Who doesn’t love a good body-swap comedy? The concept of two polar-opposite individuals switching bodies is one ripe with comedic potential, and there is no shortage of them either. Perhaps the most popular of the bunch is 2003’sFreaky Friday, starringLindsay LohanandJamie Lee Curtis. The remake of the 1976 film about a dysfunctional mother-daughter duo who swap bodies is a staple of early 2000s Disney, and only gets better with time. So, naturally, in the midst of a raging nostalgia craze in Hollywood, the film has receiveda sequel in the form ofFreakier Friday, which delivers more body-swapping escapades for fans of the original.
But while fans are excited about the continuation of the now-iconic 2003 film, theFreaky Fridayfilms aren’t the only body-swapping comedies worth your time. While many tend to take the form of more family-oriented fare, from the aforementionedFreaky Fridayto 1988’sVice VersastarringJudge ReinholdandFred Savage(which features a similar plot toFreaky Fridaybut with a father-son duo instead), there’s one R-rated body-swap film that stands out from the pack, 2011’sThe Change-Up. StarringRyan ReynoldsandJason Bateman, the film didn’t exactly light the world on fire upon its release, sporting a weak26% on Rotten Tomatoesand grossing a mere $75 million on a $52 million budget. However, there’s more to this flawed yet enjoyable body-swapping film than meets the eye, and it just might be worth a watch if you’re looking to scratch a specific itch.
‘The Change-Up’ Is R-Rated, Body-Swapping Fun With Great Performances From Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman
The Change-Upfollows lifelong best friends Dave Lockwood (Bateman) and Mitch Planko (Reynolds), two men in their mid-thirties who lead completely separate lifestyles. Dave is a family man with a well-paying office job, a beautiful wife named Jamie (Leslie Mann), and two newborn children; meanwhile, Mitch is a bachelor who spends his days smoking weed and picking up women, living life with no direction or ambition. Both men are envious of each other’s lives, and after a long night of drinking, the two stumble upon a fountain, doing the first logical thing they can think of… urinating in it, all the while openly admitting to wanting each other’s lives. Well, the two get their wish, as this was conveniently amagicfountain, and the two friends wake up in the other’s body. It’s a silly premise to be sure, even as far as body-swapping comedies go, but Reynolds and Bateman make it work.
The best aspect of a good body-swap comedy is seeing actors play each other, and Reynolds and Bateman are a ton of fun to watch in this respect. Reynolds is admittedly slipping back-and-forth between a (pretty funny) Jason Bateman impression and his usual cocky, sarcastic shtick fans are used to seeing intheDeadpoolmoviesand other Reynolds-starring comedies, but he’s so good at it that it’s forgivable. Bateman, on the other hand, is the standout here; his Ryan Reynolds impression is on point, and even when he’s portraying Dave, he has a likable everyman quality that’s charming in its own way, even in his more vulgar moments. These two share terrific chemistry, and they sell both the funny and cringe-inducing moments beautifully, making it feel as though they’re truly ruining each other’s lives, albeit completely unintentionally.
For all ofThe Change-Up’s faults, the body-swapping antics are where it’s at its best. Watching Bateman and Reynolds try to navigate each other’s lives, finding appreciation for one another while learning more about themselves, is endearing, and the film does not hold back in regard to its R-rating, which is refreshing.This is a vulgar, adult-oriented comedy that utilizes its rating rather well; this is something rarely seen in the theatrical space these days, with many R-rated comedies heading straight to streaming and skipping the theatrical window entirely.
7 Movies To Watch if You Love ‘Freakier Friday’
These movies will bring you right back to Freakier Friday
While ‘The Change-Up’ Is a Ton of Fun, It Does Have Problematic Elements
DespiteThe Change-Uplargely being a very enjoyable body-swap comedy, it should be noted that the film doesn’t entirely hold up to modern standards, especially in its treatment of its female characters.Many of the female characters in the film are either over-sexualized or treated as a hindrance to the male leads, with quite a few jokes in the movie being at the expense of the women in their lives, and it’s quite uncomfortable in a few instances. While shocking or offensive humor can be somewhat amusing when it serves a point, but the underlying “dude-bro” attitude thatThe Change-Upadopts can feel more misguided than funny.
The only female character who comes out of the film with some dignity is Leslie Mann’s Jamie. Mann is an all-around bright spot here, turning in a very humorous yet down-to-earth performance that compares to her later work in films likeBlockersandtheJudd Apatow-directedThis Is 40. For instance, she sells Jamie’s confusion and pain as she’s unknowingly confronted with another man’s soul inhabiting her husband’s body. She’s the only female character with any sort of depth, and the only woman who’s treated with any sort of dignity.
But looking past its more problematic elements,The Change-Upis still a very fun body-swap comedy, and one of the more memorable R-rated comedies of its time, sitting alongside the likes ofthe twoHorrible BossesmoviesandHall Pass. It may be aggressively male-oriented (not always in the best ways), but its leads make it worth the watch.Very few films (if any) have tackled this premise with the same sense of vulgarity that this does, and there’s something commendable about that fact. If nothing else, it’s a fun throwback to the mid-budget early 2010s R-rated comedies spawned off the back of2009’sThe Hangover, and it’s far from the worst of its kind. If you’re in the mood for another fun body-swap film afterFreakier Friday, this is a very solid pick.
The Change-Up
