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IMDbPro

The Switch

  • 20102010
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
105K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,107
136
Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman in The Switch (2010)
An unmarried 40-year-old woman turns to a turkey baster in order to become pregnant. Seven years later, she reunites with her best friend, who has been living with a secret: he replaced her preferred sperm sample with his own.
Play trailer2:04
7 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
Seven years after the fact, a man comes to the realization that he was the sperm donor for his best friend's boy.Seven years after the fact, a man comes to the realization that he was the sperm donor for his best friend's boy.Seven years after the fact, a man comes to the realization that he was the sperm donor for his best friend's boy.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
105K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,107
136
  • Directors
    • Josh Gordon
    • Will Speck
  • Writers
    • Jeffrey Eugenides(based on the short story "Baster" by)
    • Allan Loeb(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Jennifer Aniston
    • Jason Bateman
    • Patrick Wilson
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Josh Gordon
    • Will Speck
  • Writers
    • Jeffrey Eugenides(based on the short story "Baster" by)
    • Allan Loeb(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Jennifer Aniston
    • Jason Bateman
    • Patrick Wilson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 168User reviews
    • 179Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Videos7

    The Switch: International Trailer
    Trailer 2:04
    The Switch: International Trailer
    The Switch
    Trailer 2:32
    The Switch
    The Switch -- "Home Baster"
    Clip 0:49
    The Switch -- "Home Baster"
    The Switch -- "Fresh"
    Clip 0:50
    The Switch -- "Fresh"
    The Switch -- "Duck Tales"
    Clip 1:01
    The Switch -- "Duck Tales"
    The Switch – "Buzzkill”
    Clip 0:40
    The Switch – "Buzzkill”
    The Switch: "In the Market"
    Clip 0:50
    The Switch: "In the Market"

    Photos118

    Jeff Goldblum and Jason Bateman in The Switch (2010)
    Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman in The Switch (2010)
    Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman in The Switch (2010)
    Jason Bateman and Patrick Wilson in The Switch (2010)
    Thomas Robinson in The Switch (2010)
    Jason Bateman and Thomas Robinson in The Switch (2010)
    Jason Bateman in The Switch (2010)
    Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman in The Switch (2010)
    Juliette Lewis and Jason Bateman in The Switch (2010)
    Juliette Lewis in The Switch (2010)
    Juliette Lewis and Patrick Wilson in The Switch (2010)
    Patrick Wilson in The Switch (2010)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jennifer Aniston
    Jennifer Aniston
    • Kassie Larsonas Kassie Larson
    Jason Bateman
    Jason Bateman
    • Wally Marsas Wally Mars
    Patrick Wilson
    Patrick Wilson
    • Rolandas Roland
    Jeff Goldblum
    Jeff Goldblum
    • Leonardas Leonard
    Victor Pagan
    • Knit Hat Guyas Knit Hat Guy
    Juliette Lewis
    Juliette Lewis
    • Debbieas Debbie
    Todd Louiso
    Todd Louiso
    • Artieas Artie
    Scott Elrod
    Scott Elrod
    • Declanas Declan
    Rebecca Naomi Jones
    Rebecca Naomi Jones
    • Party Guestas Party Guest
    Kelli Barrett
    Kelli Barrett
    • Roland's Wife Jessicaas Roland's Wife Jessica
    Jeremy Mohler
    • Party Guest 2as Party Guest 2
    • (as Jeremy J. Mohler)
    Will Swenson
    Will Swenson
    • Actor on Stageas Actor on Stage
    Edward James Hyland
    Edward James Hyland
    • Man in Theateras Man in Theater
    Caroline Dhavernas
    Caroline Dhavernas
    • Paulineas Pauline
    Brian Podnos
    • Waiteras Waiter
    Thomas Robinson
    Thomas Robinson
    • Sebastianas Sebastian
    Carmen M. Herlihy
    • Woman on Busas Woman on Bus
    Lily Pilblad
    Lily Pilblad
    • Girl at Pizzeriaas Girl at Pizzeria
    • (as Lily Pilbald)
    • Directors
      • Josh Gordon
      • Will Speck
    • Writers
      • Jeffrey Eugenides(based on the short story "Baster" by)
      • Allan Loeb(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Diane Sawyer was apparently perfectly happy for her image to be used in Jason Bateman's masturbation scene.
    • Goofs
      At the beginning of the final barbecue scene, Wally is seen using a gas grill, as evident by the burner knobs. After walking in the house, he speaks of charcoal and lighter fluid, which are completely unnecessary when using a gas grill.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Wally Mars: Look at us. Running around, always rushed, always late. I guess that's why they call it the human race. What we crave most in this world is connection. For some people it happens at first site. It's when you know, you know. It's fate working its magic. And that's great for them. They get to live in a pop song; ride the express train. But that's not the way it really works. For the rest of us it's a bit less romantic. It's complicated and it's messy. It's about horrible timing and fumbled opportunities. And not being able to say what you need to say when you need to say it. At least, that's the way it was for me.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Hot Tub Time Machine/Chloe/How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Instant Replay
      Written by Dan Hartman

      Performed by Dan Hartman

      Courtesy of Epic Records

      By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

    User reviews168

    Review
    Top review
    Terrific male cast
    The Switch's first thirty minutes remind me of screwball comedies with repartee sharp, fast, and witty: unmarried Kassie (Jennifer Aniston) announces to her best friend, Wally (Jason Bateman), that she is going to arrange for a donor to have a baby. I know—we've been there this year with Back-up Plan and The Kids are All Right, yet there's plenty of room for all kinds of donations.

    Bateman is at his under-acting, low key, gentle best responding to Aniston's usually cute bemusement because, as you might have guessed, he loves her but has not the daring to tell her. Then, at the donor party, he gets excited in the bathroom at a picture of Diane Sawyer and switches his sperm for the donor's.

    You've seen similar romantic comedy setups where the principals know each other too well or dislike each other so much that they will be enlightened and bond by the end of the film. You know how it all will turn out, so after that smart opening, the film devolves into clichéd expectation fulfillment.

    However, scenes between Wally and six-year old Sebastian (Thomas Robinson), his son by the switch but a secret to mother and son for much of the film, are well-acted given the appropriate level of dialogue, their mutual respect, and the film's unwillingness to exploit Robinson's cuteness to elicit favorable reviews. But after all, like his dad, Sebastian's a pessimist with eccentric and sometimes macabre tastes, not always exploitable characteristics. In any case, these two actors are as good as one could expect to show a loving relationship between two eccentrics who don't know for some time they are related.

    Saving the film from my impending "C" grade are Jeff Goldblum as Leonard, Wally's best male friend; the cute Thomas Robinson as Sebastian, Kassie's son; and manic Juliette Lewis as Debbie, Kassie's best girl friend. With weak competition like Bow Wow in Lottery Ticket, Aniston manages to be in a film just a bit above my average. Too bad because that opening is worth seeing just for itself.
    helpful•12
    12
    • jdesando
    • Aug 19, 2010

    FAQ1

    • Why didn't Kassie just have sex with Wally or Roland or whomever she wanted to have the baby with?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 20, 2010 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Baster
    • Filming locations
      • 2nd Ave & E 56th St, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Mandate Pictures
      • Bona Fide Productions
      • Echo Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $19,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $27,779,426
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,436,713
      • Aug 22, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $49,843,011
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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