The Change-Up

by Edward Dunn

The Change-Up
112 min
R
Director: David Dobkin
Writers: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds and Olivia Wilde

“We've tried nothing and we're fresh out of ideas!”

-Ned Flanders’s Dad, The Simpsons

Some say the human body is a vehicle transporting your soul, and some think human bodies exist solely to watch bad movies. It is a summer blockbuster season, filled with sequels, prequels, and remakes. Ironically, The Change-Up, an original screenplay, is the least original movie of the summer.

These movies where two characters switch bodies, has been done many times. BIG (1988) is the only enjoyable movie in this unoriginal genre.

Here is a partial list:

  1. BIG (1988)
  2. Freaky Friday, and it various remakes (1976, 1995, 2003). My favorite being 1995 TV movie starring Shelley Long.
  3. Like Father Like Son (1987) (With Kirk Cameron)
  4. 13 going on 30 (2004)
  5. 18 Again! (1988)
  6. 17 Again (2009)
  7. Down to Earth (2001)
  8. Heaven Can Wait (1978)
  9. Switch (1991)
  10. Face Off (1997)
  11. Vice Versa (1988)

Main Criteria For Body Switching Movies:

  1. Career person and the care-free person that needs to grow up.
  2. Someone tells off the boss/school principal.
  3. It's always two men or two women.
  4. The same lesson is learned in every one of these movies.  And what is that lesson? Never pay to see one of these movies.

 Someone usually utters the following phrases.

  • I wish I had my old life back.
  • You don't know how easy you have it.
  • Tell me something only I would know.

Some movies do not involve two characters switching bodies; they involve identity switching, or a ghost taking over someone’s body. It is a bit of a gray area, these movies are only vaguely similar to The Change-Up (I included a few TV shows).

Ghost Dad (1990)

Various episodes of Sister, Sister.

The Parent Trap (1961 and 1998, respectively)

Heart and Souls (1993) This is where Robert Downey Jr. hit rock bottom. The guardian angels of his childhood, have unfinished business. Their spirits possess Robert Downey Jr., in a hilarious movie that will lift your spirits.

Ghost (1990)

Trading Places (1983)        

The Hot Chick (2002)

The Animal (2001)

The Mask (1994)

Quantum Leap (TV)

Man of the House (1995) First Jonathan Taylor Thomas was the man of the house. Then his dooshy, step-dad (Chase) enters the picture.

To Conclude

The Change-Up is crude, crass, and most importantly, unfunny. Do not watch this movie, do not even look at the promotional posters.

Final Verdict: 25 out of 100.