Python Hyena
The Change-Up (2011): Dir: David Dobkin / Cast: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin: Dreadful comedy about moving up in responsibility. It is one of those lame body switch rehashes with Jason Bateman as a successful lawyer with a wife and two children, and Ryan Reynolds as a struggling dope smoking actor. After a night on the town they discuss their issues then their bodies switch when they both urinate into a fountain. The rest is fairly predictable and lame. Director David Dobkin previously made another vulgar comedy called The Wedding Crashers. The difference is that film is actually funny while this one is just disgusting. We are given more images of naked children than what a child pornographer could keep up with. Even up close shots of a child's naked ass as sh*t shoots out and into the face and mouth of one of the characters. This is not funny, it's desperate. Even the foul language that is peppered through it comes off as a desperate last take a comedy. Bateman and Reynolds are both capable comic actors who have succeeded in far better films than this. Here they search for the fountain, which has been removed, so that they can urinate in it again and switch back. Leslie Mann is given the thankless role as Bateman's wife, and Olivia Wilde is cardboard as Bateman's co-worker who will be set up on a date with Reynolds. Both females are there for sexual jokes and insults. Alan Arkin plays the father of the Reynolds character and this is not a highlight of his resume. This is a dire comedy that should be pi**ed upon by a group of drunks. Score: 2 / 10
namashi_1
'The Change-Up' isn't entirely hilarious or tightly paced, but for the most part, its fun nonetheless! 'The Change-Up' Synopsis: Dave is a married man with two 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.'The Change-Up' works because its Leads, Ryan Reynolds & Jason Bateman, deliver excellent against-type performances. Both of the talented actors lead 'The Change-Up' & add energy & wit to the goings-on, almost managing to distract us from the film's shaky pace & not-all-out-hilarious Writing Material. Bateman, especially, is a riot, enacting his part with absolute flourish.Also mention-worthy are its supporting players. Leslie Mann is exceptional as Bateman's wife. Her sequences are quite memorable, thanks to her impressive act. Olivia Wilde as Bateman's irresistible assistant, is extremely hot & also competent. Alan Arkin as Reynolds's father, is a treasure in a cameo. Director David Dobkin has hit most of the right notes with 'The Change-Up'. Its flawed, but never dull, either. Watchable for sure!
Jackson Booth-Millard
I knew about the two leading actors of this film, and I knew it was something about swapping either bodies or lifestyles, of course when I knew for definite what the concept was I was looking forward to it, from director David Dobkin (Shanghai Knights, Wedding Crashers, Fred Claus). Basically in Atlanta, Georgia, Dave Lockwood (Jason Bateman) is a professional hardworking lawyer with wife Jamie Lockwood (Leslie Mann) and kids, and Mitch Planko (Ryan Reynolds) is an irresponsible slacker actor who has sex with various women, they are close friends and have become jealous of each other's lifestyles, so after both getting drunk this urinate in a park fountain together, and simultaneously wish they had each other's lives. The next morning Dave and Mitch have switched bodies, they meet up and realise it is because of the wish they made while urinating in the fountain, but returning to it's place it has been removed for restorations, so they are forced to wait until is located by the parks department, and they agree to pretend to be each other for the day. Mitch, as Dave, at the firm befriends Dave's attractive assistant Sabrina McArdle (Rush's Olivia Wilde), but lacking professionalism and with no legal knowledge he causes a big merger to fall through, and Dave, as Mitch, arrives on a movie shoot, but he was not told it would be a porno, the two try to convince Jamie of the situation, but she does not believe either of them, to help him Dave gives Mitch lessons of how to be professional, and Mitch sets Dave up on a date with Sabrina who he has had a crush on. Mitch at first admits to himself he is not cut out to dedicate himself to the demands of business, the responsibilities of looking after children, and maintaining a marriage, but he is determined to prove himself and others he can do it, while Dave takes advantage of the free lifestyle, doing everything he can to relax, and he also agrees to a date with Sabrina, but they actually start to like each other, and even get tattoos together. Dave does get a call from the District Manager's about the location of the fountain, but Dave and Mitch meeting each other imply that they both want to stay in each other's bodies, and in doing so Mitch secures a lucrative business deal for the firm after making partners, a gala is held to celebrate, Jamie also attending has been feeling unappreciated after a forgotten anniversary, and Dave is close to having sex with Sabrina. At the gala a presentation showing the accomplishments Dave has achieves over the years is playing, but Mitch knows it is not him, and Dave remembers his family when Sabrina is getting undressed, getting together they realise they want their own lives back, Dave kissing Jamie does make her realise he is in Mitch's body, and they rush to the Peachtree Galleria where the fountain is located, but they are surrounded by hoards of people. Eventually they both relax and urinate and after the three tries manage to wish themselves back into their original bodies and lifestyles, the next morning Dave wakes happy to be with Jamie and his children, and Mitch admires himself and takes Sabrina to breakfast, Mitch speaks at the wedding of his father (Alan Arkin), and Dave and Jamie celebrate their anniversary, with his friend invited. Also starring Mircea Monroe as Tatiana, Gregory Itzin as Flemming Steel, Ned Schmidtke as Ted Norton, Ming Lo as Ken Kinkabe, Sydney Rouviere as Cara Lockwood and Scary Movie 4's Craig Bierko as Valtan. Obviously at first Bateman and Reynolds play the characters you would expect, but once they swap bodies they absolutely play against type and the best laughs come from them trying to adapt and get lost in the chaos, Mann is great being dry as well. This is exactly the same kind of body swap movie as something like Freaky Friday, but much more funny and for the older generation, full of unrelentless gross out moments, sexual stuff and bad language, there are the small sentimental moments, but that does not spoil it from being a great shake-up to the genre, a hilarious comedy. Very good!
