Movie Review: "The Switch"

Seen on: August 20, 2010

The players: Directors: Josh Gordon, Will Speck, Writer: Allan Loeb, Cast: Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Jeff Goldblum, Juliette Lewis

Facts of interest: Gordon and Speck also helmed "Blades of Glory."

The plot: After Kassie announces she wants a baby, her best friend Wally accidentally spills her donor's sperm and replaces it with his own.

Our thoughts: Will Speck and Josh Gordon’s “The Switch” has a lot going for it, but in terms of story, it definitely falls a little short. I admit I walked into this film expecting a different kind of romantic comedy, but what I eventually got for my time and money was a rather superficial movie about two best friends who just don’t have what it takes to tell each other what they really feel.

Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston star as Wally and Kassie, two best buddies whose relationship seems to be working pretty well until the day Kassie announces she wants a kid through artificial insemination. One thing quickly leads to another, and before we know it, Wally accidentally spills her donor’s sperm at a party and decides to replace it with his own, all without telling Kassie, of course.

Seven years later, Kassie returns to New York City and introduces her son Sebastian to Wally, who’s been holding on to his secret and now tries to establish a relationship with the kid. Problems increase as Kassie starts hanging out with the man she believes is her sperm donor, and as far as Wally is concerned, he keeps battling with the fact he continues to lie to his best friend…

The biggest flaw “The Switch” wrestles with is the simplicity of Allen Loeb’s script, which revolves entirely around the fact that Wally just doesn’t have the guts to tell Kassie the truth. I know a lack of communication between people is an intriguing area to explore in dramas, but the way this problem is depicted in this film just isn’t as interesting as it could’ve been.

The characters in “The Switch” are definitely likeable, but when it comes to the ways they approach their predicaments, their credibility quickly falls apart. Wally and Kassie share a predictable relationship that could be a lot easier if they just acted like real people, but sadly enough, the script doesn’t let them. Surprises are scarce in “The Switch,” and that’s one of the reasons the film failed to capture my attention.

That said, this is by no means a bad movie. It’s a light summer flick, and it’s filled with great performances. It’s also beautifully shot, features a great score, and even boasts a handful of comic moments that provoke a couple of good laughs. The weakness of the story is a major flaw that eventually keeps it from becoming a memorable experience, but everything else in “The Switch” works.

Starting with Jason Bateman (one of my favorite actors), he’s pretty much great in everything he does. His character this time is not as fascinating as I wanted it to be, but he gets the best out of Wally. Even Jennifer Aniston does a decent job, and I am happy to announce she’s finally made a movie that does not completely suck. And how about Jeff Golblum as Wally’s buddy of advice? He’s just hilarious.

Freaky quote: "I hijacked Kassie's pregnancy?" - Jason Bateman

The final word: “The Switch” provides enough entertainment to satisfy cinemagoers looking for an easy romance. Bateman and Aniston work together well, and the relationship between Wally and Kassie’s kid will earn lots of cute “aw” moments. Other than that, there’s nothing too exciting to discover in this comedy. It should’ve been great, but it isn’t...

Article by Franck Tabouring