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IMDbPro

The Switch

  • 2010
  • PG-13
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
109K
YOUR RATING
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
13 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyDramaRomance

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.

  • Directors
    • Josh Gordon
    • Will Speck
  • Writers
    • Jeffrey Eugenides
    • Allan Loeb
  • Stars
    • Jennifer Aniston
    • Jason Bateman
    • Patrick Wilson
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    109K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Josh Gordon
      • Will Speck
    • Writers
      • Jeffrey Eugenides
      • Allan Loeb
    • Stars
      • Jennifer Aniston
      • Jason Bateman
      • Patrick Wilson
    • 168User reviews
    • 178Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Videos13

    The Switch: International Trailer
    Trailer 2:04
    Watch The Switch: International Trailer
    The Switch
    Trailer 2:32
    Watch The Switch
    The Switch -- "Home Baster"
    Clip 0:49
    Watch The Switch -- "Home Baster"
    The Switch -- "Fresh"
    Clip 0:50
    Watch The Switch -- "Fresh"
    The Switch -- "Duck Tales"
    Clip 1:01
    Watch The Switch -- "Duck Tales"
    The Switch – "Buzzkill”
    Clip 0:40
    Watch The Switch – "Buzzkill”
    The Switch: "In the Market"
    Clip 0:50
    Watch The Switch: "In the Market"
    The Switch: Fresh
    Clip 0:50
    Watch The Switch: Fresh
    The Switch: Duck Tales
    Clip 1:01
    Watch The Switch: Duck Tales
    The Switch: Buzzkill
    Clip 0:40
    Watch The Switch: Buzzkill
    The Switch: Man And Kayak (Deleted Scene Exclusive Clip)
    Clip 1:01
    Watch The Switch: Man And Kayak (Deleted Scene Exclusive Clip)
    The Switch: Home Baster
    Clip 0:50
    Watch The Switch: Home Baster

    Photos185

    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)
    Jason Bateman and 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 Larson
    Jason Bateman
    Jason Bateman
    • Wally Mars
    Patrick Wilson
    Patrick Wilson
    • Roland
    Jeff Goldblum
    Jeff Goldblum
    • Leonard
    Victor Pagan
    • Knit Hat Guy
    Juliette Lewis
    Juliette Lewis
    • Debbie
    Todd Louiso
    Todd Louiso
    • Artie
    Scott Elrod
    Scott Elrod
    • Declan
    Rebecca Naomi Jones
    Rebecca Naomi Jones
    • Party Guest
    Kelli Barrett
    Kelli Barrett
    • Roland's Wife Jessica
    Jeremy Mohler
    • Party Guest 2
    • (as Jeremy J. Mohler)
    Will Swenson
    Will Swenson
    • Actor on Stage
    Edward James Hyland
    Edward James Hyland
    • Man in Theater
    Caroline Dhavernas
    Caroline Dhavernas
    • Pauline
    Brian Podnos
    • Waiter
    Thomas Robinson
    Thomas Robinson
    • Sebastian
    Carmen M. Herlihy
    • Woman on Bus
    Lily Pilblad
    Lily Pilblad
    • Girl at Pizzeria
    • (as Lily Pilbald)
    • Directors
      • Josh Gordon
      • Will Speck
    • Writers
      • Jeffrey Eugenides
      • Allan Loeb
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more 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
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    A romantic comedy with just enough of each to survive the overly clever hook
    The Switch (2010)

    Okay, it would be easy to dis this movie as a canned, obvious, emotionally thin contrivance. It's a vehicle for two popular stars playing characters in their 30s who are, despite good looks and basic social skills, single and childless. They have to fall in love but life gets in the way in kind of stupid ways. You can't take it seriously, and you can't even quite care enough to hope for the best, whatever that is.

    But it's also easy to like this movie despite its obviousness. Jason Bateman is a joy to watch. Maybe his performance is like the movie--glib and facile. But like the movie he is endlessly watchable, and his character is the one with the most depth. His interactions with the boy of six or so are terrific. The boy, too, is adorable and helps the movie get some feeling.

    Jennifer Aniston plays the woman who wants a child but has no one willing to be the dad, more or less (though the viewer knows better). And she's a terrific actress, actually, even if her role here (and elsewhere) is often not as demanding as it could be. I suppose Meg Ryan has some kind of edge on her for this kind of stereotype--the lovable lonely urban girl who just can't get love right despite the obvious--but Aniston is an update on that type.

    But it is Aniston and Bateman together that really make the movie glide along and make you smile. They have great rapport and good timing, comedic and serious both. I wouldn't say they have chemistry (I guess that's the problem their characters have, so maybe it's great acting) but they make their scenes pop in a way the rest of the movie trundles.

    The story writer, Jeffrey Eugenides, is better known for sprawling novels and lots of interrelated characters, but even there there are little hooks that come off a hair obvious. That's the problem here, in the end. There's a big trick, a wonderful and funny hook of an idea, and that almost alone has to handle all the consequences. Some better character development would have been a joy.

    Oh, and it's been a long time since a movie with two directors has been able to pull off consistency. I don't know the logistics behind it, but maybe one of the hesitations all along is a lack of singular conviction. Or not. Maybe this is such a formula product any number of directors could have chipped in.

    Watch it for the two leads together. And for some fun, warm laughs, if that's your thing. I enjoyed it.
    helpful•7
    2
    • secondtake
    • Jun 28, 2013

    Top picks

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    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
      • 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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