McConaughey plays the dashing paediatrician

But there are few signs of that nascent talent in her latest vehicle, a romantic comedy that casts her as a nuptials organiser who falls for the groom of her latest client.

Lopez stars as Mary Fiore, a single girl who knows how to plan the perfect wedding - and can tell almost to the day how long the marriage will last.

If only she could bring the same dexterity to her own love life, which is so dull even her father (Alex Rocco) tries to fix her up.

An unlikely street accident finds Mary swept off her feet - literally - by a dashing paediatrician (Matthew McConaughey). But he is already engaged to another woman - who has asked Mary to organise her big day.

Screenplay autopilot

Movies like The Wedding Planner operate on screenplay autopilot - a sprinkling of sentiment, some farcical misunderstandings and a climactic clinch to send the audience home happy.

With Julia Roberts in the lead role, one could tolerate the inevitable cliches and banalities.

But while La Lopez always looks like the million dollars she probably got paid just for turning up, she lacks the charm that could transform this pig's ear into a silk purse.

Cynically trading on the public's affection for pictures with wedding in the title (The Wedding Singer, My Best Friend's Wedding), Adam Shankman's directorial debut will no doubt appeal to Lopez's legion of teenybopper fans.

Like most weddings, though, it goes on too long, costs a bundle and is full of people you do not really like.

The Wedding Planner is in UK cinemas from 6 April.