On its release in 2010, The Switch was discussed as some kind of beacon of progressive politics – particularly by its “star”, Jennifer Aniston – celebrating the depiction of a woman who chooses to pursue the life she wants in ‘non-traditional’ ways. Indeed, I would love to see that movie – it sounds brilliantly refreshing. Unfortunately, that movie is not this movie. This movie is deeply creepy, and is actually a fully realised allegorical representation of patriarchy, and all its systems of oppression that still prevent women from living the lives they want to live in today’s society.

The film opens and closes with a narration by the character of Wally Mars, played by Jason Bateman, expounding upon the relentless monotony of the single man’s life in th...

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