Vice Versa (1988)

Director:

Brian Gilbert

Writers:

F. Anstey (novel)
Dick Clement (written by)

Release Date:

11 March 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

The Comedy For The Kid In All Of Us.

Plot:

A mysterious oriental skull transforms a father into his son, and vice versa.

Plot Keywords:

Skull | Child As Adult | Soul Transference | Role Reversal | Remake

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Judge Reinhold	...	Marshall Seymour / Charlie Seymour
Fred Savage	...	Charlie Seymour / Marshall Seymour
Corinne Bohrer	...	Sam
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Tina Brooks
Jane Kaczmarek	...	Robyn Seymour
David Proval	...	Turk
William Prince	...	Stratford Avery
Gloria Gifford	...	Marcie
Beverly Archer	...	Mrs. Jane Luttrell
Harry Murphy	...	Larry
Kevin O'Rourke	...	Brad
Richard Kind	...	Floyd
Charles Lucia	...	Cliff (as Chip Lucia)
Ajay Naidu	...	Dale Ferriera
Raymond Rosario	...	Dooley

Also Known As:

viceVersa (International: English title) (poster title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Vice Versa is based on a novel written in 1882 by F. Anstey. Three previous adaptations were released in the UK in 1916, 1937 & 1948.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: When Marshall is in his taxi, going to his building, you can see the boom mic reflected on the window of the taxi when he opens the car door.

Quotes:

Marshall: [about his ex-wife] This is the woman who I couldn't live with as a husband, and now I'm going to be her son.

Movie Connections:

Features Space Invaders (1982) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Vice Versa

I see a silohuett-a of a man!

Vice Versa, despite the trite plot, distinguishes itself from other 80s body-switching comedies, because of the age and personality difference between the two characters. To watch Judge Reinhold act like a wild ten year-old trapped in an adults body and Fred Savage to act like a short-tempered middle aged man trapped in a child's body, it makes fine family fun and hilarious comedy. I think, in fact, it is Judge Reinhold in one of his finest moments, being allowed to act like a wild kid, curiously handling adult responsibilities with a child's touch.

Marshall (Judge Reinhold) and his girlfriend take a business trip to Southeast Asia to order some cheap vases for their company's Christmas stock. The shipments get mixed up, and Marshall gets his hands on a strange looking sacred golden skull with mysterious powers that was supposed to be given to some bumbling theives who were going to sell it for a hefty price.

Meanwhile, Marshall's son, Charlie (Fred Savage) is miserable, having to spend the holidays with his dad, an uptight work-a-holic who never seems to have time for Charlie, and usually scoffs at Charlie's suggestions for a little adventure. Charlie was optimistic about the vacation, but it seems that the two just can't get along at all. During an argument about how the other doesn't understand what it's like to be a kid/adult, they get their hands on the skull, and one...two...switcheroo. Charlie becomes Marshall and Marshall becomes Charlie.

Like I said, the thing that makes this movie better than say, 'Like Father, Like Son' which is essentially the same deal (father and son switch), is the contrasting personalities and age differences of the two characters. Judge Reinhold goes from uptight middle-aged guy to a kid who's perpetually stoked about everything. He really turns things around in Marshall's life. And Charlie goes from regular little kid, to something of an arrogant smart-ass. Like 18 Again!, the characters are perfect for a story like this.