Switch is a 2013 action film written and directed by Jay Sun and starring Andy Lau, Tong Dawei, Zhang Jingchu and Lin Chi-ling. A Chinese-Hong Kong co-production, the film was released on 9 and 12 June 2013 in mainland China and Hong Kong respectively.
A famous Chinese Yuan Dynasty painting known as "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" was stolen and being sold on the black market, led by a mysterious business magnate (Tong Dawei). Special agent Jinhan (Andy Lau) is tasked to recover the painting.
Meanwhile, Jinhan and his wife (Zhang Jingchu) have drifted apart, due to the secret nature of his work, unaware that his wife also works as a special agent tasked with protecting the painting.
Switch was originally set to be released in 2012, but was delayed partially due to the decision to convert the film to 3-D. The film was released in China on 9 June 2013 and in Hong Kong on 12 June, where its running time was trimmed by 9 minutes with several scenes cut out.
In China, the film grossed RMB 49 million (US$8 million) in its opening day, the third-biggest opening day revenue for a domestic film in China.
Maggie Lee of Variety stated the film "epitomizes[...]so-bad-itâÂÂs-good kitsch", pointing to a lack of plot continuity, ostentatious visuals and exaggerated, exploitation-like characterizations. Elizabeth Kerr of The Hollywood Reporter similarly criticized the film for its confusing structure and lack of impact, likening Sun to "a film school drop-out with too much cash".