Vice Versa (1988)

Absolutely amazing

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Vice Versa is a lovable light comedy, that I appreciate.Comparing it to "Big" like many reviewers have done, isn't really fair in my opinion. That is a universally loved film with Tom Hanks in the lead. Savage in his "Wonder Years" prime kills it here and while Reinhold holds the story together and has his moments, over does it a bit at times. Corinne Bohrer brings a lot to the film for me, reigning in some of Reinhold's silliness and adding heart. Those dimples, it's like she has an extra smile and she is smiling the whole film, love her. The minor roles are also all solid. Stand out moment for me is when Marshall as Savage is about to kiss Sam and she doesn't have a negative thought in her being, stunned and in the moment. Can see her expression right now.

Separated from his wife and son, Charlie, Marshall Seymour has made himself into successful buyer for a big chain department store. Unfortunately his workaholic ethic leaves little time for him to spend with Charlie. When Charlie comes to stay with Marshall for a break, the pair row and wish they were in each others shoes. A wish that comes true on account of a mystical skull that Marshall mistakenly brought back from his last buying trip.You got to ask yourself one thing if you are interested in watching Vice Versa for the first time; "are you tired of body swap movies" If the answer is yes then this really isn't the film for you. The fourth adaptation of F. Anstey's novel, Vice Versa is funny, pleasant and not suffering by way of trying to be clever with the format. And rest assured that in spite of its pretty low internet rating, it has a bit more to offer than the likes of The Hot Chick. But it is rigid to the formula of such films, so expecting anything fresh will prove to be a futile exercise. 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 utilise 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.Entertaining fluff for the undemanding viewer. 6/10Footnote: UK viewers should note that the TV showings of Vice Versa contain many annoying cuts that dull the impact of some scenes. Moderate swearing and obscene finger gestures are the most telling cuts. So if one is interested in catching it, be advised that a pre watershed showing will not be of full comedic value.

Judge Reinhold may be one of the typecast 'geek wins back' sensitive and caring characters of the 1980s, and whilst in the last two decades that kind of character may have become unfashionably clichéd, we still have to look at his quality of acting in these kind of roles and see how well he did. In Vice Versa, he's at his ostensible peak here, and like child actor Fred Savage (who's also been similarly typecast as the 'smarter than his age' child prodigy both in films and probably his real life), they really act well in concordance with the script that's been written for them. They have great on screen antics, not to mention the humorous exchanges that ride on playful charm and naivete, as well as delightfully realistic banter. In many ways other than the above-mentioned, Reinhold and Savage are so alike too. They both play off each other well, are convincing in their roles insofar as they are both pretty much able to let us enjoy the fact that yes, Reinhold can act as an tenth grader and Savage can speak like an adult! The saddest thing is that the parallels between these two actors don't stop just in the film, but perhaps now in retrospect, were the stories of their acting careers: both failed to break the mould of such role typecasting!

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...