Quickcard Review
The Back-Up Plan
Directed by: Alan Poul Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O'Loughlin, Michaela Watkins, Eric Christian Olsen, Anthony Anderson, Robert Klein Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins Rating: PG-13 Release Date: April 23, 2010
PLOT: A woman (Lopez) decides to stop waiting for the right man, and be artificially inseminated. That very same day, she meets a guy (Alex O'Loughlin) who could turn out to be the man of her dreams.
WHO'S IT FOR? It you are dying to see Lopez on the big-screen again my first suggestion would be to quell that feeling, and perhaps rent one of her better films (like Out of Sight). Otherwise, I think the demographic they are going for is "die-hard Jennifer Lopez fan who is also a mom and doesn't want anything really funny, just mild, slight amusement."
OVERALL
I was going to write a full scorecard review for this film. Then I figured ... I'd just employ my back-up plan. After all, I don't think many of our faithful readers are really curious about this film. And you know what? Your instincts on this one are right ... it's not good. Actually, it's bad. Bad movie. Bad, bad movie. Yes, I was just shaking my finger in this movie's direction if you were curious about my tone. I just don't get why this movie exists. Director Alan Poul has done some great TV work in the past with "Six Feet Under" and "Rome." You know what those shows have in common with this film? None of them are comedies. The attempts at humor in this film are so watered down that you only realize after the fact that there was an attempt at a joke.
Zoe (Lopez) runs a pet shop and cares for a dog named Nuts. Yes, that's the little guy in the make-shift wheelchair. She meets Stan (O'Loughlin) and they don't get along. Then they have two dates kind of, and then after Zoe turns out to be pregnant they decide to make a go of it. Please keep in mind, there's no spark between these two characters. O'Loughlin doesn't know how to deliver a joke and it appears Lopez is too close to her recent pregnancy with twins to judge funny. Also, why make Zoe pregnant with twins? After all, doesn't that remove us from the movie (at least for a moment) making the connection that real-life Lopez had twins?
The film does attempt to portray some parts of pregnancy accurately, like in an appointment there's a little blood during a procedure but everything else is bland pregnancy humor that's been done to death. Yes, we get it, women can have food cravings. Apparently they can have them one week into the pregnancy as well.
Also, any movie that has the dialogue "There's something I need to tell you ..." better have that person immediately get hit by a car, or actually tell the person. I'm sick of that device. Four comedic actors all have a shot at helping this film, but Robert Klein as the doctor is the only one who uses the most of it. Otherwise Eric Christian Olsen, Anthony Anderson and Michaela Watkins will all have better, funnier films in their future.
I didn't even mention how terrible the opening credits are in this film. Well, until I just mentioned it of course. I think the animated opening credits could be called "Men, don't even bother." OK, I think that's everything. If you're thinking about The Back-up Plan use the movie's title as advice.
FINAL SCORE: 2/10