Really quite enjoyed the film.
Lead actress was good and played part well.
Had us guessing until the end, which you need to watch
Had us guessing until the end, which you need to watch
32 Reviews
Quite good
news-1214 December 2019
Natalie Knepp makes this film paletable
Tom_Callahan29 April 2018
This film starts incredibly slowly. The camera work and lighting are good, but if it weren't for that, it would play like a college film project. The dialogue is slow, and predictable, with unnecessary pauses and characters feeling very 2 dimensional. The pacing was painful at the beginning, which had me reaching for the remote just looking for a scene change. Once Natalie enters the picture however, the energy improves, though the pace and timing never fully recover.
Fortunately Natalie's energy and interesting character choices made this film entertaining enough (at least relative the the price I paid) to see the movie through to the end.
In the end, despite its reasonable-budget looking visual style, a well acted female lead, and beautiful cityscape cinematography worthy of a much better production, this movie is a slow, occasionally funny, but largely forgettable comedy that will have you wondering what else you could have done with the last 2 hours of your life.
Fortunately Natalie's energy and interesting character choices made this film entertaining enough (at least relative the the price I paid) to see the movie through to the end.
In the end, despite its reasonable-budget looking visual style, a well acted female lead, and beautiful cityscape cinematography worthy of a much better production, this movie is a slow, occasionally funny, but largely forgettable comedy that will have you wondering what else you could have done with the last 2 hours of your life.
Skinny, stupid, and drugged out of their minds
nogodnomasters23 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Sam" is a playboy misogynist who drinks tea and gets transferred into a woman's body (Natalie Knepp). He confides this in his best friend gynecologist (Sean Kleier) who is skeptical until the DNA test comes back. Sam works for a model supply agency who uses women who are "skinny, stupid, and drugged out of their mind." The film incorporates many of the same jokes that was in the superior film Blake Edwards' "Switch" (Ellen Barkin-1991) nominated for a Golden Globe. I couldn't help but mentally compare the two films while watching "Sam". The part of Lulu (Morgan Fairchild) would have made the film more interesting if they used Ellen Barkin reviving her old role as Amanda Brooks. But once again, I wasn't the target audience.
I am sure people who have not watched "Switch" might hail this film as a new refreshing comedy as does the cast. I felt more deja vu than entertained.
Guide: F-word. Brief sex. No nudity.
I am sure people who have not watched "Switch" might hail this film as a new refreshing comedy as does the cast. I felt more deja vu than entertained.
Guide: F-word. Brief sex. No nudity.
Is this a real movie?
catout16 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Although I will admit to having slightly enjoyed this comedy, it doesn't feel like a real movie. It feels like a christian woman's guilty gay fanfiction. Thank god for Natalie Knepp, because the scenes when sam is a man are absolutely terrible. Bad acting? Poor screenplay? Horrible chemistry between the characters? Any of these is a good guess when it comes to the reason why the first fifteen minutes want to make you kill someone. Nothing makes any sense and the movie acts as if you should just disregard that and go with it. Sam as a man isn't just your run-of-the-mill rom-com asshole, he's a straight-up dick with no respect for anyone but himself, including his "best friend". Is it because he's apparently in love with him? Do these feelings only appear when he is a girl? All great questions the movie DOESN'T ANSWER. The love story makes NO SENSE and somehow it's still the best part about this movie. I have read work by children that makes more sense than this movie. If you expect a good movie, i suggest you move on to something else, if you're bored and have barely any standards, this is the movie for you.
Not good.
Mirm8311 November 2017
After reading the positive reviews here, I thought that this was possibly one of those underrated movies that don't catch on because the plot was too feminist-driven or silly or whatever. Boy, was I wrong.
At first I thought the acting was bad (and it was at times), but then I realized that it wasn't the actors as much as it was a combination of a terrible script, terrible direction and sub-par production.
I expected the movie to play up some of the gender norm clichés, so as to highlight the change from Sam to Samantha. But this movie goes further than that. It is clear that everybody involved in the final production of this movie has never met a real person in their life. The clichés were not funny but offensive. I have to imagine this movie was written by some rich kid in Beverly Hills and their connected parents helped to pay for production.
Every character was a ridiculous caricature. I don't know who I am offended for more, men or women. Even the non-gender things were clichéd, like the names of things. Every line felt like it was written by a young high school student. I mean there's concise, and then there is straight to the point regardless as to whether the dialogue is believable or not.
This movie was not funny, not smart, not well put together, and not worth your time.
I gave it three stars: The first because it IS a movie. The second for giving out-of work actors some screen time. ...?
At first I thought the acting was bad (and it was at times), but then I realized that it wasn't the actors as much as it was a combination of a terrible script, terrible direction and sub-par production.
I expected the movie to play up some of the gender norm clichés, so as to highlight the change from Sam to Samantha. But this movie goes further than that. It is clear that everybody involved in the final production of this movie has never met a real person in their life. The clichés were not funny but offensive. I have to imagine this movie was written by some rich kid in Beverly Hills and their connected parents helped to pay for production.
Every character was a ridiculous caricature. I don't know who I am offended for more, men or women. Even the non-gender things were clichéd, like the names of things. Every line felt like it was written by a young high school student. I mean there's concise, and then there is straight to the point regardless as to whether the dialogue is believable or not.
This movie was not funny, not smart, not well put together, and not worth your time.
I gave it three stars: The first because it IS a movie. The second for giving out-of work actors some screen time. ...?
A body swap with a twist
lisafordeay23 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I stumbled upon this film by accident as I have never heard about this film before and decided to check it out Sam is the latest body swapping film that centers on a guy named Sam who is a real womamizer and can't even get a girlfriend because his not the settling down guy. His best mates with a guy named Doc and decides to go to a party. That evening however he stumbles into a shop where his offered tea. Of course the next morning he wakes up as a woman who behaves like a guy and is rather foul-mouthed. Problems arise however when he as a girl falls for his best friend Doc. Will Sam go back to being a womanizing jerk or as a beautiful woman? Also could the tea that Sam drank turned him as a woman? Overall this film is very silly. I only caught bits and pieces of it and the editing is kinda off. I was also surprised by the ending of it which may surprise you guys.
Wouldn't it be nice
geohv-6779617 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Wouldn't it be nice if you really could just find your best friend first without all the garbage of the differences between genders. This was a interesting take on how the world is viewed differently by genders with one major oversight, any man that has felt the vibrations of a woman's body well having a orgasm would love to know how those prolonged orgasm's feel. A orgasm May take longer for a woman to reach but they are definitely more intense. Ladies the world is not the bed of roses being a man, the world still has a lot of work to do in treating women fairly and equally but the grass on the other side of the fence is not as green as you think. The worst part of this movie is it's a great plot with real issues that the genders need to deal with that has poor to mediocre acting and wow fire the sound person.
Worst gender bender comedy...possibly ever
circagirl26 March 2020
I feel bad Mel Brooks put his name on this one. When you take a one dimensional, card board cut out misogynist and turn him into a woman he needs an actual redemption arc to be endured, which doesn't happen here. Instead you get to see Sam be a useless, soulless individual except with breasts. Also the screenplay seems locked into amateur draft mode- no action objective, no character inner value or personalization to drive the plot or scenes. Cinematography is student film dry with zero nuance or style.
A Real Treat. Natalie Knepp Is Fantastic
amgough-1675311 December 2021
Reminiscent of the film "Switch", this film is less cynical. A real surprise treat.
Similar to "Switch," an inconsiderate man is changed into a woman -- to live life in the opposite sex's shoes. Didn't recognize Stacy Keach as the deity that made this happen.
After some initial shock and horror, Sam begins to embrace his new female identity -- even master it.
In the end, Sam is given the choice -- stay as s female, or go back to being a male?
Natalie Knepp is fantastic as the star. She really carries the film.
Similar to "Switch," an inconsiderate man is changed into a woman -- to live life in the opposite sex's shoes. Didn't recognize Stacy Keach as the deity that made this happen.
After some initial shock and horror, Sam begins to embrace his new female identity -- even master it.
In the end, Sam is given the choice -- stay as s female, or go back to being a male?
Natalie Knepp is fantastic as the star. She really carries the film.
Weird
brockwest821 May 2021
What a weird movie. The cinematography and editing are terrible. It is a lot of fun, though, and the leading lady and the best friend are very good actors, and you can tell the lady is having a lot of fun. Weird movie that goes in a weird direction.
Another remake ripoff
crazy_ace_80825 February 2017
This is another remake ripoff with no credit as to where these retards stole their idea from. "Switch" or even this load of crap should at least give credit to the original sexist spin off of "Freaky Friday" named "Cleo/Leo (1989)". And yes they went back that far.....but not far enough to rape and pillage the original idea....still awaiting the bluray release....
Watch until the end.
pubworld18 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Basically - stick with it until the end. The first fifteen minutes seem awkward and rushed. We are given the idea that 'Sam' is a horrible person. Then Sam gets his come-uppance and becomes 'Samantha'. This is when the movie gets going and is all the better for it. There are no gratuitous nude shots to prove 'Sam' has lost some bits and gained others. Acting wise Natalie Knepp is excellent in the role and the character of 'Doc' gets better as the film progresses. Natalie Knepp is funny and endearing as the 'Dude' in a womans body. When she blossoms in to the beautiful woman we expect, she still carries a mischevious air of the man still lurking inside. This is a much more modern take on movies such as 'Switch'. The idea of gender inequality is tackled, workplace sexual predators and the reason why women often seem 'clued-in' while us guys are confused about life and relationships. I loved the ending and I will say no more than that. Give it a chance, I think you may be suprised.
Hilarious first 2/3s ruined by weak/lazy final 1/3.
Princess_Bella_Kitty5 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Okay, y'all, I was totally ready to love this move. I have a girl crush on Natalie Knepp and have basically loved her since I saw her in Alto.
When I say that the first bulk of the movie was hilarious, it wasn't really that funny. It's just that's where most of the jokes reside. The last third is fairly lame. Not only does the story lose steam but the ending is, in my opinion, horrific.
**** Final SPOILER Alert ****
How could the now female, Sam, fall in love with his best friend. Not only does everyone in the viewing audience realize that Sam is still basically just an "upgraded" original Sam, but even Doc knows it's Sam. He says it to him specifically after one of their hugs.
Again, this is going to affect people differently but the ending was beyond creepy to me. I probably shouldn't be sharing this but, I have five sisters ... When I was in high school, a lot of the creeps would ask each of us if we had seen each other nekkid and if we would do each other, etc. What? Noooo! Ewwwww. That may be your weird fetish but making out with my beautiful but, to me, gross sisters was the absolute last thing on my mind.
For some weird reason, the ending of this movie reminded me of those days. Like it was somebody's weird, perverted fantasy.
When I say that the first bulk of the movie was hilarious, it wasn't really that funny. It's just that's where most of the jokes reside. The last third is fairly lame. Not only does the story lose steam but the ending is, in my opinion, horrific.
**** Final SPOILER Alert ****
How could the now female, Sam, fall in love with his best friend. Not only does everyone in the viewing audience realize that Sam is still basically just an "upgraded" original Sam, but even Doc knows it's Sam. He says it to him specifically after one of their hugs.
Again, this is going to affect people differently but the ending was beyond creepy to me. I probably shouldn't be sharing this but, I have five sisters ... When I was in high school, a lot of the creeps would ask each of us if we had seen each other nekkid and if we would do each other, etc. What? Noooo! Ewwwww. That may be your weird fetish but making out with my beautiful but, to me, gross sisters was the absolute last thing on my mind.
For some weird reason, the ending of this movie reminded me of those days. Like it was somebody's weird, perverted fantasy.
WORST MOVIE EVER
arvens-0381514 May 2020
Too easy to dump on, but not without some pleasant surprises.
Joe-14619 March 2020
I saw this on Amazon Prime Movies, and while I'm glad I didn't pay to see this, I am glad it's getting some exposure.
I can't think of one aspect of this film that hasn't been done better by earlier films. The exception is the female lead. Natalie Knepp takes what seems like an ambitious student film and gives it professional polish and a genuinely likable character. No easy feat considering the clunky cliches and cartoonish characters.
I really don't want to savage this film. It was obviously a passion project for at least some of the folks involved. It's heart is in the right place, even if it does seem like am ambitious student film rom-com that tries but can't get out of its own way.
I'm glad I saw it, because it put Ms Knepp on my radar. I haven't been this surprised and impressed by a performer since I first set eyes on Parker Posey in House of Lies.
Sam introduced me to Natalie Knepp, whose resume needs to be much larger than it currently is. Still, what other titles I was able to track down confirm my positive first impression.
Watch this film with low expectations. It's not as bad as some other reviews claim. It may not be original, or have witty dialog, clever situations and richly drawn characters, but it's not entirely without charms. Notably the fully committed performance and empathetic charisma of its lead. In the end, I'm glad I watched it.
I have seen this script before
sendittodave5 March 2020
I swear I saw this script before. I think the actress was British or Australian. Either way, it was a way better version. The acting is horrific in this film. I love Stacy Keach, but the lead actor can't pull it off.
It's really bad and predictable but I enjoyed it
j_co15 April 2020
I started watching it because the description remained me of a very good Argentinian show that I assume this is based on (Lalola), I continued watching because it is a light fun movie.
The acting, the script, directing, camera work and soundtrack are all horrible, no exceptions, looks very low budget.
With this story, they had the opportunity to make a very cool movie, but instead they repeatedly just fall on stereotypes and lowest common denominator, the grabby boss, sassy gay guy, the bossy girlfriend, etc. It's a shame.
I did enjoy the chemistry between the leads, but it wasn't enough to make me forget about all the other issues.
The acting, the script, directing, camera work and soundtrack are all horrible, no exceptions, looks very low budget.
With this story, they had the opportunity to make a very cool movie, but instead they repeatedly just fall on stereotypes and lowest common denominator, the grabby boss, sassy gay guy, the bossy girlfriend, etc. It's a shame.
I did enjoy the chemistry between the leads, but it wasn't enough to make me forget about all the other issues.
A bad rip-off of "Switch."
accounstv-6249517 May 2022
It would be too easy for me to cut and paste my review of "The Sex Trip" and place it here as a review of "Sam", but since one of my adages is "don't recreate the wheel when it already exists", I'll start off my review of "Sam" with the first lines of my comments on "The Sex Trip."
"I came across this movie while searching Amazon Prime, and as I like gender switching movies like 'Switch' and 'It's a Boy Girl Thing,' I thought to give it a try.
"It is really, truly, an awful movie. The dialogue in this movie tells me that the writers think insulting people is funny; it's not. The Sex Trip's (Sam's) main characters make crude remarks to all of the other characters."
The dialogue and acting makes me hypothesize that the two writers and director of "Sam", were sitting around drunk, probably, watching "Switch", and said to themselves, "Hey, let's write a gender changing comedy and we'll get all our pals to be in the film." They even set the main character's occupation in the New York advertising industry as in "Switch."
Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney getting the gang together to put on a show and save the (whatever) this film is not.
I have seen better performances in TV insurance commercials than in "Sam." Emu is a better actor than the majority of people appearing in this film. Stacy Keach has a small role, (they said in film school that some "past-their-prime" actors will come in and do one day's work for $25,000 (1990's dollars), I guess Stacy needed to buy his daughter a new car) and it's like watching Babe Ruth opposite a Tee Ball player.
The main character is supposed to be a young (no one in this film is over 25 except for Stacy Keach and Morgan Fairchild, another past-their-prime actor in need of buying their child a new car), highly successful advertising executive, who doesn't even know what a Pavlovian Response is; something I learned about in Pysch 101 at the local community college my freshman year.
"Sam's" script is filled with cringe wrenching dialogue:
Examples:
When Sam emails his boss that his cousin Samantha will be filling in for him while he's away (right out of "Switch") the head of the firm says, "Cousin Samantha, huh. Oh well, as long as she's hot."
Needless to say, the head of the advertising firm hits on Samantha, which is, once again, right out of "Switch."
Or, when Sam's best pal is at home with his significant other and she says,
"Either Boo-Boo apologizes and gets very snuggly, very quickly, or Soo-Soo is gonna squeeze Boo-Boo's balls. And I guarantee, you're not gonna like it."
As in "The Sex Trip," the main character overreacts when experiencing a woman's menstrual period.
The head of the advertising company even uses the cliché line, "The eyes are the windows to the soul," (which didn't work when I used it on a drunk woman in a bar in 1979), when he hits on the female Sam.
The writers, like every bad writer, has the French character with two first names, in this case Jean-George. A caricature not a character. I have a lot of French relatives and none of them have two first names.
One wonders how a film like this can get made. Answer, the producer/writer/director is Nicholas Brooks, son of Mel.
I'll end my review of "Sam" as I ended my review on "The Sex Trip."
"There is nothing "new" in this film from other gender switching movies, but there are a lot "bad" elements; ie, the main character not knowing what a woman's menstrual period entails.
"Stay away; stay far, far away from this film."
"I came across this movie while searching Amazon Prime, and as I like gender switching movies like 'Switch' and 'It's a Boy Girl Thing,' I thought to give it a try.
"It is really, truly, an awful movie. The dialogue in this movie tells me that the writers think insulting people is funny; it's not. The Sex Trip's (Sam's) main characters make crude remarks to all of the other characters."
The dialogue and acting makes me hypothesize that the two writers and director of "Sam", were sitting around drunk, probably, watching "Switch", and said to themselves, "Hey, let's write a gender changing comedy and we'll get all our pals to be in the film." They even set the main character's occupation in the New York advertising industry as in "Switch."
Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney getting the gang together to put on a show and save the (whatever) this film is not.
I have seen better performances in TV insurance commercials than in "Sam." Emu is a better actor than the majority of people appearing in this film. Stacy Keach has a small role, (they said in film school that some "past-their-prime" actors will come in and do one day's work for $25,000 (1990's dollars), I guess Stacy needed to buy his daughter a new car) and it's like watching Babe Ruth opposite a Tee Ball player.
The main character is supposed to be a young (no one in this film is over 25 except for Stacy Keach and Morgan Fairchild, another past-their-prime actor in need of buying their child a new car), highly successful advertising executive, who doesn't even know what a Pavlovian Response is; something I learned about in Pysch 101 at the local community college my freshman year.
"Sam's" script is filled with cringe wrenching dialogue:
Examples:
When Sam emails his boss that his cousin Samantha will be filling in for him while he's away (right out of "Switch") the head of the firm says, "Cousin Samantha, huh. Oh well, as long as she's hot."
Needless to say, the head of the advertising firm hits on Samantha, which is, once again, right out of "Switch."
Or, when Sam's best pal is at home with his significant other and she says,
"Either Boo-Boo apologizes and gets very snuggly, very quickly, or Soo-Soo is gonna squeeze Boo-Boo's balls. And I guarantee, you're not gonna like it."
As in "The Sex Trip," the main character overreacts when experiencing a woman's menstrual period.
The head of the advertising company even uses the cliché line, "The eyes are the windows to the soul," (which didn't work when I used it on a drunk woman in a bar in 1979), when he hits on the female Sam.
The writers, like every bad writer, has the French character with two first names, in this case Jean-George. A caricature not a character. I have a lot of French relatives and none of them have two first names.
One wonders how a film like this can get made. Answer, the producer/writer/director is Nicholas Brooks, son of Mel.
I'll end my review of "Sam" as I ended my review on "The Sex Trip."
"There is nothing "new" in this film from other gender switching movies, but there are a lot "bad" elements; ie, the main character not knowing what a woman's menstrual period entails.
"Stay away; stay far, far away from this film."
Horrendous
lisagbergin15 April 2021
Pleasantly surprising
Donovan00210 December 2018
ABSOLUTELY AWFUL
EskimoChain27 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
THIS IS KINDA A FREAKY FRIDAY TYPE THEME FILM. THE MAN "SAM" IN THE BEGINNING OF THE FILM CHANGES AND BECOMES A WOMAN, WHO I FOUND SO RIDICULOUSLY IRRITATING I FELT AS IF IT WAS TORTURE TO FINISH THIS FILM BEFORE REVIEWING IT.
KISS KISS.
KISS KISS.
Gross! Gay as all get out.
mightywick29 April 2019
Oh dear.
iamtherobotman17 March 2024
So it would appear this 'Alpha' Male has never in his life met a Woman, never mind slept with one, because as soon as he becomes she, he can't help but continue to act like like a total prat.
This just isn't funny, it's sad. It's the worst 'body swap' film i've seen by some distance. 'Big' was brilliant, even the one with that Ginger Actress which was the remake of the 70's film was better than this, and i can't believe i'm actually admitting that.
This film has no charm at all and comes over that it's trying too hard to be fun and loose and it's missing the mark by quite a distance.
I can't in good conscience recommend this film to anyone. It's just not good. Go and (re)watch Big.
This just isn't funny, it's sad. It's the worst 'body swap' film i've seen by some distance. 'Big' was brilliant, even the one with that Ginger Actress which was the remake of the 70's film was better than this, and i can't believe i'm actually admitting that.
This film has no charm at all and comes over that it's trying too hard to be fun and loose and it's missing the mark by quite a distance.
I can't in good conscience recommend this film to anyone. It's just not good. Go and (re)watch Big.
A wonderful surprise.
JanMarieWilson8 July 2017
I happened upon this lovely film by chance and am very glad I did.
Natalie Knepp is absolutely wonderful as the former horrible man turned lovely woman. She is a rising star and I shall be watching her future roles with interest.
All the characters were believable and well played. The story, though done many times before was given a fresh look and just enough empathy to tug the heartstrings.
The usual clichés,though there,were not done to death and the metamorphosis from slug to beautiful butterfly was lovely to watch.
A pretty film indeed.
Natalie Knepp is absolutely wonderful as the former horrible man turned lovely woman. She is a rising star and I shall be watching her future roles with interest.
All the characters were believable and well played. The story, though done many times before was given a fresh look and just enough empathy to tug the heartstrings.
The usual clichés,though there,were not done to death and the metamorphosis from slug to beautiful butterfly was lovely to watch.
A pretty film indeed.
A fine surprise
epistemologia-latimes24 August 2019
The premise is hardly original, but it is developed here in a competent, direct and uplifting way.
Many of the scenes and much of the characterization are definitely on the unsubtle side, but I think that works well in the end. The characters are well established and grow in interesting and convincing ways. I particularly liked the interactions between Margaret and Samantha.
Many of the scenes and much of the characterization are definitely on the unsubtle side, but I think that works well in the end. The characters are well established and grow in interesting and convincing ways. I particularly liked the interactions between Margaret and Samantha.
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