ComingSoon Editor-in-Chief Tyler Treese spoke with Family Switch stars Jennifer Garner and Emma Myers about the comedy movie. The actors discussed what it was like playing one another for the movie, as well as showing off two versions of the high school experience in the film. It is now streaming on Netflix.
“Jess and Bill Walker are doing their best to keep their family connected as their children grow older, more independent, and more distant,” reads the movie‘s synopsis. “When a chance encounter with an astrological reader causes the family to wake up to a full body switch, on the morning of the most important day of each of their lives, can the Walkers unite to land a promotion, college interview, record deal and soccer tryout? Jennifer Garner, Ed Helms, Emma Myers and Brady Noon star in this family comedy directed by McG and based on the book “Bedtime For Mommy” by Amy Krouse-Rosenthal.”
Tyler Treese: Jennifer, I was so impressed with the actual switch aspect. Both you and Emma are able to play each other’s characters so flawlessly. How was it building that chemistry to where you could play each other’s characters and vice versa? Because it came across so well in the film.
Jennifer Garner: We had a blast. We had a very fast rehearsal time. And this is something where you thought you would have a couple of weeks together. And instead it was like, ‘Hi, how are you? You’ve gotta go for it. You’re about to have to be just a badass in this movie, starting like, day after tomorrow.’ And we started the movie with all of our big stuff, right?
Emma Myers: Mm-Hmm.
Jennifer: The first like two weeks. So we had a movement coach, who was amazing. She had us pretending to be puppies and-
Emma: Smelling each other’s feet.
Jennifer: Yeah. And like, pretending to be puppies and one would be in charge, then the other one, and we really did do this big movement work to kind of throw back and forth the idea of switching places. And then we incorporated that into the roles.
Emma, you have one of the most exciting scenes in this movie. The big “Bust a Move” dance scene. How was it filming that? That’s such a fun performance.
Emma: I used to be a dancer, so I love dancing, but starting a flash mob is something I’ve never done before, so it was a bit daunting.
Jennifer: Wasn’t she great? Isn’t it so fun? I just find Emma in that scene and, Brady [Noon] and I just find the whole scene infectious. I love the dance itself. I did it this morning. Not even kidding. [laughs] Can’t wait to perform it again with these guys because I will make them do it with me today.
Emma: It was really fun.
Jennifer, 13 Going on 30 gets a reference in the movie. Obviously, there are similarities there. What did you like most about returning to this sort of body swap genre?
Jennifer: Well, first of all, Tyler, there are two references. Do you know that?
I don’t. I think I missed the second reference.
Jennifer: Okay. Yeah. Nobody’s caught the second one. The second one is right before “Bust a Move,” you give a little “Thriller.”
Emma: Mm-Hmm.
Jennifer: But that’s okay. Don’t worry. That was a trick question. My favorite thing about this genre or this sub-genre of comedy is how physical you can be, and that you’re allowed to make faces and you’re allowed to just kind of go for it in a way that, typically, we’re all trying to be more subtle and that is not really my…that’s not where I live. [laughs].
Emma, your character in the film is a soccer star. Do you have any interest in soccer? Did you ever play? I was just curious about your background there.
Emma: I never played, but I did have an interest in it growing up. But after doing a couple practice rounds and trials, I like it a lot, but nobody in my family plays soccer with me, so I ended up just kicking a ball around by myself at the time.