Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews

The Change-Up (Unrated)- 2011

Directed by David Dobkin

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin,

Written by Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

There is a moment in The Change-Up when Ryan Reynold’s character, who is at that moment played by Jason Bateman, explains that Bateman’s original character’s boss may be an anti-Semite.  He then proceeds to refer to the Japanese clients in a series of racial epithets.  Or something like that.  This was advertised, remember, as the R-Rated (or Unrated, in this case) body-switch comedy.  Thanks, but I am not sure I ever heard the clamoring for this type of film.

There are some genuine laugh out loud moments in this movie, and there is some acting going on.  Really.  Seeing Bateman go from the typical (of late) Bateman role to the husband with the brain of a bachelor is a true pleasure to watch.  Reynolds has gone this way before, and so while not being the complete revelation, is still alright.

I really don’t want to dwell on this review, other than to say that you know what you are going to get from the first moment.  Lot’s of learning, plenty of hugs (verbal and physical), and some high fives here and there.  There are plenty of offensive lines, plenty of breasts, plenty of women seen as sex objects, and a few children put in dangerous places.  Fecal matter: how can I forget the ninja fecal matter?

A movie like this will come and go, and no one’s life will change.  Except for Leslie Mann.  I never thought she’d do a nude scene.  The scene on the toilet, though, that I did expect.

(**1/2 out of *****)