The Switch

2010 • 101 minutes
4.0
701 reviews
53%
Tomatometer
PG-13
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

A woman approaching middle age yet still childless decides to get pregnant by artificial insemination, only to discover that the donor she chose may not be the father of her child in this comedy starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman. Wally Mars (Bateman) is a dyed-in-the-wool pessimist. Hopelessly neurotic and unrepentantly narcissistic, he gets no joy out of life except for the time he spends with his best friend Kassie (Jennifer Aniston). However, despite the fact that Wally pines to be more than just friends with Kassie, she isn't convinced they'd make a good couple. When Kassie announces to Wally that she's found the perfect sperm donor, he's crestfallen; as far as he's concerned, the ideal candidate is standing right in front of her. Later, Kassie selects handsome stranger Roland (Patrick Wilson) to provide the seed. Things get complicated when Kassie's best friend Debbie (Juliette Lewis) throws an "insemination party" to commemorate the big event, and Wally intercepts Roland's special delivery, drunkenly replacing it with his own before blacking out. Pregnant and content, Kassie leaves the city for Minnesota, where she gives birth to a healthy baby boy. Flash-forward seven years, and Kassie returns to New York with her son, Sebastian (Thomas Robinson), who shares an uncanny number of physical and psychological traits with embittered bachelor Wally. Before long Wally and Sebastian have become good friends, and Wally becomes convinced that the boy is his biological son. His ideal family is finally within reach, and if he can just figure out a means of breaking the news to Kassie gently, perhaps she'll find it in her heart to forgive him, and recognize that he'll make the perfect father for Sebastian.
Rating
PG-13

Ratings and reviews

4.0
701 reviews
Spring Larkin
December 28, 2016
I rented this because of the trailer, and because of Aniston and Bateman seeming like an interesting pairing. As I watched, I just couldn't seem to get fully into the story. I thought the romance between the two, lead characters developed too slowly. The best thing about the film, for me, was the connection between Wally and his son, Sebatian, and the relationship that develops there. I did not really laugh while watching this film. I grinned, here and there. Not a romcom, IMO. It was okay to see once.
A Google user
October 20, 2012
I love Jason Bateman and all of his stuff, I think he's simply hilarious. Him combined with Jeff Goldblum are "awkward hilarity" at it's best. Funny story, nothing new here but a good laugh that'll make you feel warm and fuzzy after...obviously.
A Google user
April 2, 2012
It is very believable. I know people going through this (similar anyway). Jason Bateman was fantastic. One of Jennifer Aniston's best movies. The acting was great, the story is NOW. A wonderful feel good movie.