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I just finished watching this movie on youtube and i absolutely enjoyed it, I love gender bender films and this one's on my top list. "Switch" is another movie to explore the differences between men and women in a light romantic comedy setting. Steve, a selfish womanizer is lured by three of his previous conquests to a night he imagines will fulfill his lusts in the arms of these women. Instead, Steve is shot by them after a botched drowning attempt in the hot tub. God refuses to let Steve into Heaven until he can find one woman who truly loves him unconditionally. In much the manner of Job, Satan has a chance to bedevil the situation by returning Steve as a gorgeous woman, Amanda, who receives the same treatment from the men she meets that Steve would have given her. The movie's plot focuses on Steve/Amanda's attempt to find one woman who loves him unconditionally. The only thing i hated about this film was the ending, It was a letdown it wasn't what i expected but i guess it was OK during the time of it's release.

If you haven't seen this film, I recommend you do because it's worth a watch. It's not really an Oscar worthy film so don't take it too serious.

Advertising exec. Steve Brooks, a sexist male chauvinist pig, is invited to a party by a lady friend who suggestively tells him the only other guests will be two other women who he is fond of. The party gets sexy when the four get into a hot tub, but together they bind and murder him. God and the Devil aren't sure where his soul belongs, so they tell him that he will be allowed to return to life for a limited time in order for him to find one woman who likes him. If he doesn't find at least one, he will go to Hell. In order that he can't just use his ability to charm women to find one that doesn't know him, they bring him back as a woman. She retains his memory and chooses to call herself Amanda Brooks.

Ellen Barkin has a remarkable performance as a womanizer in a woman's body. There is a vast difference in personalities between Barkin's Amanda/Steve and Julie Andrews' Victor/Victoria.

Lorraine Bracco also is great in her quiet understated role as major cosmetics client Sheila Faxton.

In addition to watching some great performances, the movie has some pretty funny bits, although some got repetitive. In particular, I thought the the bit about Amanda stumbling when wearing high heels was repeated too often. Regarding the stiletto heels, why would Amanda continue to choose the highest of stiletto heels? Also, while obviously gorgeous, I don't think then 37-year old Ellen Barkin looked as strikingly sexy as Amanda as the male characters (and Amanda herself) thought she did. She didn't seem as hot as the younger actresses who planned Steve's murder.

The resolution at the ending also was somewhat disappointing to me.

Alright, the premise is hokey, but not completely as Mel Gibson did it nine years later. I was funny and it had one thing that Gibson couldn't bring, and that is Ellen Barkin.

Yes, I am prejudiced. Ever since I saw Barkin in The Big Easy, I have been in love with her quirky smile and hot body. She is the main reason I will be plopping my bucks down in a week to see Ocean's Thirteen. And, she did get a Golden Globe nomination out of this (Losing to Bette Midler of all people, if you can believe it!), so it is not as bad as they say.

I only had two criticisms: She never got the hang of walking in heels, and the ending sucked.

This is one of my favorite Barkin vehicles. In fact, without her wonderful comic turns this one would sink under its constrained plot. Besides Barkin, Jimmie Smits and Lorraine Bracco (of Sopranos fame) give good supporting performances. The idea and story Blake Edwards uses is a variation on Victor/Victoria, which was good enough to be recast as a musical, but here his usually daring ideas don't quite make the grade. Nonetheless, this is one of those comedies that calls for repeated viewing, because once you've laughed at some of Barkin's comedic scenes, a second viewing will have you laughing even before the scene unfolds. Roger Ebert commented that a deeper exploration on some of the themes would have made it a timeless comedy, and I'd agree with that.But if you just want to laugh till your sides ache, I'd recommend this one for your funny bone.

I LOVE this movie. I'm a strange person though, so it makes sense this is one of the greatest movies no ones ever seen. Blake Edwards characters are made more vibrant by combining a cynicism and lust for life that makes his brilliant dialog both poignant and very funny. Like the current backwash of stupid funny, or anything with Seth Rogen? Forget I mentioned Switch at all, its not for you. Like witty adult comedies that went by the boards? Check out Pyrates{1991}. 10 lines huh? OK. I didn't know much about Ellen Barkin before this movie but, it seems comedy was not her forte. WOW. Talk about missing your calling.She is a scream. Smitts was a hot property at the time and was OK but maybe a little bit of a lightweight in this. JoBeth was killer (no pun intended) funny. Im done now.