VICE VERSA

US, 1988, 98 minutes, Colour.
Judge Reinhold, Fred Savage, Swoozie Kurtz.
Directed by Brian Gilbert.

Vice Versa is a pleasant comedy of role reversals, father and son. It was an unexpected box-office success of 1988.

The story was used originally in a British film written and directed by Peter Ustinov in the late '40s. The plot was also used in such films as Freaky Friday with Barbara Harris and Jodie Poster changing places. Dudley Moore appeared in 1988 in Like Father, Like Son.

This film was written and produced by the British comedy-writing team of Ian la Frenais and Dick Clements. They have adapted the plot to an American setting, contemporary Chicago. There is an attractive prologue where the mysterious skull is stolen from Thailand and transported to the U.S. Judge Reinhold (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Beverly Hills Cop, Offbeat) is quite good as the father who has to act like his 11-year-old son. Fred Savage (The Princess Bride) is appropriately severe as his stern father. Swoozie Kurz enjoys her role as a criminal mastermind.

Like all role reversal films, it offers insight into what it is like to be another person and walking in their shoes and clothes. The American style is played for raucous laughs rather than subtlety.

1. An enjoyable What if ... ? Role reversal and learning?

2. The title and the theme? The original British story and update? Broadening the style for the U.S. treatment and audience? Credible? Enjoyable?

3. The exotic Thailand setting, the opening with the robbery of the skull and the monks chasing? Marshall and Sam and their trip to Thailand, the American executives in Thailand? The criminals and the transporting of the skull back home? The transfer to Chicago? Homes, shops, school, trains? Marshall and his tight manner, his role in the store, relationship with the boss, as vice president, working with Sam, his friends and their constant criticism? Serious, stern with the staff, with his ex-wife, hurrying to Charlie's concert and being late, the
prospect of having his son for a holiday?

4. Charlie: his age, his talent with the drums, rock music, the concert, at school, the tickets for the rock show? His going out with his father and Sam, the frog in the restaurant and chaos?

5. The establishing of the two characters and their characteristics? The clash and the effects? The vice versa experience? The clothes, the voice, the manners?

6. Marshall in Charlie's form: the child's voice, commanding, at school and bored, the exams, wanting a phone, wanting the limousine? The 'I love you' note and the teacher? His being bullied? His concern about Charlie at the office? With Sam? With the boss? The information about the Tennessee deal and the communications? The visit to the professor about the skull? The crooks and the kidnapping? Getting the lawyer, Charlie in jail? The motor bike chase, the chase for the skull? The train? The reversal? The proposal to Sam? Marshall learning from being in Charlie's experience?

7. Charlie as Marshall: Judge Reinhold and his skill as acting as an 11-year old? As a kid, the language, not knowing the words, the frog at the office, going to the office and being nice to everybody? The friends and their criticism? The dolls and his decision to have them all recalled? His playing the drums, the assistant joining in, the president and the criticisms? The wealthy customer and his being praised? His taking Sam to the rock concert, his participation, going on stage, being carried off, the autograph? His having to cope with the meeting? His going to the school? The schoolteacher and the note? His mother's return and his having to deal with this? The arrest and his crying? The crooks and not coping? The reversal of roles and his learning?

8. The crooks, their visit, the ignorance of Charlie about the skull, following them about the town, the kidnapping, the truth and the vice versa for them?

9. Sam, attractive, sharing with Marshall, her encounters with Charlie in Marshall's form? The rock concert and her enjoying the night?, Marshall's intervention? The proposal?

10. Charlie's mother, the holiday, the phone call, the return, both having to-deal with this? Her husband? His coming down to help as a lawyer?

11. The boss, the staff? The politics in the store?

12. Humorous situations, characters, the insights via vice versa?