Switching Channels (1988)

The stage curtains open ...

In the tradition of comedic melodramas comes this hidden gem starring Kathleen Turner, Burt Reynolds and Christopher Reeve. "Switching Channels" is a re-make of 1931's "The Front Page" and 1940's "His Girl Friday". Madcap humor, witty and quick dialogue, and a few over-the-top moments make this a movie worth watching.

When news reporter, Christy Colleran (Turner), goes on a much needed vacation, she meets and becomes engaged to a sporting goods mogul (Reeve). After she returns to the news station and informs the news director (Reynolds), who also happens to be her ex-husband, that she is quitting to get married, he does everything in his power to break them up and keep her reporting the news. Because Christy IS the news and without her, their ratings would plummet. The story is set against the execution of an innocent man who they are trying to get the Governor to pardon. Things get hilariously crazy leading to the film's climactic finish.

This movie was reviewed badly, was nominated for two Golden Raspberry Awards, was considered to be a box office bomb, and Kathleen Turner and Burt Reynolds literally grew to hate each other because of this movie. So why did I like it so much? It made me laugh. This is definitely what I would call a guilty pleasure. It is so wrong that they got it right - for example the desperation of a news reporter and the lengths they would go to just to get the scoop on a hot story.

I loved "Switching Channels". All the bad stuff aside, what is left is a very funny movie. I recommend this one for anyone who doesn't take anything too seriously. 8 stars out of 10.