"The Switch" Makes You Laugh, Cry and Believe in the Power of Love

For reason I don't understand, movie critics seem to despise Jennifer Aniston. It doesn't matter what type of movie she makes, who she stars with or how good she may be. They hate her and they are going to tip apart her work.

I happen to like Aniston. As a rule she doesn't usually take part in sleazy movies that are full of gratuitous sex and violence. She sticks with films that have a story to tell, offer a moral lesson and make you laugh or feel good. I respect that. I also happen to think she has a keen sense of comedic timing; something that a lot of actors, like Nicole Kidman, can't begin to understand.

I didn't get the opportunity to see Aniston's film "The Switch" when it came out in the theaters. It came out at the same time as some other blockbusters and kind of got buried in the melee. So I was looking forward to seeing it when it came on DVD.

"The Switch" is a story for modern times. It is about a woman named Kassie (Aniston) who hasn't found "Mr. Right" and isn't convinced she needs him anyway. After all she has a man in her life, her best friend Wally (played by Jason Bateman). She knows that he will always have her back no matter what.

That is until she announces that she wants to have a baby and asks Wally to help her find a sperm donor. He is against the concept and thinks she should wait until she finds the love of her life. They fight and take a short break while Kassie makes her final decision.

Ultimately, she decides to go ahead with sperm donation and throws an "I'm Getting Pregnant Party." Wally, not wanting to let his best friend down attends. However, he quickly proceeds to get very drunk after meeting the sperm donor, Roland (played by Patrick Wilson).

While going to the bathroom, Wally stumbles across Roland's donation and thinks about flushing it down the drain. Then, clumsily he manages to spill the sperm anyway. Unsure of what to do, he ultimately decides to pull a switch, substituting his own sperm for the original.

Once she is pregnant, Kassie moves back home to raise her son Sebastian (played by Thomas Robinson). She and Wally don't see each other for six years until she finally returns to New York with her son in tow.

Immediately, upon seeing Sebastian, Wally begins to have flashes about that fateful night. He doesn't; however, put all the pieces together right away. His drunken mind had blocked much of what happened. It takes time for him to come to grips with the truth.

It is obvious, from the start, that Sebastian is a perfect carbon copy of Wally. They have the same coloring. They have the same mannerism. They are both hypochondriacs. They think the same way. This brings the two men in Kassie's life together.

However, unbeknownst to Wally, Kassie has begun dating Roland, with an outside thought of giving Sebastian a father. But when it all comes out, Sebastian is none to happy with his mother's choice of dates.

One thing leads to another and a strange rectangle develops. But who will triumph? Will Wally tell Kassie the truth? Will Kassie forgive him if he does? Can Wally ever leave the son he has come to adore? Will Sebastian ever accept Roland?

These are great questions, but ones I'm not going to answer. You'll have to watch the film yourself to find out how it ends.

"The Switch" is actually a delightful comedy. Aniston has never been more charming. Bateman has never been more neurotically funny. Robinson is pitch perfect as Sebastian. Even Jeff Goldblum, as Wally's partner and friend, has some winning moments of his own. The only disappointment is Juliette Lewis, as Debbie. The fine actress misses with this portrayal, which is way too over the top.

The screenplay written by Allan Loeb is funny, heartwarming, charming and sweet. Directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck handle the film with light-handed perfection. That makes it a mystery as to why this movie received such bad reviews. In my opinion they were not warranted.

I loved "The Switch;" so much so that I will add it to my DVD collection. But then I'm a huge Aniston fan. If you don't like her or Bateman, then you won't like this film. If you like either or both of those actors, I don't think you'll be disappointed. I wasn't. I give "The Switch" three out of five stars.

RATING SCALE USED:

0 = A stinker. Don't waste the money!
1 = Bad. Rent it at your own risk.
2 = Below average. See only if you have time to kill.
2.5 = Average. A toss up.
3 = Good. Worth a looksee.
3.5 = Very Good. I recommend it.
4 = Excellent. Don't miss it!
4.5 = Outstanding. What are you waiting for?
5 = Destined to become a classic. You will be sorry if you don't see it.