The Back-up Plan

Last updated

The Back-up Plan
Newbupp.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Alan Poul
Screenplay byKate Angelo
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyXavier Pérez Grobet
Edited by Priscilla Nedd-Friendly
Music by Stephen Trask
Production
company
Distributed by CBS Films (United States)
Sony Pictures Releasing International (International) [1] [2]
Release date
  • April 23, 2010 (2010-04-23)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$35 million [3]
Box office$77.5 million [4]

The Back-up Plan (previously known as Plan B) is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Alan Poul, starring Jennifer Lopez and Alex O'Loughlin. [5] The film follows a woman who aims to be a single mother through planned pregnancy, but soon falls in love with a man who wants to father her unborn children. It was released theatrically in the United States on April 23, 2010, by CBS Films. [6] The Back-up Plan garnered negative reviews from critics, who praised Lopez's performance but criticized the generic script. It was a box-office success, grossing $77.5 million against a production budget of $35 million.

Contents

Plot

Zoe gives up on finding the man of her dreams, decides to become a single mother and undergoes artificial insemination. The same day, she meets Stan when they both try to hail the same taxi. They run into each other twice more at a farmers market and a book signing. 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 don'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. They sleep together and afterwards 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. However, Stan decides he still wants to be with her and they reconcile. They go to the doctor 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 a 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 gets little support from her Single Mothers and Proud group when the group members discover she is no longer single. Stan takes the next step to becoming a father and orders an upgrade to the stroller for the twins. After many misunderstandings and comedic revelations, Zoe and Stan are walking into the Market when they run into Stan's ex-girlfriend. 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, the stroller that Stan ordered arrives and Zoe figures out that Stan was never planning to leave. At her grandmother's wedding, Zoe's 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. Zoe gives birth to twin girls, one of whom they name Penny. 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 trash can and realizes that she may be yet again pregnant.

Cast

Production

The film, originally titled Plan B, was written by Kate Angelo and produced by Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch. [7] Lopez's casting was announced in December 2008 by multiple sources. [8] [9] Digital Spy announced in February 2009 that Alan Poul was in "final talks" to direct Plan B, which would be his first feature film. [10] On April 8, 2009, The Arizona Republic reported that O'Loughlin was "in negotiations to nab the romantic male lead". [11] The Back-up Plan was Lopez's first film in three years, and she confessed to feeling "really nervous". [12] Filming began on May 11, 2009, in Los Angeles. [11] The film's production budget was $35 million. [13]

Music

The soundtrack and the score were released on March 26, 2010, on iTunes. [14] [15] They were made available on Amazon.com on April 13, 2010. The soundtrack has various artists, while the score was composed entirely by Stephen Trask. [16]

Soundtrack

The Back-up Plan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [17]
No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."What Is Love?" Jennifer Lopez 4:27
2."Say Hey (I Love You)" Michael Franti & Spearhead 3:39
3."Fallin' For You" Colbie Caillat 3:36
4."Disco Lies" Moby 3:32
5."A Beautiful Day" India.Arie 3:51
6."Key to My Heart"Jessica Jarrell3:54
7."Crabbuckit" K-os 3:40
8."Bottles" V V Brown 3:02
9."You Me & the Bourgeoisie" The Submarines 3:22
10."Let's Finish" (Sinden Remix) Kudu 4:48
11."Daydream" (Titles Theme from The Back-up Plan) Stephen Trask 2:25
12."She Drives Me Crazy" (bonus track)Raney Shockne featuring Barbara Perry3:14
13."What a Wonderful World" (bonus track)Raney Shockne featuring Barbara Perry2:36

Score

The film's score was composed by Stephen Trask.

Release

Box office

The Back-up Plan earned $4,257,676 in 3,280 theaters on its Friday debut, reaching number one at the box office. [18] [19] It dropped to number two at the weekend box office with a gross of $12,201,710, averaging $3,720 per theater. [20] In its 2nd week it dropped to number four with $7,255,762, averaging $2,212 per theater. [21] In its third week the film dropped to number five grossing $5,033,471, averaging $1,676 per theater. [22] The following week it dropped to number six grossing $2,387,480, averaging $956 per theater. As of July 14, it had grossed $77,237,270 worldwide, and is CBS Films' highest-grossing film to date. [23] [24]

Critical response

The Back-Up Plan received a negative reception from critics, with most critics panning the script, but reacting positively to Lopez's performance. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 17% of 150 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.7/10.The website's consensus reads: "Jennifer Lopez is as appealing as ever, but The Back-up Plan smothers its star with unrelatable characters and a predictable plot." [25] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 34 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews. [26]

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." [27] The New York Times film critic Manohla Dargis wrote that the film is "not very good" and "bland". [28] 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." [29] 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." [30]

The Back-up Plan received two nominations for Best Romantic Comedy Actress (for Lopez) and Best Romantic Comedy at the 2010 Teen Choice Awards. [31]

Home media

The Back-up Plan was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 24, 2010, and sold 277,183 ($4.7 million) copies in its first week of release debuting at number two on the charts behind the sixth season of Lost .[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Lopez</span> American actress and singer (born 1969)

Jennifer Lynn Affleck, also known by her nickname J.Lo, is an American actress, singer, dancer and businesswoman. Lopez is regarded as one of the most influential Latin entertainers of her time, credited with breaking barriers for Latino Americans in Hollywood and helping propel the Latin pop movement in music. She is also noted for her impact on popular culture through fashion, branding, and shifting mainstream beauty standards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandra Bullock</span> American actress and film producer (born 1964)

Sandra Annette Bullock is an American actress and film producer. She has received several accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. She was the world's highest-paid actress in 2010 and 2014, and was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2010.

<i>The Wedding Planner</i> 2001 film by Adam Shankman

The Wedding Planner is a 2001 American romantic comedy film directed by Adam Shankman, in his feature film directorial debut, written by Pamela Falk and Michael Ellis, and starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Aniston</span> American actress (born 1969)

Jennifer Joanna Aniston is an American actress. She rose to international fame for her role as Rachel Green on the television sitcom Friends from 1994 to 2004, which earned her Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards. Aniston has consistently ranked among the world's highest-paid actresses, as of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron Diaz</span> American actress (born 1972)

Cameron Michelle Diaz is an American actress. Known for her work in both comedy and drama, her films have grossed over $3 billion in the U.S. box-office. Diaz established herself as a sex symbol and one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, and in 2013 she was named the highest-paid actress over 40. She has received various accolades, including nominations for a BAFTA Award and four Golden Globe Awards.

<i>Enough</i> (film) 2002 thriller film by Michael Apted

Enough is a 2002 American thriller film directed by Michael Apted and written by Nicholas Kazan. Based on the 1998 New York Times bestseller novel Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen, it stars Jennifer Lopez as Slim, an abused wife who learns to fight back. Released theatrically in the United States by Columbia Pictures on May 24, 2002, it received largely negative reviews from critics and was a commercial disappointment, grossing $51.8 million against a $38 million budget. Since its release, however, Enough has been subject to critical re-evaluation, especially towards Lopez's performance, with some noting it as an underrated thriller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Faris</span> American actress and podcaster (born 1976)

Anna Kay Faris is an American actress. Known for playing comedic roles, she rose to prominence with the lead part of Cindy Campbell in the Scary Movie film series (2000–2006). Her film credits include The Hot Chick (2002), Lost in Translation (2003), Brokeback Mountain (2005), Just Friends (2005), My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006), Smiley Face (2007), The House Bunny (2008), What's Your Number? (2011), The Dictator (2012), and Overboard (2018).

<i>Gigli</i> 2003 film by Martin Brest

Gigli is a 2003 American romantic crime comedy film written, co-produced and directed by Martin Brest and starring Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bartha, Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, and Lainie Kazan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Seyfried</span> American actress (born 1985)

Amanda Michelle Seyfried is an American actress, singer and songwriter. She began acting at 15, with recurring roles as Lucy Montgomery in the CBS soap opera As the World Turns (1999–2001) and Joni Stafford in the ABC soap opera All My Children (2003). She came to prominence for her feature film debut in the teen comedy Mean Girls (2004), and for her roles as Lilly Kane in the UPN mystery drama series Veronica Mars (2004–2006) and Sarah Henrickson in the HBO drama series Big Love (2006–2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoe Saldaña</span> American actress (born 1978)

Zoë Yadira Saldaña-Perego is an American actress. Known primarily for her work in science fiction film franchises, she has starred in four of the highest-grossing films of all time. Films she has appeared in have grossed more than $15 billion worldwide and, as of 2024, she is the second highest-grossing lead actress and the highest-grossing actress overall. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.

<i>Date Movie</i> 2006 American romantic parody film

Date Movie is a 2006 American romantic comedy parody film written by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, directed by Seltzer, and produced by Paul Schiff and Friedberg. It was released on February 17, 2006 by 20th Century Fox and stars Alyson Hannigan, Adam Campbell, Sophie Monk, Tony Cox, Jennifer Coolidge, Eddie Griffin, and Fred Willard. It is a parody of the romantic comedy film genre, and mostly references My Big Fat Greek Wedding,Meet the Fockers, Hitch, Legally Blonde, and Bridget Jones's Diary. Though reviews for it were more positive than Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer's later films, Date Movie was panned by critics but was a box office success, grossing almost $85 million on a $20 million budget.

<i>Dirty Love</i> (film) 2005 film by John Mallory Asher

Dirty Love is a 2005 American romantic comedy film written by Jenny McCarthy and directed by John Mallory Asher. The film stars McCarthy alongside Eddie Kaye Thomas, Carmen Electra, Victor Webster and Kam Heskin.

<i>El Cantante</i> 2007 biographical film directed by Leon Ichaso

El Cantante is a 2006 biographical film which stars singers Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez. The film is based on the life of the late salsa singer Héctor Lavoe, who is portrayed by Anthony. The film is told from the viewpoint of Puchi, Hector's wife, portrayed by Lopez. Initially debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2006, El Cantante was released on August 3, 2007.

<i>17 Again</i> (film) 2009 American film by Burr Steers

17 Again is a 2009 American teen fantasy comedy film directed by Burr Steers. It stars Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, and Michelle Trachtenberg, with Melora Hardin, Sterling Knight, and Matthew Perry in supporting roles. The film follows Mike O’Donnell (Perry), a 37-year-old man who becomes his 17-year-old self (Efron) after a chance accident.

<i>I Hate Valentines Day</i> 2009 American film

I Hate Valentine's Day is a 2009 romantic comedy film written and directed by Nia Vardalos. The film stars Vardalos and John Corbett, previously seen together in Vardalos' hit 2002 film My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The film was released on July 3, 2009, by IFC Films.

<i>Going the Distance</i> (2010 film) 2010 American film

Going the Distance is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Nanette Burstein, written by Geoff LaTulippe, and starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. It follows a young couple who fall in love one summer in New York City and try to keep their long-distance relationship alive when the woman heads home to San Francisco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Lopez filmography</span> Filmography

Jennifer Lopez has starred in over thirty-five feature films in a career that spans four decades as an actor and a producer. Lopez rose to become the highest paid actor of Latin descent in Hollywood, and one of the highest paid actors in all of Hollywood during the late-nineties and into the current millennium, making in the region of US$20 million per film role. She is also the richest actress in Hollywood, with an estimated net worth of $400 million.

<i>Parker</i> (2013 film) 2013 film by Taylor Hackford

Parker is a 2013 American action thriller film directed by Taylor Hackford and written by John J. McLaughlin. Starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez, the film is adapted from Flashfire, the 19th Parker novel written by Donald Westlake under the pen name Richard Stark. Primarily set in Palm Beach, Florida, Parker marked a departure for Hackford, who hoped to make it his first film noir. The film, produced on a $35 million budget, was conceived following Westlake's 2008 death, when producer Les Alexander secured the rights to it.

<i>Second Act</i> (film) 2018 American romantic comedy film

Second Act is a 2018 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Segal and written by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Justin Zackham. It stars Jennifer Lopez, Leah Remini, Vanessa Hudgens, Treat Williams and Milo Ventimiglia, and follows a woman in her forties who successfully pursues a second chance at a corporate career, after a friend's son creates a fake résumé and credentials for her. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise of Lopez's performance but criticism of the story and the script, and grossed over US$72 million worldwide.

<i>Marry Me</i> (2022 film) American film by Kat Coiro

Marry Me is a 2022 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Kat Coiro, with a screenplay by John Rogers, Tami Sagher, and Harper Dill. Based on the 2012 graphic novel of the same title by Bobby Crosby, it stars Jennifer Lopez as Kat Valdez, a superstar, who decides to marry Charlie Gilbert, a math teacher holding a "Marry Me" sign, after learning that her on-stage bridegroom, Bastian (Maluma), has been having an affair.

References

  1. ↑ Hazelton, John (April 7, 2010). "The Back-up Plan". Screen International . Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  2. ↑ Bart, Peter; Fleming, Michael (November 17, 2009). "CBS Films hooks up with Sony". Variety . Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  3. ↑ Horn, John (April 22, 2010). "Movie Projector: 'Dragon' will breathe fire again" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  4. ↑ "The Back-up Plan".
  5. ↑ Siegel, Tatiana, and Michael Fleming. "Jennifer Lopez going with 'Plan B': CBS Films seeking director for project", Variety , December 15, 2008
  6. ↑ Official website. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  7. ↑ Siegel, Tatiana; Fleming, Michael (December 15, 2008). "Jennifer Lopez going with 'Plan B'". Variety . Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  8. ↑ Zeitchik, Steven (December 15, 2008). "Jennifer Lopez pencils in 'Plan B'". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  9. ↑ Grossberg, Josh (December 16, 2008). "Jennifer Lopez Opts for Plan B". E! News . Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  10. ↑ Reynolds, Simon (February 4, 2009). "Poul circles Jennifer Lopez's 'Blan B'". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  11. 1 2 Kit, Borys (April 8, 2009). "Alex O'Loughlin eyes 'Back-Up Plan'". The Arizona Republic . Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  12. ↑ Lara, Martin (June 5, 2009). "Lopez 'worried about forgetting how to act'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  13. ↑ Horn, John (April 22, 2010). "Word of Mouth: Jennifer Lopez makes an acting comeback in 'The Back-Up Plan'" . Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 14, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  14. ↑ "The Back-up Plan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists". iTunes Store . Belgium. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  15. ↑ "The Back-up Plan (Original Motion Picture Score) by Stephen Trask". iTunes Store. Belgium. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  16. ↑ "The Back-up Plan: The Back-up Plan: Music". Amazon . Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  17. ↑ "The Back-up Plan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. April 13, 2010.
  18. ↑ "The Back-Up Plan". Box Office Mojo.
  19. ↑ "Friday Report: 'Back-Up Plan' Tops the Day, 'Dragon' to Top the Weekend". Box Office Mojo. April 24, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  20. ↑ "The Back-Up Plan (2010)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Weekend Report: 'Nightmare' Wakes Up in Top Spot". Box Office Mojo. May 3, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Weekend Box Office Results for September 3–5, 2010". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Box Office by Studio: CBS Films". Box Office Mojo.
  24. ↑ "The Back-up Plan – Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information". The Numbers. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  25. ↑ "The Back-up Plan". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved September 5, 2022. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  26. ↑ "The Back-up Plan". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  27. ↑ Honeycutt, Kirk (April 7, 2010). "The Back-Up Plan – Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 11, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  28. ↑ Dargis, Manohla (April 23, 2010). "Movie Review – The Back-Up Plan – Love Means Having to Say, 'I Feel ...'" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on April 27, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  29. ↑ Biancolli, Amy (April 23, 2010). "Review: 'The Back-Up Plan'". San Francisco Chronicle . Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  30. ↑ Ebert, Roger (April 21, 2010). "The Back-up Plan". RogerEbert.com . Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  31. ↑ Soll, Lindsay (June 14, 2010). "Teen Choice Awards 2010: First Round Of Nominees Announced". MTV . Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.