The Change-Up (15)

Film

Comedy

Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman in The Change-Up.

Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman in The Change-Up Photo: Richard Cartwright

Time Out rating:

<strong>Rating: </strong>2/5

User ratings:

<strong>Rating: </strong>4/5
Rate this  

Time Out says

Tue Sep 13 2011

It’s ‘Freaky Friday’ with F-words and boobies as this body-swap comedy goes grown-up in search of laughs. Jason Bateman is the serious one (married, kiddies, lawyer, stressed), Ryan Reynolds the dude (single, womanising, jobbing actor, unfulfilled), and courtesy of a magic fountain from the ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ school of ironically dumb plot devices, each gets to experience the other’s life. The film’s moralising agenda is swiftly apparent, and pretty one-sided it is too, since Bateman’s return to the bachelor lifestyle has him longing for hearth and home, while Reynolds’s preview of adulthood proves a wake-up call to embrace responsibility. All thuddingly obvious – though, to be fair, sundry outrageous comedy moments keep it lively enough in the meantime, even if the spraying poo and porn-actress gags are more effortful than a spirited sequence where laidback Reynolds tackles childcare. Thanks to a likeable Bateman and a sterling Leslie Mann as his long-suffering/devoted missus, it plays – though you’d have to call the whole undertaking workmanlike rather than inspired.

Author: Trevor Johnston

5

Comments

Add +

Release details

Rated:

15

UK release:

Fri Sep 16 2011

Duration:

112 mins

Cast and crew

Director:

David Dobkin

Cast:

Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann

Share your thoughts
  4. * mandatory fields

Comments & ratings

Rated as: 4/5 (3 ratings)

  • It’s been a while that I laughed a lot for movie and “Change-upâ€� did it for me. I totally recommend every one to watch it; you will have great time watching it. I’ll give it 9.5/10. Avtransfer.co.uk | computerszone.co.uk | happytobuy.co.uk

    Love Avtion Mon Nov 28 2011
    Rated as: 5/5
    Report

  • Easy to forget that, after a summer of "penis/Vagina" obsessed 15 raters, this is a decent flick. Like to see 50% less crudity in these types next year (a decent balance between 12a/15 instead of the gulf we have now) but won't hold my breath. 6/10

    scrumpyjack Wed Sep 28 2011
    Rated as: 3/5
    Report

  • Yes, of course it was predictable, story line, gags n all, but it was also funny and the audience around me seemed to think so too. It was good to see a romcom being a little more grown up and a little more realistic as it floated in its world of fantasy.

    pipsqueek Fri Sep 23 2011
    Rated as: 3/5
    Report

  • Nothing new in this tired formula film apart from a young kid squirting some CGI crap in the mouth of his dad. Not good.

    ARCHGATE Mon Sep 19 2011
    Report

  • Google "yougov film critics" for the great "Five Stars?" survey on why people choose the films they go and see. Time Out registers at about 0% influence, ALL critics get 6% but 5.5% is Wossy, Kermode and James King. Depressing reading for film critics...I bet this gets removed as film critics don't like bad reviews...

    xXXx Thu Sep 15 2011
    Report
  • Hotwise
  • Cool brands
  • Star