Swapped is set in an imaginary world where woodland creatures are a mix of real world animals and plants. In the film, we focus on Ollie (Michael B Jordan) a pookoo, an otter like creature, and Ivy (Juno Temple) a Javan bird, which is a larger enthusiastic and headstrong bird. While these creatures cannot communicate with each other, and largely live in isolation, due to this lack of communication and fear of each other, Ollie and Ivy‘s chance encounter leads them to an adventure which begins with both of them switching their bodies. While director Nathan Greno largely entertains, distractive elements take you out of the viewing experience.

The world building at large doesn’t add much to the story, and it is here that the audience is distracted primarily. In a world filled with crosses of plants and animals, we expect this element to play a larger role, but what unfolds is a simple story that wastes its potential. In this film, which is backed by former Pixar executive John Lassseter, who was behind films like Toy Story and A Bug’s Life, in-depth world building is substituted for familiar superficiality.

Director: Nathan Greno

Cast: Michael B Jordan, Juno Temple, Tracy Morgan, Cedric The Entertainer

Streamer: Netflix

With Swapped, the makers fall back into the all too familiar territory of the underdogs bringing two warring factions together, after having to take a journey in understanding themselves first. Ollie and Ivy’s growth as characters pays off in certain scenes. For example, while escaping a group of foxes, they escape into a large cave filled with creatures called root snakes, who are impossible to distinguish from actual tree roots. Ollie and Ivy have to work in tandem, with Ollie having to trust his newly found strength in becoming a bigger creature to carry both of them, and Ivy having to identify the snakes by smell, without having to rely on escaping through flying. These little moments of familiarity pays off well. But the makers also fail to lean in on the imaginative potential that lies within this world to actually show the audience true wonder.

While certain writing flaws exist, the animation dazzles on a visual level. Swapped also uses proper cinematic tools such as live action style editing to create some interesting moments. While animation films of the current era rely on continuous shots which can lead to overstretching a scene, the makers’ clear vision of knowing when to stop, helps. Certain voice acting decisions, including those of Jordan’s and Tracy Morgan’s can take you out of the film. While this is not Jordan’s first voice acting venture, having previously voiced Cyborg in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, it is certainly one where his voice acting feels very restricted in terms of expression. Overall, this film is a simple matinee watch, which needs measured expectations.