THE SWITCH
US, 2010, 101 minutes, Colour.
Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Patrick Wilson, Juliette Lewis, Jeff Goldblum, Thomas Robinson.
Directed by Josh Gordon, Will Speck.
Another Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy. Yes, but not quite. It is more of a Jason Bateman romantic comedy, and that makes it far more interesting.
Like many American romantic comedies these days, it begins with some up front language and detail about sexuality and relationships. It also tackles an issue for some more ‘trendy’ (whatever that means) middle aged women who sense the biological clock is ticking and want to bear a child even though there is no husband or even father-figure at hand (more recently Baby Mama, The Back-up Plan). Advocates of marriage who are wary of surrogacy and IVF will not be happy.
But, as with so many of the same romantic comedies (especially those produced or directed by Jud Apatow), the initial shock, or even disapproval, has to give way to acknowledging that these are choices made by people in good faith and that there are consequences – which may be good. This certainly happens in The Switch which by the end advocates happy marriage and the strong presence of a father or father-figure.
Jennifer Aniston is Kassie who is determined to become pregnant and is on the lookout for the best possible donor. This does not include her best friend and confidant, Wally. He is a mopoke of a man and Jason Bateman makes him an interesting and entertaining mopoke. And, he is responsible for the switch in the semen for the impregnation. Then, time passes...
Jennifer Aniston does her usual performance. But, with Bateman on screen more than she is, and telling the story, attention is less on the rather self-absorbed woman who wants a baby but who then shows herself a devoted mother and more on the dilemma Will finds himself in as to whether he should tell her the truth, especially when he observes the character and behaviour of the son (an effective Thomas Robinson). Jeff Goldblum enjoys himself as Wally’s friend and adviser. Juliette Lewis gives another of her getting near the top if not over it screechy performances. Patrick Wilson does a good job as the nice, rather naive and all-American putative father.
These are choices made by a number of Americans (and others) today. The film, with its comic touches and its sentiment, offer an easy-going opportunity to react to them and reflect on them.
1. The US romantic comedy tradition? This one for the 21st century? Scenarios becoming more explicit? Touches of the gross-out? Then sentiment? And then more moral perspective?
2. The New York story, the settings, the city and apartments, offices, clinics, hospitals? The party scene? Musical score?
3. The title, its irony? Highlighting the situation, Wally’s decision? His being given the drug to calm him? Destroying the semen? Forgetting?
4. Wally, his point of view, his telling the story, Jason Bateman and his comic style, the ironies in his character, his qualities in himself, his flaws? At work, his boss, the relationship, his boss giving him advice?
5. His relationship with Kassie, is the best friend, no prospect of marriage, his reaction to her choice of Roger is the sperm donor, at the party, Debbie and her attitudes, giving him the pill? In the bathroom, wonky, the accident, his decision, supplying his own sperm, yet not remembering? The years passing?
6. Kassie, Jennifer Aniston’s style, the setup of the plot, her friendliness with Wally, wanting a child, the biological clock ticking, artificial insemination? Her not using Wally? Her choosing Roger? His being an agreeable and obliging person? The insemination, the process, pregnancy, the birth? The birth of Sebastian? Kassie moving away from New York?
7. Roger as a pleasant character, agreeable, participating in the process, his presumption of parenthood? His marriage and divorce? His dating Kassie? Wanting to marry her after his divorce?
8. Debbie, her character, friend, critical, her attitude towards Wally, helping him, the pill?
9. The return to New York, Sebastian and his age, Kassie dating Roger? The buildup to the proposal? The dinner, the guests, Wally intervening, telling the truth? Kassie angry, slapping him, never wanting to see him again?
10. Wally and Sebastian, getting on well together, noticing the resemblance, the comic manner of the little boy, serious? Wally and his sense of responsibility? The reason for his making the announcement about the truth?
11. Time passing again, Kassie and Wally in love? Marrying? Celebrating the birthday? How credible considering their relationship in the past?
