By Matt Brunson
THE SWITCH
*
DIRECTED BY Josh Gordon & Will Speck
STARS Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman
A vile scenario doesn’t necessarily have to translate into a vile movie, providing there’s some objective or empathy on the part of the filmmakers. Gaspar Noe’s 2002 French release Irreversible, for example, centers around arguably the most brutal rape sequence ever committed to celluloid, but several factors, specifically Noe’s decision to tell the story in reverse (thus delineating the heartbreaking — and commonplace — circumstances that could have prevented the tragedy), provide the picture with a purpose and keep it out of the exploitation zone.
Then there’s the case of The Switch. Deciding that Jeffrey Eugenides’ short story would be perfect for expanding into a wacky comedy, the film’s creators — the Blades of Glory directing team of Josh Gordon and Will Speck, writer Allan Loeb and Aniston herself (she serves as an executive producer) — ran with the premise of Aniston as a single woman who badly wants a baby. Aniston’s Kassie Larson opts to go the route of a sperm donor, despite the objections of her best friend Wally Mars (Jason Bateman). Wally, a whiny neurotic who’s secretly smitten with Kassie, thinks it’s an awful idea — not so awful, though, that he doesn’t volunteer his own sperm (Kassie politely declines). Kassie’s sperm donor turns out to be a hunky athlete named Roland (Patrick Wilson), but through circumstances too mind-numbingly stupid to detail here, a drunken Wally accidentally spills the filled baby-batter cup and elects to replace the lost content with his own seed (produced while masturbating to a picture of Diane Sawyer). The pregnant Kassie soon leaves town; cut to seven years later, when she returns with young Sebastian (Thomas Robinson) in tow. Wally immediately notices that Sebastian shares many of his characteristics and habits, and he slowly recalls the hazy details of seven years ago; Kassie, on the other hand, remains dumb as a brick and will need Wally to spell it out for her. But of course, he’s too scared to tell her the truth, so much hilarity ensues. Or not.
Did none of the filmmakers — or the (mostly women) audience members at my screening — realize that Wally’s action of implanting his unwanted sperm into Kassie qualifies as a form of rape? If the movie ever seriously addressed this issue beyond some ever-so-modest poo-pooing by Wally’s boss and confidant (a deadpan Jeff Goldblum, the film’s lone bright spot), then it would warrant some modicum of respect, but everything is played at an inane sitcom level, and we’re supposed to cheer Wally on as he incessantly tries to bag his woman (shouldn’t he be going to jail instead?). Strip away the ramifications of the plot and The Switch is merely one more failed Aniston rom-com bomb. But add it back in and we’re talking about a fairly revolting piece of work.
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This article appears in Aug 17-23, 2010.
Is this review for real! This is a romantic comedy! Like all comedies be would be in jail! lol! This is how I feel about the movie in my opinion this movie was promoted all wrong! every single father needs to see this movie – it shows how a child takes after his father’s genes and does this beautifully and how a father and son bond over what others would see has a handicap. really it isn’t important how we get here but once we are here what happens. the story the mother is going to tell her son of how he is born is so sweet. the characters in this movie are real and you can and do related to at least one or more. it is worth your time and money. this is my favorite romantic comedy since the proposal.
Creative Loafing has gone off the rails.
To the women defending this movie (perhaps you suffer from low gender esteem or self-loathing?) read this and see if you still think it’s hilarious or legal.The man was sentenced to five years in jail, not long enough if you ask me.
http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/15/us/parents-recall-ordeal-of-prosecuting-in-artificial-insemination-fraud-case.html
Cry about your alleged “rape” when women are thrown in jail for cukoldry.
Typical, Richard, a caveman blaming a woman whatever the circumstances. Do you say to the cops, “You can’t blame me for raping her. She shouldn’t be so pretty!”
This movie is in bad taste. It’s SO FAR REMOVED from reality that it’s hard to take it seriously. In real life, this guy would be in jail and the star of Nancy Grace. But, in the movies, it’s played for laughs and kicks. I don’t know of many women who would find this cute or charming
if it happened to them personally. Imagine the kid’s father is not who you thought it was. You’d feel violated. But I guess it’s ok in the movies. I for one like romantic comedies which are a little more realistic. This one makes me feel nauseous.
What? how many women does James Bond sleep with in a day in a James Bond movie? Yet none of the women on the film care? Why because it is just a movie? Hello, romantic comedies real – you didn’t say that about Date Night? Dinner with the Schmucks – which totally makes fun of slow people! Nauseous is belittling a movie for no true reason! If it isn’t your cup of tea that is one thing however lots of people go to romantic comedies to escape from the real world! If the movie was promoted as non fiction that would be different. Loved The Switch! A must see movie!
Uhm…excuse me but, isn’t rape a form of violent assault? Sexual contact without consent? As the subsequent poster points out, switched semen might be the subject of a fraud claim, but I cannot see for the life of me how it amounts to rape. To me, it appears you are diminishing rape to a rather petty crime in the comparison.
The only thing I see being diminished is women’s ability to think for themselves and show empathy. As kat says “I don’t know of many women who would find this cute or charming if it happened to them personally. Imagine the kid’s father is not who you thought it was. You’d feel VIOLATED.” I just hope this never happens to any of your daughters because they obviously won’t have your support since you’re be too busy gushing all over the man who switched the semen.
lol! now all romantic comedies are going to happen to our daughters! like women would let james bond sleep with them and then another person hours later and not care? like you would find a person to make fun of just for the boss like in dinner with the schumcks or kick butt or kill like in action movie salt without going to jail? now when all that really happens of course we will care – so we should hate the switch but not all these other movies – isn’t logical!
Mary must really like this movie, she’s now posting the same comments under the name Jordan. 🙂
The movie won’t be with us long. It opened a miserable 8th at the box office and bombed from the start. Good riddance.