Pregnant Problem
J-Lo is charming as always, but it's a shame that she has to work with such formulaic material.

By ARIS ZARIL

It's been a while since we heard of Jennifer Lopez, so it's nice to see her on the big screen again. A funny coincidence is that her new romantic comedy is inspired by the very reason she was on hiatus. But the problem with rom-com flicks is that they are almost always cliché and rarely deviate from the stale tried-and-tested formula.

The Back-Up Plan revolves around Zoe (Jennifer Lopez), a wannabe mother who is tired of waiting for 'Mr. Right' and decides to get herself pregnant through insemination. Just happens that she meets Stan (Alex O'Loughlin) on the same day on her way back when they both get into the same cab, arguing over who got in first. As how this genre usually goes, hate turns to love and the two go out one date after another and romance starts to blossom. That is, until Zoe finds out she's positively pregnant and things get a little complicated as she tries to hide it from Stan (and of course he finds out eventually). Stan isn't ready for fatherhood, let alone TWINS! Typical of this genre, what happens next is rather easy to guess.

J-Lo might not be the best actress around but rom-coms are her forte and she indeed shines in her role, which in many ways reflects herself. O'Loughlin isn't too bad either. Once you get over his well-toned body, it's clear he fits comfortably into his character's shoes. The two make a convincing couple, but it's a pity they have to work with such limited material. There are plenty of laughs, especially a real gem of a scene where Zoe desperately craves the taste of some stew and grabs some bread to gorge into the meal... with her hands... greedily and messily. Some parts on the other hand, are not funny at all, especially most parts played by a 'single mothers support group' that Zoe joins.

The Back-Up Plan isn't a bad movie. Despite following a rather cliché storyline, it still has enough small twists to surprise you. The fact that it revolves around a very real topic is quite a plus. The movie is a step above the dreadful The Bounty Hunter, but pales a little to She's Out of My League. Still, it should still prove a nice watch on a date, especially if your partner is a Jennifer Lopez fan
(and/or likes guys with nice abs).

3 Stars