The
Change-Up
It's Freaky Friday with dudes! That doesn't make it better.
In The Change-Up, Jason Bateman is Dave - the married guy with
the wonderful wife (Leslie Mann), 3 kids and a career path leading to
partner at his law firm.
Ryan Reynolds is Mitch - the irresponsible ladies man and failed actor
who gets to party all day and all night with all sorts of beautiful
women.
Of course, each one wants the other's life, and they get their wish
after a night of drunkenness that leads to them relieving themselves in
a mysterious fountain, while asking to switch lives.
Gee, do you think each one might realize the grass is not always
greener on the other side of the fence?
Can they find the fountain when they realize the horrible mistake they
have made?
Here's the deal with The Change-Up. In the beginning, everyone
involved wants to make it as R-rated, gross and vulgar as possible,
which is tired and forced. Writers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore obviously
and painfully try to jump on the bandwagon of successful R-rated
comedies like The Hangover or Bridesmaids hoping it
will lead to box office gold, but none of it feels organic and real.
They are tossing in language and potty humor without a purpose or
reason that naturally makes sense.
However, once they get it out of their system, Moore, Lucas and
director David Dobkin get to focus on the story, the characters, the
dialogue and all of the emotion and nuance. You know, the stuff that
makes a movie good.
Bateman and Reynolds get to show you they can be funny and heartwarming
at the same time, even with average material. Bateman seems to take
some joy in getting a chance to play the uninhibited guy for a change,
and brings some real heart to the party boy when he starts to realize
what it is costing him.
Meanwhile, Reynolds plays the nerd, which has probably never happened
to Mr. Gorgeous one day in his entire life. He might not be as
believable as Bateman, but he does deliver in the most important moment
in the movie.
If you can withstand the onslaught of vulgarity that will offend your
greater sensibilities in the beginning of the movie, The Change-Up
finally becomes sweet and entertaining towards the end.
The Change-Up is rated R for pervasive strong
crude sexual content and language, some graphic nudity and drug use.
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