If Freaky Friday, 17 Again, Switch and Freaky Friday (again) are your four all time favorite movies, but they aren't quite manly enough for you, you're going to be so excited for the latest body switcheroo comedy. It's called The Change-Up and the people switching bodies are Green (as in Horny) Lantern Ryan Reynolds and straight man (as in comedy) MVP Jason Bateman.
How do you think this will fare against that other August comedy Crazy Stupid Love (see previous post)
YES, NO, MAYBE SO.
Let's break it down after the jump with the red band trailer. Warning: relatively mild nudity and a super classy urination sequence follow.
Synopsis: Frequently laid bachelor Ryan Reynolds and his married bestie Jason Bateman switch bodies while urinating, eh? Finally someone has literalized penis envy!
YES. Jason Bateman is a great "straight man" in comedy terms, letting the wilder or simply showier performances ricochet off him in films like Juno and great television like Arrested Development. So it might be fun to see him let loose a little.
I've got freckles on my taint! How awesome is that?!?
You never know. Bawdy humor can be hilarious if it doesn't settle for just being crass.
NO. We know EXACTLY where this is going. Like Four Christmases which I predicted the exact heteronormative reinforcement ending of merely by watching the trailer and learning that Reese Witherspoon didn't like babies ("she'll be happily pregnant or happy with newborn at movie's end!" Isaid one minute into the trailer) this movie will end with Ryan Reynolds wanting to settle down or settled down to join the ranks of the happily married and Jason Bateman will realize again how good he has it having a pretty wife even if she poops with the door open (groan). Chances are the old married's sex life will be rejuvenated by the experience, as well. ZZZ. If it doesn't really fuck with the formula, it's going to be lame.
MAYBE SO.
The thing about body switcheroo comedies -- or sci-fi dramas for that matter -- is that if the actors are in sync with each other's performances, and especially if they can tie mimicry in with their chemistry, it can be really upside-down electric. I stand by my 2003 statement that Jamie Lee Curtis deserved an Oscar nomination for Freaky Friday; she was just hilarious channeling Lindsay Lohan's spazziness. This thing lives or dies by how much coloring Reynolds and Bateman do in and outside the lines of this super-formulaic genre.
What's your takeaway: Yes No or Maybe So? I guess it probably depends on your feelings for the stars.
Additional but totally necessary question: When is someone going to give Leslie Mann a comedic lead showcase that doesn't paint her as the ball and chain?