What do you get when you mix an uptight pregnant woman and a mushroom-tripping French gigolo who are about to have a baby together? Swap Me, Baby takes the risk and answers this for you.
The movie feels like Freaky Friday on mushrooms, and it delivers just that. We are introduced to heavily pregnant Lily (Kimberly Leemans), a successful 30-something-year-old woman who doesn't seem to have time for dating.
To compensate for her lack of sex life, she hires a French gigolo, Phillippe (Falk Hentschel). Lo and behold, the condom breaks, and Lily ends up pregnant. The mismatched pair goes to couples counseling to learn how to make it work.
Their therapist, Juniper (Ava Bogle), tells them that they have to learn to work together or risk screwing their child's life. She suggests a trip to "Empathy Getaway," a forest in the middle of nowhere, for them to learn more about each other.
While on their way to the forest, the pair fights continuously and continues fighting even when they arrive. This sends Phillippe to a hammock by the lakeside, where he takes his magic mushrooms. While still high, he stumbles across a magic box. Lily arrives, sees the box, and starts fighting with Phillippe, accusing him of stealing from the therapist’s office.
They get knocked out, and when they come to, they have swapped bodies. Phillippe is now stuck in an 8-month pregnant woman’s body while Lily is stuck in a high and hairy male body. What follows is the classic body swap, let’s get back to our own bodies story, but at least Lily knows what to do.
The box gives them clues they should follow to get their bodies back. They have to work together to solve the riddles, undertaking both physical and mental challenges. They also have to deal with their growing feelings towards each other, and they come out better people than when they first went in.
Swap Me, Baby might follow the same course as other body swap movies, but the self-awareness keeps you watching. The writers and actors are aware of how ridiculous a premise this is, but they somehow make it work, and audiences love it.
Although it might not be a barrel of laughs, Swap Me, Baby does bring a few important issues to light. It is also fast-paced, so you don't get much time to get bored. All in all, it is a great film to watch for some laughs and bits of nudity, fart jokes, and drug humor.
What public library shelves would this title be on?
Swap Me, Baby is more suitable for rom-com shelves. It can also feature on sci-fi shelves because of its out-of-the-world feel.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
Swap Me, Baby fits in the romantic comedy film collection with subtle hints of drama.
Would this film be suitable for an outdoor screening?
Because of its fast-paced comedic timing, Swap Me, Baby would be a great addition to outdoor screening, especially at night. It is a great film for date nights or family fun nights for families with older children who can handle some nudity.