Hilarious, heartwarming, and a total blast, Freakier Friday hits all the right comedic notes for a legacy sequel done right.
Freakier Friday Review
Freaky Friday is one of those movies that would be included in a time capsule of millennial favorites. Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan playing a mother/daughter duo struggling to connect until a fortune cookie forces them to swap places…it was perfect. Others have tried the body-swap formula and none of them have worked this well. The film is not only iconic but it is a personal favorite of mine. When the sequel was announced I was cautiously optimistic. Legacy sequels can be hit or miss or just ok. Many lean too far into nostalgia or just rehash the first film with new characters. Or the worst is when they go off the rails completely and you wonder why they are even allowed to share a universe with their namesake. Fortunately for all of us, Freakier Friday is a legacy sequel done right.
Freakier Friday is a hilarious blast of a movie loaded with snark, chaos, and those sneaky emotional moments. Lohan and Curtis are comedic gold in this four-way body-swap that ups the ante of the original without ever losing sight of why people enjoyed these characters in the first place. Director Nisha Ganatra along with writers Elyse Hollander and Jordan Weiss, have crafted something that is energetic, fun, and never bogs itself down with lore. Honestly past the initial body-swapping concept, this film stands well on its own. Teens who have never watched the original will still find this one laugh-out-loud funny while us OG fans get to enjoy all the small yet well-placed nods to it.
Anna (Lohan) is no longer a rebellious teen. She works as a music manager to a popstar named Ella (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) while trying to raise her daughter Harper (Julia Butters) as a single parent. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on the day) her mother, Tess (Curtis), is never too far away and is always ready to offer motherly advice. One day, Anna falls in love with Eric (Manny Jacinto) after a meet-cute at their daughters' school. Fast forward, the two have decided to get married much to the disdain of their daughters who do not get along. Lily (Sophia Hammons) and Harper want to break up their parents, while Anna and Tess disagree on the possible decision to move away. You know what happens next. In order for everyone to learn a lesson, body-swapping occurs until the universe proves its point.
I'm thankful that Freakier Friday is not a retread nor a crazy left field sequel. The story falls into step with the original without being it. Returning characters have matured naturally and are now faced with new problems. While the younger cast adds a new layer of humor, angst, and emotions to the mix. Even the “spell” that causes the switch has been updated, moving away from the generic Chinese mysticism (though Rosalind Chao and Lucille Soong have cameos) in favor of a budget psychic named Madame Jen (Vanessa Bayer). I might even be more grateful that they didn't bother explaining things that weren't necessary. Why did she choose to be a single mom? Doesn't matter. What exactly happened between Jake (Chad Michael Murray) and Anna? It also doesn't matter. It's been 22 years. Most high school romances don't last. The end.
Where it does fall into line is with the overall tone, style, and silliness of the original. But that is to be expected and frankly would have made the movie terrible if they deviated from it. No one wants a serious version of Freaky Friday. Once the body swap happens overnight, the hilarity ensues and doesn't let up until the end. Harper and Lily wake up to find themselves in the bodies of Anna and Tess. This whole scene had my entire audience cracking up as Curtis screamed in horror over her wrinkles and thin lips. The real Anna and Tess don't bother explaining much to the girls other than we need to figure out how to switch back. Even though their mission is important, the two still enjoy having younger bodies (and better metabolisms) while they can. Whereas the teens take advantage of being “adults” who can do what they want including sabotaging the wedding.
Although it is Harper and Lily who have to primarily come to understand one another, Anna and Tess aren't sidelined at all. They have their own issues, albeit smaller, that need some resolution as well. I have to give props to Butters and Hammons for being able to hold their own against the comedic duo of Lohan and Curtis. Both of the young actresses give great, emotional and amusing performances. Butters easily steps into the motherly role while Hammons manages to equally wow as a sweet, not-too-old grandmother.
Lohan was right in choosing this film as her return to the big screen. It allows her to show off her energy, range, and she clearly looks like she is having a great time. She is a stressed-out, therapy-word using mom and a selfish teen who doesn't care who she hurts in an effort to get her way. Lohan switches (no pun intended) between the two with ease. Curtis is and always will be the scene-stealing MVP of these films. She gives 100% in her performance whether she is Tess or Lilly stuck Tess' body. From crawling on the floor to pigging out on fast food, Curtis lights up the screen and you stay eager for whatever she is about to do or say next.
Verdict
Freakier Friday has all the makings of a 2000s comedy. It fits right at home with its older (but still relevant) relatives Freaky Friday, Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, and 13 Going on 30. A legacy sequel done right, it honors what came before with classic jokes, a Pink Slip cameo that felt natural, and maintains the energy and excitement that had so many of us eagerly adding the first one to our desert island movie lists. Lohan and Curtis' reunion is a total blast, worth the wait in every way. If I walked away knowing anything for sure it was: Curtis remains a treasure for her comedy, Manny Jacinto needs to be in more rom-coms, and I'm glad I can share this movie with my own daughter now.
Freakier Friday is in theaters August 8, 2025. It is rated PG for thematic elements, rude humor, language and some suggestive references with a runtime of 1 hour 51 minutes.
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