The Switch

UK Release: 1st September 2010

Watched on Netflix: Saturday 21st January 2012

Rating: 12A

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Runtime: 1hr 41mins

Tagline: The most unexpected comedy ever conceived.

IMDb Plot Synopsis: Kassie (Jennifer Aniston) and Wally (Jason Bateman) are best friends. Being unlucky in love, Kassie has decided to have a child using artificial insemination. Wally doesn't like this idea, but he isn't capable of admitting to himself, let alone to Kassie, that he's in love with her. At Kassie's artificial insemination party, Wally gets very drunk and spies the sperm donor's sample in the bathroom. Wally was way too drunk to know what he did that night, and Kassie has moved away because she doesn't feel that New York City is a place to raise a child. Now 7 years later, Kassie has moved back with her son Sebastian. While she is looking to get Roland (the sperm donor) more involved in their lives, Wally can't help but notice the many striking similarities that he and Sebastian share.

My Review: The Switch came up on Netflix and as a rom-com fan I just couldn’t resist! I’m a sucker for a romantic comedy and this had not only the usual cliches (including Jennifer Aniston - the girl's in everything!) but it also had an edge with the 21st century twist of IVF. The result was Sebastian, Aniston and Bateman’s child, and he was an absaloute delight; a star in the making. You couldn’t help but smile every time he was on screen as his innocent nueoritcs were hilarious - the boy’s got talent! Him and the rest of the cast produced many a funny moment and the script and direction felt fresh and modern.

You could tell there was some genuine chemistry between Aniston and Bateman - far from a boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, the end narrative - and you could tell that there was real love between the characters.

The journey they go through may be a little predictable but it is also very heart-warming and perfect for a cold winter’s evening!

Score: 8/10