'The Change-Up' Is a Comedic Smash by Movie Reviewers on Creators.com

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'The Change-Up' Is a Comedic Smash

Bravo to Jason Bateman: He's two for two when it comes to hilarious, crass summer comedies this year. And a hearty "Nice recovery!" goes to Ryan Reynolds for his involvement in a certain yuck-fest, he's now leaving behind the $300 million fiasco that was "Green Lantern."

These ace actors join together in "The Change-Up," a sort of adult "Freaky Friday" in which two very different pals switch lives. That's where the similarities end between the Disney fare and this hard-R extravaganza. The men make their transmogrification after both urinate in a park fountain during a night of heavy drinking. (Guess "crossing streams" has a whole new meaning.)

Family man Dave (Bateman) and playboy Mitch (Reynolds) see that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence — with Dave dreaming of hooking up with his law secretary, and Mitch fantasizing about starting a family. But when that magical exchange of fluids happens and they do swap bodies, both are aghast and panic-stricken. Dave has a major merger deal the next morning; Mitch has his big film break. Whatever will they do?

Under the direction of David Dobkin ("Wedding Crashers"), they humorously pratfall through each other's daily lives. Mitch-as-Dave tries to recite "Law & Order" monologues to impress his business partners. Dave-as-Mitch wonderfully flounders around the opposite sex (He gets a rude introduction to being Mitch on the movie set. You'll cringe and watch through embarrassed fingers, but won't be able to suppress your laughter.)

Along for the nutty ride are Leslie Mann as Dave's wife, Jamie, who fires off plenty of her own one-liners, and Olivia Wilde as the kittenish secretary who unleashes a dark side.

Completing the triptych of talented gals is kewpie-doll Sydney Rouvier, who plays Dave and Jamie's ballet-loving daughter, Cara. Even at such a tender age, she proves her mettle against these Hollywood heavyweights.

A sweet story of self-respect this is not. Written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore of "The Hangover" fame, "The Change-Up" grabs you by the comedic jugular in the very first scene and doesn't let go until the credits.

The road is paved in gutter-minded gold, but it defies the gross-out genre in that the performances are just so good. Reynolds and Bateman do well in their initial roles, but it's when they begin doing impressions of each other while "trapped" in the wrong vessels that the good times really roll. It's refreshing to see beefcake Reynolds playing a stodgy, insecure fellow, and Bateman gobbles up the opportunity to ease into (as he puts it in the film) "super-douche" mode.

Note to the Academy: Though "The Change-Up" can be seen as lowbrow, you ought to consider these two stars for a lead actor nod. Portraying two polar-opposite characters and keeping the laughs coming isn't an easy task, and both men have given us so many solid performances over the years, it might be time to give the stuffy Oscar awards a "change-up," too.

They say you can't really judge a person until you walk a mile in his shoes. "The Change-Up" runs with that idea, peppers it with tart humor and delivers.

"The Change-Up." Rated: R. Running time: 1 hour, 42 minutes. 3 stars.

To find out more about Melissa Bobbitt and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.