Switch
Steve Brooks is a sexist and the prototype macho. Unfortunately one day he is killed by one of his girlfriends. In heaven, though, there is no place for men like him and he is sent back to earth in the body of a woman so that he can see how women are treated by men like the one he once was.
The film earned $15.5M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Switch (1991) demonstrates precise story structure, characteristic of Blake Edwards's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Amanda Brooks
Walter Stone
Margo Brofman
Sheila Faxton
God
Main Cast & Characters
Amanda Brooks
Played by Ellen Barkin
Womanizing advertising executive Steve Brooks reincarnated as a woman, forced to understand the impact of his past behavior.
Walter Stone
Played by Jimmy Smits
Amanda's supportive best friend and colleague who helps her navigate life and develops romantic feelings.
Margo Brofman
Played by JoBeth Williams
Amanda's friend and co-worker who provides female perspective and friendship during the transformation.
Sheila Faxton
Played by Lorraine Bracco
One of Steve's former girlfriends who becomes involved with Amanda, creating complex emotional dynamics.
God
Played by Performed by Voice
The divine figure who gives Steve a second chance as a woman to learn from his mistakes.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Steve Brooks, a womanizing advertising executive, is murdered by three vengeful ex-lovers. We see his shallow, manipulative life as a chauvinist pig who uses women.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Steve is sent back to Earth reincarnated as Amanda, a beautiful woman. He wakes up in a female body, completely disoriented and horrified by the transformation.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Amanda decides to reclaim Steve's old life and business, actively choosing to re-enter his former world but now from a woman's perspective. She contacts Walter, Steve's former colleague., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Amanda and Walter's relationship deepens romantically. False victory: Amanda thinks she's succeeding at her mission, but she's falling in love, which complicates everything as she's keeping her true identity secret., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Amanda discovers she's pregnant with Walter's child. Her time is running out, and the truth threatens to destroy her relationship with Walter. The death of her male identity is now literal and permanent., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Amanda realizes that she's become a genuinely better person through experiencing life as a woman. She decides to tell Walter the truth and accept whatever consequences come, choosing honesty and love over deception., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Switch's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Switch against these established plot points, we can identify how Blake Edwards utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Switch within the comedy genre.
Blake Edwards's Structural Approach
Among the 15 Blake Edwards films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Switch takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Blake Edwards filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Blake Edwards analyses, see Revenge of the Pink Panther, Curse of the Pink Panther and 10.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Steve Brooks, a womanizing advertising executive, is murdered by three vengeful ex-lovers. We see his shallow, manipulative life as a chauvinist pig who uses women.
Theme
In the afterlife, God tells Steve he can't enter heaven unless he finds one woman who truly likes him. The theme: redemption through understanding the opposite sex.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Steve's shallow world, his business relationships, his pattern of using women, and the supernatural rules of his afterlife predicament.
Disruption
Steve is sent back to Earth reincarnated as Amanda, a beautiful woman. He wakes up in a female body, completely disoriented and horrified by the transformation.
Resistance
Amanda struggles with her new identity, learns to navigate the world as a woman, and tries to resist accepting her situation while dealing with practical necessities.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Amanda decides to reclaim Steve's old life and business, actively choosing to re-enter his former world but now from a woman's perspective. She contacts Walter, Steve's former colleague.
Mirror World
Amanda begins working closely with Walter, Steve's best friend and business partner. Walter becomes attracted to Amanda, not knowing she's actually Steve. This relationship will teach her about genuine connection.
Premise
Amanda navigates the advertising world as a woman, experiencing sexism, unwanted advances, and discrimination Steve never noticed. She excels at work while learning what women endure daily.
Midpoint
Amanda and Walter's relationship deepens romantically. False victory: Amanda thinks she's succeeding at her mission, but she's falling in love, which complicates everything as she's keeping her true identity secret.
Opposition
Amanda's double life becomes increasingly difficult. She genuinely falls for Walter, faces consequences of Steve's past actions, and struggles with her changing perspective on gender and relationships.
Collapse
Amanda discovers she's pregnant with Walter's child. Her time is running out, and the truth threatens to destroy her relationship with Walter. The death of her male identity is now literal and permanent.
Crisis
Amanda grapples with the impossibility of her situation: she loves Walter, is carrying his child, but their relationship is built on a lie. She mourns the loss of both her identities.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Amanda realizes that she's become a genuinely better person through experiencing life as a woman. She decides to tell Walter the truth and accept whatever consequences come, choosing honesty and love over deception.
Synthesis
Amanda gives birth to her daughter. She faces the final reckoning with her past and with heaven, having found someone who truly likes her (Walter and her child). She integrates both identities into a complete person.
Transformation
Amanda with her baby daughter, having earned her place in life through genuine transformation. She's no longer the selfish man she was or just a woman's body—she's a complete, empathetic human being who understands both sides.