Timothy E
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THE SWITCH Blu-Ray
Studio: Lionsgate
Year: 2010
Rated: PG-13
Film Length: 1 hour, 41 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1080p High Definition Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio: English 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Release Date: March 15, 2011
The Movie
The Switch is the story of Kassie(Jennifer Aniston), a single woman who is ready to have a baby even though she has not yet met Mr. Right. Kassie’s best friend is Wally(Jason Bateman), who pines for Kassie even though she does not have romantic feelings for him. After Kassie conceives by artificial insemination, the years go by and Wally must compete for Kassie’s affections against the sperm donor, Roland(Patrick Wilson) even while Wally is growing attached to Kassie’s son Sebastian(Thomas Robinson). Jeff Goldblum and Juliette Lewis also appear as friends and confidants to Wally and Kassie.
The Switch is directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, whose previous collaborations include Blades of Glory(2007) and the TV series Cavemen. The screenplay is by Allan Loeb(21, Terra Nova) based on the short story "Baster" by Jeffrey Eugenides. The film is more love story than sex comedy, which may have thrown movie audiences expecting something raunchier or more along the lines of a Judd Apatow or Farrelly Brothers film. Unfortunately, The Switch was marketed in theaters as a comedy rather than love story, which may have disappointed viewers’ expectations. This film is more likely to find an audience if considered as a love story with some funny bits rather than a funny story with a dose of romance.
Video
The movie is in 1080p high definition in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Fine object detail is excellent without any perceptible compression artifacts. There is some apparent edge enhancement and DNR, however, it has been applied sparingly and will be unnoticeable to most viewers. The color scheme tends towards the warmer part of the spectrum.
Audio
The English 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio track makes appropriate use of all speakers, meaning that most audio emanates from the front channels. Rear channels are used minimally but effectively for crowd noise and the like. The audio is neither exceptional nor terrible, it is simply average, which could also be said for the film.
Special Features
The special features are all in 1080p and include all of the following:
The Switch Conceived(14:37): Cast and crew are interviewed regarding making the movie along with some behind the scenes footage.
Deleted Scenes & Alternate Ending(25:07): These scenes include intros from directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck. The alternate ending has an interesting but probably inferior denouement for the film. These scenes may be selected individually or with a "Play All" option.
Bloopers (3:45): Line flubs and screw-ups by the actors memorialized on film.
Also From Lionsgate: Trailers for The Lincoln Lawyer, From Prada To Nada, and The Killers. These trailers also show automatically at the beginning of the disc.
Conclusion
The Switch is more love story than sex comedy, as Jason Bateman’s character learns to be more assertive in attaining the girl of his dreams. Bateman’s interactions with co-star Thomas Robinson as Sebastian are arguably the highlight of the film, as Sebastian is so quirky that the characters play off each other entertainingly, and The Switch has a great supporting cast of actors. The video and audio presentation are solid but not exceptional. The special features include some interesting deleted scenes that will be of interest to anyone who enjoyed the film. If you or your significant other are in the mood for a love story with some comic elements, then The Switch will fit that bill.
