The Back-up Plan
The Back-up Plan (previously known as Plan B) is a 2010 romantic comedy film, starring Jennifer Lopez and Alex O'Loughlin.[4] It was released in theaters in the US on April 23, 2010, and later in other regions.[5]
Plot
Zoe (Lopez) has given up on finding the man of her dreams and decided to become a single mother, being the eponymous backup plan. She undergoes artificial insemination. The same day she meets Stan (O'Loughlin) when they step into a taxi, both claiming to be first. They argue before she gets out because he's ruining her good mood and he gets out when she says that. Thus both lose the cab. Stan follows Zoe and picks up the penny she turned over for good luck. She joins a mutual aid group of single pregnant women. Later Zoe is at the Farmer's Market and runs into Stan and learns that he makes cheese. Stan is surprised to see her and they introduce themselves. When his classmate gives the impression that they are going out, Zoe walks away. They meet again in Zoe's store where there is a speech about dogs, and they have to take their conversation outside. Stan convinces Zoe to go on a no-obligations date. Zoe is still uncertain whether she is pregnant or not and if she should tell Stan. The night she takes the test, Stan takes her for a romantic dinner in a garden. Things didn't turn out as well as planned when he spills the wine and a fire occurs. At the end of the night Stan asks her to come to his farm during the weekend and Zoe finds out that she is pregnant. She goes to the farm determined to tell him that she is pregnant. Stan is confused and angry that she didn't tell him before and Zoe leaves the next morning believing that things are over between them. Stan comes around still wanting to be with her. They go to the doctors and find out that Zoe is actually carrying twins. Overwhelmed, Stan goes to a children's playing area to figure out what it means to be father, but is suspected to be a pervert; this is soon cleared up. He finds a friend there that he can talk to about the pregnancy throughout the movie, while Zoe goes to her group wondering what to do. Stan takes the next step to becoming a father and orders a stroller for the twins. After many misunderstandings and comedic revelations, Zoe and Stan are walking into the Market when they run into Stan's classmate. Due to Stan's remark that the twins are not his, Zoe believes that he is not ready to become a father to them, and breaks off the relationship. Later, before her grandmother's wedding, a stroller that Stan ordered arrives and Zoe figures out that Stan was never going to leave. At the wedding her water breaks and on the way to the hospital they make a pit stop at the Market. Zoe apologizes to Stan and they begin to work things out. He pulls out the penny that she turned over when they first met and Zoe promises to trust him more. In the end Stan opens a store/restaurant next to Zoe's pet shop and after the Grand Opening speech Stan asks Zoe to marry him and she says yes. On their way home, she spontaneously throws up into a rubbish bin. The camera switches between Stan's and Zoe's faces and the viewer can see their shocked looks as they think of reasons why she would be throwing up for no apparent reason, leading the viewer to believe that Zoe is pregnant again.Cast
- Jennifer Lopez as Zoe
- Alex O'Loughlin as Stan
- Danneel Harris as Olivia
- Michaela Watkins as Mona
- Eric Christian Olsen as Clive
- Anthony Anderson as Dad
- Noureen DeWulf as Daphne
- Melissa McCarthy as Carol
- Jennifer Elise Cox as Babyland Salesgirl
- Tom Bosley as Arthur
- Linda Lavin as Nana
Soundtrack and score
The soundtrack and the score were released on March 26, 2010 on iTunes.[6][7] They are available on Amazon.com since April 13, 2010. The soundtrack has various artists, while the score was composed entirely by Stephen Trask.[8]Soundtrack
- "What Is Love?" – Jennifer Lopez (also featured on Love?)
- "Say Hey (I Love You)" – Michael Franti & Speerhead
- "Fallin' For You" – Colbie Caillat
- "Disco Lies" – Moby
- "A Beautiful Day" – Indie.Arie
- "Key To My Heart" – Jessica Jarrell
- "Crabbuckit" – K-os
- "Bottles"-VV Brown
- "You Me & The Bourgeoisie"- the submarines
- "Let's Finish (Sinden Remix)" – Kudu
- "Day Dream" -Title Theme From The Back-up Plan" – Stephen Trask
- "She Drives Me Crazy" – Raney Shockne f/Barbara Perry
- "What A Wonderful World" – Raney Shockne f/Barbara Perry
Score
Reception
The film was met with generally negative reviews. Rotten Tomatoes reported that 21% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 126 reviews with an average score of 3.6/10.[9] Its consensus states "Jennifer Lopez is as appealing as ever, but The Back-up Plan smothers its star with unrelatable characters and a predictable plot."[9] Another review aggretator, Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average from 0-100 on top reviews of mainstream critics, gave the film an average score of 34% based on 32 reviews.[10]Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review saying, "A winning performance by Jennifer Lopez overcomes a formulaic and predictable rom-com that involves a planned pregnancy."[11]The New York Times film critic Manohla Dargis wrote that the film is "not very good" and "bland".[12] Amy Biancolli of the San Francisco Chronicle praised the cast in her review writing "Lopez does a fine job mortifying herself in pursuit of physical humor, shifting her center of gravity in more ways than one. O'Loughlin, in the blander role, acts hurt or shocked or besotted where required, but the supporting players nearly steal the show."[13] Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert gave the film 1/4 stars, claiming the film "plays like an unendurable TV commercial about beautiful people with great lifestyles and not a thought in their empty little heads."[14]
Jennifer Lopez received 2 nominations for Best Romantic Comedy Actress and Best Romentic Comedy for The Back-Up Plan on Teen Choice Awards.
Box office
The Back-up Plan earned $4,257,676 in 3,280 theaters on its Friday début, but managed to make #1 at the box office.[15][16] It dropped to #2 at the weekend box office with a gross of $12,201,710, averaging $3,720 per theater.[17] In its 2nd week it dropped to #4 with $7,255,762, averaging $2,212 per theater.[18] In its 3rd week the film dropped to #5 grossing $5,033,471, averaging $1,676 per theater.[19] The following week it dropped to #6 grossing $2,387,480, averaging $956 per theater.As of July 14 it had grossed $77,237,270 world-wide, and is CBS Films' highest-grossing film to date.[20][21]
The Back-Up Plan reached #1 on Top Ten Hot Movies On Demand
DVD sales
"The Back-up Plan" was released on August 24, 2010 on both Blu-Ray and DVD and sold 277,183 ( $4.7 million) copies in its first week of release debuting at # 2 on the charts behind the sixth season of Lost.[citation needed]"The Back-Up Plan" was also ranked as the #1 DVD rental at Blockbuster for the week ending August 29, 2010.[22]
"The Back-up Plan" was also reached #1 on Top Movie Sales on iTunes.[citation needed]
