“Family Switch Flixtor” is a Dad Joke of a film, delightfully cheesy but embracing its cheesiness so much that it encourages us to embrace it as well. It is a body-switching movie where a character confidently declares, “This is a completely unique and original situation that has never occurred before,” followed by a series of subtly hidden references to various other body-switching films, including the beloved “13 Going On 30,” which features this movie’s producer and star, Jennifer Garner. Meta upon meta. Energetic direction from action and music video director McG, a likable cast clearly enjoying themselves, and a lineup of talented supporting character keep it entertaining.
Maybe due to our familiarity with the plot of body switch movies involving Jenga blocks, where we stack them up only to witness their inevitable collapse, there is no requirement for elaborate scene-setting to establish the consequences. We are already aware that a supernatural force will be involved, followed by a shock and subsequent comprehension, panic as they swap bodies, comedic mishaps as they make mistakes, a gradual development of teamwork, and ultimately, newfound understanding, empathy, and the relief of returning to their original selves.
In less than six minutes, the Jenga blocks are set up for the "Family Switch" game. The Walker family is currently experiencing a great deal of stress. The parents, Jess, an architect, and Bill, a friendly high school music teacher, are disappointed to discover that their teenagers are not enthusiastic about watching them dress up as candy canes and dance to the Jackson 5. "Jess says, "You used to love filming our family's Christmas films." "Keyword," their soccer-star daughter CC replies, "used to."
