Viceversa

I saw Vice Versa for the first time in 1991 when I was seven years old. The film was that realistic that I believed it. My favourite scene is where Marshall and Charlie switch bodies. The special effects are so good that it's totally realistic.

How they managed to make it look like Marshall was shrinking (making his clothes baggy) and Charlie was growing (and ripping his clothes to shreds at the same time-always a fave bit for me) I'll never know, but it was amazing.

VICE VERSA is basically a gender variation on the 1970s film FREAKY Friday, in which Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage play a bickering father and son whose roles are reversed thanks to a magical Thai artefact. I have to say that I always love the tinges of the supernatural in these family movies from the era; the writer goes out of his way to set up the story with the early scenes set in Thailand itself and featuring veteran actor James Hong in a typically creepy performance.

What follows soon turns into your usual 1980s-era comedy with much in common with the Tom Hanks movie BIG. It's also on the same level as that film, although it lacks a big and memorable set-piece like the Hanks/Loggia dance-off and the sight of Reinhold playing the drums doesn't really cut it. I'm always wary of these films as occasionally they become overly sentimental but I can report that VICE VERSA walks a fine line without ever crossing it. Fred Savage is excellent in a star-making turn (I used to love watching him in THE WONDER YEARS) and the underrated Reinhold holds his own against the greats of the decade. It's a fun and light movie, nothing more, but it holds your attention throughout.

"Vice Versa" is a very funny, very sweet comedy about a father and son who switch bodies thanks in part to a mysterious Thai skull that they both just happen to be touching at the same time (not to mention making an unintentional wish that they could trade places with each other). Judge Reinhold ("Beverly Hills Cop") and Fred Savage (TV's "The Wonder Years") are dynamite in their roles as the father and son who have to get used to doing things that they're not used to doing (the father goes to school; the son goes to work, etc.). "Vice Versa" has lots of big laughs and is perfect for the entire family. The film, shot almost entirely in Chicago, also uses the Chicago locations to good effect. A hilarious film from start to finish, and it's easily the best of the body switching movies that came out in 1987/1988 ("Like Father, Like Son", "18 Again", and "Big" were the others). I still can't understand why this movie flopped at the box office in 1988. The thing that shocks me is that "Like Father, Like Son" was the worst of these movies, and it made more money than "Vice Versa". I can't figure that one out. "Vice Versa" has 100 times more laughs than "Like Father, Like Son" ever had. Sometimes I can't understand these moviegoers. And in this case, the fact that "Vice Versa" faired poorly at the box office when released in 1988 to me remains an enigma. I saw this movie in a packed movie house on it's opening weekend and everyone (including myself and a friend of mine) was laughing out loud while watching it. It's that funny of a movie.

***1/2 (out of four)

An ancient, mystical skull stolen from a Thai temple makes trouble for our two stars. Judge Reinhold is divorced, workaholic department store executive Marshall Seymour, Fred Savage is his 11 year old son Charlie. The skull magically allows them to switch bodies. Now Marshall has to deal with school, bullies, and a teacher he thinks is a harridan, and Charlie has to bluff his way through Marshalls' job, and deal with the needs of Marshalls' girlfriend Sam (Corinne Bohrer).

As this "body switch" genre goes (it was certainly popular during this period), this is definitely one of the better ones. It may be the furthest thing from original, but it works rather well thanks to some bright writing from Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais (whose other credits in both film and TV are numerous). They commit to being at least somewhat believable, but the real bright spots of the picture are Reinhold & Savage. They totally commit to their characters and situation, and are a blast to watch. Of course, the expected reactions from onlookers when "Charlie" talks nothing like an 11 year old, and "Marshall" gets frequently befuddled, add to the merriment. And young Charlie is an aspiring musician and hair metal enthusiast (!), so watching Reinhold jam on the drums is a welcome highlight.

The cast is rock solid and full of familiar faces: Swoosie Kurtz, David Proval, Jane Kaczmarek, William Prince, Gloria Gifford, Beverly Archer, Richard Kind, Ajay Naidu (just a kid himself then), Elya Baskin, James Hong, and Jane Lynch (in her film debut). Under-rated 80s babe Bohrer is charming as the love interest; Kurtz and Proval are appropriately odious villains. Reinhold, who saw his career start to head South after the box office failure of this one, really doesn't get enough credit for this performance, and young Savage is equally his match, the way that he spews out some of his dialogue.

Like a lot of stories, it eventually builds to an action-packed finale, which is amusing to say the least.

Good of its kind; it may follow an ancient Hollywood formula, to be sure, but it sill wins one over. It's got some real heart as it spins its "walking a mile in another persons' shoes" yarn.

Seven out of 10.

Separated from his wife and son, Charlie, Marshall Seymour has made himself into successful buyer for a big chain department store. Unfortunately his workaholic ethic leaves little time for him to spend with Charlie. When Charlie comes to stay with Marshall for a break, the pair row and wish they were in each others shoes. A wish that comes true on account of a mystical skull that Marshall mistakenly brought back from his last buying trip.

You got to ask yourself one thing if you are interested in watching Vice Versa for the first time; "are you tired of body swap movies" If the answer is yes then this really isn't the film for you. The fourth adaptation of F. Anstey's novel, Vice Versa is funny, pleasant and not suffering by way of trying to be clever with the format. And rest assured that in spite of its pretty low internet rating, it has a bit more to offer than the likes of The Hot Chick. But it is rigid to the formula of such films, so expecting anything fresh will prove to be a futile exercise. Judge Reinhold & Fred Savage play father and son respectively and both do considerably well with the material to hand. With both proving to have a nice line in comic timing. Sure it's not genre defining or exceptionally hard, but the tidy writing throws up amusing scenarios that both of them utilise to the maximum. Winning scenes come by way of the school and the workplace of the respective individuals, while the involvement of the ex-wife/mother and Sam {Corinne Bohrer} the girlfriend create some nice light hearted touches.

Entertaining fluff for the undemanding viewer. 6/10

Footnote: UK viewers should note that the TV showings of Vice Versa contain many annoying cuts that dull the impact of some scenes. Moderate swearing and obscene finger gestures are the most telling cuts. So if one is interested in catching it, be advised that a pre watershed showing will not be of full comedic value.