The Change-Up
Two estranged best friends discover that trading bodies means inheriting the pressures, secrets, and obligations they once envied in each other.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- raunchy
- witty
- irreverent
- friends night
- adult comedy night
What critics said
Critics found the leads' against-type chemistry and comic timing enjoyable but insufficient to overcome the crude humor and formulaic plot.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mitch and Dave wake up in each other's bodies after a drunken night and must maintain one another's jobs, relationships, and responsibilities.
The irresponsible bachelor Mitch handles family and legal obligations while the overworked Dave navigates Mitch's carefree lifestyle.
The R-rated production centers on crude humor, sexual complications, drunken behavior, and explicit language within a mainstream Hollywood format.
Mitch envies Dave's family and career while Dave envies Mitch's freedom, and the swap exposes the hidden pressures in both lives.
Films like The Change-Up, and why
Freaky Friday
shares a body swap premise, crude humor, friendship conflict, and comic identity confusion
Wedding Crashers
shares raunchy adult comedy, mismatched male friendship, and comic disruption of domestic routines
17 Again
shares a fantastical identity switch used to explore responsibility, adulthood, and family relationships
Vice Versa
shares broad body-swap comedy, role reversal, and escalating attempts to repair damaged personal lives
Movie Details
- Director
- David Dobkin
- Release Date
- 2011-08-05
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (3065)
Cast
- Jason Bateman
- Ryan Reynolds
- Leslie Mann
- Olivia Wilde
- Alan Arkin
- Gregory Itzin
- Mircea Monroe
- Sydney Rouviere
- Matthew Cornwell
- Craig Bierko
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Change-Up about?
- Two estranged best friends discover that trading bodies means inheriting the pressures, secrets, and obligations they once envied in each other.
- What is The Change-Up like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Change-Up as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Change-Up violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Change-Up.
- What did critics think of The Change-Up?
- Critics found the leads' against-type chemistry and comic timing enjoyable but insufficient to overcome the crude humor and formulaic plot.
- Which films are like The Change-Up?
- Films with a similar feel include Freaky Friday, Wedding Crashers, 17 Again, and Vice Versa.
- How long is The Change-Up?
- The Change-Up runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Change-Up?
- In United States, The Change-Up streams on Starz Apple TV channel.
