Family Switch features a plethora of cameos, and one of the Christmas movie’s biggest ones was by the rock band Weezer. The 2023 Netflix comedy film revolved around the Walker family — Bill, Jess, CC, and Wyatt — and their unfortunate body-switching dilemma days before Christmas and potentially life-changing opportunities for each of them. The family’s patriarch, Bill, is a high school music teacher who is also chasing his dream of making it big as a musician with his band, Dad or Alive, which is where Weezer comes into play in the movie.
Aside from Weezer, the Family Switch cast includes Jennifer Garner as Jess, Ed Helms as Bill, Emma Myers as CC, Brady Noon as Wyatt, Rita Moreno as Angelica, and many others. Helms’ character body swaps with his son, Wyatt, in the Netflix comedy, which complicates things when Bill and his band have a performance scheduled that may land them a record deal. But just like in most holiday films, Family Switch is full of magic and revelations (and a surprising appearance by the four members of a famous rock band).
Weezer Was In Bill’s Dad Or Alive Band In Family Switch
All four (current) members of Weezer — Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Scott Shriner, and Brian Bell — played Bill’s bandmates in Dad or Alive in Family Switch. Wilson and Shriner’s characters in the Netflix film had their names in real life (Patrick and Scott), while Cuomo’s character’s name was Lake (undoubtedly a play on the musician’s actual first name), and Bell’s was Dave. The four rock stars appeared throughout the movie, but most notably toward the end when Dad or Alive played “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” at a concert.
How Family Switch Cleverly Honors Jennifer Garner’s Beloved 19-Year-Old Comedy
Family Switch isn’t Jennifer Garner’s first time doing a body-switch movie, and the self-aware Netflix film proved it knows this.
How Family Switch Convinced Weezer To Cameo In The Movie
Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Scott Shriner, and Brian Bell of Weezer had significant roles in the Christmas comedy film. They had lines and had to play onstage, so one must wonder how the producers convinced the rock band to make cameos in their movie. According to Tudum by Netflix, the credit goes to director McG.
The director approached Weezer about playing Bill’s bandmates in Dad or Alive in his latest film, and he was able to get the four men to sign on for the cameos. During the interview with Tudum by Netflix, McG explained, “I grew up on Weezer. The Blue Album blew my mind.” Working with the rock band was a dream for the Family Switch director, and thankfully for McG, Cuomo, Wilson, Shriner, and Bell all agreed to be a part of the Netflix movie.
