A Saintly Switch (1999) (TV)

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writers:

Sally Hampton (writer)
Haris Orkin (writer)

Release Date:

24 January 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Romance | Sport

Plot:

Although this is a high-concept comedy, the basic theme deals with very important and timely issues...

Plot Keywords:

Pregnancy | Football | Beautiful Woman | Brother Sister Relationship | Baby

Cast

Vivica A. Fox	...	Sara Anderson
David Alan Grier	...	Dan Anderson
Al Waxman	...	Coach Beasily
Scott Cumberbatch	...	Clarke (as Scott Owen Cumberbatch)
Shadia Simmons	...	Annette Anderson
David Keeley	...	Otis
Rue McClanahan	...	Aunt Fanny
Frank Welker	...	Voltaire (voice)
Louise Stratten	...	Kimberly (as Louise Straten)
Mark Lutz	...	Morton Wagner
Jeffrey Knight	...	Howard
Scott Wickware	...	Coach Barker
John Boylan	...	Principal Wilby
Joe Sabatino	...	Davenport
Alex Campbell	...	Billy

Also Known As:

In Your Shoes

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Pacific Motion Pictures Corporation

Kind Of Like An Oreo Cookie

What I mean by that is simple. The only really good part of the Oreo cookie is the middle; the only really good part of this movie is the middle. The beginning and ending are typical Disney silliness - not that that's necessarily bad. At least it presents a movie that the whole family can watch and enjoy.

David Alan Grier plays Dan Armstrong - a pro quarterback cut by the Washington Redskins who catches on with the New Orleans Saints and has to move his family (daughter and son and very unhappy wife) to pursue his new opportunity. Dan and his wife Sara (Vivica A. Fox) fight a lot, which bothers the kids, who find a way to cast a magic spell to help them get along. As I say, typical Disney.

It gets better, though. The spell results in Dan and Sara switching bodies, which leads to some truly funny moments - especially seeing Sara in Dan's body at training camp, crying as he's sacked ("he jumped on me for no reason") and teaching his teammates the feminine virtues of love and compassion. Dan in Sara's body is equally funny, trying to teach some art history at the local school except that unlike his wife, he knows nothing about art history. The middle is really quite funny and yet serious at the same time. Dan and Sara learn to appreciate each other and how much effort they have to put in to what they do. Dan becomes a better dad who spends more time with his kids, and Sara becomes a big football fan who understands the pressures Dan has to put up with. Of course, they become closer than ever, in the typically Disney happy ending.

So, treat it like an Oreo. Just because only the middle's worth anything doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable.

6/10