J-Lo treads familiar territory in Back-up Plan

Two children and two years later, Jennifer Lopez has resurfaced with a Back-up Plan.

"This movie is about a woman who gets to a point in her life," Lopez says. "She's successful... She has a full life. But, at the same time, she hasn't found that person to share her life with and to have a family with, and so she decides to do it on her own. She decides to have a baby on her own."

The film, opening in the UAE on Thursday, is part of the mid-life movie genre that has served actresses well of late, including such blockbusters as The Proposal and It's Complicated, starring Sandra Bullock, 45, and Meryl Streep, 60, respectively. The Back-up Plan marks Lopez's first film since turning 40 last July.

"It is a great time to be an actress," Lopez said at a recent convention of theatre owners in Las Vegas. "It seems like you can work and do anything at any age... It's a great time that people are just seeing people's souls.

"It's not so superficial anymore," the actress continued. "Women have proven that they are viable in this business, as well, and it doesn't matter if you're not 21 years old. It just matters that you're great at what you do. And that's exciting."

Back-up Plan works through a variety pregnancy issues — now familiar turf for Lopez, who gave birth to fraternal twins, Emme and Maximilian, in February 2008.

One thing in the film she couldn't relate to: the last act's big (and hilarious) water-birthing sequence.

"No!" Lopez laughed. "I didn't have any water birth. I was in a hospital. It was a much more controlled atmosphere: no singing, no drums. But there was a little bit of music. But other than that, no similarities."

In addition to making a movie and caring for her children (with musician-husband Marc Anthony), Lopez continues to run her empire, which also includes a fragrance line, clothing and music.

And the music will keep playing for Lopez, though not at longtime label Sony Music, which she amicably left earlier this year. "I had done seven albums with Sony, believe it or not," she explained.

"We had a great relationship, and we sold a lot of records, and the company, you know, has changed a little bit, and I just thought it was time for a fresh start."

For movies, however, the star has gone back to her roots, returning to the romantic comedy genre that made her a bankable movie star with films such as 2002's Maid in Manhattan and Shall We Dance? in 2004.

"Love is an endlessly fascinating subject for me," she noted, with a laugh. "I love to watch movies in bed with Marc — romantic comedies, much to his chagrin. He doesn't love them, but he puts up with it. Those are our date nights."

Jen dishes on...

"Gross pregnancy stuff": "Kate Angelo, who wrote the film, had just had a baby herself and you could tell in the writing. And we both fought with the director and producers to put as much gross pregnancy stuff in it as possible.

"It was a lot of fun because [my own pregnancy] was so fresh in my mind. I especially remember what it felt like to be so exhausted all the time and to be falling asleep in the middle of the day, when I don't normally take naps."

Her character: "Zoe is very strong, brave and independent; but in a very different way than I am, as she didn't grow up with a family like I did. But precisely because I grew up with a lot of love I also need it and rely on more people, whereas Zoe is different. And she is strong enough to make the decision to have kids on her own. I don't think I could do that."

"True destiny": "Zoe had this back-up plan for her life until she meets Stan. And I love that they both have to overcome what their lives were supposed to be to reach their true destiny. They have to get over their fears and obstacles. You get to see what he goes through during her pregnancy. Stan has never had to commit to anything before and now he is faced with the one thing you really have to commit to."

Alex O'Loughlin (Stan): "He was great for the character, because he has a little bit of that kind of cocky charming attitude that Stan has. He knew how to transmit the feeling that she was the one, but at the same time have confidence and even a bit of arrogance.

"Alex reminds me a bit of myself when I started — with that vivaciousness that is so pleasant to be around. It was his first romantic comedy and there was a freshness about him that was great. Alex is a good guy; but he also has a bit of an edge, which is something I like.

"I loved working with him and he is very good at what he does."

Good rom-coms: "It's all about the journey. We know how they start and how they end, so it's the meat in the middle that matters. A romantic comedy has to be funny and make you think about life; but the obstacle that has to be overcome is key. I like The Back-up Plan because that obstacle isn't typical. And chemistry is very important too.

"I remember watching it thinking that it was very funny but that if I had a tear in the end it would be really good, and it happened!"