Review of The Change-Up (2011) by Soren H — 28 Apr 2012

The Change-Up had a lot of things that I was expecting - sexual innuendo, very off-color humor, and the vulgarity requisite in seemingly every contemporary adult comedy. But it also had something I wasn't expecting: heart. It is this singular quality which raises The Change-Up above the traditional gross-out schlock Hollywood produces these days.

Yes, in a movie filled with poop jokes and entire scenes based on the alleged inherent funniness of Urban Dictionary, I found an honest emotional through-line. In light of this, I would have to say The Change-Up was one of the best comedies of 2011 (followed closely by Paul Feig's Bridesmaids). From the commercials and from the premise, you might expect another rehash of the Freaky Friday formula - and you would not be remiss make the assumption: two characters who are very close but very different switch bodies, and only manage to switch back once they've learned their respective lessons. However, due to its sincere message and earnest leading roles, The Change-Up hardly feels like old hat.

Dave, portrayed by Jason Bateman, is an overachieving (and overworked) lawyer who is on his way to making partner in his firm, while his best friend Mitch, played by Ryan Reynolds, is a do-nothing burnout who still lives as if he'll be in his twenties for the rest of his life. Their relationship has been uneven at best, with differences in daily priorities creating a significant relationship rift between them.

Naturally, once they've switched bodies, Dave and Mitch don't exactly gel with their new lifestyles. To use the cliché appropriately, hilarity ensues - Bateman and Reynolds clearly had an excellent time playing one another. Each character is completely believable as disembodied consciousnesses and sensibilities stuck in totally new bodies and lives, so much so that a late-movie scene where they are briefly shown in their true bodies to emphasize their growth almost seems unnecessary.

However, what's particularly interesting about this film is that the director, David Dobkin, and the writers did not rest on the laurels of a fish-out-of-water shenanigans to drive the plot. Instead, each scene is carefully constructed to serve either as call-back for another scene later on, or to suggest emotional maturity in both of the main characters. This lends heavily to the endearing nature of the film.

Of course, if there is one glaring weakness to the film, it is how closely the movie hews to the three act Hollywood structure. Nevertheless, I found the characters to be both relatable enough to transcend these faults. In one touching moment, Mitch, in Dave's body, finally succeeds at being a father to Dave's daughter. You can see in Jason Bateman's eyes the inner Ryan Reynolds finally understanding what the whole parent thing is all about, and it unexpectedly strikes a remarkable cord.

And yes, the movie is funny. Very funny. Bateman and Reynolds are oddly at home in their role reversal, Leslie Hand plays essentially the same funny, wife-y role she played in Knocked Up, and Olivia Wilde plays a spot-on assistant-come-love interest whose only real problem as a character is not enough screen time. An underutilized Alan Arkin does disappoint somewhat, but it hardly hurts the overall film - I just wish he had been put to better use.

I mean, it's Alan Arkin.

The point is, you should see The Change-Up - comedy is a divisive genre, but if this sort of humor clicks with you, you won't be disappointed.

~ Søren.