I recently delved into the 2007 movie 'Rich in Spirit,' a film that employs the tried-and-true Freaky Friday trope of body switching. Now, I've got a soft spot for this kind of storyline, but this one had a twist of its own.
First off, I couldn't help but notice that despite being from 2007, some of the fashion choices in the film, especially those baggy suits donned by the pastor and the cops, screamed '90s nostalgia. It was an interesting throwback that added a unique charm to the movie.
My main gripe with 'Rich in Spirit' is that I wished it had been longer. The storyline had so much potential, and I felt like it could have delved even deeper into the switched lives of the characters. The movie focused more on the homeless man pretending to be the pastor, and while that had its moments, I would have liked to see more issues on that front as well as the pastor living the life of a homeless person, after he judged the homeless so harshly.
When it came to the body switching, there was a bit of a disconnect. The shy and cute pastor didn't seem drastically different once the switch occurred, which left me wondering if the actors should have been swapped in the first place. However, the transformation of the homeless guy into a well-spoken and straight-laced paster was great.
What I found intriguing were the connections between the characters. The cop's quest to apprehend Malik ended up intertwining with him being Valerie's blind date, creating unexpected links, which make the story more interesting.
In the end, 'Rich in Spirit' was a nice watch, but it left me craving more. With a longer runtime and perhaps a bit more emphasis on the differences between the switched characters, it could have been an even more engaging experience. Nonetheless, it's an interesting take on the body swap concept with some memorable moments and connections worth exploring.
