TRAILER: Jennifer Anniston's "The Switch" vs. Jennifer Lopez's "The Back-up Plan"

It's the battle of the Jen's! lol Ok, technically their films are being released four months apart, so it's not really a competition. But I'm interested in seeing which will appeal to people more. While I'm technically game for all romantic comedies, I think Anniston's might gross more based on a few advantages:

1. Male Lead: Jason Bateman (The Switch) vs. Alex O'Loughlin (The Back-up Plan)
Yes, O'Loughlin ("Moonlight" and "Three Rivers") is hot. We noticed that from the 15 seconds of the trailer where he is baring his recently tanned-and-toned muscles. But 50% of a rom-com is comedy, and Bateman totally has O'Loughlin beat in that department. As for the romantic portion, let's look at the plot...

2. Plot
The Switch is about the classic unrequited love scenario that's made less creepy by the underlying friendship. Bateman plays Anniston's best guy friend, who is secretly in love with her. When she decides to get a donor, in order to have a child, he gets drunk, and accidentally disposes of her donor's semen. His brilliant solution? Replace it with his own. Tada! He now has a child with his bff...unbeknownst to her. A few years pass, she moves back to the city, he meets his kid, and he realizes that if he doesn't fess up, he'll miss out on his son's life...and true love, since the donor (Patrick Wilson from Watchmen and Little Children) wants to make a play for her.


The Back-up Plan is also about a woman who decides to not wait for Mr. Right and just purchase Mr. Semen. Unfortunately, the same day she inseminates is the day she meets that previously fictional Mr. Right. Once she gets past the big reveal, he has to decide whether or not he's comfortable moving so quickly in the relationship and raising someone else's kid.

Romance-wise, I think Bateman's self-depracating and adorable affection for Anniston is way more appealing than a couple hundred pregnancy/parenting-horror stories that are sprinkled with touching moments of selflessness and chivalry.

3. The Writers
Let's see, a lady (The Back-up Plan) who wrote a few episodes of "Becker" and "Will & Grace" versus the guy (The Switch) who wrote Things We Lost in the Fire. That's kind of a no-brainer.

Check out the trailers before the final verdict:


Release Date: April 23


Release Date: August 20

So the winner is...Anniston. I really do think The Switch will do better. Of course, Anniston hasn't had the best rom-com track record as of late, and Julia Roberts' Eat, Pray, Love and Drew Barrymore + Justin Long's Going the Distance come out the weekend before, giving her some major competition. J. Lo will have problems of her own, since she's opening the week after the long-awaited Kick-Ass and Chris Rock's remake of Death at a Funeral, and the same week of The Losers. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Which are you betting on and why?