Director: Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Writer: Allan Loeb, Jeffery Eugenides
DVD and Blu-ray release date: January 17 2011
Studio: Lions Gate Home Entertainment UK Ltd
Number of discs: 1
DVD/Blu-ray running Time: 98/101 mins
Certificate: 12A
Starring: Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Juliette Lewis, Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Wilson, Thomas Robinson
As likable and talented at playing the girl-next-door as she is, Jennifer Aniston’s latest release, The Switch, manages to combine an interesting concept and fabulous supporting cast to create nothing more than a time-passing feel-good haze.
Kassie’s a go-getter, living each day to the motto “Life is in session”. Unfortunately without a partner she is unable to create the life she wants. Deciding to select a sperm donor, she is impregnated and moves to Minnesota to raise her child, leaving her best friend, Wally, behind. Barely staying in touch, through Christmas cards and e-mails Wally learns Kassie is returning after seven years, two failed relationships and one stock market collapse. With a “great” ABC offer and a school for Sebastian, Kassie sets up her new life and reacquaints herself with old friends.
The rest of the story is predictable – sure as viewers we are party to Wally drunkenly switching the donor’s sperm for his own but the union of Wally and Kassie is clearly marked from the outset. After thirteen years and a tumultuous friendship, Kassie’s admittance “we have energy” or Wally’s observation: “her eyes are screaming save me” come as no surprise and are frankly relieving.
Wally acts as narrator delivering a neat ending through that age old device, the circular script: “Look at us running around – I guess that’s why they call us the human race…” Small idiosyncrasies like his observation that one of Kassie’s suitors has a tan line on his wedding finger, make him an interesting character but the film’s real saviour is Sebastian – The Switch’s script writers clearly put all their energy into him.
A hypochondriac kid who likes new empty picture frames and their accompanying pictures, Sebastian is his father’s son and it’s pretty difficult for the scriptwriters to make it any more obvious. He makes noises when he eats, wants to hold a “Kill Shelter” Birthday party for animals soon to be put down and is a serious talker for a six year old: “Nature’s in crisis and there’s only one mammal to blame.”
Other small touches like the “I’m getting pregnant party” and story of the “seed man” also deserve a mention, despite the directors’ disappointing failure to harness the mighty talents of a bizarrely cast Juliette Lewis and Jeff Goldblum. The Switch attempts to pep up that age old story of best friends who should be lovers with a modern day twist that unfortunately isn’t roundedly explored.
**
Special Features:
- The Switch Conceived: Making Of Featurette
- Deleted Scenes with Introductions Featurette
