Vice Versa (1988)

I don't think they could've cast this movie any better. You've got Fred Savage, a kid who - to my knowledge - never, ever came off as a kid in anything he ever acted in, and you've got Judge Reinhold, a guy who generally just always has a certain youthfulness to him, both cast in another take on the "Freaky Friday" formula. Before the switch, Fred Savage is every bit as awkward as you can imagine in his role as Judge Reinhold's character's son. From the moment the switch occurs, however, hilarity ensues, and both Fred Savage and Judge Reinhold nail their reversed roles.The amazing thing is that this film was written and produced by Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais, the people responsible for the Ronnie Barker comedy, Porridge. 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 utilize 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.Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

Based on the 1882 novel of the same name by F. Antsey, this is a hugely enjoyable comedy. It was one of my favourite childhood films and it held up remarkably well. It has a strong and very witty script by British sitcom veterans Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais and it is very well directed by Brian Gilbert. It may not be on the same level as "Big", another film from the same year which covers much of the same territory, but it is still enormous fun. I think that it is second only to that film as the best of the many body swapping films of the late 1980s. I enjoyed it considerably more than the underwhelming 1948 British version written and directed by Peter Ustinov.The film stars Judge Reinhold as Marshall Seymour, an up-and-coming 35-year-old executive vice president at the Chicago department store Vigar and Avery. He is so ambitious and determined to succeed in his chosen profession that he is unknowingly neglecting his 11-year-old son Charlie, played by Fred Savage. While it is not expressly stated, it is pretty safe to assume that his obsessive work ethic is what lead to the demise of his marriage to Charlie's mother Robyn. Charlie feels a little unloved by his uptight, neurotic and mostly absent father and, while he is disappointed that Marshall misses his concert, he is not terribly surprised as this sort of thing seemingly happens on a regular basis. However, their worlds get turned upside down when they switch places due to a magical Tibetan skull, as you do.Reinhold is hilarious as Charlie and his excellent performance perfectly captures the enthusiasm and immaturity of an 11-year-old boy. He brings a great deal of childlike innocence to the role and the awkward way in which he walks suggests that the small for his age Charlie is having a bit of trouble adjusting to life in Marshall's gangly, 6'2" frame. However, Savage steals the show as Marshall, who gets the short end of the stick. Although he recalled his own childhood with great pleasure, he soon discovers that he was viewing it through rose coloured glasses and that life can be tougher for a child than many adults realise. Savage was one of the best child actors of his generation and it is easy to see why he was given the lead role in a TV series at only 12. Although he is playing a 35-year-old in the body of a child, his performance nevertheless seems very natural. Savage is able to convey Marshall's maturity and occasionally obnoxious tendencies extremely well. He plays the material straight rather than sending it up, a mistake that many lesser (and older) actors make it comes to comedy. Savage and Reinhold have great chemistry and this makes the film's premise seem all the more believable.Gilbert's great eye for casting is not only on display with the two leads but with respect to the supporting cast as well. Corinne Bohrer, whom I have always thought deserved bigger roles, is very good as Marshall's girlfriend Sam, who is likewise feeling a little neglected because of his work schedule. The same is true of Swoosie Kurtz and David Proval as the art thieves Lillian Brookmeyer and Turk, who desperately try to gain possession of the skull throughout the film. It also features great performances from Jane Kaczmarek as Robyn, William Prince as Marshall's boss Stratford Avery and Beverly Archer as Charlie's teacher Jane Luttrell and, in smaller roles, Richard Kind, James Hong, Elya Baskin and Gloria Gifford.Overall, this is a great feelgood film which entertained me almost as much as it did when I was eleven. There is a nice exploration of the father-son relationship and a few touching moments between the laughs.

While watching this movie, the word "generic" often came to mind, but this was one of the earlier body swap movies (there were a few before it that I haven't seen like 'Like Father, Like Son' and the 1976 version of Freaky Friday), so this was likely the blueprint for some more recent ones.Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage are both great in their roles. Reinhold perfectly portrays childlike emotions, and Savage is hilarious outwitting bullies and treating those he considers beneath him like second class citizens. One of my least favorite clichés takes place with Reinhold in the workplace, like his quirkiness actually getting him ahead. Some of the funniest moments are with the ex-wife/mother reacting to the odd and inappropriate behavior of the pair.

I liked this movie. I thought it was cute. I think it was just what people needed. A nice little family movie with a bit of a cheesy plot that you can watch for a movie night with kids or if you're babysitting and the kid is wearing you out and you know a movie will calm him down. I don't care if anybody disses Vice Versa. I liked it. Plus when I first saw it I had already had a crush on Fred Savage...