It's a Boy Girl Thing

Stars: Samaire Armstrong, Kevin Zegers, Sharon Osbourne, Emily Hampshire, Maury Chaykin, Robert Joy

Director: Nick Hurran

A gross-out body-switch comedy with the accent on the gross. No aspect of genital function is ignored as next-door-neighbours and sworn enemies Nell (Armstrong) and Woody (Zegers) have a spat in front of an Aztec god at an art gallery and - whoosh! - find themselves in each other's bodies.

Most of the consequences to this are cringingly crass, as bookish Nell finds herself useless on the football field where Woody's a star, while Woody has to face daily erections, not to mention kissing student cheerleader queen Brianna (Osbourne) described by Nell as 'trouble, stupid and a loser'.

It all runs like a Lindsay Lohan reject, but Armstrong and Zegers are talented young players who do everything they can with it, and even achieve some winningly emotional moments as the film picks up a bit towards the end.

At leaast the director has a nice ending, with the respective dads (Joy, Chaykin) toasting each other on their porches as their respective offspring clinch outside. But then he throws even that away by adding a totally unnecssary extra scene. The UK 12A certificate is generous.

David Quinlan

USA 2006. UK Distributor: Icon. Technicolor.
95 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 1.

Review date: 26 Dec 2006