The Back-Up Plan

Director: Alan Poul
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin, Robert Klein, Maribeth Monroe and Anthony Anderson
Releasing in cinemas: 20 May 2010
Rated: M

What we have in The Back-Up Plan is a middling romantic comedy - seriously a chick flick which will only inspire its target audience; or at least it did on the night of my screening. Any male partners may not be so enthused.

Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) - a perky, successful, yet surprisingly single pet store owner - hears the clock ticking and goes nutty for a baby. She approaches male friends to help her make one without any enthusiastic takers. Her direct approach (“I want your sperm”) seems to seriously discourage her few admirers. About this time you may well wonder why such a steamy lady would be short of boyfriends, for Zoe’s smile lights up the screen, and she looks luscious in close-ups albeit with a serious make-over and augmented eyelashes which could double as street cleaners.

Having failed to meet Mr. Right she decides to go it alone the scientific way. So Zoe’s back-up plan is artificial insemination. She goes through the procedure, then one wet day she argues over a taxi with Stan (Alex O’Loughlin), a bumptious but good looking lad. Stan runs a fine cheese stall at the markets and they meet again, leading to a more intimate relationship. Now the suddenly pregnant Zoe has the predicament of explaining that fact of life to Stan; not to mention the artificial insemination bit.

Zoe’s efforts are always hampered when she tries to tell him her secret, that’s she’s pregnant after only their first date. This leads to many romantic difficulties and neatly sets up the situation comedy. Confusion is added in big dollops when it appears Zoe will have twins. Our Stan, being a good fellow (with a notable bare chest), is up for that and supports Zoe in her pregnancy, although there are rough times ahead.

It’s a formula-driven film, from the slick cinematography, direction, plot to even the pop music used whenever possible to highlight the action. I’m trying not to denigrate it, but it has the routine style of many such TV rom/coms - the sort of thing you expect every other night on the box.

Unsurprisingly CBS Films, the picture’s distributor, is that TV network’s new movie production section. Director of his first feature film Alan Poul comes from television, while many of the cast are also from the small screen including our own Alex O’Loughlin. Television veteran writer Kate Angelo provided the ready-made script.

Jennifer Lopez (Monster-in-Law) puts in a pleasant enough performance without straining the thespian chords, while O’Loughlin, after vampiring in Moonlight, manages best with his shirt removed. Oddly the funniest gags are allotted to supporting cast members. Anthony Anderson does good service as the playground father with loads of marital advice; as does Michaela Watkins who plays Zoe’s motor-mouthed best friend, the stoic gynecologist Robert Klein and members of the Single Mothers’ Support Group especially Maribeth Monroe.

Scenes with a dash of slapstick lift interest in the sometimes flagging pace include a romantic garden dinner party ending in a water fight, a boisterous natural birth in a wading pool, and an elderly folks’ wedding.

In one sequence with Stan there ensues a discussion about voluptuous Zoe’s backside, how it was once more sassy than today. It’s a close-to-home comment for Lopez who appears rather heavy in the thigh department, especially in some of the outfits she wears for the film. And what’s with the funny looking dog on wheels at his best in the out-takes during the end credits? Granted there are entertaining moments in The Back-Up Plan, but it never strays much from its prosaic television roots.

John Bale