Freaky Friday (2003)
Every teenager's nightmare…turning into her mother
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Mark Harmon, Harold Gould, Chad Michael Murray, Stephen Tobolowsky, Christina Vidal, Ryan Malgarini, Haley Hudson, Rosalind Chao, Lucille Soong, Willie Garson, Dina Waters Julie Gonzalo
Director: Mark S. Waters
Running Time: 93 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: PG
Comedy, Fantasy
Body-swap comedies are two-a-penny in Movie Land, but it's tough to criticise their ever-recurring appearance on the billboards when you come across one that's as genuinely enjoyable as 'Freaky Friday'.
After buying your ticket for this one, check your sense of originality at the door, because a change in formula isn't what this is about. In fact, it's a remake (and not the first one, either) of Disney's 1976 flick of the same name, which had mother Barbara Harris switching places with daughter Jodie Foster.
With that in mind, I went into this one thinking a nice idea would have been to bring back Foster, this time as the mother, and turn it into a sequel. Of course I was wrong, because that would have meant missing out on the terrific performance here from Jamie Lee Curtis as the single mom who, despite being a respected shrink, just can't understand teenage daughter Lindsay Lohan.
How the two end up undergoing the old switcheroo seems almost superfluous but, in case you're wondering, it involves a mad old Chinese restaurateur supplying them with magical fortune cookies. Is there any other way?
The usual brand of mayhem follows as mother goes about her daily business in daughter's body and vice-versa, and there's not much going on in the way of surprises. But what lifts this movie above the average is some great writing from Heather Hach (who has a cameo role as the school gym teacher) and Leslie Dixon (whose previous screenplay credits include 'Overboard' and 'Mrs Doubtfire'). Combined with the vibrant displays of the two leads, it makes for a funny and surprisingly sincere family comedy.
It's Got: The least convincing pretending-to-be-a-musician scene since the halcyon days of the mighty Milli Vanilli.
It Needs: For someone to alert the authorities to what's going on at that Chinese restaurant.
Alternatives: Big, The Hot Chick, Vice Versa, The Kid
Summary: Probably the best body-swap comedy since 'Big', and it certainly wipes the floor with the dismal 'The Hot Chick' from earlier this year.
Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 13th December 2003
External Links
Official Web Site
Freaky Friday at the IMDB
Comments8 Comments |
| I THINK THE FREAKY FRIDAY MOVIE IS THE BEST |
| Comment by:- SHANNON ROWAN | | 01 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| I reckon jamie lee curis is the BOMB |
| Comment by:- Hayley | | 11 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| extremely good and funny film good 4 all age groups |
| Comment by:- michelle | | 18 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| this movie is terrible it isn't funny at all!! i hate it |
| Comment by:- david | | 20 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| a great film. |
| Comment by:- Michelle | | 21 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| i have to do a review on this movie for skool assignment --- the best assignment eva! this movie rules! lindsay lohan is the bomb! |
| Comment by:- You will neva no my name | | 22 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| I really liked the movie, especially Lindsay Lohan's clothes. Pretty. Jamie Lee was hilarious; when isn't she? And Chad Michael Murray was hott. What's not to love? |
| Comment by:- Nicci | | 23 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| cccccccccoooooooooolllllllllllllllllllllllllll |
| Comment by:- hg | hjkhg | 27 December 2004 | ip: logged |
