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You won’t often hear me to recommend you smoke up, considering I’m straightedge, but if you’re into those things, by all means bring it along for Swap Me, Baby. Stoner flicks are nothing new. We’ve seen our fair share of them. Some of them even very successful money-makers and crowd pleasers, such as the Harold and Kumar movies or many earlier Seth Rogen flicks. So what should you know about Swap Me, Baby?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT:
The premise is ridiculous as hell. A straightlaced business woman and a eccentric French mushroom high gigolo are somehow 8 months pregnant. Go figure. A therapist recommendation leads them on a remote nature getaway. Bunch of “magic shrooms” and a “magic box” later, they find themselves in a body swap. Will they be able to revert to their former bodies and gain an understanding for each other is where the smidge of the plot lies at.
TAKEAWAYS AND OBSERVATIONS:
Well this one is pretty self-explanatory. It’s a pothead movie. In as simple terms as I can. It’s wacky and dumb, but it’s made to be just that. Movies like this aren’t made for a plot to follow. Everything taking place in the story is like a hallucinating trip (not that I could relate). It’s senseless in so many ways, I can’t even count, but it’s also self-aware that it’s just that. So are the performances…
HOW DID THE ACTORS DO:
Speaking of performances. The leads are played by Kimberly Leemans and Falk Hentschel. Two rather successful working actors. As the saying goes, when you get chicken shit, turn it into a salad (or something along those lines, don’t quote me). That is exactly what Leemans and Hentschel attempt to do, make a chicken salad.
The script and dialogue is nonsensical, but that also in-turn allows the actors to completely go-off the rails, which they do. The performances can be likened to a improv show. Large, way over-the-top and goofy. I credit Leemans and Hentschel for having a going-for-it attitude. They clearly didn’t care if they come off looking like clowns or not. They packed every ounce of energy into their roles. I can’t imagine it’s easy being this over-the-top and exhausting constant energy with each line they spit out.
WAS IT ENTERTAINING:
Personally, not at all, but, a film like this definitely has its niche. As I mentioned at the top there have been successful stoner movies and it’s definitely a genre of film. It’s certainly not for everyone. I’m not into this sort of humor at all. The movie is pretty raunchy also. Once again, the actors “went for it”.
If raunchy pothead humor is your thing, you’ll actually probably enjoy Swap, Me Baby. I found it too confusing trying to distinguish who is playing who and what body they are in. But that’s me trying to keep some sense alive and trying to have a smidge of believability and seriousness about it, which I shouldn’t have attempted. Hey, if you’re into potty humor, there are definitely things in here for you!
VERDICT:
It’s not often that you dislike and don’t get a movie, yet can find watchable for others. This is that movie. You get what you ask for with it. It’s made to serve a purpose and a particular fanbase. In that aspect, it accomplishes the task.
Get some of that bud with your buds and swap me away, baybay.
DONATIONS are welcome and appreciated on Venmo @TheJimAlexander and CashApp $thejimalexander
GENRE: Comedy
RATING: R
RUNTIME: 1 hr 22 min
RELEASE DATE: ‘SWAP ME, BABY’ is available on Digital as of June 14
- Acting: 7.5/10
- Entertainment: 3/10
- Story/Plot: 4/10
- Impression: 5/10
- Creativity: 7/10
‘SWAP ME, BABY’ SCORE: 53%
