Men can change!

OK, the concept is about as far from fresh as I am from saintly but that doesn’t detract from the fact that this film is often funnier than it is predictable.

There have been loads of films that explore the idea of body-swapping/role reversal, notably: Big, Vice Versa and Freaky Friday but this movie is different for one reason … the gross-out factor.

Parts of the movie are disgusting simply for the sake of being disgusting but I guess that’s its appeal.
 
Many of the releases I’ve seen lately seem to be cashing in on this factor. Although it’s sad that films are being diluted to toilet humour to appeal to the lowest common denominator, at least the masses are entertained. To be fair, so was I for the most part.
 
The movie revolves around two childhood friends Mitch (Reynolds) and Dave (Bateman) who have since grown up and made very different lifestyle choices.

Dave is a workaholic lawyer and family man with three children and a lovely wife Jamie (Mann). He spends his time frantically juggling his responsibilities while Mitch doesn’t even know what the word responsibility means.

Mitch is a loveable slacker and essentially a giant man-child who enjoys nothing more than partying and womanising, much to the dismay of his friends and family.

Each believes the other is living the life they want, Dave longs for some freedom, the opportunity not to be covered in baby poo at 4am and a date with his gorgeous secretary. Mitch, well, to be honest, Mitch loves his life but does wonder what it would be like to have a fully stocked fridge and maybe a family of his own … way, way, way in the future.

Despite having very different lives, the two remain friends and on the rare occasions they manage to meet up, trouble is never far behind them.

After one inebriated night together they encounter a magic water-fountain (yes, that’s right, just go with it) that switches their souls to each other’s bodies … who says men can’t change?

Dave wakes up in his buddy’s disheveled bachelor pad while Mitch gets the shock of his life to wake up in bed with his best friend’s wife.

What ensues is about an hour of them trying to figure out what happened and live each other’s lives the best they can until they find out how to switch back.

What once seemed so appealing about the other person’s life makes them realise they had things pretty good to start with.

Despite finally having the chance to date his secretary, Dave is not exactly as charming as his buddy and has great difficulty finding the courage to talk to her. Luckily Mitch (in Dave’s body) helps things along by suggesting they go for dinner and hilarity ensues during a date from nervous hell.

Meanwhile, Mitch struggles with being a socially responsible father and puts Dave’s job and marriage in jeopardy with his party-animal antics.
 
Reynolds has a direct line to my funny bone, I don’t know why and I certainly don’t have time to figure it out. All that counts is that I like the guy and I think he has a gift for comedic timing.

He takes even the most dull lines (and trust me there were many in this movie) and brings them to life with a tangible charm that emancipates itself from the tedium of the script.

I think the funnier moments in the movie stem from the role reversal. To see Bateman acting like Reynolds and vice versa is great after getting a feel for their personalities before ‘the change up’.

The old adage that ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’ comes into play more than once before the film ends. It’s a feel-good comedy that isn’t taxing on the old brain box.

All-in-all, this film is not a bad way to round off the summer blockbusters.

Showing in Cineco, Seef II and Saar Cineplex