J-Lo gets double set-back

Don't be fooled by the rocks that she's got, J-Lo's film career seems to be stuttering.

10:25 05 July 2004

Don't be fooled by the rocks that she's got, J-Lo's film career seems to be stuttering.

Her latest offering "Shall we Dance" has had its release delayed after bad reviews from test screenings. The film was pencilled in for a summer release, but after being rated "abysmal" by test audiences it will not hit cinemas until at least October.

A source told the Daily Mirror: "Audiences thought there was zero chemistry between J-Lo and [co-star Richard] Gere.

"The first cut tested very badly, so execs re-cut the film and showed it again. It got an even worse reception."

J-Lo was also set to produce the soundtrack for the film with new husband Marc Anthony, but producers pulled the deal amidst fears their new marriage would overshadow the film.

An insider told pagesix.com: "Her engagement to Ben Affleck didn't help 'Gigli' [which bombed] or 'Jersey Girl' [where she was cut from the trailer], and her marriage to Marc Anthony isn't going to help 'Shall We Dance'.

"Miramax doesn't want the publicity focusing on the two of them. They've been through that before. They want to keep the focus on the movie. J-Lo insisted on doing the recording with him [Anthony] in Miami. It cost Miramax more than $100,000."

The film tells the story of an accountant who falls in love at first sight with a beautiful ballroom dancing instructor. It is a re-make of the 1937 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers classic.