Jennifer Lopez is a persuasive romantic lead when she can stay sharp, capable and a little wary. We rate her work in Out of Sight highly; scripts that expect her presence to make laboured banter charming fare much worse.
Fi1m perspective
In the boot of a car in Out of Sight (1998), Jennifer Lopez's Karen Sisco finds herself pressed against George Clooney's escaped prisoner, Jack Foley. They talk about old films, and she gives him her attention without seeming to forget what he is. We were charmed by their conversation because neither performer strains to make an absurd situation funny. The attraction is convincing because Lopez never makes the federal marshal seem foolish.
The breakthrough was the title role in Selena (1997); Out of Sight followed a year later. By Maid in Manhattan (2002), she was established as a romantic-comedy lead. Her confidence ought to make her a natural for courtship and verbal sparring. Gigli (2003) shows how badly that can go when the writing is strained.
Martin Brest gives Lopez's Ricki and Ben Affleck's Larry Gigli plenty to say, and little that sounds spontaneous. Lopez at least remains worth watching, even when the exchanges grow tiresome. Affleck's effortful bluster makes it harder to believe in the pair, while the dialogue insists on how colourful they are instead of letting us enjoy their company. We cannot recommend the film, but blaming Lopez's suitability for romance would mean ignoring what worked with Clooney.
Steven Soderbergh gets more from her in Out of Sight by allowing Karen to remain competent and unimpressed by men who underestimate her. Lopez makes her growing interest in Foley clear without suddenly making her softer. That gives Clooney someone to respond to, rather than someone merely required to find him appealing. The film becomes busier and loses some charm in Detroit, but the performances give the romance enough substance to survive it.
Hustlers (2019), with Lopez as Ramona Vega, brought stronger notices again in an ensemble crime story. That turn suits an actor whose physical assurance and toughness are among her strengths. It need not mean abandoning romantic comedy, only finding films that give her something to play beyond being desirable. Start with Out of Sight, and give the conversation in that car boot your full attention.
Biography
Jennifer Lopez is an American actress. She was born on 24 July 1969 in The Bronx, New York City. She began her career as a dancer on the television series In Living Color in 1991 before moving into acting.
Her breakthrough film role came as the title character in Selena (1997). She followed this with leading parts in Anaconda (1997) and as Karen Sisco in Out of Sight (1998). Lopez has since starred in films including Maid in Manhattan (2002), Parker (2013) and Hustlers (2019).
