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Switching Channels

Play trailer Poster for Switching Channels PG 1988 1h 48m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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60% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 32% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Cable news anchor Christy Colleran (Kathleen Turner) and her cagey boss, John L. Sullivan (Burt Reynolds), have a long history together: They used to be married. But now Christy is set to leave journalism and her ex-husband forever by moving to New York City with her fiancé, retail mogul Blaine Bingham (Christopher Reeve). Since Sullivan still has feelings for her, he hatches a plan to keep Christy around by assigning her to a hot news story she can't resist.
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Switching Channels

Critics Reviews

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Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com I’m not sure why I have watched [Switching Channels] so many times over the years — I just have, and whatever the reason, every time I do, the darn motion picture makes me smile as if I were watching it for the first time. Rated: 3/4 Apr 27, 2023 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The basic mechanics of the original Hecht-MacArthur story are still sound, and Switching Channels is true to the obsessive-compulsive hostility that is the fuel for all good reporters. Rated: 3/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Hyperactive yet lethargic at the same time with useless energy akin to an obstacle course where everyone forgot to focus on the end goal. [Full review in Spanish] Jun 28, 2022 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an aggressively hit-and-miss endeavor... Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 24, 2021 Full Review Ángel Luis Inurria El Pais (Spain) A pleasant comedy. [Full Review in Spanish] Mar 31, 2020 Full Review Hilary Mantel The Spectator Christopher Reeve gets the worst of the contrived situations. Apr 9, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D Dull knockoff of better films. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Watched this to remember Burt. It's the first time I've seen this. It's worth a watch as its theme of the press as a champion of freedom and democracy is presciently timely now. Burt's still sticking it to the Man. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Apparently a remake of two films - The Front Page and His Girl Friday. In this one we have a female news anchor/reporter in a love triangle with a new well-to-do suitor and her ex, who is also her boss. A bit too much screwball comedy for my taste. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member "Switching Channels" is a surprisingly enjoyable '80s comedy, boasting an uproariously funny performance from Burt Reynolds (you gotta love that guy), great lines and sequences and a steady pace that never lets down until the end. The laughs are there, the gags are there, the action is there too. It's obviously strong original material paired with a suitable directorial approach. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Rubbish remake of His Girl Friday featuring possibly Christopher Reeve's worst performance. Burt Reynolds does his usual. The only saving grace is Kathleen Turner. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Could watch over and over. Never would have expected Burt Reynolds to fill Cary Grant's shoes so well! Fast paced, funny and full of slapstick, screwball comedy! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Switching Channels

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Cast & Crew

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Ted Kotcheff

Director

Kathleen Turner

Christy Colleran

Burt Reynolds

John L. Sullivan IV

Christopher Reeve

Blaine Bingham

Ned Beatty

Roy Ridnitz

Henry Gibson

Ike Roscoe

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Switching Channels

Switching Channels (1988) Switching Channels (1988) Switching Channels (1988) Switching Channels (1988) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Cable news anchor Christy Colleran (Kathleen Turner) and her cagey boss, John L. Sullivan (Burt Reynolds), have a long history together: They used to be married. But now Christy is set to leave journalism and her ex-husband forever by moving to New York City with her fiancé, retail mogul Blaine Bingham (Christopher Reeve). Since Sullivan still has feelings for her, he hatches a plan to keep Christy around by assigning her to a hot news story she can't resist.
Director
Ted Kotcheff
Screenwriter
Jonathan Reynolds
Production Co
TriStar Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.2M
Runtime
1h 48m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Surround
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