I saw this film in the theaters and enjoyed it enough to write this review (which is my first on IMDb). Crass humor, sappy storyline, nothing exceptional to say the least . . . But, I loved it! If the humor wasn't so rude and the characters not so insensitive and shallow, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed this movie as much as I did. Half the fun was in watching these fellas on screen saying and doing stuff we wouldn't dream of doing in real life for fear of offending others or making fools of ourselves. Some scenes would have me squirming in awkward jaw-dropped discomfort while inwardly savoring the moment with a vicarious thrill.
The lead actors, Jason Bateman & Ryan Reynolds, are also what made this film work as well as it did. They both brought their own particular brand of funny to the table and played off of each other quite well (Bateman reminded me slightly of his Michael Bluth character in Arrested Development, mildly stuffy, uppity and wound up tight; while Reynolds' character was vaguely dry, arrogant and tactlessly self-involved) I really enjoyed watching our lead protagonists switch roles and play as each other with believably unaffected skill.
While not of great substance or profound moral quality (Who cares! That's not why I'm watching a feel-good Saturday-night comedy anyway), the characters and the movie as a whole really endears itself to the audience. I walked away from the film with a smile (possibly smirk) on my face and a little lightness to my step. It's kind of like Freaky Friday with a mid-life crisis and we learn that yeah, the grass is always greener and even 30-something jerks can be lovably perfect just the way they are.
The lead actors, Jason Bateman & Ryan Reynolds, are also what made this film work as well as it did. They both brought their own particular brand of funny to the table and played off of each other quite well (Bateman reminded me slightly of his Michael Bluth character in Arrested Development, mildly stuffy, uppity and wound up tight; while Reynolds' character was vaguely dry, arrogant and tactlessly self-involved) I really enjoyed watching our lead protagonists switch roles and play as each other with believably unaffected skill.
While not of great substance or profound moral quality (Who cares! That's not why I'm watching a feel-good Saturday-night comedy anyway), the characters and the movie as a whole really endears itself to the audience. I walked away from the film with a smile (possibly smirk) on my face and a little lightness to my step. It's kind of like Freaky Friday with a mid-life crisis and we learn that yeah, the grass is always greener and even 30-something jerks can be lovably perfect just the way they are.