The Change Up (Universal)
Rated R for pervasive, strong, crude sexual content and language, some graphic nudity and drug use.
Starring Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, Gregory Itzin.
Written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore.
Directed by David Dobkin.
GRADE: C-
REVIEW:
Stop me if you've heard this before: Two people with opposite personalities and lifestyles switch bodies through some magical power, only to realize how great their lives were already and gain respect for their counterpart. If it sounds like Freaky Friday, Vice Versa, Like Father, Like Son or any one of a host of overused situation comedy episodes, that's because it is. And that's the basic premise of The Change Up, opening this weekend.
Jason Bateman stars as Dave, a married father of three (including a set of infant twins) and successful Atlanta attorney on the verge of being named partner at his firm. Ryan Reynolds plays Mitch, a slacker, stoner, ladies man and unsuccessful actor who also does his best to be a complete disappointment to his father (Alan Arkin). One night, the two best friends get drunk and urinate into a fountain as they wish they could switch lives. Lightning strikes, and the two men wake up the next morning possessing each other's bodies.
The switch causes immediate problems as Mitch must pretend to be the lawyer he is not, and Dave must try to keep up with Mitch's less-than-savory encounters with his lady friends. Mitch must also keep Dave's marriage and family from falling apart, even though he has a secret crush on Dave's wife Jamie (Leslie Mann).
Meanwhile, Dave (in Mitch's body) is allowed to go after his secret crush Sabrina (Olivia Wilde), an associate at his firm.
The story takes several turns and culminates with a big finale as the men try to put their lives back in order.
The Change Up has a few funny moments interspersed with a lot of vulgar language, nudity, and idiotic behavior that is not enhanced by a less-than-funny script and less-than-realistic gags.
Sure, Bateman and Reynolds are funny guys, but their comic timing and star power can't save The Change Up from being just another "life switch" movie we've all seen before, except for the additional vulgarity.
I'm also a little bothered at the way Hollywood films portray parenthood as some sort of disgusting chore, and The Change Up falls in line with other movies involving the care of babies. Really... changing a messy diaper is not the worst thing in the world, and almost never involves being showered by feces.
Get a new concept.
This one is all worn out... even with the added bounty of F-bombs, potty humor and naked women.
