Switch

HBO | minutes | | | Standard DVD reviewed by: Fusion3600

Steve Brooks (Perry King) was very smooth with the ladies and in the end, that is what killed him. You see, he had too much going on at once and when they all found out, they decided to take revenge on him. So they leave him dead as can be, which means he if off to the great beyond, but he even has troubles once he arrives there. You see, there is no room for men like him in the heavenly spaces, so he must return to the realm of life, where he needs to find someone who really loves him. But with his charms, this wouldn't be a hard task at all and as such, he is sent back...as a woman. So now Steve is Andrea (Ellen Barkin), a beautiful blonde woman in a world filled with people like Steve, which means this won't be so easy after all. So now with a strange new existence and a new perspective, Andrea (Steve) has to discover what it takes to overcome all the obstacles and find someone who really loves him. But even with the aid of his former best friend Walter (Jimmy Smits), will this be an exercise in failure?

The basic premise of Switch has been done before in many forms, but that doesn't mean that this movie isn't worth a look. I've liked other films along the same lines and in truth, I think Switch is a very movie picture and one I used to watch on cable all the time. But here, I can watch the film in the widescreen format and not endure commercials and edits, which is always a plus. This is the kind of movie I would wear out on VHS, so I am pleased to add this durable shiny disc to my personal collection. Now this isn't a very smart movie or a good picture in the traditional sense, but it does pack a lot of laughs and some terrific writing at times, which is enough for me. The humor blends crudeness with a subtle wit, which works out well in the end and supplies a nice variety of laughs. The cast, which includes Ellen Barkin, Jimmy Smits, Perry King, and others is great, while Blake Edwards supplies solid writing and direction also. This disc is a nice value at the asking price and although more supplements would have been nice, this disc is still worth the cash, whether you purchase or rent it.

When you look at his resume, you'll find a very wide scope of comedies, which means writer/director Blake Edwards has no problems making people laugh. Now granted, this film doesn't cater to all viewers, but if you peruse his career works, Edwards is bound to have a movie that will make you laugh a lot. This movie, like most of his later efforts, uses a lot of crude and sexual based humor, but it works very well and never seems lewd here, though some could be offended, I suppose. In the end, this isn't among his most revered works, but it is a very funny movie and it all it ever claims to be. Other films directed by Edwards include Breakfast At Tiffany's, Skin Deep, The Pink Panther, 10, Blind Date, and Victor/Victoria. The cast here is lead by Jimmy Smits (The Million Dollar Hotel, Price of Glory) and Ellen Barkin (Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Big Easy), both of whom seem in fine form. Barkin looks very good in this film and the whole, I think she is often overlooked, in terms of talent and good looks. You can also see performers such as Lorraine Bracco (Medicine Man, The Dream Team), Perry King (The Lords Of Flatbush), Tony Roberts (Serpico, Popcorn), and JoBeth Williams (Wyatt Earp, Dutch).

Switch is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. HBO has been inconsistent in the past with anamorphic transfers, so I was very pleased to find this new transfer here on this disc, but let's hope the anamorphic presence continues in future HBO discs. This transfer looks a little dated at times, but is still a vast improvement over previous editions. I didn't own the laserdisc, but this is the first time I remember this film being presented in the full widescreen format, so I was very pleased. The colors look pretty solid, though not as sharp as most recent releases, while the flesh tones have a normal, warm appearance. I am very happy with the contrast here, as detail is high and black levels look sharp and distinct. A few small compression errors surface, but in the end, this is a very solid transfer.

A basic 2.0 surround track is included, which covers the bases well and never seems too lackluster overall. This is a dialogue reliant comedy of course, so it has no need for intense audio, so the lack of a dynamic surround track is not a problem. The music sounds very good here and while the sound effects are minimal, they come off well when they do show up. The main focus here is the dialogue though, which is clean, clear, and crisp at all times. This isn't a memorable audio experience, but it more than takes care of the basics. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.

This disc includes some talent files and the film's theatrical trailer.