Family Switch – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Family Switch

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2023

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A tired body-swap comedy that'll make you wish YOU could switch into a family watching something better.

47%

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Family Switch

movie

PG, 2023

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A tired body-swap comedy that'll make you wish YOU could switch into a family watching something better.

47%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, Family Switch isn't going to traumatize anyone, but it's also not going to entertain anyone either. With a 2.4 out of 5 on Letterboxd and a 37 on Metacritic, critics and audiences agree: this is aggressively mediocre.

The body-swap premise has been done better in Freaky Friday (both versions), 13 Going on 30, and even that one episode of every sitcom ever. This brings nothing new to the table except a Netflix budget and some wasted talent.

The empathy message is solid—understanding your family by literally being them—but you'd get more out of just having a conversation at dinner. If your kids are begging to watch it because they saw it on Netflix, fine, it won't hurt them. But there are about 50 better family movies you should queue up first.

The real question is: with all of Netflix's resources, why are they churning out forgettable content like this when they could be making something kids actually want to rewatch?

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-12 who haven't seen the dozens of better body-swap movies that came before it. Teens will roll their eyes, and adults will be checking their phones. Common Sense Media's age 10 recommendation feels about right for the content, but interest level might peak younger.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Body-swap premise promotes family understanding and empathy as characters literally walk in each other's shoes. The journey brings the family closer together, modeling reconciliation and cooperation. However, the execution is reportedly chaotic and the tone uneven, which undermines the emotional health aspect. The core message is solid but the delivery is mediocre.

Imaginative

Body-swap comedy is a well-worn trope dating back decades (Freaky Friday, etc.). This adds nothing new to the formula—rare planetary alignment is a lazy plot device. No invitation to creative expression or exploration; it's a paint-by-numbers family comedy that doesn't inspire curiosity or original thinking. The premise itself has potential but the execution is utterly predictable.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 10, suggesting mild content appropriate for tweens. No indication of graphic violence, sexual content, or serious trigger warnings. As a Netflix family comedy, it's designed to be broadly accessible. The body-swap hijinks might include some mild embarrassment humor but nothing that would shock or traumatize. Standard family-friendly fare.

Enriching

The empathy-building premise (understanding family members' perspectives) has genuine value, and there are likely lessons about communication and appreciation. However, with a 47% critic score and 43% audience score, the execution is clearly lacking. A 5.7 IMDb and 2.4 Letterboxd rating suggest it's forgettable and doesn't deliver meaningful insights beyond surface-level 'family is important' messaging. Entertainment value is reportedly low.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

The core premise of walking in each other's shoes has genuine empathy-building potential
Safe, clean family content that won't surprise you with inappropriate material
Could spark conversations about understanding different family members' perspectives
Jennifer Garner is charming even when the script isn't

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What to Watch For

Universally poor reviews suggest this is a slog—kids might get bored and restless
Predictable plot beats mean anyone over 10 will see every joke coming a mile away
The chaos of body-swapping might be more annoying than funny for some viewers

Conversation Starters

"If we switched bodies for a day, what do you think would surprise you most about being me?"
"What's one thing you wish I understood better about your daily life?"
"The movie shows the family getting closer—what's something we could do to understand each other better?"

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