The Back-up Plan starring Jennifer Lopez and Alex O'Loughlin. The idea might have been fresher 10 years ago. Image from: http://tengossip.com/
Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) has wanted to get married and have kids but since she hasn’t been able to meet the right guy (not even come close), she decides to get pregnant through the sperm bank. She gets the “operation” and right on that day, she meets a handsome young guy called Stan (Alex O’Loughlin). Stan is fun, honest and interesting. And he doesn’t have a clue what Zoe has done. Zoe decides to hang around with him. After all he can’t be The One, right? But as it turns out, he is and he is not all that pleased when he finds out. But despite the “challenge”, he really is crazy about Zoe and wants to try to make it work. Just as Stan tries to get his head around the idea, he finds out that Zoe’ll be having twins. After that, it is all romantic and domestic chaos. Combined with Stan’s freaking out and Zoe’s trust issues, their relationship hits more than a few bumps on the road.
OK. So you really don’t need me to tell you that they will end up together and will live happily ever after.
After all, it is a typical romantic comedy. The problem is, it is mostly too typical. Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of the genre. But when the story feels too formulated and too familiar, you should get worried.
Obviously, you can’t change certain things about the genre. Two people have to fall in love with each other at some point. This should be the case, otherwise there won’t be a story in this category. But there should be limits on how many clichés you are going to use.
Is it as bad as some people make it to be?
Frankly, I don’t think you will be bored to death. While I totally suggest boys to stay away from the movie at all costs, girls (especially Moonlight fans) will at least have Alex O’Loughlin to look at. But, even if you are just a tad sarcastic, you may get bored. I am not saying there aren’t any scenes that I didn’t like. There are some pretty funny scenes. But if you thought it was bad in the beginning, there is no point in keeping it up. Because I thought it was OK until Stan found out about the baby issues.
5/10 from me. As I said, it is not that bad. But it is too mediocre to be anything special. Or maybe it is because I don’t want kids at all and therefore thought the whole idea was just not believable. You decide.
Rufus Sewell, Monica Potter, Joseph Fiennes and Tom Hollander will make you laugh.
What an adorably cute, little movie. Yes, it is very romantic and fun romcom in every sense so I am warning you before I get to the review:
Stay away if you don’t – like Monica Potter/Rufus Sewell/Joseph Fiennes or romantic comedies in general. Or if you are not romantic at all.
That being said;
Martha( Monica Potter) is a young American who has left her hometown on a whim to travel to London. She doesn’t have much money, but she know she just can’t go back to her ex-guy, job or flat.
Frank (Rufus Sewell), Laurence (Joseph Fiennes) and Daniel (Tom Hollander) are friends from childhood who have nothing in common. Frank is a once famous, out-of-work actor who drinks, smokes and talks too much. Girls always have been a reason for fighting with Daniel, who is a successful music executive. Laurence is usually the peacemaker between them. He is the sweet one.
Martha meets Daniel on a plane. Daniel falls for Martha. Frank meets Martha by chance and wants to seduce her just to get back at Daniel. But he also gets smitten by the pretty and impulsive Martha. But what if she already met Laurence somewhere in between and he is the one she wants?
The storyteller is Laurence. He recounts the events to his neighbor (Ray Winstone– who is just great) and we embark on a fine, romantic journey with some really funny consequences.
The cast is lovely. Seeing Tom Hollander (Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth The Golden Age) all blond was a first. I can finally begin to see what the fuss was all about with the other Fiennes brother (I knew and loved Ralph Fiennes first;) ) and Rufus is lovely as always. And in 1998, Rufus is just prettier than ever…
10 things I hate about you, starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. Yep, they look soooo into each other.
This probably has to the best, teen movie ever- because it is just not exactly a teen movie. Sure it takes place in a high school and between high school students, but it is based on Shakespeare comedy “Taming of The Shrew” –which I fully intend to read.
Let’s talk about the movie.
When Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) starts at his new school, he immediately develops a friendship with one of the outcasts named Michael (David Krumholtz)and falls for Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik) at first sight. Michael immediately warns Cameron that Bianca is way out of his league and he is not exaggerating. She is more into Joey (Andrew Keegan), a self-centered popular guy who gets modeling gigs. Joey is only into Bianca because she is a virgin. What really challenges him though is that Bianca’s father (Larry Miller) is not letting her date.
As Cameron tries to get closer to Bianca while he tutors her French (a language he is trying to master only to be able to spend time with her), Bianca informs him that his father has made a new rule: she can date when her older sister Kat (Julia Stiles) dates. The problem is her sister (also at her high school) is against every thing Bianca ever believes in. She loves punk and rock, she is anti-fashion, is all for individuality and she’d rather die than date an idiot at her school.
This is when Cameron and his friend come up with a great plan. Michael makes a deal with Joey- they’ll find a guy to date Kat- Joey will pay the guy. Then he will be able to date Bianca. Of course the real plan is for Cameron to be able to B himself. Then they make a deal with Patrick (Heath Ledger) whose reputation is bad as Kat’s. Cameron and Michael help Patrick to get to Kat. Of course things get complicated as Bianca only seems to be using Cam and Patrick starts falling for Kat….
It is really funny and romantic. Heath Ledger is awesome as usual and the casting just seems right. I love how Michael uses this opportunity to get back at his old best friends who excluded him and Kat’s father (Larry Miller) is just a riot. He cracks me up every time. Then there is the headmaster who is writing an erotic novel and the English teacher who seems to hate all of his students. And any soundtrack that involves Joan Jett is fine by me. Do watch it. After all how many other “teen” movies did you see that was rated 6.9 on imdb, voted by 56.799 people? Exactly!!!
Oh come on, I had to refer to James Bond. It is a classic. And given that Pierce Brosnan is my all time favorite Bond, I earned that introduction. Yep, you read it right. It is not Sean Connery. And heaven forbid, it is definitely not Daniel Craig (although he might be my least favorite). To me, Daniel is so…not charismatic or charming or attractive (and Bond should really be all those things)! And he is so…so…so blond! (I had this funny conversation with my friend where she counter argued that she does not object to a Bond with blond hair but a blond Batman should never have existed- a.k.a Val Kilmer. Val is my favorite Batman so..each to her own, I guess.) Anyways, Pierce is the man. He is the perfect 007. He is hot and well-built. It doesn’t take a lot to seduce women. I wish Pierce could have played James Bond a couple of more times- the guy grows even more handsome with age anyway. He used to be a pretty boy who has turned into this gorgeous man. He also has this contagious smile that seems to bring out all his lust for and joy of life.
Laws of Attraction with former James Bond Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore
He is not just an action actor by any means. Sure, he has done a good job with Thomas Crown Affair as well but putting Pierce in romantic roles is a damn good idea. Have you seen the 2004 movie Laws of Attraction? It is a typical rom-com so if you are expecting something different, that ain’t it. However romantic comedies aren’t really about the endings or twists anyway. Let’s go through the elements.
Clichés?
1) The leading female Audrey (Julianne Moore) is a lawyer who is organized,almost to the point of obsessiveness. Now the writers do love to portray women as annoyingly tidy and men messy, right?
2) Our male lead Daniel (Pierce Brosnan) is also a lawyer who could not have been less organized. He is messy,funny and charming.
3) The female is pessimistic is about love yet our male – despite being a divorce lawyer- is just a happy-go-lucky romantic. Now I haven’t seen a guy that fun, smart, attractive and entertaining who also happens to be a romantic. And yes it will take only a little time for him to develop feelings for the cynical yet likable Audrey.
4) Opposites attract. Rivals are attracted to each other. Yeah, whatever.
5) You know it is a happily after. Check out the genre and the poster.
BUT…
1) I like Julianne Moore and I like Pierce Brosnan. He definitely pulls out scruffy well. And frankly I’d rather watch a typical rom-com then over-pretentious and disappointing drama/thrillers like Blindness or The Forgotten.
2) The storyline It is fun. You see Audrey and Daniel meet as opposing councils during a trial. They realize the other one is a worthy opponent and after some fun and games, Daniel and Audrey go out on a dinner, supposedly not a date. Of course when the story mixes mutual attraction with heavy alcohol and fun and…yeah, they have sex. However the next day they do have a trial to attend to and Daniel has picked this exact moment to take Audrey seriously and looks more professional and efficient whereas you can tell that Audrey had a “wild” night. Moreover, Daniel also uses a below-the-belt trick at the trial and wins. Of course Audrey declares war and from then on, the competition gets tough and fun, reaching a peak when Daniel gets a client Audrey is after: a famous fashion designer (Parker Posey) divorcing her cheating rocker husband Thorne (Michael Sheen). So Audrey strikes back by signing Thorne. The case research requires a trip to couple’s estate in Ireland and Ireland…is a lovely country, full of potential for romance. So it seems like Audrey and Daniel are best buddies compared to their spiteful clients and another night full of fun and drinks leads to…let’s say more than just sex: Marriage… How the hell are two competing divorce lawyers gonna explain this to the judge?
Pierce Brosnan as Daniel and Julianne Moore as Audrey in Laws of Attraction
3) I love rockers and I love rock and I appreciate the humor that comes with it. Michael Sheen is so funny as the spoiled musician.
So…
The movie is fun. If you like Pierce Brosnan/Michael Sheen/Julianne Moore and/or romantic comedies, you shouldn’t miss it. Otherwise, well…try something else.
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