The Hot Chick, directed by Tom Brady, begins with a 50 BC scene in Abyssinia in which a betrothed princess avoids an unpleasant marriage by giving her special earrings to her slave, thus transferring identities. The next scene switches to four catty, narcissistic, and naughty high school cheerleaders, in which the prettiest is Jessica (played by Rachel McAdams). One day, the four are in a shopping mall, go into a shop of African artifacts, locate the very same pair of earrings, and shoplift them out of the store. As they drive home, they stop for gas at a filling station. Spence (played by Rob Schneider) is in the middle of an unsuccessful heist, as he gets only $19 in currency because most gas station patrons prefer to use credit cards. To make a getaway, he is forced to pump gas for the girls, but in the excitement one of the earrings falls off. Later Spence puts on the earring, and a transformation occurs: Jessica’s body has Spence’s mind, and Spence’s hairy body now has Jessica’s personality. While the person in Jessica’s body becomes a stripper, prostitute, and serial mugger, the person Rob’s body seeks acceptance from Jessica’s best friend April (played by Anna Faris). Most of the film then focuses on Jessica-in-Rob and her girlfriend April. Comedic situations provide many laughs, since Jessica-in-Rob comes across as a thirtysomething effeminate gay. (However, the silly picture in the promotional poster does not appear in the film.) As in the case of many teenage-oriented films, there are some moral lessons, three of which stand out: Trust and be loyal to your friends. Gays are OK. Adults need therapy. MH