Family Switch

This is ostensibly a Christmas movie, but that was clearly an afterthought to try to boost its marketability. There's nothing great here, but it's more watchable than a lot of the made-for-tv Christmas movie fare we get these days. That's probably mostly due to a cast that's better than this script deserved.

This is objectively pretty bad. It's so Disney Channel and candy coated and for-the-kids that I was actually shocked when they played Bust a Move and included the line about chicks scantily clad and showing body.

I didn't know anything about this movie or what it was called when someone put it on, so I kind of internally groaned a little when I realized what it was going to be about. It's not anything new or surprising, but it's wholesome and it does have good funny moments. And a very cute dog. As Christmas movies go (for someone who mostly tries to avoid them), this is not so bad.

I honestly enjoyed it more than I thought I would, even if it feels pretty ridiculous at times. There's enough humor and general wholesomeness to make it worthwhile, I think.

Yes, this is a direct-to-Netflxi film. Yes, it's been done to death. Yes, the "gypsy-ish" character feels dodgy. Yes, it's 100% predictable. Yes, the baby CGI is bad. Yes, black characters mostly existing as handshake buddies feel weird. And yes, this is not a Christmas movie. But the cast is charismatic, i laughed plenty of times, the baby/dog switch is hilarious and overall it just works. It's just a nice, silly movie.

It has funny and whimsical scenes, but it's not for me. I don't remember when I cringed this hard while watching a film.

Tough movie to process because it had actors I've loved in other things. Ed Helms, Rita Moreno, and Jennifer Garner are the biggest names, but you also have Emma Myers (Wednesday) and Brady Noon (Mighty Ducks, Good Boys), and even some known people with small parts (Fortune Feimster and Howie Mandel). But, it was a rip off of Freaky Friday and the writing wasn't great. I guess if you have Netflix and are bored, it's OK, but it's not going to make your yearly Christmas list.

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It's essentially "Yes Day" part 2, but at least resembling a proper film, largely thanks to McG's direction. The script is very generic and offers zero surprises. The cast is OK, but it would nice to see Garner and Helms in something a bit more challenging for change. The Christmas framing seems like an afterthought. While the film could have been shorter, it's still better than the average Netflix production and good enough family entertainment.

Family Switch is neither a new concept nor a film done particularly well. It is effectively a Netflix made-for-TV Xmas flick with a recognisable cast. Garner and Helms are alright, and at least Myers and Noon were trying (their performances raises the film's score a bit). The script is the worst thing about the film, full of contrived plot-points, neutered dialogue and unfunny jokes. The babby and dog switching was silly, uncannily CG-ed, and possibly the funniest part of the film.

Unoriginal and too much of an annoying kids movie.

A tired, ripoff premise with nothing really making it a Christmas movie. Saved only somewhat by some of the humor working and a bit of charm from the actors. Bad movie.