Netflix’s latest holiday offering, Family Switch, has just hit the streaming platform, featuring A-listers Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms in leading roles. The film’s premise isn’t groundbreaking, treading familiar ground seen in classics like Disney’s 2003 hit, Freaky Friday. It’s a typical body-swap comedy injected with a festive touch, unfolding a few days before Christmas. The narrative centres around the Walker family: Jennifer Garner as Jess Walker, Ed Helms as Bill Walker, Emma Myers as CC Walker, and Brady Noon as Wyatt Walker. Each family member is too wrapped up in their own worlds to spend quality time together. However, due to some weird Netflix logic, they find themselves swapping bodies, compelling them to navigate their way back to normalcy and inadvertently spend more time together.

Despite its attempts at humour, Family Switch falls short, with jokes that struggle to land, hampered by a lacklustre script. The cast, including the commendable performances of Garner and Helms, does their best to salvage the material, but even their comedic prowess can’t fully resuscitate a subpar script. The film also aims for emotional depth, a crucial element in Christmas and body-swap movies, but falls flat. Every good holiday flick, even the funny ones, needs a sprinkle of heartstring-tugging moments, but to do that, the film needs to establish a connection between the audience and characters, which is crucial for emotional resonance.

To begin with, my expectations for the movie were modest, and unfortunately, they remained so throughout the viewing experience. Family Switch manages to be an enjoyable Christmas flick, perfect for a mindless watch. Turning off your brain might enhance the viewing experience, as poking holes in the logical aspects is a futile exercise. Such movies typically defy logic, and embracing the absurdity can enhance the overall enjoyment. The film serves its purpose as a lighthearted Christmas flick, provided viewers are willing to suspend disbelief and enjoy the holiday-themed chaos. It may not be a groundbreaking addition to the genre, but for those seeking some festive cheer with a side of escapism, it could be a worthwhile choice.