Netflix has released a new holiday comedy film, Family Switch, starring Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms as the parents of a family that swaps bodies after a visit to an astrological reader. The film is based on the 2010 children’s book Bedtime for Mommy by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, who also wrote the book that inspired another Netflix movie, Yes Day.
What is Family Switch about?
Family Switch follows the Walker family, who are going through a rough patch as their children grow older and more distant. Jess (Garner) and Bill (Helms) are struggling to connect with their kids, CC (Emma Myers) and Wyatt (Brady Noon), who are busy with their own lives and interests. Even their toddler Miles (Lincoln and Theodore Sykes) and their dog seem to have their agendas.
On the eve of the most important day of their lives, the Walkers decide to take a family trip to a Christmas fair, where they encounter a mysterious astrological reader named Angelica (Rita Moreno). She gives them a reading that reveals their true personalities and wishes and warns them to be careful what they wish for.
The next morning, the Walkers wake up to a shocking surprise: they have swapped bodies with each other. Jess is in Wyatt’s body, Bill is in CC’s body, CC is in Bill’s body, Wyatt is in Jess’s body, Miles is in the dog’s body, and the dog is in Miles’s body. To make matters worse, they have to face the challenges of their respective roles, such as a college interview, a soccer tryout, a promotion pitch, and a record deal audition.
The Walkers must find a way to work together and switch back to their original bodies before it’s too late. Along the way, they learn more about each other and themselves and rediscover the true meaning of family.
How does Family Switch pay homage to past body swap movies?
Family Switch is not the first movie to explore the concept of body swapping, which has been a popular trope in comedy films for decades. Some of the most famous examples include Freaky Friday, Big, 13 Going on 30, 17 Again, and The Change-Up.
Family Switch director McG, who has previously worked on Netflix projects such as The Babysitter and Rim of the World, said that he wanted to pay tribute to the genre and its classics. He told Entertainment Weekly that the film would have “meta nods” to past body swap movies, especially 13 Going on 30, which starred Jennifer Garner as a teenager trapped in the body of a 30-year-old woman.
McG also said that he wanted to make Family Switch a “fun, festive, family-friendly” movie that would appeal to both kids and adults. He said that he was inspired by the works of Amy Krouse Rosenthal, who had a “wonderful sense of humor and heart” in her books. Rosenthal, who passed away in 2017, was also the author of Yes Day, another children’s book that was adapted into a Netflix movie starring Garner earlier this year.
Who are the other stars of Family Switch?
Family Switch boasts a star-studded cast that includes some familiar faces from comedy, drama, and music. Besides Garner and Helms, who are both known for their roles in rom-coms and TV shows such as Alias and The Office, the film also features:
- Emma Myers as CC, the eldest daughter of the Walkers, who is a talented singer and songwriter. Myers is a newcomer who will also star in the upcoming Netflix series Wednesday, based on the Addams Family character.
- Brady Noon as Wyatt, the son of the Walkers, who is a tech genius and a soccer player. Noon has appeared in films such as Good Boys and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.
- Rita Moreno as Angelica, the astrological reader who triggers the body swap. Moreno is a legendary actress who has won an Oscar, a Grammy, an Emmy, and a Tony. She is best known for her roles in West Side Story, The Electric Company, and One Day at a Time.
- Matthias Schweighöfer as Rolf, a German music producer who wants to sign CC. Schweighöfer is a German actor, director, and producer who has starred in films such as Army of the Dead and You Are Wanted.
- Xosha Roquemore as Carrie, Jess’s best friend and co-worker. Roquemore is an actress and comedian who has appeared in shows such as The Mindy Project and Precious.
- Paul Scheer as Steven, Bill’s boss and rival. Scheer is an actor, comedian, and podcaster who has featured in shows such as The League, Veep, and Black Monday.
- Fortune Feimster as Coach Kim, Wyatt’s soccer coach. Feimster is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actress who has performed in shows such as The Mindy Project, Chelsea Lately, and The Netflix Afterparty.
- Bashir Salahuddin as Molson, a radio host who interviews CC. Salahuddin is an actor, writer, and producer who has worked on shows such as Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, GLOW, and Sherman’s Showcase.
The film also has cameo appearances from celebrities such as Howie Mandel, Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Pete Holmes, Naomi Ekperigin, Dan Finnerty, Cyrus Arnold, Ravi Kapoor, Anwar Jibawi, Hannah Stocking, Mark McGrath, Bob Stephenson, Benjamin Flores Jr., Lauren Ash, Adam Lustick, and King Bach.
Where can you watch Family Switch?
Family Switch is a Netflix original film, which means that you can only watch it on the streaming platform. The film will be available on Netflix on November 30, 2023, just in time for the holiday season. You can add it to your watchlist here.
If you are not a Netflix subscriber yet, you can choose from three plans: the Basic plan with ads for $6.99/month, the Standard plan without ads for $15.49/month, or the Premium plan for $19.99/month. The plans differ in the number of screens you can watch on, the video quality, and the download options.
