Family Switch

Jess (Jennifer Garner) and Bill Walker (Ed Helms) are a happily-married suburban couple, but they fear disconnecting from their kids. Daughter CC (Emma Myers) is the star football player. Son Wyatt (Brady Noon) is a science nerd. They with baby brother and dog go to the Griffith Park Planetarium. With a planetary alignment, a telescope, and psychic Angelica (Rita Moreno), the family get switched.

This is old hat for Jennifer Garner and the movie refers to her movie as well as others. Ed Helms is playing the music nerd teacher although the back story is leading towards former rock star. That conflict does cause some problems. This is mostly fine but very derivative. Garner can easily switch from stuffy to childish. Ed Helms is a little ill-fitting for the role. For example, Brady Noon is trying to play the dad like a leather jacket rocker in one scene and it doesn't fit his other scenes. The dog baby switch would be funnier if the CGI isn't so Son of the Mask. Of course, there is a dance sequence and I like the premise behind it. As for the band tryout, I don't understand why Wyatt with dad inside doesn't just play the gig. He can claim that dad is injured and the son had been learning from the dad. I do question director McG's style. His brand of humor is very broad and very low hanging fruit. This has a few fine comedic moments but most others are lesser family fun.

Is this a masterpiece ? No.

Does it deserve the bad critics? No.

Let's take the movie for what it is: a light family movie you can totally enjoy during the period of Christmas.

I watched the movie with my kids yesterday (10 and 8 years) and my wife.

We all enjoyed. The jokes are not always crazy good but good enough to make us laugh and have a good time.

The movie is obviously predictable but still, it did not bother me/us that much.

I would still recommend to people with a young family. It's light, entertaining and as mentioned funny.

Even for us as parents, there are some interesting messages (again, it's not deep but still, some nice reminders here and there that I enjoyed).

Give it a shot unless light family comedies aren't your thing.

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.

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.

This still counts as a Christmas film despite only being set in the days leading up to it. I thought though it was a pretty magical film. Of course we know the story of big and freaky Friday but it is as Jess says a unique situation as a whole family has not been swapped before. Even dog pickle's and the baby get thier turn. I liked the acting here and it didn't feel cheesy like it is in some other holiday films like this. Garner. Helms and the two chil actoes were enjoyable and each of their goals you knew nothing would go right. Overall family switch was a nice holiday film and one certainly worthy of a re watch.