The Back-Up Plan, part 9 - SPOILERS

[Fleur de Lisa]

Well I'll be leaving in about 20 minutes to see BUP. Wish me luck on the trains, NYC subways are always doing construction on the weekend.

Sending good luck and have a fantastic time!

[darkstarrising]

Just caught up with the comments....

On the plus side:

If the numbers hold, BUP beat out 'Extraordinary Measures', bringing in twice as much in its debut as the first movie out of CBS films. JLo beats Harrison Ford? Would never have guessed it.

I, like some of the rest of you, are going back for a second viewing. Somehow, I don't think we're the only ones. If the numbers come in decently this weekend, then hold into next weekend with repeat viewings, that also is something in the movie's favor.

Most of the really negative reviews I've read are written by guys. They're critiquing the film for its cinematic value (great writing, directing, acting, premise, originality and so on). Most of the people going to see movies are looking to be entertained. They're looking for a good story with good acting, and if it's in 3-D even better.

Going back to the male critics. There will be die hard JLo fans that will watch anything she's in, regardless of what the critics say. Just like there are Alex fans that will do the same. In BUP's case, this is a movie aimed at a female audience, especially those who have kids and remember what it was like going through pregnancy with all the hormonal and emotional shifts. It's a slightly different spin than the typical fairy tale rom com. I like JLo, but don't consider myself a fan, but the scene that did it for me occurred during the latter stages of her pregnancy as Zoe is checking herself out in a mirror and not liking what she's seeing. Stan tells Zoe she's beautiful, but as she wraps the bathrobe tightly around her and shuffles away, you know she doesn't feel beautiful. All of this without saying a word.

On the negative side:

There will be critics that will say JLo isn't a draw anymore, that she is too old (at 40, god help us) to do these kind of movies. I give her credit for weaving in the pregnancy aspect, in all of its lack of glamor, into this story. She's not trying to be 25 anymore.

In my neck of the woods, we're having glorious weather, which is keeping people away from the theatres. Not only were the theatres empty yesterday, the entire mall was. That changes tomorrow.

We'll see late tomorrow afternoon what the numbers are for the weekend...they typically get corrected Monday. If BUP does indeed pull in $12 M +, that's not too bad. 'The Bounty Hunter' which got equally lukewarm reviews debuted at $20M, but 5 weeks later is still in the top ten with a current total take of $60M, exceeding production costs of $40M. In short, good film or not, it made a decent profit.

[Fleur de Lisa]

Just caught up with the comments....

On the plus side:

If the numbers hold, BUP beat out 'Extraordinary Measures', bringing in twice as much in its debut as the first movie out of CBS films. JLo beats Harrison Ford? Would never have guessed it.

I, like some of the rest of you, are going back for a second viewing. Somehow, I don't think we're the only ones. If the numbers come in decently this weekend, then hold into next weekend with repeat viewings, that also is something in the movie's favor.

Most of the really negative reviews I've read are written by guys. They're critiquing the film for its cinematic value (great writing, directing, acting, premise, originality and so on). Most of the people going to see movies are looking to be entertained. They're looking for a good story with good acting, and if it's in 3-D even better.

Going back to the male critics. There will be die hard JLo fans that will watch anything she's in, regardless of what the critics say. Just like there are Alex fans that will do the same. In BUP's case, this is a movie aimed at a female audience, especially those who have kids and remember what it was like going through pregnancy with all the hormonal and emotional shifts. It's a slightly different spin than the typical fairy tale rom com. I like JLo, but don't consider myself a fan, but the scene that did it for me occurred during the latter stages of her pregnancy as Zoe is checking herself out in a mirror and not liking what she's seeing. Stan tells Zoe she's beautiful, but as she wraps the bathrobe tightly around her and shuffles away, you know she doesn't feel beautiful. All of this without saying a word.

On the negative side:

There will be critics that will say JLo isn't a draw anymore, that she is too old (at 40, god help us) to do these kind of movies. I give her credit for weaving in the pregnancy aspect, in all of its lack of glamor, into this story. She's not trying to be 25 anymore.

In my neck of the woods, we're having glorious weather, which is keeping people away from the theatres. Not only were the theatres empty yesterday, the entire mall was. That changes tomorrow.

We'll see late tomorrow afternoon what the numbers are for the weekend...they typically get corrected Monday. If BUP does indeed pull in $12 M +, that's not too bad. 'The Bounty Hunter' which got equally lukewarm reviews debuted at $20M, but 5 weeks later is still in the top ten with a current total take of $60M, exceeding production costs of $40M. In short, good film or not, it made a decent profit.

dsr--more wonderful points and info you have laid out.
Any idea of the cost of producing BUP? I imagine JLo's payday is pretty high in itself (is she in the 10 million per pic range?)

Weather is absolutely crappy here today, as it was yesterday, as it will be tomorrow, so, that should bode well for movie attendance.

[eris]

12 mil. is where Nikki Finke from Deadline Hollywood is putting it, but she's expecting it to be overtaken by the Dragon movie tomorrow.

[nutmegger911]

But I think for all those male critics... they just aren't getting it. She's a pretty girl with money and a business of her damn own. She doesn't NEED a man but she'd like one. And she WANTS a baby, for which you do, at least, need sperm. She is not the only such woman on the planet. Real women find themselves in this circumstance these days. The critics do not get it.

Now, that she meets ALex (Stan) of all the men on the planet. OK... that's just luck incarnate. But it's why I'm going to the frikkin theater multiple times. Guessing the critics don't quite get that either...

Maybe those critics don't understand that the difference between assertive and b*tch is not gender.

[darkstarrising]

dsr--more wonderful points and info you have laid out.
Any idea of the cost of producing BUP? I imagine JLo's payday is pretty high in itself (is she in the 10 million per pic range?)

Weather is absolutely crappy here today, as it was yesterday, as it will be tomorrow, so, that should bode well for movie attendance.

Fleur, when they post the numbers (box office take) tomorrow, they'll post the production costs as well. My guess is that it's similar to or lower than Bounty Hunter ($40M). (No special effects, not too many different locations.)

JLo's payday is high, which is one of the reasons they went looking for a not-so-well-known actor to play Stan. No disrespect to Alex, but before this movie, he really didn't have the name recognition that other actors do who could have played Stan.

[wondergirl9847]

Saw the movie last night with my boyfriend and we both thought it was cute. He had been teasing me about seeing shirtless Alex. Hee! He got some J-Lo eye candy too, especially when they lingered on her legs in that one scene. Hehe.

Alex and Jennifer had good chemistry and we laughed here and there. It wasn't as funny as I was hoping it would be, but it was funny enough. I absolutely had no idea she'd be pregnant again at the very, very end! I should have seen it coming, but I didn't.

Alex was great, gorgeous and funny. Shelton (boyfriend) loved when Stan fainted. Ha! Jennifer was adorable and I loved her and the dog together too.

SOOOO good to see Alex on the big screen. He's really breathtaking.

[GuardianAngel]

All I know is that I heard men laughing in the theater. The humor appealed to them too. So I don't know what these critics are talking about.

I'll most likely be taking a second dip tomorrow!

[Fleur de Lisa]

All I know is that I heard men laughing in the theater. The humor appealed to them too. So I don't know what these critics are talking about.

I'll most likely be taking a second dip tomorrow!

The critics are just jealous of Alex's overall awesomeness. Have you seen what some of these critics look like??????

I think there was one man in our theatre. Guys would be smart to go to this film b/c the female to male ratio is definitely in their favor!

[nutmegger911]

Not to mention anything about the ladies' state of mind by the time the credits start rolling.

[darkstarrising]

Not to mention anything about the ladies' state of mind by the time the credits start rolling.

You know, one of the critics really blasted the opening credits, saying he wanted to leave before they were finished. My impression was that they were a clever way to let the audience know what was on Zoe's mind before the film started in the OB/GYN's office. She wanted a baby, to the point where it was the only thing she thought about.

[nutmegger911]

DSR - ITA about the opening credits. The retro cartoon style and the images shown really set the tone for the movie. My comment was about the ending credits, but hey, there may have been a few in the audience who were there by the time the opening credits started. (What? Why are you all looking at me like that)

Everyone in the theatre where I saw it seemed to be really enjoying the movie. Based on the groupings it was working for date night / chick flick. (Though I have no idea why one person brought a couple of four year olds ) The was as if the audience was interacting with the characters.

[darkstarrising]

DSR - ITA about the opening credits. The retro cartoon style and the images shown really set the tone for the movie. My comment was about the ending credits, but hey, there may have been a few in the audience who were there by the time the opening credits started. (What? Why are you all looking at me like that)

Everyone in the theatre where I saw it seemed to be really enjoying the movie. Based on the groupings it was working for date night / chick flick. (Though I have no idea why one person brought a couple of four year olds ) The was as if the audience was interacting with the characters.

Sorry, NM911....yeah, most of the audience stayed for and enjoyed the ending credits. For me, it's always fun to see the actors crack up, but it's even more fun to watch Alex laugh, mostly at himself.

There was a pair of girls sitting behind me, probably 18 or 19 years old. Even if they couldn't identify with the pregnancy bit, they were definitely enjoying the movie, especially Alex.

[eris]

There's a great summary up at The Movie Spoiler if anyone wants to read the storyline start to finish:

http://www.themoviespoiler.com/Spoilers/backupplan.html

(It will most likely give you a pop-up ad, too. I usually get them on that site.)

[cassysj]

Well I have to say I liked the movie more than I thought, the critics had me worried, I thought it was another J-Lo Gigli.

I enjoyed seeing Alex and found his character very likable and I loved seeing him shirtless. I didn't like the animated opening credits, but they did get the point across that Zoe wanted a baby.

The theater was very empty only ten people. Nine women and one man. He seemed to be enjoying J-Lo.

It was cute. I tend to like the rom-com formula and it fit the bill. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Did they ever tell us the names of the twins? I'm pretty sure one was Penny but I can't remember if they mentioned the other one.