There’s a part in The Switch where Wally (Jason Bateman) has to procure a head lice situation with his artificially/illegitimately inseminated son Sebastian (Thomas Robinson).
It’s probably the best part of the entire movie – that and the tormented cuteness of Robinson’s portrayal of Sebastian.
But let’s rewind just a little bit to paint a picture how this whole situation came to be.
As said, Wally is Sebastian’s father, but Wally is the only one who knows. Not even his BFF Kassie (Jennifer Aniston) knows – and she’s the mother of Sebastian as a result of what she thinks is an artifical insemination from a source that comes in the form of the pearly white blue bloodness of Roland (Patrick Wilson). But in a drunken stupor during Kassie’s “Inseminate Me” party, Wally dumps Roland’s “specimen” down the sink and replaces them with his own (with stimulating help from Diane Sawyer.) Thus sets the foundation for a comedy of romantic confusion and paternal enlightenment.
Considering the movie based on the Jeffrey Eugenides short story was promoted with the words, “From the guys who brought you Juno and Little Miss Sunshine” you would think that you’d be in for a similar ride – but this is not necessarily the case. Juno and Little Miss Sunshine gave us something new and refreshing with its snarky attitude and quirky presentation. The Switch has a hint of those traits, but it also continues this trend of rearranging the way we look at the romantic comedy. I mean, come on – switching baby batter to an unsuspecting best friend? You can’t get any more progressive and “modern” than that. You are bound for hilarity when something like that happens. Throw in Bateman and mix in Aniston and you got yourself something pretty good. Bateman is talented and funny and Aniston is (despite what the general “she’s not with Brad Pitt” public thinks) is pretty and funny. And let’s not forget Patrick Wilson and Jeff Goldblum (who plays Wally’s buddy Leonard). Both add two varieties of douchey wit and splendor that will make you gleam. Wilson’s Roland is the kind of guy who would constantly give you a thumbs up and accompanying winks while Goldblum’s Leonard is the wise-ass womanizing friend that everyone wants.
Directed by Blades of Glory boys Josh Gordon & Will Speck and adapted by Allan Loeb, the movie puts up a smoke screen that makes us think that the story has more to do more with Wally and Kassie – but it has more to do with Wally and Sebastian. Thank God for that. I love a unconventional romantic comedy, but there’s only so much “he said/she said/I’m progressive/you’re hip/we live in Manhattan” love stories I can take. Instead we see Wally go on the classic path of the self-centered single person that rises to the challenge and finds himself within a too-smart-for-his-own-good child. Even though this kind of story is regurgitated, it works in this capacity because it doesn’t shove the idea down your throat. Modern, working men of 2010 can actually relate to Wally – at least all the cynical and single guys who put work before anything can. The paternal relationship can shamelessly make you misty-eyed and make you laugh – and how could you not smile with the puppy-dog eyes of Sebastian? He not only looks the part of a WebMD obsessed child who let’s out a Linus-worthy sigh every 15 minutes, but he acts it well too.
The father-son dynamic is indeed the emotional core of the movie and makes it worthwhile. The use of Diane Sawyer as self-pleasuring literature also makes the movie worthwhile – because it’s funny and kind of immature.
- Excited
- Fascinated
- Amused
- Bored
- Sad
- Angry
