CBS Films, Escape Artists
Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Laughlin, Michela Watkins, Eric Christian Olsen, Anthony Anderson, Noureen DeWulf, Melissa McCarthy, Tom Bosley, Linda Lavin, Robert Klein, Ceasar Millan
Wow, this is a movie full of “look how old he/she is now” moments! Except for JLo of course who looks more beautiful than ever. Stand-Up Comedian/HBO special guy Robert Klein plays the doctor. Linda Lavin, Alice, from Alice the TV show is JLo’s “Nana”, and Tom Bosley plays her boyfriend of 22 years. In fact, there’s a scene where he’s watching The Andy Griffith Show on TV, and Ritchie Cunningham, his son from another life, is playing the part of Opie Taylor. Nice touch! 🙂 If the Baby Store clerk looks familiar, it’s Jennifer Elise Cox who played Jan Brady in The Brady Bunch Movie. (Marsha! Marsha! Marsha!). And of course Mikela Watkins of SNL.
This is a romantic comedy, and yes, anther chick-flick. A lot of guys aren’t going to like it, but actually it’s a pretty funny movie. It’s better than some of the stuff JLo’s done before her two year hiatus to have kids! Jennifer plays Zoe, a woman who is scared of the biological clock ticking away and has given up on finding Mr. Right. So she decides to do it herself, and the movie opens with a funny scene where she has a meeting with Dr. Harris (Robert Klein) and a turkey baster! On the way out, she says to him, “You should give me a hug, because we may have just made a baby together” and he pats her on the shoulder and walks away. Out into the rain where she gets into a fight over a cab with Mr. Right himself.
The movie moves along pretty fast, and has lots of fodder for jokes. Three lovely Boston Terriers named Nip, Tuck, and Nubbins share the role of “Nuts” the parapalegic dog with hind wheels, ala Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. (i.e. taking turns playing the part.) There are jokes about being pregnant or finding out you’re pregnant. The milk the bit about trying to tell him she’s pregnant. There’s lots of jokes about their jobs and insecurites. When things get rough for poor Stan (Alex O’Loughlin) Anthony Anderson shows up as “Playground Dad” to talk some sense into him.
There’s a switch as this is Girl meets Boy, Girl loses Boy, and Girl tries to win Boy back. A bit of a reversal. Zoe is a strong woman, but she was hurt really young and learned not to trust anybody. Stan has his own insecurities living off his parents fortune, and has a lot to learn as well. These two shouldn’t be able to put it together, but they do their best.
If you absolutely hate love stories, you might want to stay away, but if you have kids, or have ever thought of a life without kids, this might be fun to watch. It’s got a good many good laughs, and don’t blame me if there’s a tear or two at the ending.
Thoughts of JLo searching through the dumpster for her special pillow is priceless!
Movie Review - The Back-Up Plan (2010) {PG-13},
Sarah said
September 4 2010 @ 5:56 pm
There were a few parts that I did laugh out loud. But I thought it was terrible. Although they are very attractive people, I didn’t get the chemistry between them and they did move along too fast. So much of this movie was unrealistic. Alot of the funny scenes were over board and the idea of a man sticking around to raise twins that are not even his after three dates is definitely a stretch. So, yes I did laugh… but was not a big fan of this movie.
Adhemar said
September 5 2010 @ 1:49 am
I think it started out really bad, not sure if it was the acting, or the way it was filmed but it just really wasn’t good. Didn’t like the flashbacks and the relationship between the two never developed. Three dates into it and you find out shes having twins and you are picking out strollers?!?!
I did just see “The Switch” with the better Jennifer in it which has the same premise (Girl can’t find man, but wants to have kids). “The Switch” was way better IMO. I am always sucked into watching these romantic comedy’s with the wife, and this one was lacking.