The Back-up Plan

Formulaic rom-com is certainly not the worst one out there.

Director: Alan Poul 

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O'Loughlin, Michaela Watkins

***

Isn't it just typical; the moment you decide that enough is enough, you're going to stop waiting around for the ideal partner to appear and instead make a solo foray into motherhood, you bump into that much sought-after man - while leaving the doctor's surgery. Oh, the irony of it all.

Such is the calamity facing Zoe (Jennifer Lopez), who finds herself desperately trying to hide her burgeoning baby bump from the rather delectable Stan (Alex O'Loughlin), as they embark on what looks like it has the potential to be the perfect romance. Perfect, that is, until he discovers the real reason behind her sporadic bouts of sickness and bizarre food cravings. Will Stan be able to come to terms with the fact that Zoe is pregnant with twins? Will she relent and drop her untrusting demeaner? Will his homemade cheese company ever win any awards? Do we really care? Well, the answer to the latter question is yes, a little bit, certainly more than we first thought, and perhaps more than we'd like to admit.

As the film meanders along pleasantly, we can just about overlook the fact that the characters fall in love inexplicably quickly, because they are genuinely quite likeable, and although this isn't a riotously funny movie, it does provoke a few smiles. While the ending is predictable, the film manages to reach its conclusion without resorting to inane drivel. It's sweet, absolutely, but not tooth-achingly so. Lets just say this is far from the worst romantic comedy around at the moment.