Jennifer Lopez has faced her share of ups and downs in Hollywood, but one of the most significant setbacks in her career was the critical and commercial failure of the 2003 film Gigli. Despite the film’s poor reception, Lopez has continued to defend it, calling certain aspects of it “genius” and believing that it might eventually find its audience.
Jennifer Lopez’s Take on Gigli’s Failure
Gigli was widely panned by critics and failed to draw audiences, leading to one of the biggest disappointments in Lopez’s career. However, in an interview with W Magazine, Lopez stood by the film, expressing pride in her work and the risks she took with the role. She acknowledged that some parts of the movie didn’t work but was adamant that other elements were underappreciated.
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“It’s genius! Look, I thought it was risky, but I also felt it was juicy,” Lopez said, referring to one of the film’s more infamous lines, “It’s turkey time—gobble, gobble.” She further added, “It was tough stuff to work with.”
Lopez also dismissed the notion that there was no chemistry between her and co-star Ben Affleck, a point that critics often used to disparage the film. “People are saying there was no chemistry. That’s insane! There’s crazy chemistry!” she argued, noting that she and Affleck were falling in love during the making of the movie.
A Personal Life Intertwined with Professional Outcomes
Lopez believed that her highly publicized relationship with Affleck, which was constantly in the media spotlight, played a significant role in the film’s failure. In the months leading up to the release of Gigli, Lopez had a growing sense of dread about how the public might react.
“I kept warning my mom, ‘Mom, we’re gonna get killed,’” Lopez recalled. She believed that the public’s fatigue from seeing her personal life splashed across tabloids every day made them less inclined to see her on the big screen.
“People were like, ‘Who cares?’ And then nobody goes to see your movie!” she said. The constant media attention left Lopez feeling vulnerable, as her life was under intense scrutiny, and she felt it affected the movie’s reception.
Ben Affleck’s Perspective on Gigli’s Downfall
While Lopez maintained her belief that Gigli had redeeming qualities, Ben Affleck had a more critical view of the film. He acknowledged that the movie had inherent flaws, which were not fixed by the five weeks of reshoots the team undertook.
“[Gigli] didn’t work and we did five weeks of reshoots, which we knew were not gonna work,” Affleck told Entertainment Weekly. Despite his disappointment, Affleck noted that the experience taught him valuable lessons, although he admitted that the film “didn’t work.”
A Hope for Resurgence
Despite the overwhelmingly negative response to Gigli, Lopez remained optimistic that the film might gain appreciation in the future, particularly through cable viewership. She predicted that it would find its audience, even if it took years.
“I really think it will have a resurgence on cable!” Lopez remarked, holding onto the belief that the film’s genius would eventually be recognized.
Gigli may have been a box office disaster, but for Jennifer Lopez, it represented a bold risk that she continues to stand by. While the film’s flaws are undeniable, Lopez’s defense of her work highlights her resilience in the face of criticism. Whether or not Gigli will ever be seen as the “genius” Lopez believes it to be remains to be seen, but her unwavering support of the film offers a fascinating glimpse into her perspective as an artist.
