Jlo is a well-rounded phenomenon. From her notorious ever-lasting natural beauty - which unbelievably she credits to the powers of olive oil - to her successful musical career and Hollywood stardom, Jennifer Lopez is proud to have hustled her way to the top. However, for decades her glamorous persona and highly public romantic relationships overshadowed her many achievements. As a result, Lopez believes the industry never took her seriously. But now, with her new Netflix documentary, she wants to establish her legacy and set her record straight.
After a timid start as a fly girl in the “Living Colors “television series, Lopez scored the first leading role in the singer Selena's biopic, making her the first Latina actress ever to sign a 1 million dollar movie contract. She also received her first best actress Golden Globe nomination for this role, which she didn't win.
Lopez became a tabloid sensation staple with the famous green Versace dress. That dress generated a massive online search that triggered the creation of Google images. But her multiple high-profile romances leading up to the Bennifer mania solidified her as a headline fixture. Back then, with the release of her “Jenny from the Block “ music video – featuring Ben Affleck - JLo was everywhere, but mainly not because of her music or movie career. The colossal flop of “Jersey Girl,” staring with her beau Affleck, following their wedding cancelation and ultimate break up, hit the singer/actress career hard. Following a relatively unsuccessful period, she hustled her way back to the top in 2011 with her appearance as a judge on “American Idol” and the release of her seventh studio album, “Love?”. In 2004, she bounced back romantically, marrying Latino pop star icon Mark Anthony. They had two children together before divorcing in 2014.
But the 2019/2021 cycle looked like it was Jlo's time. In September 2019, she modeled an updated version of her Green Versace dress at Milan Fashion Week– her appearance generated $31.8 million in total media impact value. Then later, she was cast to headline the 2020 Super Bowl Halftime Show – hence the title of the Netflix documentary. In the documentary, she complains about the NFL's decision to have her sharing the stage with Shakira, but her performance was a colossal success. The duo headliners brought an average of 103.4 million viewers to the halftime show. Later, Lopez performed at the 2021 inauguration of President Joe Biden when she sang "This Land Is Your Land" and "America the Beautiful", while also reciting the last phrase of the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish. Then, there was the Globes and Oscar buzz. Her performance in the crime drama Hustlers – which she co-produced- garnered critical acclaim, and many believed she was a sure bet at the awards show season. But she didn't win the Globes again, and she wasn't even nominated for the Oscars
That extreme media exposure parallels what happened in 2001, during the Bennifer sensation. This time though, Lopez was everywhere again, but instead of her personal life, her talent was in the spotlight. And just like she did in the past when she was a beginner dancer, crossing from the Bronx to Manhattan on the L train, fighting for the spotlight, JLo hustled hard. It echos Donna Summer 70's hit song, saying, "She works hard for the money."
“Halftime” showcases her drive to become a dancer and establish herself as an accomplished actress and singer. In the documentary, Lopez says that from the start, she knew she would need to work harder to succeed and prove her talent just because she's a Latina. And that's what she did; she worked harder. Watching her exercise routine to get prepared for the Superbowl is exhausting to anyone, especially when you think Lopez has just turned 50 years that year.
Her documentary tries to set the record straight about her multiple accomplishments - from performer, singer, and actress to mom, Latina, and social advocate- but it ends up looking like a glorified infomercial. JLo is on a mission to get people to take her seriously, and while highlighting her success and layered talents, she isn't apologetic about being glamorous and sexy. And perhaps that is precisely what makes the documentary compelling. It makes viewers realize that for a woman, especially Latina, freely expressing her sexuality still makes people doubt her talent and commitment to her craft. History has a long line of iconic women who struggled with the same challenges – Marylin Monroe is probably the most famous example. But Jennifer Lopez belongs to a lineage of women who challenge the status quo and want to be superwomen. However, she went from little to a lot, people still won't forgive her for the rocks she's got.
"Halftime" highlights that hustling is part of being Latina as much as being a woman in this business. And JLo shows she has been doing it relentlessly for 3 decades– she doesn't give signs of giving up too. Instead, the documentary serves up her credentials, building excitement for her career's next cycle. But maybe because of her over-media exposure, it falls short by coming across as hard selling.