Vice Versa (1988)

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

Director:

Brian Gilbert

Writers:

F. Anstey (novel), Dick Clement,

Stars:

Judge Reinhold, Fred Savage, Corinne Bohrer

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

On returning from a buying trip abroad for the department store in which he works, Marshall finds he is in possession of a strange ornamental skull. Marshall is divorced and is looking after his son Charlie for a few days. The skull has special powers, and when Marshall and Charlie simultaneously wish they were each others age, father and son exchange bodies. Now Charlie has to go to work, and Marshall to school. Charlie also has to deal with Marshall's girlfriend. If that weren't enough a pair of smugglers are in pursuit of the skull.

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Plot Keywords:

skull | switching bodies | soul transference | child as adult | father son relationship | 

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Taglines:

The comedy about not acting your age.

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Viceversa

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$13,664,060 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of five body-swap movies all released around the same time. The others were 18 Again!, Like Father Like Son, Big, and Dream a Little Dream.

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Goofs

When Marshall goes through the revolving door into the office building, the sound level from the instruments of the carol players outside remains the same. It doesn't fade until after conversations begin.

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Quotes

Charlie: "For Charlie, love Malice, party 'till you puke."

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Connections

References Happy Days (1974)

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Soundtracks

"Crazy in the Night"
Written by Mick Zane, Mark Behn and James Neal
Produced by Stacey Heydon
Performed by Malice

User Reviews

The best of the bunch

This movie is not the one people think of when talking about those "body switching" comedies that came out between '87 and '89. Big always gets the attention, but for my money Vice Versa is funnier, smarter and more memorable. Judge Reinhold didn't get the Oscar nomination that Tom Hanks scored, and more or less dropped off the face of the earth after making this movie (except, of course, for "Daddy's Dyin'...Who's Got the Will"). He was in several '80s blockbusters and stole many scenes in them (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Beverly Hills Cop and its sequel, Ruthless People....) But this movie is his shining hour, where he is believable and funny as both the uptight adult and the 11-year old kid. Fred Savage is equally good--very convincing when he becomes his dad. The movie builds up its jokes nicely, and has a Capra-esque quality to it. It also makes terrific use of character actors Swoosie Kurtz and David Proval, who is light years away from his Sopranos character. The fact that this movie is lumped in with lesser films like 18 Again and Like Father Like Son baffles me. This one is definitely in the league with Big.