Vice Versa, released in theaters on March 11, 1988, is a whimsical comedy of errors that shines with its body-swap setup. Judge Reinhold plays Marshall Seymour, a busy Chicago department store executive who is trying, with mixed success, to connect with his 11-year-old son Charlie (Fred Savage) amid divorce and mounting work pressures.
During an unintended encounter with a magical Tibetan skull—a mistaken shipment meant for smugglers—Marshall and Charlie simultaneously wish they could trade places, and find themselves literally living each other’s lives the next morning.
Marshall, now in Charlie’s body, must navigate grade-school bullies and baffling homework, while Charlie, suited up as a high-powered businessman, wreaks comic havoc at department store board meetings.
Added tension stems from a pair of bumbling art thieves (Swoosie Kurtz and David Proval) desperate to reclaim the enchanted artifact, and from Marshall’s sweet but confused girlfriend, Sam (Corinne Bohrer).
The swap forces father and son into brilliant set pieces—Charlie conducting business deals with playground logic, Marshall stammering through classroom pop quizzes and schoolyard drama.
As both struggle to survive in their swapped worlds, they learn to appreciate the challenges the other faces, ultimately deepening their bond as family.
Surprises and escapes unfold as they try to retrieve the skull, evade the crooks, and finally restore their identities.
While Vice Versa shared its plot DNA with other body-swap comedies like Like Father Like Son, 18 Again and Big, it’s distinguished by earnest performances and energetic pacing.
Reinhold and Savage deliver winning portrayals that sell the outlandish premise, with Savage especially good at channeling grown-up confusion in adolescent packaging.
The film’s blend of screwball shenanigans and heartfelt lessons about empathy and understanding between generations hit home for family audiences in the late ’80s.
Jane Kaczmarek, Jane Lynch, James Hong, Ajay Naidu and Richard Kind round out the cast.
Fred Savage and Judge Reinhold in Vice Versa (Photo/Columbia Pictures)
Reception for Vice Versa
Vice Versa grossed $4.1 million on its opening weekend, trailing Good Morning Vietnam ($4.4 million) and topping Masquerade ($3.5 million).
The film would gross $13.7 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave Vice Versa three and a half out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
Vice Versa became a quintessential cable-television staple and a nostalgic favorite for viewers who remember its zany set pieces and endearing characters.
The movie’s light touch and fast-moving plot make it a charming slice of ’80s family comedy.
Vice Versa is remembered for the era’s fondness for fantastical setups with gentle moral undertones, offering timeless laughs and a positive look at father-son relationships and it stands out for its comic inventiveness and sincere undercurrent, making it a classic entry in the canon of family-friendly, body-swapping comedies.
