I'm pretty sure all of us, at some point in our lives, have wished we could body swap but we know it's never gonna happen. Unless your life is a movie, literally, like you are a fictional character from a movie. In that case, chances are your dream will come true, and that's excacly what happened to some of the characters in the movies I picked today for Wandering Through the Shelves' Thursday Movie Picks.
Child's Play (1988)
To escape from a cop (Chris Sarandon), a serial killer (Brad Dourif) transfer his soul into good guy doll Chucky. A single mother (Catherine Hicks) eventually gives it to her son (Alex Vincent) and Chucky soon starts killing people. It's pretty lame but it's got a great creepy atmosphere.
Freaky Friday (2003)
Anna (Lindsay Lohan) and her mother Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) don't get along. One night they go to a Chinese restaurant, they get identical fortune cookies and the next morning Anna and Tess find out that they have switched bodies. I watched this many, many years ago because of Lindsay Lohan and I enjoyed it. I'm pretty sure I'd find it cheesy if I were to rewatch it.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
A geek (Alex Wolff), a sports jock (Ser'Darius Blain), a popular girl (Madison Iseman) and a shy girl (Morgan Turner) are sent to detention where they discover an old video game console and decide to play with it. As soon as they start playing, they are sucked into the world of the video game and transformed into the avatars they picked and they must complete the game to escape. It's incredibly cheesy but it's quite entertaining.
I liked this version of Freaky Friday but I much prefer the original with Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster. Probably because I watched it when I was a kid and I LOVE Barbara Harris.
ReplyDeleteI know many people think its goofy funny but I hated Child's Play. It took me years to buckle down and watch the first Jumanji and while I didn't dislike it I didn't like it enough either to watch this sequel, continuation or whatever it is.
I usually find these sort of movies fun and since there's so many I went skipping through the decades for picks.
Turnabout (1940)-Well-to-do Tim Willows (John Hubbard) is the main operator of his advertising company Manning, Willows, and Claire. His wife Sally (Carole Landis) stays at home and oversees their social life. When together they bicker constantly that the other has it much easier than they do. One day in the heat of an argument they wish they could switch places with each other in the presence of Mr. Ram, an Indian idol they have received as a gift. When they wake up the next morning they have indeed switched places and bodies with each other. Chaos ensues. Sprightly comedy with good performances and a twist ending.
Goodbye Charlie (1964)-Hollywood screenwriter and womanizing reprobate Charlie Sorrel is shot by film producer Sir Leopold Sartori (Walter Matthau) when he catches him with his wife on Sartori’s yacht and falls into the drink. Shortly afterwards Bruce Minton III (Pat Boone) comes to the aid of a dazed woman (Debbie Reynolds-at the height of her blonde beauty) wandering on a beach. She doesn't remember much other than directions to Charlie's residence. The next morning, it all comes back to her: she is Charlie…but in female form. Needing help she convinces her only friend, George Tracy (Tony Curtis), of her identity. Having changed sex, but not his ways the new Charlie now going by Virginia decides to take advantage of the situation, with Tracy's reluctant help. Directed by Vincente Minnelli with a super cast including a young Ellen Burstyn when she was still billed as Ellen McRae. Remade in the 90’s as Switch with Ellen Barkin and Jimmy Smits.
Vice Versa (1988)-While on a buying trip in Thailand for his department store Marshall Seymour (Judge Reinhold) has a cursed Buddhist skull slipped into his shipment by a pair of thieves (Swoosie Kurtz & David Proval). When he returns to the States he finds that he has to take care of his estranged son Charlie (Fred Savage) when his divorced wife goes away for a few days. One morning in the middle of an argument Marshall finds the skull and while both he and Charlie are holding it they wish they had the other’s life and voilà they get there wish. As both first luxuriate and then begin to understand the frustrations the other puts up with the thieves are in hot pursuit trying to get the artifact back. Frantic farce makes good use of Reinhold’s gift for physical comedy.
I haven't seen the original Freaky Friday but I've been meaning to.
DeleteI'm sorry Child's Play didn't work for you. I don't usually like those movies but this one wasn't terrible.
I think you might enjoy the new Jumanji to be honest. It's better than the original in my opinion.
I haven't seen any of your picks.
I've seen all 3 of these films. Child's Play is awesome. The 2003 remake of Freaky Friday is fun as it reminded us how funny Lindsay Lohan used to be before she tried to be a serious actress only to end up being an entitled trainwreck. I just saw some of the new Jumanji and I liked what I saw despite my disdain for Nick Jonas who still can't act for shit.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I'm not even sure that guy can sing haha
DeleteThat's what I thought as well! And I can't believe he's engaged to Priyana Chopra after dating her for 2 months. What the fuck?
DeleteWait... what?! How did I miss that?!
DeleteGreat picks! I'm still kicking myself for not thinking of Child's Play but Jumanji is an excellent choice. I never would've thought of that either.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteAs you know, we have a match on Child's Play. Great call. Freaky Friday is popular, as expected. It deserves to be. I was also pleasantly surprised with the new Jumanji. It wasn't great, but not anywhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be.
ReplyDeleteI know, right? I wasn't expecting to enjoy it at all.
DeleteI’m late but I am here. Child’s Play is so stupid and that is one ugly doll. I have not seen Freaky Friday but I like Jamie Lee Curtis. I still have to see Jumanji which sounds like it would be fun.
ReplyDeleteJumanji is so fun! I knew you weren't a fan of Chucky. It is stupid but surprisingly it worked for me.
DeleteExcellent call on Jumanji. I actually really liked this sequel, its silly but fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I liked it more than the original to be honest.
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