The Switch

The Fighter

Mark Wahlberg plays real-life boxer Micky Ward in this moving film, which landed seven Oscar nominations. It charts the rise of Ward's boxing career, which had been held back by his influences in working-class Lowell, Mass., including his drug-addict brother Dicky (Christian Bale) and meddling manager mother (Melissa Leo). Inspiring, foul-mouthed, and entertaining, it was one of my favorite movies last year, owing to the incredible performances of the whole cast (in case you missed it, Bale and Leo took home Academy Awards for their roles). DVD extras include deleted scenes, a making-of documentary, and a commentary track from director David O. Russell.

90%

The Switch

Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman are paired in this romantic comedy as Kassie and Wally, two platonic best friends. When single Kassie decides she wants to get pregnant via artificial insemination, a drunken Wally switches the sperm sample with his own. Fast forward a few years later, and Wally meets Kassie's son, Sebastian, and is quite sure they're related. The interaction between Wally and Sebastian makes this movie a sweet, funny rom-com, even if the premise is a little disturbing and the ending more than a little predictable. The DVD includes deleted scenes and an alternate ending as extras.

52%

One more release to check out after the break.

Despite a whole crop of new movies opening in theaters last Friday, The Expendables managed to hang onto the box office crown, taking in another $16.5 million. Hot on its trail was Twilight spoof Vampires Suck, which raked in $12.2 million despite abysmal reviews.

Eat Pray Love was knocked down to third with $12 million, followed by Bow Wow's comedy, Lottery Ticket, which opened with $11.1 million. The Other Guys hung on to a top five slot with $10.1 million, just barely knocking out Piranha 3D which made $10 million.

As for the other box office newbies? Nanny McPhee Returns only made $8.3 million, but it still did better than The Switch, which settled for a disappointing $8.1 million.

Wondering if Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman are a match made in romantic comedy heaven? Check out our video review of The Switch to find out!

Jennifer Aniston tries her hand at another romantic comedy when The Switch opens today, but before she was a huge TV and movie star, she debuted in the camp horror film Leprechaun. As Tory, she's ready to do battle with one of the angriest little green men in cinema history (in some of the most amazing '80s outfits I've seen in a while). I couldn't contain my laughter throughout the trailer, and it's more than worth it to see Aniston in her fresh-faced ingenue days.

In The Switch, Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston star as best friends Wally and Kassie, whose friendship is shaken when Kassie declares that she wants to get pregnant via sperm donor. Wally isn't exactly supportive of her choice, and on the night of the insemination, he gets blacked-out drunk and switches his sperm for the original donor's. While it's not an entirely palatable concept (and certainly doesn't seem like it'll lead to romance), it provides the groundwork for a pleasingly unconventional romantic comedy.

Kassie moves away to raise the baby, and the story really begins when she returns to New York City years later. Wally meets Sebastian and puts the puzzle pieces together that Sebastian is his son. From here, it's a sweet ride watching the three main characters form an unconventional family unit.

To find out what else I thought of the movie, just read more