Rating:  

Bona Fide Productions, Echo Films, Mandate Pictures, and Miramax Films.

Written by: Allan Loeb, adapted from the short story “Baster” by Jeffrey Eugenides.

Jennifer Aniston is an A-list movie star who continues to get high profile, big studio projects and is, in some ways, the Michael McConaughey of female actors. She has previously shown that she can be a great actress. Her comedic timing on the 1990′s TV series “Friends” is still revered and when she has moved into more independent fare, she has exceeded expectations in 2002′s “The Good Girl” and as part of the 2006 ensemble piece, “Friends With Money”. But the list of bad romantic comedies she opts for may have made her countless millions of dollars, but the resume is far from impressive.

Whether she is likable is no longer a factor when evaluating her work. Aniston is often likable, but trots out the same character over and over again. Go through the last decade or so and diregarding box office returns, the list of films is a staggering compendium of mediocre to terrible efforts. In August 2010, “The Switch” arrived after much delay and while not Aniston’s worst work, the film is yet another failure in trying to restore some credibility to her career.

“The Switch” is a film about life and yet one that remains largely lifeless. Aniston stars as Kassie, a 40-something single woman who has decided to have a child via artificial insemination. Her best guy friend, Wally (Jason Bateman), is a former boyfriend of many years past and while they accept another as friends, Wally still kicks himself for the relationship coming to an end. When he hears of Kassie’s plans, he tries to steer her out of them, largely because of his jealousy and personal feelings for her.

Kassie and her best girl friend, Debbie (Juliette Lewis), schedule an insemination party (?!?) wherein her selected donor, the handsome and affable Roland (Patrick Wilson), will do the necessaries and Kassie will simply take care of the medical procedure herself with a turkey baster-like device. Mmmkay. In between Roland’s leaving of his “deposit” and Kassie’s end of the night obligations, Wally, a bit drunk, stumbles into the restroom and finds Roland’s um…night’s work in a plastic cup. Recognizing what he has before him, Wally carelessly fumbles the deposit down the drain and decides he must make it right. He leaves his own deposit and never shares with Kassie the details of the incident.

“The Switch” is saddled with formulaic contrivances and dialogue, which weigh the film down considerably. Bateman and Aniston spark some nice chemistry together and as “The Switch” played out, I kept wishing they were in something fresher and more original, as everything feels too reserved, cliched, and restrained, despite the provocative subject matter. Bateman hits some nice notes with his Wally being a neurotic worrier, prone to irrational thoughts, actions, and diatribes. Thomas Robinson is acceptable as the 7-year old Sebastian, whose Wally-like characteristics start to raise some questions with Kassie. Juliette Lewis and Jeff Goldblum are the chirping birds in Aniston and Bateman’s ears, keep the story moving along and are rather forgettable.

Similarities to Jennifer Lopez’s earlier 2010 film “The Back-Up Plan” notwithstanding, “The Switch” is a bland and anemic movie. It will pass the time, and you may find it likable, but you probably will not like it all that much.

After this film’s underwhelming but profitable theatrical release, Aniston appeared in the 2011 Adam Sandler romantic comedy, “Just Go With It”. And needless to say, it made lots of dollars but was a dreadful film. I have no idea where Aniston wants to go with her career, but as long as she remains in profitable pictures, I think it’s safe to say she wants to follow the money. And while I will never begrudge someone making or chasing a dollar, the critic and writer in me recalls a Jennifer Aniston that at one time could blend humor, romance, and dramatic acting with notable skill and flair. Where she went and if she is ever coming back is really anyone’s guess.

Should I See It?

If you want something light and to pass the time, I can see this working in your DVD player on a weekend afternoon.

Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman show sparks of great chemistry and if anything, after seeing them together I would love to see them star in something more original and better written. They could be really great with the right project.

You love romantic comedy/dramas of any type, make, or model and could not care less whether it is good or not.

You are a Jeff Goldblum or Juliette Lewis completist and must see all of their work.

If you have seen “The Back-Up Plan”, you have met your 2010 artificial insemination movie quotient for the year. Although both are underwhelming there’s more happening in the Lopez offering.

You have been burned by Jennifer Aniston’s run of mediocrity. She doesn’t recapture her finest work here, and there are no flashes of brilliance here. She genuinely works well with Jason Bateman but seems to be uninterested in much of this.

Do they really have artificial insemination parties? Ewwww….

You are tired of predictable stories which you can figure out 10 minutes in, despite the genre. Or hate romantic comedies. Either way…not for you.