It seems like every decade, Hollywood makes a movie about two people changing places in their bodies. It's usually by some magic bottle, antique object or potion. I have watched several such films. Not all are comedies, but most are. Some are good, some are hokey or bad, but seldom is there a very good one.
Among the very good ones I have seen are "Turnabout" of 1940, and "Big" of 1988. The popularity of that one apparently led to a splurge of body exchange films. There is very little change in the plots of these films - just different settings. Person A thinks Person B has a better life, and vice versa, and so they are exchanged in the other's body. Most learn to appreciate the difficulties of the other person. Some lead to calamities and others to humorous situations
But, since the plot is formulaic for most of these films, and there is little if anything new, the only thing that might set them apart - make one film stand out over the others, is in the actors and how they play the characters. With that build-up, I think that this film, "Vice Versa," is above most of this sub-genre. And, it is due mostly to the two lead actors. Judge Reinhold does a superb job in moving from the serious Marshall to the boyish Charlie. And Fred Savage is outstanding in taking on the adult persona that had been Marshal. He, especially, is so good that after a while it's not difficult to imagine that he's really the Marshall character, mind and soul inside the body and voice of the young Charlie.
This is a very amusing and enjoyable film that has a first rate ending for this father and son team. "Vice Versa" is head and shoulders above the bulk of body-switch films made since the late 1980s.
Here are my two favorite lines from this film.
Chalie's mom, Robyn, leaves the room where she has just seen Marshall, in Charlie's body, drinking a martini. Robyn says, "Your mother knows it's your father who turned you into a foul-mouthed alcoholic."
Marshall, in Charlie's body and voice, tries to make a hurried phone call and the operator says "Get off the line, you pervert."
Among the very good ones I have seen are "Turnabout" of 1940, and "Big" of 1988. The popularity of that one apparently led to a splurge of body exchange films. There is very little change in the plots of these films - just different settings. Person A thinks Person B has a better life, and vice versa, and so they are exchanged in the other's body. Most learn to appreciate the difficulties of the other person. Some lead to calamities and others to humorous situations
But, since the plot is formulaic for most of these films, and there is little if anything new, the only thing that might set them apart - make one film stand out over the others, is in the actors and how they play the characters. With that build-up, I think that this film, "Vice Versa," is above most of this sub-genre. And, it is due mostly to the two lead actors. Judge Reinhold does a superb job in moving from the serious Marshall to the boyish Charlie. And Fred Savage is outstanding in taking on the adult persona that had been Marshal. He, especially, is so good that after a while it's not difficult to imagine that he's really the Marshall character, mind and soul inside the body and voice of the young Charlie.
This is a very amusing and enjoyable film that has a first rate ending for this father and son team. "Vice Versa" is head and shoulders above the bulk of body-switch films made since the late 1980s.
Here are my two favorite lines from this film.
Chalie's mom, Robyn, leaves the room where she has just seen Marshall, in Charlie's body, drinking a martini. Robyn says, "Your mother knows it's your father who turned you into a foul-mouthed alcoholic."
Marshall, in Charlie's body and voice, tries to make a hurried phone call and the operator says "Get off the line, you pervert."