“THE PREGNANT CLAUSE”
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin, Noureen DeWulf, Michaela Watkins, and Melissa McCarthy
Directed by: Alan Poul
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content including references, some crude material and language.
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release date: April 23, 2010
By John Delia
Not everyone will like Back-up Plan, especially those who are tired of romantic comedies that fit a common formula. You know, boy meets girl, they form a relationship, then boy looses girl, etc. Although the method works well in Back-up Plan, the storyline tends to sway too far toward chick-flick leaving most of us men with a ho hum feeling. If however, you just have to see another Jennifer Lopez film (Maid In Manhattan, The Wedding Planner, Gigli, Monster In-Law) that involves love relationships then this is actually a good one.
The storyline is quite simple although not ordinary. Zoe’s (Lopez) timeclock is running out on bearing a child and decides to become a single mother. She gets medically inseminated and feels on top of the world. She even joins a single mother’s club and finds solace in her decision. But things start to get confusing when she starts falling for Stan (O’Loughlin) a guy she met on her insemination day. Not wanting to jump into the relationship without knowing if it is true love, she doesn’t tell Stan about her condition. When she realizes it’s time to confess, things start to get complicated.
The film fits the mold of a true chick flick with all the trappings of love at first sight and magical courting. Yes guys, the kind of film that will have your date cuddling close and murmuring sweet nothings in your ear. Well hopefully the murmurs are not about having a baby, especially if it’s your first date.
Lopez and O’Loughlin make a good couple and therein lay the winning side of the film. I like the way the two accidentally meet, proceed to get together and finally have to come to terms with their situation. First time Director Poul does a great job of moving his story along aside from a few repetitive situations and a predictable ending. But, his single mother baby birthing in a kiddie pool is a gem. The expressions on Zoe and Stan’s faces tell it all. Oh but if you saw the trailer during the Super Bowl you already know.
Back-up Plan is rated PG-13 for sexual content including references, some crude material and language. It’s more of an adult film because bringing your children along would only complicate matters while you are watching the film. Leave the sex education to the teachers at school.
FINAL ANALYSIS:Â Men, do not see this alone, trust me on this. (3.5Â of 5 Palm Trees)