The Switch (2010)

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 (based on the short story "Baster" by), Allan Loeb (screenplay by)

Stars:

Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Patrick Wilson

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Bateman	...	Wally Mars
Victor Pagan	...	Knit Hat Guy
Jennifer Aniston	...	Kassie Larson
Jeff Goldblum	...	Leonard
Juliette Lewis	...	Debbie
Todd Louiso	...	Artie
Scott Elrod	...	Declan
Patrick Wilson	...	Roland
Rebecca Naomi Jones	...	Party Guest
Kelli Barrett	...	Roland's Wife Jessica
Jeremy Mohler	...	Party Guest 2 (as Jeremy J. Mohler)
Will Swenson	...	Actor on Stage
Edward James Hyland	...	Man in Theater
Caroline Dhavernas	...	Pauline
Brian Podnos	...	Waiter

Storyline

Kassie (Jennifer Aniston) and Wally (Jason Bateman) are best friends. Being unlucky in love, Kassie has decided to have a child using artificial insemination. Wally doesn't like this idea, but he isn't capable of admitting to himself, let alone to Kassie, that he's in love with her. At Kassie's artificial insemination party, Wally gets very drunk and spies the sperm donor's sample in the bathroom. Wally was way too drunk to know what he did that night, and Kassie has moved away because she doesn't feel that New York City is a place to raise a child. Now 7 years later, Kassie has moved back with her son Sebastian. While she is looking to get Roland (the sperm donor) more involved in their lives, Wally can't help but notice the many striking similarities that he and Sebastian share.

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Plot Keywords:

sperm donor | mother son relationship | best friend | new york city | father son relationship | 

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Taglines:

The most unexpected comedy ever conceived.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first Miramax release since the company was sold by the Walt Disney Company to Colony Capital.

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Goofs

In the beginning of the film, Wally and Kassie are seen taking the A train. Although we are not shown if they switch trains, when she exits the train and the doors are closing, we see they are now aboard a 2 train.

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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 ...

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Connections

Features Poketto monsutâ (1997)

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Soundtracks

Here Comes The Sun
Written by Arthur Austin, Len Barry, Larry James, Anthony Middleton and Lawrence Taylor
Performed by Fat Larry's Band
Courtesy of Concord Music Group, Inc.

User Reviews

Likable film with a lot of heart

I think critics have been conditioned to think that any movie with Jennifer Aniston in it these days has to suck. I happily declare that this one doesn't. It has a likable romance. The dialogue is actually funny (especially anything that comes out of Jeff Goldblum's mouth). Based on the premise - which comes off much less implausible than it probably should - I was expecting a lot more lowbrow comedy and was pleasantly surprised. And Jason Bateman is a wonderful and underrated leading man. The voice-overs are perhaps a bit insipid and probably could have been skipped entirely, but that's a minor complaint. I enjoyed the film. 7 out of 10.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 August 2010 (Canada)

Also Known As:

L'échange

Filming Locations:

2nd Ave & E 56th St, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$19,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,436,713, 22 August 2010

Gross USA:

$27,779,426

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$49,843,011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mandate Pictures, Bona Fide Productions, Echo Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1