LOPEZ STANDS BY HUBBY MARC ANTHONY--BUT DON'T CALL THE COUPLE ANTLOPE!

EL CANTANTE: Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, John Ortiz, Ralph Mercado, Deirdre Lorenz, Tony Devon, Federico Castelluccio) (Directed by Leon Ichaso; Written by Leon Ichaso and David Darmsteder; Nuyorican Productions) Hector Lavoe, who was born in Puerto Rico and became an enormously popular singer after moving to New York City at the age of 17, was sometimes called the Bad Boy of Salsa. And for good reason. The Latin icon had a tough time dealing with success and was soon seeking relief in booze and hard drugs, a habit that caused him to arrive late--or not at all--for sold-out performances. But his fans always forgave him, because they identified so strongly with the music and the spirit of the man they called “La Voz” (“The Voice”). Neither the adoration of his fans nor the loving support of his wife Puchi, however, was enough to pull him through tragic times--his mother-in-law was murdered, his son was shot to death, his house burned down, and he himself toyed with suicide. Physically and emotionally drained, the 46-year-old Lavoe died in 1993, a victim of cardiac arrest and, possibly, AIDS-related complications. Pop performer Marc Anthony plays Lavoe, and his real-life wife, Jennifer Lopez, plays his beloved Puchi. But don’t call them Antlope. To read about more upcoming J. Lo movies, click here and browse the L page of STAR TURNS; for more new biopics, click here.