Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
J.Lo romcom bursts with frank pregnancy, sex talk.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Back-up Plan
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Based on 18 kid reviews
Kids say this is a cute and heartfelt film that offers a blend of romance, humor, and positive messages about family and trust. While some scenes may not be suitable for younger audiences, many viewers appreciate its relatable themes and entertaining cast, particularly praising the lead actress's performance.
- cute story
- positive messages
- suitable for teens
- humor and romance
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
New York pet store owner Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) wants to have a baby but can't find "Mr. Right." Worried that time is passing her by, she goes to her back-up plan: artificial insemination. Later that same day, she meets Stan (Alex O'Loughlin), a cheese maker, who turns out to be "the one." By the time Zoe discovers she's pregnant and Stan hears the news, they are already in love. Stan must learn to deal with the shock of suddenly becoming a father, while Zoe must learn to trust that Stan isn't going to run away.
Is It Any Good?
Directed by Alan Poul, a TV veteran making his feature debut, THE BACK-UP PLAN drags out every lazy romantic comedy cliché in the book. The lovers withhold information from each other, and then get mad and run away when the truth comes out. (In one scene, the heroine tells the truth out loud, but a cut reveals that she's only speaking to herself in a mirror.) The characters are paper-thin and their journey together is entirely routine and totally predictable.
But the movie also has the unfortunate side effect of making both pregnancy and impending parenthood look unappealing and even terrifying. For a movie with such a chaste setup, it has a very oddly cynical view of such things, not to mention a large collection of foul language. Teens are unlikely to find much appeal in the storyline, though there's enough juvenile humor to mildly entertain those who dare. Parents are more likely to find some laughs peppered throughout the otherwise tired routine. If this was the "back up," the filmmakers probably should have stuck to the original plan.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the movie portrays pregnancy. Teens: What opinions did this movie leave you with about pregnancy and parenthood? Was this a realistic scenario?
Do you think this movie reinforces or challenges any stereotypes about male-female relationships? How do romantic comedies, in general, portray intimate relationships?
Teens: Could you relate to any of the experiences or ideas about taking care of kids that came up in the movie? How did this movie portray kids and the practice of caring for them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 24, 2010
- On DVD or streaming : April 18, 2023
- Cast : Alex O'Loughlin , Jennifer Lopez , Linda Lavin
- Director : Alan Poul
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : CBS Films
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual content including references, some crude material and language
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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