FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS -- CONTENT REVIEW: THE CHANGE-UP

"THE CHANGE-UP"
(2011) (Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds) (R)

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: A family man and a diehard bachelor magically switch bodies and learn that life isn't always better as the other guy.

PLOT:

Dave (JASON BATEMAN) is a married attorney and father of three who is on track to make partner. Mitch (RYAN REYNOLDS) is a single, unmotivated actor who enjoys sleeping with different women, smoking marijuana, and living a carefree lifestyle. The two lifelong friends have drinks together one night and end up wishing they had each other's lives. A magical fountain grants them their wish.

The next morning, Mitch wakes up literally in Dave's body next to Dave's wife, Jamie (LESLIE MANN). Dave wakes up in Mitch's body in his messy, downtown Atlanta bachelor pad. They immediately race to the fountain to reverse the curse, but find that it has been moved by the city to parts unknown. While they search for it, both men have to assume each other's identities, lives, and jobs.

Dave is horrified to learn that his friend's next paying job was as a performer in a soft-core porn flick. Mitch is overwhelmed by the pressures of Dave's position at the law firm. But he finds it easier to work in the high-pressured environment when he meets Sabrina (OLIVIA WILDE), Dave's beautiful paralegal. Bitter that his father (ALAN ARKIN) thinks of him as a screw-up, Mitch vows not to quit and ends up using his more free-wheeling personality to make Dave look like a more assertive guy. Dave, meanwhile, is finally able to have a dream date with Sabrina in Mitch's body. But he struggles with his loyalty to his marriage. When they finally find the fountain, both question whether they really want to go back to their old selves.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Older teens might be drawn to the film's raunchy content.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For pervasive strong crude sexual content, language, some graphic nudity, and drug use.

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