‘Freakier Friday’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on August 8th is ‘Freakier Friday’, which picks up the story of Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) 22 years after the mother and daughter duo swapped bodies and learned life lessons.
Directed this time by Nisha Ganatra (‘Late Night’) the cast also includes the returning likes of Mark Harmon (‘NCIS’) and Chad Michael Murray (‘One Tree Hill’) alongside franchise newcomers Julia Butters (‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’) and Sophia Hammons (‘Up Here’).
Related Article: Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan to Return for ‘Freaky Friday 2’
Initial Thoughts
Legacy sequels and comedy; two examples of filmmaking that are hard to get right. You have studios looking to exploit classic IP –– in this case, 2003’s lightweight but fun Lindsay Lohan/Jamie Lee Curtis body swap comedy ‘Freaky Friday’ (itself a remake, let’s not forget) –– but in the transition to a more up-to-date story with the core cast intact, something can often be lost.
It’s a relief to report, then, that in this case, that ‘Freakier Friday’, which returns Curtis and Lohan (plus a few other welcome characters from the first film), surrounds them with entertaining newer talent and manages to capture the spirit without feeling like a rip-off.
Script and Direction
Jordan Weiss has the screenplay credit here, with Elyse Hollander scoring a “story by” listing, evidence of the film going through a few script drafts on its journey to the screen.
But despite the development process, what has emerged still feels fresh and funny, warm and emotional, riffing on the basic body swap concept, and borrowing some elements (such as an impending wedding and tension between teens and mothers –– or grandmother).
Like the old wedding tradition states, something old, something new, something borrowed and while “something blue” only really counts for the denim outfit Curtis’ character dons while occupied by someone else, it all serves to move the story forward while keeping the laughs coming.
The connection between Lohan and Curtis remains strong, and the script finds ways to update their relationship while keeping them as familiar characters. The new additions, meanwhile, including Anna Coleman’s (Lohan) actual child (Butters) and future step-daughter (Hammons), are worthwhile.
Director Nisha Ganatra, meanwhile, keeps it all ticking along well, making good use of Los Angeles locations to have the film feel like it truly takes place in the universe of the 2003 original.
She also represents a welcome move towards diversity, something that occurs here both in front of and behind the camera.
Cast and Performances
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan both seemed eager to return to their roles, and from the looks of the movie itself (and the blooper reel at the end), they clearly had a lot of fun catching up with the characters of Tess and Anna Coleman.
With the movie quickly and smoothly briefing us on how their relationship has evolved now Anna is a mother of her own (and has found love with Manny Jacinto’s Eric), it soon gets down to taking us through a familiar story that goes in interesting new directions.
The two actors are more than ready to throw themselves into the physical comedy and also hit the emotional beats when needed.
Julia Butters and Sophia Hammons carry the other end of the heavy lifting as the warring future siblings who are both unhappy with Anna and Eric’s marriage plans (and a potential move to London). The two actors really make the characters’ issues believable, and are just as adept when it comes to the funny moments.
Jacinto meanwhile, is a funny performer who is here saddled a little with too straightforward a role (and a British accent that doesn’t really suit him). Yet he’s still adept at hunky love interest and confused suitor.
‘Freakier Friday’ also brings back some other legacy characters –– Chad Michael Murray as Jake, Anna’s old flame, gets the meatiest role, and still carries his other torch, for Tess. And it’s always good to see perennial character actor Stephen Tobolowsky show up, here reprising frustrated teacher Mr. Bates from the original.
In new supporting roles, the likes of X Mayo (as the principal of Harper and Lily’s school) and especially Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (star of Netflix comedy ‘Never Have I Ever’, who here plays an overly emotional pop star) really make an impact.
Final Thoughts
‘Freakier Friday’ is a sequel that doesn’t embarrass the original, has callbacks that work as more than simply fan service and should bring a smile to different generations.
It’s also that welcome comedy that is actually funny and makes good use of its cast.
rBtDmSMFyDDrNjeX5V55g5What’s the story of ‘Freakier Friday’?
The story picks up years after Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Anna (Lindsay Lohan) endured an identity crisis. Anna now has a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter.
As they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might indeed strike twice.
Who is in the cast of ‘Freakier Friday’?
- Jamie Lee Curtis as Tess Coleman
- Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman
- Mark Harmon as Ryan
- Julia Butters as Harper Coleman
- Sophia Hammons as Lily Davies
- Manny Jacinto as Eric Davies
- Chad Michael Murray as Jake
- Christina Vidal Mitchell as Maddie
- Haley Hudson as Peg
Movies Similar to ‘Freakier Friday’:
- ‘Freaky Friday‘ (1976)
- ‘Like Father Like Son‘ (1987)
- ‘Vice Versa‘ (1988)
- ‘Big‘ (1988)
- ‘Switch‘ (1991)
- ‘Freaky Friday‘ (1995)
- ‘The Hot Chick‘ (2002)
- ‘Freaky Friday‘ (2003)
- ‘13 Going on 30‘ (2004)
- ‘The Skeleton Key‘ (2005)
- ‘17 Again‘ (2009)
- ‘The Change-Up‘ (2011)
- ‘Get Out‘ (2017)
- ‘Freaky Friday‘ (2018)
- ‘Freaky‘ (2020)
- ‘Suitable Flesh‘ (2023)
- ‘Irish Wish‘ (2024)
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