THE CHANGE-UP (2011)

Directed By: David Dobkin 
Written By: Jon Lucas & Scott Moore 
Cinematography: Eric Edwards 
Editor: Lee Haxall & Greg Hayden 


Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, Craig Bierko, Alan Arkin, Gregory Itzen, Mircea Monroe, Fred Stoller 


Dave is a married man with three kids and a loving wife, and Mitch is a single man who is at the prime of his sexual life. One fateful night while Mitch and Dave are peeing in a fountain, lightning strikes and they switch bodies.

This film eventually won me over because when it begins it just seems like a basic offensive gross comedy. However As the film goes along it as some generally funny scenes. That began to open me up to the film.

There is no doubt that this film is more suited for men, stereotypically young men. Like I am sure this will be a film fraternities will love. It’s the closes to a well done college type humor film that you are fin for get as the ones that are made seem to go straight to home video at the time for this film’s release and still. They were so badly made that even it’s core audience that are usually open minded knows that they are horrible.

The film feels heartless though it tries to appear to have one. So it more comes off as an artificial one or at least as close as you can get with a movie that you know is more made to be a blockbuster then necessarily good.

The female characters in this film are gorgeous and made to look that way. Leslie Mann gets a chance to create a full character. Who is funny and real and shows a little skin. In fact this film has quite a bit of nudity. Some you Don’t necessarily want to see. Which only adds to the humor.

Olivia Wilde in this film is so gorgeous she is like a silver screen siren. She scorched in her scenes and her seduction scene is so hot. I expect and hope better from and for her in the future. As unfortunately she is here more as eye candy.

There is one scene in the film that had me personally dying of laughter the Porno scene. The rest of the film had quite a few predictable scenes that still managed to be funny.

Jason Bateman comes into his own here. He is usually the straight man or the clean cut character. Here he gets to play the more fun loving depraved Juvenile character and clearly relishes it. He’s actually good at it. Considering as a child actor he more played those types of roles. It shouldn’t be too surprising.

Ryan Reynolds is quite good in both sides of his roles though he strangely is better at playing the more responsible softer character as he began his career and fame as the more party animal sarcastic characters. He looks more relaxed here than in the Abysmal GREEN LANTERN. This film plays note to his strengths he is clearly enjoying himself.

This is the type of film you know what you are usually going to get. They try to add some character growth and sensitivity to the proceedings to make it seem somewhat deeper. There is even a throwaway reason involving the supernatural as to how they switch bodies. Thankfully they treat it very lightly and as ridiculous as it sounds. It’s a film filled with sophomoric humor to try and appeal to a broader fan base.

Wait for cable


GRADE: C