 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Change-Up
- Review Date: August 5, 2011
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Overly crude body-swapping comedy isn't for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this raunchy body-swapping comedy is more like The Hangover than Freaky Friday. From the opening F-bomb to the end credits, the movie is chock full of language ("f--k" is said in nearly every scene), sexuality (nudity includes breasts, a soft porn movie set, and a fully naked, very pregnant woman), and crass toilet humor. Plus, the movie's themes are actually pretty mature, revolving around two best friends who couldn't be less like each other but secretly envy each other's life. Because it stars two of the funniest actors in Hollywood (Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds), parents should expect even young teens to be interested, but this movie is definitely a "hard-R" for a reason.
What's the story?
Dave (Jason Bateman) and Mitch (Ryan Reynolds) have been best friends since elementary school, but they couldn't be less alike -- Dave's the father of three and on the brink of becoming a partner at a powerful Atlanta law firm, while Mitch is content to smoke marijuana and juggle a calendar full of low-rent acting gigs and a variety of sexual partners. After getting drunk together at a bar one night, the two men simultaneously pee in a public fountain together while saying "I wish I had your life." The next morning, Mitch wakes up in Dave's body and vice-versa, but when they drive back to the magical fountain, they discover that it's been moved into the bureaucratic mire of the Atlanta Parks Department. Until they can locate the fountain, Mitch has to be pretend to be a successful attorney and devoted father, and Dave has to be a slacker actor with a busy hook-up schedule.
Is it any good?
Bateman and Reynolds are undeniably funny men, and it's easy to see why this movie would have been easy for the filmmakers to pitch -- great cast, tried-and-true plot device, and tons of hard-R humor. But despite the actors' talent and some big laughs that parents, especially, will appreciate, there's a fine line between raunchy and tasteless, and the plot veers into cringe-worthy toilet humor one too many times to stay consistently amusing.
Casting Reynolds as a hard-core womanizer and Bateman as the straight-edge family man is cliché, and it's clear that each could have played the other's original part with ease. That would have been a welcome switch, as Reynolds has heart and Bateman has edge, which they clearly prove in the moments that they're "themselves" in the other's body. While there's a somewhat touching message about self-reflection and appreciating what you have, the story gets bogged down in the formulaic gross-out humor. Reynolds' Mitch is too pathetically one-dimensional to even believe, and it's hard to feel sorry for Dave when he has an amazing job, a gorgeous wife (Leslie Mann), and a million-dollar mansion. That said, if you're in the mood for some blue comedy, you'll definitely get a kick out of Craig Bierko's hilarious cameo as a soft-porn director. Now there's an actor who deserves a leading comedy role.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the movie portrays sexuality. Which relationships are healthy, and which are unhealthy? How can you tell?
What about drinking and drug use? Are they shown realistically? What are some of the real-life consequences of getting drunk and smoking pot?
Dave envies Mitch's carefree life, but is Mitch as fulfilled as Dave? Is freedom from responsibility still as attractive in someone in their late 30s as it is in someone in their 20s? Why is growing up and starting a family depicted as boring?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
I walked (really ran) out and got a refund.
WARNING--One of the most vulgar movies I've ever seen. It was so bad that I walked out and demanded my money back. Vile and pornografic. Pure trash. You're bombarded by the "F" word from the start. An assault on your soul. A new low for Hollywood.
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AGE
Engages in the use of slurs against those with disabilities
This movie uses slurs against those with disabilities in particular those with Down Syndrome. Ryan Reynold's character implies that Jason Bateman's character's children could be "retarded" and one looks "downsy". This is offensive, discriminatory and unnecessary.
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AGE
OK for older teens
I liked this movie a lot. It was way more innapropraite than i thought it would be though. you see several women's butts and fully frontal breasts. there is so much sexual content as well. the language is also a huge issue. it is a good movie for older teens and adults. i was too young to see it. the ending was good though.
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AGE
Great
Hilarious. My rating: Pervasive crude language, some strong sexuality, and drug use.
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AGE
great movie just not for the kids!
Okay this is a great movie in all except for kids no they shouldn't be allowed to see this movie when i seem the tralier i thought well hey this movie will probably be Pg-13 but apperntly i was wrong R Rated lots of swearing and sexual behaivor but a great movie well lets say for teens 13 and up i just purchased this flim and im surprised the check out lady didn't Id me cause of this movie luckly no she didn't anyway i have the movie loved it but its not a movie for kids its more for teenagers and adults only trust me when i say that ! great movie for teens and adults only!
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AGE
explicit sex for its rating &drug use portrayed as normal
Level of explicit sexual acts normally not seen in this type of movie, especially R(and we saw the unrated version); speaking of types of movies, one of the main characters acts out a scene in a "light" porn movie as a scene in this movie, which includes odd/fetish-like behavior. Smoking pot use viewed as a normal way to live daily life. Spiking punch bowl with ecstasy mentioned as main character's "quirky" behavior. Had its funny moments, but this is sooo not for kids.
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AGE
The Change - Up
good switch up movie, lots of cool scenes
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AGE
up change....
Best friends get in a funny but bad situlation
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AGE
A very raunchy film
Very crude and sexual humor throughout including the filming of a light porno. Characters smoke pot. Lots of breasts are seen. Very strong language throughout. Extremely funny, but think before letting kids watch it
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Kid, 12 years old
January 21, 2012
AGE
This is one of the best comedys since bad teacher!!!!!!!!!
I loved this movie I saw this on DVD and I laughed so hard I almost cried. some scenes in this movie is okay for kids and some is not okay for kids like it has the f word in every scene and in a couple scenes have nudity and has some drug use. I only see the theatrical verson so I cant review the unrated verson. let your kids 12 + see this movie on DVD or blu-ray. PS if you rent this movie at safeway you only get the theatrical verson not the unrated verson.
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| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | David Dobkin |
| Cast: | Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, Ryan Reynolds |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 112 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 5, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | November 8, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | pervasive strong crude sexual content and language, some graphic nudity and drug use |
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