The Change-Up

Release Date: Aug 05, 2011 

Runtime: 1 hr. 52 min. 

Director: David Dobkin 

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin.

When “Freaky Friday” goes R-rated, there’s no limits as to what can be said or done. And “The Change-Up” attests to that, giving a crude spin on a fable that is a surefire way to get the laughs. Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman star as two friends who are complete opposites, but long for the other’s ‘stress-free’ life. Thanks to a magical fountain, their wish gets granted, and it’s safe to guess what happens next. With credentials backed by the director of “Wedding Crashers” and the writers of “The Hangover,” there’s no shortage of raunchiness or ballsy humor (literally) to spare. But even as the premise of body swapping is far from original, and noticeably passé, this isn’t the reason why it doesn’t work as well as it should. Like the characters switching lifestyles, the film undergoes dual personalities, and doesn’t stay fixedly to one genre alone. On the one hand, it’s a gross-out comedy. Having no restraint and habitually cringe inducing, it’s sporadically funny when the situation permits. Ergo, the jokes can seem forced and contrived at times, purely conjecturing on what the audience likes. On the other hand, it’s a sort-of drama. The characters face issues that make them question their lives, thus eventually leading to the conventional self-discovery and wish fulfillment. Reynolds and Bateman play their part—or rather counterpart—well, and it’s the role swap that makes it enjoyable for the most part. Bateman is able to leave behind his ‘nice-guy’ persona to mouth off expletives instead. But the profanity-blazon dialogue is more or less a means to get by, and doesn’t amend the unbalanced storyline that comes with it. While “The Change-Up” is not one of the better comedies of the summer, it may be inclined to subjectivity. I, for one, prefer Bateman’s similar take in “Horrible Bosses.”

Rating: 2½ stars