Switch Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A dead chauvinist comes back as a hot blonde and accidentally reinvents the ’80s while trying to avoid eternal damnation.

🍿 Switch: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Murder of Steve Brooks

Steve Brooks, a notorious womanizer, is lured to a surprise party by three of his ex-lovers: Margo, Liz, and Sheila. Unbeknownst to Steve, the party is a trap. The women attempt to drown him in a hot tub, and when that fails, Margo shoots him, ending his life abruptly.

Purgatory and Rebirth

Steve finds himself in Purgatory, where God informs him that his treatment of women was repulsive and he’s unfit for Heaven. To earn his place, he must return to Earth and find one woman who truly loves him. However, the Devil intervenes, suggesting Steve be reincarnated as a woman to make the task more challenging.

Life as Amanda Brooks

Steve awakens as Amanda Brooks, a stunning woman who is, in essence, him in a female body. Amanda struggles with the practicalities of being a woman, like makeup and high heels. She also reconnects with Steve’s best friend, Walter, claiming to be his half-sister. Amanda takes over Steve’s job, determined to navigate the world from a woman’s perspective.

Navigating Relationships and Business

To secure a lucrative cosmetics account, Amanda attempts to seduce Sheila Faxton, a lesbian executive. The attempt makes her uncomfortable, forcing Amanda to confront her own prejudices. Despite securing the account, Amanda alienates Sheila. Discovering all the women Steve knew hate him, she despairs of ever finding love.

Betrayal and Pregnancy

After a night of heavy drinking, Walter sleeps with Amanda while she’s unconscious. This results in her pregnancy. Margo plants the murder weapon in Amanda’s apartment, leading to her arrest for Steve’s murder. Deemed mentally unfit, she’s sent to a mental hospital.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Amanda Brooks/Steve Brooks (Ellen Barkin/Perry King): A chauvinistic womanizer who is murdered and reincarnated as a woman, forced to find a woman who loves him to enter Heaven.
• Walter Stone (Jimmy Smits): Steve’s best friend who is supportive of Amanda, eventually developing romantic feelings for her and fathering her child.
• Margo Brofman (JoBeth Williams): One of Steve’s ex-lovers who leads the plot to murder him and later frames Amanda for the crime.
• Sheila Faxton (Lorraine Bracco): A lesbian businesswoman who Amanda attempts to seduce to secure a business deal, highlighting the complexities of gender and sexuality.
• The Devil (Bruce Payne): A tempter who influences Steve’s punishment, pushing for him to be reincarnated as a woman to make his redemption more difficult.
• Arnold Freidkin (Tony Roberts): Steve’s boss at the ad agency, who is easily blackmailed by Amanda to secure Steve’s old job.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Margo Brofman: “Do you know how many rich animals I had to f**k to get this coat?” – Margo retorts to a fur protestor about the origin of her fur coat, highlighting her materialistic nature.
• Amanda Brooks: “I can’t think with all this hair!” – Amanda exclaims in frustration while trying to adjust to having long hair as a woman, showcasing the challenges of the gender switch.
• Amanda Brooks: “Men can say ‘I’d like to get laid.’ This isn’t right for a woman to feel?” – Amanda questions the double standards regarding sexual desires for men and women, reflecting her growing feminist perspective.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $14,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $15,545,943
• Worldwide Gross: $15,545,943

💥 Switch Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I watched this movie because Ellen Barkin is awesome, and honestly, she doesn’t disappoint! Seeing her swagger around in heels, trying to figure out what it means to be a woman, is hilarious. I felt sorry for her when Jimmy Smits’ character does what he does, because she was trying to do good in the end! I also loved Lorraine Bracco’s character, she broke my heart. It’s not perfect, but I had a lot of fun watching it. Definitely a movie I will watch again when I need a laugh.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of gender-bending comedies”
  • “Viewers interested in 90s comedies with social commentary”
  • “Ellen Barkin fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Suggestive themes”
  • “Sexual content”
  • “Language”
  • “Violence”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Switch offers a clever premise and Barkin’s performance is energetic, but the film ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. Edwards dances around true satire, opting for easy laughs instead of biting commentary on gender roles.
• The New York Times: “While Barkin commits fully to the role, the film struggles with its tone. It’s neither a laugh-out-loud comedy nor a particularly insightful exploration of gender dynamics. It feels like a relic of its time, making some of its humor quite uncomfortable by today’s standards.

Audience Reactions

Ellen Barkin’s performance is hilarious and believable as a man trapped in a woman’s body.: Most viewers praise Ellen Barkin’s performance and the film’s unique premise, though some find it dated and uneven.

Overall Consensus: Ellen Barkin’s strong performance carries a flawed but entertaining gender-swap comedy that amuses some but leaves others wanting more.

Awards

1. Golden Globe (Best Actress – Musical or Comedy)- 1992

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Blake Edwards directed this film, known for his comedies like ‘The Pink Panther’ series and ‘Victor/Victoria,’ which also explored gender themes.”
• “The film is a remake of the 1964 movie ‘Goodbye Charlie,’ which itself was based on a play. Both films involve a character switching genders after death.”
• “Ellen Barkin received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as Amanda Brooks.”
• “A seduction scene between Ellen Barkin and Lorraine Bracco was reportedly cut after poor reactions in test screenings.”

🖥️ How to Watch Switch?

As of October 2024, “Switch” is available for purchase or rental on various platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred streaming service for current availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Switch, you might like these similar films:

• Goodbye Charlie (1964): The original film with a similar plot where a womanizer dies and comes back as a woman.
• Tootsie (1982): Features a man disguising himself as a woman, exploring gender roles and societal expectations through comedy.
• Victor Victoria (1982): Also directed by Blake Edwards, this film delves into gender roles and identity with a woman pretending to be a man.
• What Women Want (2000): A chauvinistic man gains the ability to hear women’s thoughts, learning about their perspectives and changing his behavior.

🛒 Switch Related Products

• Switch (Blu-ray): Relive the 90s classic comedy in high definition. Features include interviews with cast members and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Switch Movie Poster: High-quality print of the original theatrical poster. Perfect for decorating your home theater or office. Frame not included.
• The Big Easy [Blu-ray]: Dive into another movie starring Ellen Barkin in The Big Easy as Remy McSwain, a New Orleans police officer, investigates a crime syndicate with an attractive lawyer Anne Osborne (Ellen Barkin). Their professional relationship becomes a passionate romance that makes them both see things in a different light.

🎧 Soundtrack

Switch features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Both Sides Now” – performed by Paul Young & Clannad

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Switch – Bracco & Barkin Lesbian Love Scene

Ever wondered about the chemistry between Lorraine Bracco and Ellen Barkin in ‘Switch’? This music video perfectly captures their on-screen presence. Honestly, it’s a pretty captivating scene, definitely worth a watch!

✨ Rate