The Back-Up Plan

Film: The Back-Up Plan
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O'Loughlin
Genre: Romance
Direction: Alan Poul
Duration: 1 hour 42 minutes
Critic's Rating: 3 stars

Story: Jennifer Lopez needs a change in her life. She gives up her high profile corporate job, opens a pet shop, finds a sperm donor, goes in for artificial insemination and is all ready for single motherhood, until she meets Alex O'Loughlin, the cheese farmer with loads of charisma. Has she got the order wrong by becoming pregnant first and finding the man of her dreams later? Tough dilemma!

Movie Review: Sweet, sentimental and harmless fun, this rom-com gently cruises along the usual path of candle-lit romance, bedroom encounters, lover's brawls, passionate re-unions and some humour too, with a support group of single mothers trying to have fun in no-man's land.

Jennifer Lopez thinks she's got her life all neatly planned out with her pet shop, her disabled pet (an adorable dog), her spunky nana and her decision to be a single mother who buys a sperm off the shelf simply because she believes there are no perfect men left. Little does she know that life ain't exactly a bundle of neat plans. All the order in her life goes for a toss when she meets the hunky cheese farmer who sells goat cheese at a neighbourhood farmer's market and proposes to set up shops that sell local food only. Dream man, yes. But would he be ready to play daddy too? Specially when he isn't too sure that he likes kids and the friendly neighbourhood dad describes fatherhood as mostly an awful experience interspersed with some incredible moments.

It may be nothing to rave about, yet, The Back-Up Plan is good while it lasts, with Jennifer Lopez managing to hold your attention with her attempt at motherhood.