Piacere, sono un po' incinta

The most difficult thing about story telling is the ending, especially so in a movie script. Now I am not going to reveal anything about the ending of this film except to say the last sixty seconds or so is very cleverly worked, and I am not speaking of the crazy credit outtakes.

So what about the beginning and middle? The plot setting and cast introduction is well worked with the main leads giving energetic and enjoyable performances throughout. I am not going to agree with those who may feel the single mum group is a mistake since the film is a comedy, and there is plenty of comedy within the group even if it may offend some. But I do feel as if the idea of the group was a filler which may have gotten out of control - no real back-up plan perhaps.

The film overall is entertaining and although the idea of "insemination" is not as fully explored as it could have been because of where and how the film begins, I feel it does what it says on the tin and ends very well indeed.

So I liked it, and whilst it is not a must see movie it is certainly worth watching. Six out of ten and a star for Ms Lopez for doing such wonderful things with some stew and half a loaf of bread.

"The Back-up Plan" is your usual romantic comedy. I tend to like most romantic comedies so it worked for me.

I think it was a good choice for Jennifer Lopez. With such a beautiful feminine figure, I would prefer to see her as the romantic lead as opposed to most other Hollywood actresses found in these types of roles today. Alex O'Loughlin is a relative new-comer; I found him very handsome and charming.

Although this film offers almost nothing new, at least they tried to give the characters careers that you don't see in every other movie, especially for O'Loughlin's character. I appreciated that. They also added a group of single mothers, the stellar actresses went above and beyond and gave me something to remember the film by.

The jokes for the most part are tried-and-true. You may not laugh all that much, but if you like the romance in romantic comedies, then you will probably like "The Back-up Plan".

I really wanted to like it. I talked to Alex O'Loughlin about the movie over a year ago, I think. And, this was Jennifer Lopez' big return to film, after a 5 year absence. Both of their characters in The Back-Up Plan are very likable. She is a successful businesswoman who has decided she's done waiting for Mr. Right and a family. She goes ahead and gets inseminated. That day, she bumps into Stan, a gorgeous funny guy who has his own farm (note the cheese, above) and dreams of owning a sustainable food shop. He pursues her, she resists. All sorts of clumsy, weird things happen along the way. Honestly, these characters and their relationship is really interesting. It's all the other junk the filmmakers put into play that I found distracting and distasteful and unbelievable. For instance, Zoe has an upscale pet store with a couple of interesting employees who have realistic questions about her and for her, but we barely see them. Instead, we're subjected to a strange single mother's group that is stereotypical and offensive. It's like the writer and director are trying to straddle a line between a sweet rom-com, like Sweet Home Alabama, and something more crude, like Knocked Up. There were so many likable and believable story threads that were just dropped, in favor of the gross out scene or something silly that just didn't make sense for the characters. I didn't hate it, because I liked the leads, I was just really disappointed and not satisfied. I give The Back-Up Plan a 6 out of 10.

Zoe's a woman who has a hard time letting anyone into her life. She has a habit of pushing people away when they get close. She also wants to have a baby but because she has no man in her life decides to be artificially inseminated. Shortly after having the procedure she meets a guy named Stan whom she connects with. But she's still afraid to let him in and when she tells him about her pregnancy thinking he would bail but he sticks with her.

Most of this was pleasant, just nothing new, and recycled formula. Lopez is a charmer, but let's face it, she can do this sort of stuff in her sleep. I don't remember laughing out loud. The chemistry between O'Loughlin and Lopez is professional and solid, If nothing memorable.

Bottom line. Watchable, but just barely above the Mendoza line. Really mediocre stuff, and nothing I haven't seen before. Take it or leave it, your not really missing anything.

4 ½ 10

The film begins with an overly long animated intro that makes no sense, then, all of a sudden, the "action" starts, as if they were playing the scenes for a while but somebody forgot to press the record button from the beginning. I had this feeling, throughout the first half hour or so that scenes are missing. After that, I just fast forwarded to see if it picks up and becomes more interesting but it didn't.

JLo's character is self involved and immature. Her friends are caricatures. The whole film gives the impression, at times, that it's a parody but for it to work as such the lead actress needs to be much better. It's not enough to be good looking and have a good body. Comedy actors need to be good actors first.

The leading man is supposed to be completely in love, fascinated by this woman. The actor himself can't sell this idea. I don't understand how they cast such a bad pair. Everything feels really forced and unrealistic.

On top of all that there are a lot of gross scenes. Maybe they wanted to go for physical comedy but it doesn't work. This combination of rom-com and physical comedy makes both genres fail in this film, badly.

Skip it, if you can.