Family Switch (2023)

Film and Plot Synopsis

The Walker family is a fractured family of five who are generally obsessed with each of their own individual desires. As Christmas approaches, the family attends an event at the Griffith Observatory to witness a rare planetary alignment and to take their family Christmas picture. However, a freak event causes everyone to switch bodies with mother switching bodies with daughter, father switching with son, and baby switching with family dog. Now, the family must work together through one of the most stressful and important weeks of all their lives while also finding a way to restore themselves to their original bodies.

‘Family Switch’ Movie Summary

The Walker family is a highly divided group as the film begins. Parents Jess (Jennifer Garner) and Bill (Ed Helms) are two working parents. Jess is a leader in her architectural office who is working on a big proposal to land a new client. Bill is a music teacher who spends his free time playing in a band called Dad or Alive. Eldest son Wyatt (Brady Noon) is a highly intelligent high school freshman who is attempting to get into Yale University early. Daughter CC (Emma Myers) is star soccer player for her high school team who is hoping to play for the national women’s team rather than go to college. Jess and Bill also have a toddler named Miles and a dog named Pickles that likes to pee on everything. Everyone generally finds themselves at odds due to their different outlooks on their lives.

As Christmas approaches, Jess and Bill try to get the older kids excited about the holidays, but the kids are too obsessed with their own lives to enjoy family time. Jess and Bill force the entire family to go to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles to witness a rare planetary alignment and to take the family’s holiday picture. Outside the observatory, the Walkers encounter a strange astrologer, Angelica (Rita Moreno). Jess dismisses Angelica’s comments about the family. However, once inside, the Walkers see Angelica again and ask her to take the picture of the family next to the telescope. As Angelica sets up for the picture, each member of the Walker family is arguing that they wish that they had the other person’s life. Angelica takes the picture, and a blinding flash occurs and causes the family to lose their balance on the telescope platform. Everyone falls and the telescope is accidentally broken.

The next morning, the entire family wakes up to find themselves transformed into the body of another family member. Jess and CC switch with each other while Bill and Wyatt exchange bodies. To make matters worse, Miles and Pickles also change bodies. The Walkers believe that the incident at the observatory is somehow responsible for each of their transformations. The four eldest Walkers head back to the observatory with Angelica acting as their Uber driver to fix themselves and leave Miles and Pickles with their neighbor Rolf (Matthias Schweighöfer). Before leaving them, Angelica implies that they need to fix what’s broken to be returned to normal. Once at the observatory, they are informed that the telescope is still broken. The Walkers bribe the staff to accelerate the telescope’s repairs before the rare planetary alignment ends.

Realizing that they are each stuck in the wrong bodies for the short term, the Walkers attempt to make the best of it, but things turn horribly wrong. CC in her mom’s body attempts to deliver the presentation to the important client; however, she bungles the presentation when she cannot read the notes that her mother gave her and has uncontrollable flatulence due to eating ice cream. Immediately afterwards, Jess in her daughter’s body potentially ruins CC’s chances of making the national team when she performs horribly in the game and chooses to help an opponent to her feet rather than scoring the winning goal. At the same time, Bill in his son’s body bombs Wyatt’s interview for Yale by failing to prepare. However, Wyatt in his father’s body gets himself (as Wyatt) invited to a high school party by Wyatt’s secret crush, Ariana (Vanessa Carrasco).

That evening, the family returns to observatory and learns that the telescope cannot be repaired due to a specially made lens turning up missing. The family is informed that the next planetary alignment is not until 2162. Wyatt as his father calls in a favor to his friend Spock (Adam Lustick) to help acquire a new lens. Bill as his son informs Wyatt as his father of the invitation to the party. Realizing that Wyatt has feelings for Ariana, Bill as his son decides to attend the party and invites Jess as her daughter to attend with him. Bill as his son confronts the school bully (Cyrus Arnold) at the party and draws the affection of the other party attendees. Bill also pulls away from Ariana when she tries to kiss him at the party, not wanting to ruin his son’s first kiss. Ariana is embarrassed at Wyatt’s perceived rejection of her. Wyatt as his dad and CC as her mom learn that their parents snuck out and follow them to the party. However, the Walkers start to enjoy themselves and bonds as family unit by dancing together at the party.

The next day, things begin to change. CC as her mother learns about Jess’s sacrifices at work for CC’s soccer talent. Jess as her daughter learns from CC’s teacher that CC works hard at her studies. Wyatt as his father learns that his father gave up a chance to have a musical career and be in Maroon 5 so that he could be a parent. With a greater understanding of each other, the family works together and sings at Bill’s music concert which is attended by Jess’ co-workers and potential client. At the conclusion of the concert, Bill’s band is awarded a recording contract and Jess is informed that the client wants to do business with her.

Wyatt as his father receives the replacement lens from his friend Spock and the family rushes back to the observatory before the planetary alignment shifts. Wyatt as his father drives Bill’s classic muscle car, but unfortunately destroys it in route. Angelica once again shows up and gives the Walkers a ride to the observatory. The family arrives in time, but Wyatt as his father accidentally slips and destroys the replacement lens. However, they discover that Miles pocketed the original lens before the switch. The family installs the lens and makes the wish to return to their original bodies, but nothing happens. The family returns home via Angelica’s van. CC as her mother tells Angelica that fixing the telescope didn’t work. Angelica clarifies that she told her to fix what was broken, not to fix the telescope.

The family all fall asleep together on the couch in their Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, they each awake in their original bodies. They also discover that it is snowing outside. Wyatt learns that Yale rejected him for admission early and told him that he was not ready yet. However, Ariana arrives and Wyatt patches things up with her. The two share their first kiss together. A few moments later, the national womens’ soccer team scout arrives at the house since his flight was delayed due to the weather. He informs CC that he was impressed with her sportsmanship and offers her another chance to compete for the national team. Jess encourages her daughter to take the opportunity. Angelica watches the reunited Walker family from her van nearby. She wishes them a Merry Christmas before driving away.