PLOT: A tiny woodland creature and a majestic bird suddenly swap bodies, forcing them to team up to survive the wildest adventure of their lives.
REVIEW: At a time when it feels as if compassion and understanding are in short supply by people with the power to change the world, Netflix‘s new animated body swap comedy feels like a tender reminder of what we can achieve when we work together to build better communication and a better tomorrow. While that could sound like a lot of heavy lifting, animation often serves as a mirror for complex emotions, while confronting some of the most significant challenges plaguing a species, in this case, humankind, which can’t seem to get out of its own way.
In Swapped, a small and unassuming otter-like creature known as a Pookoo, named Ollie (Michael B. Jordan), thinks he’s made a grave mistake after showing Ivy (Juno Temple), a light green Javan bird, how to access a remote island’s main food source. After learning how to access the food, Ivy calls her flock to the island, an event that devastates the pookoo’s food supply. Feeling responsible, Ollie takes it upon himself to scare the birds away, thus saving his people from starvation. However, when an accident with a mystical pod plant causes Ollie and Ivy to swap bodies, the real journey toward healing and understanding begins.
What I immediately noticed about Swapped is how gorgeous the movie is. In addition to setting the film in a lush haven overgrown with exotic flora, Ollie’s island and its surrounding areas are teeming with uniquely designed animals that look as if the creatures were born from the very soil of the stunning area. There are deer-like creatures with skin made from the skin of a white birch tree with fiery red leaves adorning their antlers. Bears with razor-sharp teeth lumber through the rushing waterfalls, their bodies looking as if made of moss-covered stone. The whole movie has a woodsy, storybook quality, like something vaguely born from the minds of Brian and Wendy Froud, who partnered with Jim Henson on the visual style of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.
After Ollie and Ivy switch places, Swapped becomes a brightly colored commentary on loneliness, the threat of extinction, the need for creatures of different species to work together to survive, and how to make amends after realizing that some actions have consequences. Joining Ollie and Ivy on their adventure to find more pods that could change them back to their original forms is Boogle (Tracy Morgan), a purple, grouper-like fish with algae for fins. Morgan’s voice is distinct. Still, his performance surprised me with its nuance and his ability to change emotions on a dime. Boogle’s a more complex character than he lets on, and at one point in the film, I was genuinely shocked by his actions. Morgan’s performance changes in that moment, becoming something more. You’ll see.
There’s much to be said about a simple story told well. That’s how I feel about Swapped. We’ve seen animated films where two characters don’t get along until they do, but in Swapped, the divide between Ollie and Ivy is deep and relatable. When Ollie realizes that Ivy showed her flock how to access the food on his island, he becomes disillusioned and angry, failing to consider the circumstances that led to her flock invading his space. However, when Ollie learns that Ivy’s situation isn’t dissimilar to his own, he must rethink his approach to a solution that’s mutually beneficial. As a 45-year-old who’s seen a great deal of what our real world is capable of, I can’t help but compare aspects of Swapped to everyday woes and miscommunications. The film does an excellent job of couching real-world commentary in an eye-opping, family-friendly package, with plenty of laughs and hijinks to ease the tension.
Another brightly-colored feather in the film’s cap is its spirited voice performances. Michael B. Jordan is one of the greatest actors of an up-and-coming generation (in my opinion), and he brings his gravitas, conviction, and comedic timing to Ollie. Juno Temple is a delight as Ivy, especially when playing against Ambika Mod and Lolly Adefope as Ivy’s sisters, Violet and Lilly, respectively. Their sibling bickering adds a charged energy to the film, and Temple’s chemistry with Jordan is warm and combative. Tracy Morgan shines as Boogle, who exhibits more depth than you’d think as the movie continues. All the film’s main players sound invested in the material, with Ollie and Ivy’s conversations about poverty, starvation, and hardship hitting particularly hard.
While Swapped doesn’t break any new ground narratively, its fable-like story and smart character dynamics give it an edge over past animated buddy comedies. The movie elevates itself thanks to its enigmatic visuals, and the soundtrack often soars with epic orchestra pieces and harrowing themes. If audiences pay attention, they could learn a thing or two about taking care of one another and about lifting each other when the chips are down. We’re all trapped on this floating rock together. If we don’t care for one another, listen, and try to understand, we could all end up like the Javans. Be kind.