Family Switch

I have to admit that I had to watch Family Switch over two viewings. I found it sickly sweet and couldn't cope watching it in one hit. It's the typical oops we have switched bodies but something has to change in the family dynamics before we can be switched back scenario. I can't say that we need 'another' one of these films. If they were hoping it would be some holiday classic, I think they might have somewhat missed the mark.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate the film, I just didn't love it either.

Ed Helms was good in it, and so was Jennifer Garner and even the actors playing their kids. But it just felt like it was missing something, or maybe I am too old and jaded for this kind of film anymore.

Seems like this movie has a lot of bad reviews on here, but I completely disagree. I went in with little expectations, because unfortunately Netflix movies are hit and miss. But I liked it. Yes, the switching of bodies has been done a lot, but I thought the writers and actors did a great job of differentiating it from other storylines. It's wholesome and family friendly. There are only so many times you can watch the same family holiday movies. The casting was spot on and the actors seemed like they were having fun. It's definitely one I could watch again.

I appreciated that the sister was the jock and brother the nerdy smart guy. It's usually the other way around.

Yes we have seen the concept of intergenerational body swaps innumerable times. Yes there are the usual tropes. Yes it can be silly.

But this movie is actually infused with the spirit of Christmas.

We teared. We laughed. We smiled. We nodded knowingly. We laughed hysterically. We felt warm and happy at the end of it.

All the leads were good but I found Jennifer Garner and Emma Myers particularly good. Ms. Garner really showed her comic skills.

This will not make best picture but it will make my annual list of Christmas movies. After all if you can't get sentimental or mawkish at Christmas then when?

3 out of 5 stars.

Family Switch is a fair comedy film that has a family theme message for the holidays and humor that is cheesy and fun. Its Freaky Friday with a family concept. A story about a family thats distant and growing apart. And few days before christmas on a day of planetary alignment. They all wished to be the other. Which they all switch bodies. While trying to live the others life and seeing what there struggle is.

It is a cute and fun family film for the holidays. The cast did okay and had fun with there roles. The humor can be a bit cheesy with iffy dialogue as well. It is a film that entertains.

This is a cute, feel-good movie that made me laugh out loud a few times and kept me entertained the rest of the time.

This falls squarely in the genre of "Disney-esque" movies that take place during the holidays, with lots of festive bells jingling and ding-donging throughout the score.

I wasn't expecting to raise my IQ by watching it, and of course I didn't. Nor was I expecting a transcendent work of cinematic art, and it wasn't.

But the acting was solid from all characters, the premise (while ridiculous, as all of these "body-swapping" stories are, unapologetically!) remained pretty steady throughout, and although it was predictable and formulaic, it wasn't over-the-top corny. (Sure, it was a little corny, but not TOO bad.)

There's even a cute dance sequence in the middle of the movie that turned suddenly sentimental and made me tear up for no discernable reason except that I am a pathetic sap, lol.

I enjoyed it and would recommend it if, like me, you enjoy sometimes just turning your brain off for a bit during the holidays, and watching something that's basically the cinematic equivalent of a warm snowman-shaped sugar cookie.