First comes artificial insemination, and then comes the love. That is the tricky route to romance for Jennifer Lopez and Alex O'Loughlin in the new baby comedy, "The Back-Up Plan."

This movie could turn Aussie hunk O'Loughlin, 34, into the hottest face in Hollywood since Bradley Cooper.

J.Lo's character, Zoe, is tired of waiting for Mr. Right. Divorced, baby-wary Stan (O'Loughlin) collides with Zoe moments after she is artificially inseminated. Their unusual dilemma hits a nerve today with those who long for a family.

"There is no way a movie like this could have been made 40 years ago. It would have been like, ‘What the heck are you talking about?'" O'Loughlin, 34, told CTV.ca.

"I know two women who have gone this route to have children in the last year," says O'Loughlin.

"It's a very modern concept and society is so much more accepting of it. That's just the truth of our world today -- and the truth in this comedy," says O'Loughlin.

"The straighter you play it the funnier it is."

Born in Canberra and raised in Sydney, Australia, O'Loughlin launched his career in the theatre after his graduation from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2002.

O'Loughlin's first taste of Hollywood came in 2007, when he joined the cast of "The Shield" as Detective Kevin Hiatt.

He is best known, however, for his portrayal of the vampire and private investigator Mick St. John on the CBS series "Moonlight."

The paranormal romance premiered on September 28, 2007, scoring poor ratings but a fiercely loyal following on line.

CBS cancelled the show in May of 2008. That end breathed new life into O'Loughlin's career.

In August of 2008, CBS signed O'Loughlin to a talent deal, and he's now lined up for the coveted role of Detective Steve McGarrett in CBS's upcoming remake of "Hawaii Five-O."

The CBS deal also helped O'Loughlin land his first major Hollywood movie role in "The Back-Up Plan."

"In some ways, this film put me at a crossroads just like Stan," says O'Loughlin.

"I'm a dramatic actor doing my first big comedy opposite J.Lo. Trust me. There's nothing like doing a take in front of 100 people and hearing them say ‘Sorry man. I don't think so," O'Loughlin laughs.

Yet his comedic turn is convincing. It is also delivered with an adventurous edge that brings to mind Cooper's charms in "The Hangover."

"Comedy is hard to do. You need timing. You need courage. Jennifer has that in spades. She never cared if she looked like an ass," says O'Loughlin.

O'Loughlin's favourite moment with Lopez comes in an outrageous water birthing scene.

"People were screaming. Poop is being scooped out of the pool. It took a long time to shoot because we were all laughing. But that's the reality of childbirth," says O'Loughlin.

"Women are so much stronger then men. I love how that gets played out here, and seeing what real love does to people," says O'Loughlin.

"All of us do different things when we fall in love. Some people shut down. Some open up. Most of us go ‘holy s**t!'," he laughs.

When real love finally finds Stan and Zoe there's passion. There's vomiting. There's a pregnancy staring them in the face.

"You can never prepare for all that," says O'Loughlin. "You just have to step up, take a leap and surprise yourself."