Vice Versa (1988)

Strange to think this little forgotten 80's comedy is actually an adaptation of a late 18th Century novel. Hardly the kind of thing you'd expect to see Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage in. This overlooked flick came out a few months before 'Big' but failed to do as well unsurprisingly.

One high-flying businessman and neglectful father swap places with his very small bullied son. From there on the little boy must try and hold his father's job together while the dad must battle the daily grind of school. At the same time a couple of baddies are also after the precious object that causes all the commotion. It's easy to grasp, predictable, and cheesy but it's a fun little jaunt.

It always bothered me that they went to the trouble of having both characters actually change shape (shrink and grow) to make you believe that each of them transformed into the other. Wouldn't it have been easier just for them to swap minds? Why did they have to virtually mutate into each others body shape? You don't see that of course, it's only implied by camera angles and the simple raising and lowering of the floor beneath them, but it just seemed pointless to me.

The other thing I could never work out was this department store in Chicago. Obviously it's supposed to be a very prestigious store for wealthy buyers but would it really have such lavish office levels above the store? I don't know maybe in the US this is how big stores work, maybe here in the UK too in say...Harrods, but it felt so odd. All these sniveling ass-kissing suits following the big director around their plush offices. The whole entourage of hierarchy that seems to run the store like the Third Reich putting the fear of God into the employees. It is of course so very 80's with the power suits, an all-White pompous set of staff, and stereotypical male chauvinistic behaviour (bit like 'Trading Places'). But I did like that angle, its so damn retro.

This is one of those comedies that is supposed to be for kids but it's actually quite grown up really, a perfect 80's comedy then. Many scenes contain Savage swearing, drinking, and talking to adults as if he was one himself. That is the whole point sure but you know in this day and age it would be so watered down and childish. This movie is a bit edgy at times and it's brilliant. Gotta be honest this is probably Savage's best major film too, he really does perform well as an adult I must say. Reinhold also kills it as a big child (he's perfectly cast with his looks). Both have lots of cute little moments which will make you laugh.

You can see how the finale will unfold a mile off but it's still good goofy fun as the two bad guys get their obvious comeuppance. It's not a Pink Panther type of tomfoolery don't worry, it's a very tolerable silliness that is somewhat believable. But there are no real big stunts or action sequences in this. I loved the performances from everyone in here. Quick nod to the trio of brown-nosing office 'yes men' who all came across as Waldorf and Statler-esque live-action Muppets, Richard Kind being one. Totally underrated in this reviewer's opinion and well worth the watch if you enjoy really dated 80's flicks, good Xmas time flick too.

8/10