When I first heard Universal had a rom-com called “Marry Me” on its slate my mind went to a quirky webcomic of the same name I read on Keenspot in 2006. But the two were probably unrelated, because why would an obscure Keenspot comic from 2006 be turned into a major studio movie in 2022? Then when I noticed the plot of the webcomic and the movie were identical, I realized that is somehow exactly what’s happening.
Reviews for Marry Me were released today, most of them with tepid scores, but the vast majority of reviewers seem to be unaware of this story’s origins. Back when webcomics were a new trend, they simply didn’t GET movies, even the most popular ones. Do you see a Penny Arcade movie existing? A Dinosaur Comics flick with the same visuals every two minutes but different dialogue? What about a Gunnergrigg Court three-part epic trilogy? That last one would rock! Why is Marry Me of all things getting this privilege?
Weirder still, Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson have been cast as the two lead characters, and both of them could have played them in Aught-Six when they were more famous. It’s almost like Universal bought the movie rights to this story way back then, left it on the shelf, then picked it up over a decade later and changed nothing. …Actually, in Hollywood it’s considered weird when that doesn’t happen.
Though the cinematic Marry Me changes some elements, the basic framework is there: a pop superstar has just been dumped by her fiance and is so upset, she points mid-concert to a man in the audience holding up a giant “MARRY ME” sign and says “I’m game, let’s do this.” To his shock they are officially married right then on stage.
A dream come true? Well, here’s the twist: that guy barely knows who the pop star is. He was holding the sign for his lesbian friend who left momentarily to use the restroom (and boy is she angry when she comes back out). Two complete strangers from different worlds are now married. But might this work out anyway? You don’t suppose they could actually FALL FOR EACH OTHER, do you? …Well, no one watches rom-coms to be surprised by anything.
The original Marry Me by Bobby Crosby has been collected into a graphic novel and is still available, and would probably make for a better evening’s entertainment if the critics are correct. At least the movie’s existence offers a little hope for circa-2000 webcomic adaptions of the future. My wish is for an Elf Only Inn animated series, assuming its author ever comes out of hiding.
