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16 details you may have missed in Jennifer Lopez's 'This Is Me... Now: A Love Story'

16 details you may have missed in Jennifer Lopez's 'This Is Me... Now: A Love Story'
Jennifer Lopez in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."Prime Video
  • Jennifer Lopez has released a new movie on Prime Video tied to her latest album "This Is Me... Now."
  • "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story" is an ode to Lopez's journey to find true love.

"This Is Me... Now: A Love Story" is filled with homages to Jennifer Lopez's life.

The new movie, which Lopez cowrote, follows the Artist (Lopez) as she tries and fails — then tries and fails again — to find the love of her life.

Lopez has said in interviews that the movie is based on her life and her latest album, "This Is Me… Now," which is also out now. Lopez also references her first relationship with her now-husband, Ben Affleck, which ended in 2004. The pair rekindled in 2021 and married the following year.

Here's what to know about the biggest easter eggs in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story," including Affleck's role and the identities of the Zodiac Council.

The Artist describes the Legend of the Hummingbird at the beginning of the movie.

The Artist describes the Legend of the Hummingbird at the beginning of the movie.
Artwork of Taroo and Alida in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video

In the first scene, the Artist narrates the tale of Taroo and Alida, which she says originates from the Taíno people. The Taíno were an indigenous tribe from the Caribbean.

Like Romeo and Juliet, Taroo and Alida were star-crossed lovers from rival tribes. When Alida is forced to marry someone else, she begs the gods to help her, and they turn her into a red flower. Taroo begs the gods to help him find her again, and they turn him into a hummingbird.

Taroo flies around trying to find the red flower for the rest of his life. Hence, when you see a hummingbird and a red flower, it could be Taroo visiting Alida.

This tale is a real myth, sometimes known as the Legend of the Hummingbird, from the Taíno people. The Taino tribe existed on numerous Caribbean islands including Puerto Rico, where Lopez's parents were born.

This story may be one passed on from Lopez's family.

The motorbike scene is likely a reference to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's breakup in 2004.

The motorbike scene is likely a reference to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck on a motorbike in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video

In the second scene, the Artist rides on the back of the motorbike with an unknown man. In the movie's credits, Affleck is listed as the biker. Although this character is never named, he likely represents Affleck in Lopez's life.

The pair first got engaged in 2002, a year after they met. However, the relationship hit a stumbling block, and the pair called off their wedding and broke up by 2004. Both Lopez and Affleck moved on and married other people, but they eventually got back together in 2021 after divorcing their previous partners and having children.

The motorbike scene likely represents their first relationship and its rocky end.

In the final scene of the movie, the Artist meets the unknown man and dreams about riding off on a motorbike into the sunset, representing when Lopez got back together with Affleck.

There are numerous references to the zodiac in the movie. This is likely because Lopez cares a lot about astrology.

There are numerous references to the zodiac in the movie. This is likely because Lopez cares a lot about astrology.
Jennifer Lopez's "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story" coincides with her latest studio album.      Prime Video

The opening credits show a night sky with the zodiac constellations. When we first see the Artist in a dream about a malfunctioning heart factory, she reads a book about the zodiacs. Later in the film, the Zodiac Council, a group representing the astrology signs, watches over the Artist's love story.

This repeated theme shows how much the main character, the Artist, believes in signs. It may also hint at how important astrology signs are to Lopez.

In 2022, "Glee" star Heather Morris said Lopez once dismissed a group of dancers auditioning to perform with her because they were Virgos. Virgos are rumored to have disagreeable personalities. Lopez has yet to deny the rumor.

Affleck makes a cameo as TV anchor Rex Stone.

Affleck makes a cameo as TV anchor Rex Stone.
Ben Affleck as Rex Stone in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video

Affleck appears in the movie three times as Stone, a host of a fictional TV show called "The Truth Report." Each time, he rants about the state of modern societies and romances.

He first appears in a montage during the Artist's dream at the start of the film. Later, when Lopez wakes up in a glass house, Stone appears again. He finally appears during the closing credits.

Lopez references her hit song, "Jenny from the Block," in the movie's first song, "Hearts and Flowers."

Lopez references her hit song, "Jenny from the Block," in the movie
Jennifer Lopez in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video

While trying to save the heart factory from breaking down, the Artist sings Lopez's new song, "Heart and Flowers," from the "This Is Me… Now" album.

During the third verse of the song, Lopez sings a callback to her hit single from 2002, "Jenny from the Block."

"They see it's the same ol' Jenny, wanna block me / Paparazzi trying to make a move like they got me / Ask me how I did it, now we at the top / Perfect timin', don't be fooled by the rocks I got."

"Don't be fooled by the rocks I got" is a direct line from "Jenny from the Block." The music video for the song was all about being trailed and photographed by the paparazzi.

The Zodiac Council is filled with cameos, including Keke Palmer, Jane Fonda, and Post Malone.

The Zodiac Council is filled with cameos, including Keke Palmer, Jane Fonda, and Post Malone.
Jane Fonda as Sagittarius in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video

Throughout the movie, the story cuts to the skies, where the Zodiac Council watches over the universe.

The council, with members representing each astrology sign, is filled with recognizable faces:

Jay Shetty, a British author and podcast host, plays Aries.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson plays Taurus.

Trevor Noah, the former host of "The Daily Show," plays Libra.

Jane Fonda, an activist and actor, plays Sagittarius.

Keke Palmer, who is a former Nickelodeon star, plays Scorpio.

Rapper Post Malone plays Leo.

Singer Kim Petras plays Virgo.

Sofia Vergara, who recently starred in Netflix's "Griselda," plays Cancer.

Sadhguru, a mystic beloved by celebrities, plays Pisces.

Jenifer Lewis, from the comedy series "Black-ish," plays twin Geminis.

Aquarius and Capricorn are not shown in the council.

According to Elle, Lopez said that she came up with the idea for the Zodiac Council to represent the people who comment on her personal life.

"I love all those people, but I wanted people who have a certain philosophy about love and life that resonates with me, people that I feel would understand what I'm trying to do here," she said of the zodiac cast.

During the wedding scene, the Artist puts one ring over another, hinting at her numerous marriages.

During the wedding scene, the Artist puts one ring over another, hinting at her numerous marriages.
A wedding scene in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video

Lopez has been married four times.

She married Ojani Noa in 1997, but they divorced a year later. She married Cris Judd in 2001, but separated a year later. She and Marc Anthony were married the longest, from 2004 to 2014, and they had two children.

The triple wedding scene is likely a reflection of Lopez's multiple marriages and how she has been unlucky in love.

The Zodiac Council seems to reference "Scandoval."

The Zodiac Council seems to reference "Scandoval."
Jane Fonda and Keke Palmer, left, in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story." Tom Sandoval, right, at the season 11 premiere of "Vanderpump Rules."      Prime Video; Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

During one of the Zodiac scenes, Sagittarius (Fonda) brings up the reality show "Vanderpump Rules," and the rest of the group begins to praise the show. Leo (Post Malone) then brings up "the reunion," and Virgo (Palmer) says it was messy without specifying which episode.

They were likely talking about the reunion episode from season 10, which followed the "Scandoval" drama. At the time, Ariana Madix found out her boyfriend, Tom Sandoval, had cheated on her with her best friend, Raquel Leviss.

The Artist watches the 1973 movie "The Way We Were" partway through the story.

The Artist watches the 1973 movie "The Way We Were" partway through the story.
Jennifer Lopez's character the Artist watching "The Way We Were" starring Barbra Streisand in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video; Columbia Pictures

When the Artist is feeling sad about being single, she watches a romantic movie. The short scene the Artist watches is taken from "The Way We Were," starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.

The movie, regarded as one of the greatest romance films, is about star-crossed lovers. Streisand plays a Marxist Jew with strong anti-war opinions, and Redford plays a white Protestant man who doesn't care about politics.

The two keep meeting throughout their lives but struggle to make their relationship work.

Keke Palmer's Scorpio references Lopez's hit song "Love Don't Cost A Thing."

Keke Palmer
Keke Palmer as Scorpio in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video

Throughout the movie, many characters make references to famous songs.

Scorpio comments that love "costs a thing" during her prayer for the Artist, which references Lopez's 2001 single "Love Don't Cost a Thing."

There are also references later to Lopez's "Get Right," Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent," Nelly Furtado's "Maneater," and The Heavy's "How You Like Me Now?"

Leo also makes a reference to "Sunflower," a Post Malone song, in the post-credit scene.

The Love Addicts Annonymous Group leader is played by Paul Raci.

The Love Addicts Annonymous Group leader is played by Paul Raci.
Paul Raci in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video

When the Artist attends a Love Addicts Anonymous group, she spends time chatting to the group's leader (Paul Raci).

Raci recently worked with Jennifer Lopez on her Netflix movie "The Mother."

In a flashback scene to the Artist's childhood, she's holding a lion stuffed animal. Lopez and Affleck are both Leos.

In a flashback scene to the Artist
A young version of the Artist, played by Bella Gagliano, in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video

During the Love Addicts Anonymous group session, the Artist opens up about her childhood, and there is a flashback to a younger version of herself (played by Bella Gagliano). In that scene, the young Artist is holding a lion stuffed animal.

Lopez and Affleck are both Leos, and Lopez alludes to their star signs earlier in the film when she tells her therapist that Leo couples fight a lot.

On Thursday, Lopez told Billboard that she and Affleck are very passionate because of their zodiac signs.

"One of us gets on a tangent about something, it's like, 'Just sit down and let him have his moment.' Or he needs to sit down and let me have my moment," she said. "We know each other in that way and we're getting to know each other again, which is really beautiful, too."

Lopez may have recreated a love note from Affleck in the fireplace scene.

Lopez may have recreated a love note from Affleck in the fireplace scene.
A burned letter in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video

Later in the movie, the Artist starts burning love notes and trinkets related to past lovers.

One letter, dated December 24, 2002, says: "'Life's tough but you're sweet. Thanks for the gift. Hope you like the flowers. You told me you could never have enough. I believe you."

The love letter is also signed with a B and seems to reference a real note Affleck gave his wife.

Variety reported that in Lopez's upcoming documentary, "The Greatest Love Story Never Told," she shares letters Affleck had written with her songwriters to help inspire songs for her latest album, "This Is Me… Now."

According to Variety, Affleck said he was surprised about that in the documentary.

"I did really find the beauty and the poetry and the irony in the fact that it's the greatest love story never told. If you're making a record about it, that seems kind of like telling it," he said, according to Variety.

The Artist gives away her crown and flowers in the wedding scene. This is a small hint she isn't getting married.

The Artist gives away her crown and flowers in the wedding scene. This is a small hint she isn
Jennifer Lopez in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video

At the end of the movie, the Artist finally learns to love herself. She then attends a wedding.

It first appears that the wedding is for her since she is singing Lopez's new song, "Midnight Trip to Vegas," from the "This Is Me… Now" album. In the song, Lopez recounts how she had an impromptu wedding with Affleck in Vegas in 2022 before their big wedding.

The movie signals, however, that the wedding is not about the Artist. In the scene, she gives away both a flower she is holding and a crown of flowers. This implies that she is passing love onto someone else. She passed her romantic heart onto the cynic Mike (Matthew Law), who was getting married that day.

The final scene is an homage to "Singin' in the Rain."

The final scene is an homage to "Singin
Jennifer Lopez, left, in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story." Gene Kelly, right, in "Singin' in the Rain."      Prime Video; MGM

After the wedding, there is a short scene of the Artist dancing in the rain with a hummingbird. This references the musical movie "Singin' in the Rain," with dancer Gene Kelly.

The first part of the movie hints that the Artist is the rose, but she's actually the hummingbird.

The first part of the movie hints that the Artist is the rose, but she
Jennifer Lopez in "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story."      Prime Video

The red flower and the hummingbird from the Taíno legend appear throughout the film. There are even moments where a hummingbird hovers around the Artist.

For most of the movie, it is implied that the Artist is a rose waiting to be found by her lover. In the first wedding scene, she wears a red rose on her wedding dress. When she visits The Bronx in her dreams, she sees a vase of red flowers kept behind a shop window, which she thinks is a sign of her future romance. Later in the same dream, when the Artist is visited by her younger self, the young self eventually disappears by turning into red flower petals.

By the end of the movie, it becomes clear that the Artist is not the flower, but the hummingbird. In the final scene, she sports a visible hummingbird tattoo at Mike's wedding. In addition, when she meets the mystery man at the end, he is wearing a rose.

"This Is Me... Now: A Love Story," then, isn't a movie about a woman waiting for a man. It is about a woman searching for love and finding it in herself first, before finding The One.


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