’t hate JLo and some of it was funny but amid all the excess and the jokes, she didn’t pull off a tongue-in-cheek parody of herself – which is the only thing that would have made it actually good. It had all the elements but she played herself seriously and “sincerely”, which seemed too wack – I’m SURE an edible would have made it all make sense, lol!
Her highest rated film by critics and viewers, by all means did bery, very well in streaming but it was miscalculation.?People keep asking JLo to not do this, do that and then keep making her projects successful. By all means, bizarre take. Its like stop, yes we are putting dollars in your bank but how dare you? That’s all I saw on twitter and it reeks of entitlement. The movie was funny, not too serious yet was very charming in a way. Loads of people did, I suppose or else how did it do well?
Im probably going to watch a little bit of it. I think she silly and self centered. But very likable. Terrible single, But great entertainer.
Looks like it’ll be a cult hit in a few years! The internet loves camp.
Two things about these pictures:
One, her dress looks like it’s going to fall off. IMHO it’s too low on her boobs. I’m feeling uncomfortable. I hope she’s not.
Two, Ben’s eyes looking outward whilst she’s swooned in, eyes closed, for a kiss has me feeling sad for her.
That’s all I’ve got. Oh, wait, one more thing: Her movie “Enough” never got the praise either, yet I’ll still rewatch it once a year or so. For me, it still stands up, even years later.
I liked ‘Enough’. She was certainly charming in ‘Monsters in Law’, and her Selena impersonation was award-worthy (much better than Serrato’s).
Unpopular opinion: I don’t think Hustlers or her acting in it were very good.
I think her craft as an artist hasn’t aged well, perhaps diluted amongst so many other ventures and facets she wanted to explore. This applies to her acting, singing and dancing. Every time she puts out a performance or even a red carpet, it feels like a one-person showdown. The overall vibe is like she has something to prove.
He does this thing where he kisses her while looking just beyond her to see what’s going on around the corner. I don’t get it. Perhaps he’s seen photos of some other star doing this, and thought it looked smooth, but I just find it off-putting. If you don’t want to kiss her, just don’t kiss her but don’t do it while looking to see what else is available, jee.
The song got me to cringe so bad –
That song is so so so so baaaaad – she has a nice sounding voice, but is not a good singer. But im gonna watch the film because I usually enjoy jlo’s movies. My favorite jlo movie: monster in law with jane fonda, so funny
She thinks she’s a bigger musical star than she is. Which is on brand for her. J.Lo is nothing if not delulu.
I watched it over the weekend, it’s not great but it’s not terrible either. If Amazon paid her 20 million for this and she recouped her investment. Then she is one savvy businesswoman.
It honestly took me a minute to figure out which role Ben played in it. Which then made it even funnier.
The worst acting in this was from Fat Joe. I wish she had just cast an actual actor to play the therapist. It was bad and took me out of the fantasy.
Her dancing, flawless, her beauty, eternal, her acting, meh, her singing. oh boy. I did like the last song. This is me Now. Thank God for auto tune. But I didn’t feel any song was a big hit.
I will say, the scene where she embraced her inner child, got me good. I was weeping for her. And comparing Jen & Ben to Alida and Taroo. Was a bit much. But Jen never does anything low key.
I really do hope Jen & Ben are endgame. I think she is acting the way Kelly Clarkson was singing these over the top love songs to her husband for ‘healing’ her. That didn’t end too well either.
The vagina cut out wedding dress she’s wearing in the music video is the worst outfit I have ever seen in my life.
I like JLO. I think she is a much better actress than singer. I don’t think she is a bad singer, but not very good. She can definitely dance and perform.
But I tried watching this over the weekend and I’m sorry….but I tapped out. To me, it felt juvenile. I appreciate the symbolism of love and trying to find it but it was too over the top. However, I couldn’t make it past the 28 minute mark….so maybe I didn’t get it.
Also, the lyrics were not good. Again they just felt a little juvenile to me. I wanted to hear some growth but I didn’t feel that. To each their own…..
I am sure this will be all the foolish entertaining fluff she will make it be! One of those things that could become a cult favourite….. and it’s not fair that the discouragement by others has been the press focus…. I need to watch!
Welp. It’s out now. Hopefully she has it out of her system.
With this amount of money she could have produced a few low-budged cool movies. But no, it has to be about me me me me. It’s such a strange show reel, “look how I can dance! Look how I can sing! Look! Look at me!” It’s all about her bone structure and the sultry sexy face. Also, I’m sick of hearing how she “hustles” and “works hard.” If you can’t get things going without enormous amount of hustle, perhaps something’s wrong? School teachers and nurses and veterinarians work harder than Lopez.
Its her own 20 million dollar which means she is entitled to burn them since its her. Amazon bought it for 50 million after it was made so she made profit.
Sure. And she can build a megamansion with ice cream bars if she wants and I will have an Opinion about that too.
@ TORTTU
100% agree with you!
JL has a excellent team around her, which consists of (& not limited to) hairstylists, make-up artists , producers, assistants, & of course Benny Medina that are never far from her!
I agree that she could have done something much better with that $!
I am just shocked if Amazon paid her $20 million, but then again nothing shocks me anymore…
Okay. I listened to the album on YouTube. It’s very samey all the way through and sounds so compressed. Although, she has some good songs on it. But I’ll never listen to it again. I’ve never owned or listened to an album of hers before. I naturally knew a few songs on the radio from years ago. Her vocals don’t do much for me. I appreciate her dancing. The only song I remember lyrics-wise is Jenny from the Block, though. The one song I love, love, love is her 2011 ‘On The Floor” with Pitbull. It’s a bop.
Now, on to the musical movie, whatever she is calling it. I liked it. Her songs actually work well in it. I liked it enough to rewatch it. The second time I loved it. It’s bonkers but in a good way. I will probably watch it again someday. Well done, J-Lo. Even though, she was never alone. She went from the ending of A-Rod to Ben. Also, she wrote a book and promoted it during the beginning of the Casper era about how she had to learn to love herself, blah, blah, blah. So the message in this about self-love, being able to be alone was done a decade ago by her.
Still, I loved the one-hour musical I’ll call it. I thought it was creative and entertaining. She looked amazing. I loved her choreographed scenes with music. I really loved her director’s vision in creating this with her.
But a documentary coming on top of all of this? LOL
Harsh.
I love JLo, I love love , I love that she has the means to do this – it isn’t like she hasn’t worked her ass off to be able to afford her vanity project – and will likely profit from it. I miss when we didn’t routinely crap on women daily around here .
more of the men’s crap should be covered, we’d crap on them too I assure you. I was ready for Johnny depp’s crap at the time, but much of that wasnt covered. A lot more opinionated readers than many years ago too – which is great
Kaiser, I swear you and these dang on photos are sending me.
She looks really pissed off in that header pic. It’s true that showing emotions on the face is aging (if you are of a certain age, which JLo is).
I don’t know, I kind of feel like people are doing the most with this. I feel like Jennifer Lopez is mostly harmless. Maybe she thinks a little highly of herself but she’s in good company. I’m not familiar with her new music but she’s released plenty of bops throughout her career like I’m Real, Love Don’t Cost a Thing, On the Floor, Dance Again, Do It Well, BOOTY, etc.
Sad and outraged she didn’t win an Oscar for “Hustlers”? 😂😂😂😂😂
My H and I liked it!!! It was too much but that was the whole point. It was a spectacular spectacular extravaganza blowout about LOOOOOOOOVE. J.Lo had an artistic statement to make and she made it fully. It wasn’t the greatest work of art in existence but it felt very true and authentic and intimate and personal. With big dance numbers!!! Like if a memoir were made into a Bollywood film.
@ Jayna
Maybe if she collaborated with other artists with her music, it would have greatly benefited her musical career?
If I recall, she was upset that Shakira was joining her for the Superbowl Halftime Show. Meanwhile, you have Usher who asked Justin Bieber to join him.. ( he declined)
I’ve always thought if she’d kept working with Soderbergh-quality directors, she might have a fairly solid movie career by now. But she’s fallen prey to Madonna-disease: letting image-maintenance wreck her judgement and talent. ☹️