Vice Versa

Name: Vice Versa
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy
Released: March 11, 1988
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Beverly Archer, Corinne Bohrer, David Proval, Fred Savage, Gloria Gifford

1988

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Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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Vice Versa

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: March 11, 1988 | TV-PG

Starring: Beverly Archer, Corinne Bohrer, David Proval, Fred Savage, Gloria Gifford, Harry S. Murphy, Jane Kaczmarek, Judge Reinhold, Swoosie Kurtz, William Prince

Summary: A divorced executive named Marshall and his 11-year-old son, Charlie, casually touch a magical Tibetan skull, releasing a mysterious power that transfers Marshall's mind to Charlie's body and vice versa. Their problems have just begun.

Director: Brian Gilbert

Genre(s): Fantasy, Comedy

Rating: TV-PG

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

What makes Vice Versa so wonderful is the way Reinhold and Savage are able to convince us that each body is inhabited by the other character. Read full review

Ted Mahar

Reinhold and Savage play off each other well, and Savage is impressively convincing as a 35-year-old trapped in his son's body. You've seen worse. And will again. [11 Mar 1988]

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The story isn't particularly believable, the revelations not fresh or profound, but the film succeeds anyway because of its strong lead performances. A true family picture in the most entertaining sense, VICE VERSA provides laughs for both kids and adults. Read full review

The Observer (UK) Philip French

Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage are pleasant enough as the father and son who swap roles, but the result is less funny and less stylish than Peter Ustinov's period version of 1947 which starred Roger Livesey and Anthony Newley. [14 Dec 2003, p.8]

Empire William Thomas

Vice Versa knows its place and, rather than attempting anything oddball, sticks close to the body swap formula in order to gain a decent smattering of laughs. No classic, but a watchable comedy that will find an audience. Read full review

Janet Maslin

The film's best scenes are those between the goofily nonchalant Mr. Reinhold and the precociously stern Mr. Savage, however bluntly these moments call attention to the craziness of the premise. Read full review

Janis D. Froelich

Vice Versa shouldn't be happening to Judge Reinhold. He's too wonderful to be squandered on a movie plot that could have been shaped by a roomful of third graders with magic markers and lined paper. [11 Mar 1988, p.6]

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Oceanus_VI

Aug 23, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 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.… Expand

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