The Switch
In
the last several months I have seen two sperm-donor romantic comedies –
which is about two too many. However, in fairness, The Switch is
certainly a better movie than The Back-Up Plan.
Of
course, that’s hardly tough competition.
Actually, come to think of it, there have
been three sperm-donor movies if you count The Kids Are All Right -
though it would be quite unfair to compare these other two shallow romantic
comedies to that much funnier and more dramatic family tale.
The Switch is not all that
good a movie in general. It’s just another cheesy romantic comedy – better
than some, worse than others, but you’ve seen it all before.
In
fact, you've probably seen it before with Jennifer Aniston.
Okay,
this is the first film that Jen has co-starred with a specimen bottle, I
suppose, but without that high concept you would be hard pressed to tell
The Switch apart from Picture Perfect, The Object of My Affection,
Love Happens, She's the One, Along Came Polly, Management, 'Til There Was
You or even Office Space and The Bounty Hunter.
To
wit: funny, but slightly uptight guy meets beautiful, kooky and carefree
woman with a Rachel hairdo. He falls in love with her but can't admit
it - even to himself. He gets himself deep into the friend zone and
watches sadly from afar while she dates someone else, until he finally finds
the cojones to profess his true love - and finds the kind of true,
blissful happiness that can apparently only come from the approving, loving
gaze of Jennifer Aniston.
Each
of the films has its little quirks, but essentially it's all a formula.
The Aniston principle.
On the
plus side, The Switch has one of the best leading men in an Aniston
vehicle. Jason Bateman gives this character a smart and melancholy
charm and a genuine sense of desperation. Since his career
resurrection with Arrested Development, Bateman has taken a few too
many roles in underwhelming films (The Ex, Mr. Margorium's Wonder
Emporium, Extract) but he always brings something interesting and new to
his characters. He's even funny here... well kind of funny... when he
is drunkenly dropping someone else's specimen cup down a sink.
But we
are getting ahead of ourselves. How did we get to a specimen cup
anyway? (Well, I'm still not sure I can answer that, but I'll try!)
Aniston is Kassie: a gorgeous and successful New York (by way of Minnesota)
exec who has a great life, a wonderful job, a stunning apartment (can't
anyone in a New York film ever live in a cramped studio apartment like most
people in the city do?), a community of friends and a sweet and caring
platonic pal (that is Bateman's Wally). The only thing she can not
seem to find is true love. And she is in her 30s and the biological
clock is ticking. Therefore, Kassie decides to bypass the guy and go
it solo.
Of
course, biologically speaking, that can be kind of hard. Not raising a
child alone, but there has to be a man to contribute the... umm... seed.
Therefore Kassie goes to a sperm bank - somewhat offending Wally who
apparently would have liked to have been asked even though he has no
interest whatsoever in having a child. Therefore, Kassie has a huge
party in which she gets the sperm donation by a well-meaning, married donor
(Patrick Wilson.)
I know
what you're thinking. I am too. A sperm party? Yuck.
Those crazy New Yorkers will have a party for anything.
Of
course, it would seem - and I will be the first to admit that I am far from
an expert in this field - but it would seem that the transference of a
specimen cup meant for artificial insemination would take place in a sterile
clinic, not at a crowded party.
Then
again, had it been done at a clinic as you would expect, then the big "plot
twist" would be impossible. I put plot twist in quotes because the
point has been relentlessly outed in film trailers and even the poster.
We
would never be alone in a bathroom with a black-out drunk man and that
specimen cup. (Because, you know, drinking until you can't remember
what you did for several hours is funny, right? Umm, no.)
However, somehow Wally spills the specimen and then in a panic makes his own
deposit.
Can
you say wacky complications?
Wally
forgets his alcohol fueled peccadillo, Kassie moves home to raise her son
and suddenly we are eight years later. Wally is in the same place in
his world when unexpectedly Kassie moves back, with her smart and melancholy
son. Why does this kid seem so familiar?
If you
have seen even one Jennifer Aniston film - or one romantic comedy in
general, for that matter - you know full well what happens.
Then
again, if you wanted to be surprised, you wouldn't be going to a Jennifer
Aniston movie in the first place.
Dave Strohler
Copyright ©2010 PopEntertainment.com.
All rights reserved. Posted: September 16, 2010.
