‘Date and Switch’ Review
Stars: Nicholas Braun, Hunter Cope, Dakota Johnson, Quinn Lord, Nick Offerman, Gary Cole, Megan Mullally, Darien Provost, Dustin Ybarra, Sarah Hyland, Larry Wilmore | Written by Alan Yang | Directed by Chris Nelson
When best friends Michael and Matty make a pact to lose their virginity before prom, a spanner is thrown in the works when Matty comes out as gay. Trying to work out their new situation, Michael makes it his life ambition to continue the pact no matter what. Together, they start on an adventure of calamity and hi-jinx as they try to find their place in the world, how their lives have changed because of it and who can they persuade to have sex with them before prom night is through.
Date and Switch definitely suffers from that classic ‘teenager romantic comedy’ syndrome where it is all about sex and, namely, having it before a certain time limit is up. In this case it is the usual. ‘Prom’. The ultimate finish line for all American students. So story-line wise, it is not the most original in the book. However, the twist on this one is that the main ‘romance’ is more of a ‘bromance’ as two best friends trying to cope with the fact that one of them has recently come out as gay. There are actual romances as well for both of the main characters, but these both take a sideline to the main plot which plays out between Matty and Michael.
What follows is, surprisingly, quite a hilarious film. I expected to find myself sighing at crude humour and ‘awkward situation’ jokes. To be fair, there are plenty of both of those things, but I was definitely guilty of giggling at some of the rather strange situations the main characters find themselves in as they try to adapt to the situation. It is definitely aimed at those with a more childish humour, so if you are feeling a bit more grown up in terms of your film watching you might want to avoid this one.
Thankfully, Date and Switch doesn’t make a mockery of homosexuality or fall back on cheesy and inaccurate stereotypes to try and get laughs. The story and the humour is well written (and definitely very silly at points) and the two combined really do well the explore the issues that the film tries to raise about intolerance and growing up. The result is a very light hearted film which is actually a lot of fun.
Date and Switch, although very cliché in terms of teen films, is a very entertaining rom-com. If you are in the mood for some easy, light hearted laughs and silly teenage ‘coming of age’ antics, this is a film you will want to check out.
Date and Switch is out now on DVD and VOD from Lionsgate UK.
