Freaky Friday
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Movie Reviews of Freaky Friday
Movie Review: Freaky Friday... Not So "Freaky" After All
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie "Freaky Friday" is about the relationship that Anna (played by Lindsay Lohan) has with her mother Tess (played by Jamie Lee Curtis). Tess and Anna are total opposites and they don't understand each other. Then, when Tess and Anna both eat a mysterious fortune cookie they get a chance to step in each other's shoes... literally. When Anna wakes up the day before her mom's wedding she is in her mother's body, and her mother is in hers! Leaving no choice but to not tell anyone and go about their day, the two ladies have the opportunity to see how difficult another person'd life can be. But will they be able to switch back before Tess's wedding? Or will this crazy day really turn out to be very "freaky"?
There were many similarities between the book and movie "Freaky Friday." Both of them share the main plot that Tess and Anna are in each other's bodies, and they have to go throughout their day being each other. In both, Anna has a love interest who never liked or noticed her before until the switch happened. Both of them only take place during a 1-3 day period. In the book and movie the main setting is at Anna and Tess's house. The way that the characters acted in the book was similar to the way Linsay and Jamie acted out their role. In both, Anna has a younger, annoying brother who she actually learns to like. In the movie and book the characters have very crazy days, and they are rushed from one thing to another.
Although the basic plot is the same, there are some huge differences between the book and movie "Freaky Friday." The movie tells you about Anna and Tess, while the book concentrates on only Anna. In the book, Anna can't find her mother through out her whole day of unexpected problems. In the end, it turns out that it was actually her mother who was able to switch their bodies. In the movie, Anna goes through her troubling day with her mom by her side, and neither of them know how their bodies were switched for a while, until they remember the fortune cookie that they both had the night before. The characters were portrayed differently because in the movie Tess is a hard working mom and Anna is in a band and she is punk. In the book Tess is a stay at home mom, and Anna is a girl who is somewhat self conscious about her looks. The movie has many elements of plot that the book does not have. For instance Tess is getting married, Anna's father died, Anna is in a band but her mom won't let her play at her upcoming audition, Tess is a therapist, Anna is enemies with a girl named Stacy, and even more. The book is less interesting because the whole plot is basically about simpler things like Anna can't figure out how to use the washing machine, and she forgets to pick up her brother. Overall the movie is more modernized, and special effects make it look really cool. The book is very old fashioned, so sometimes parts of it can be slow.
Both the movie and book "Freaky Friday" were really good. I liked the movie better because it was modernized, the characters were more interesting, and some elements of plot were added that made me sit up in the front of my seat while watching. It really shows the relationship between a mother and a daughter, which is something that I can really relate to. I give this movie 5 stars, and I recommend it to everyone! The movie "Freaky Friday," did not turn out to be very "freaky" after all.
Movie Review: Funny Generational Myopia
Summary: 5 Stars
I am generally apprehensive regarding remakes because they are often inferior to the original. I avoided this movie in the theaters for that reason. Eventually we got the DVD and I gritted my teeth to watch. To my surprise the remake covers new territory in switch films and was quite enjoyable.As with the original, the interplay is between mother Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Annabell Coleman (Lindsay Lohan). However, in the original the daughter, played by Jodi Foster, was the stronger of the two roles and the mother just didn't quite spark my interest after the switch. In this movie both characters play well and Jamie Lee Curtis proves once again what a great actress she is.
The best part of the movie is that the update is very modern. Annabell is faced with motorcycle riding hunks, is a member of a hard rock group, and wants to get more piercings. The character of Annabell is wonderfully rebellious yet not completely out of control.
As with most teens, Annabell and her mother are arguing about something constantly. With a bit of Asian magic, and a rather tricky fortune cookie, mother and daughter switch bodies. The switch itself is hilarious. One of the scenes played in advertisements continuously is when Annabell, now in Tess' body, says that she's the Crypt Keeper. Jamie Lee Curtis is perfectly believable after the transition.
We soon find that each really struggles with the other's world. Annabell can't keep up with all her mother's cell phones, PDA, and beeper. Further, driving seems to be quite a challenge for her. Tess discovers that her daughter was telling the truth about the English teacher who is continually out to get her, regardless of how well she does. It turns out that the English teacher and Tess know each other. Tess solves Annabell's problem quite nicely. However, Tess still has other problems, particularly with Annabell's friends. The peak of Tess' problems are during a rock audition that is very important to Annabell.
There are additional conflicts for the pair to add even more spice. Tess is preparing to get married to Ryan (Mark Harmon), who is trying to understand his soon to be daughter but, as with many fathers, is more than a little clueless. Annabell also has a younger brother that she sees as a pest. The switch allows candid conversations between Annabell and Ryan and Annabell and younger brother Harry (Ryan Malgarini) where Annabell learns that Ryan doesn't want to upset her life and truly wants to understand her and Harry loves her and admires her. The poignant moments are handled quite well with minimal schmaltz.
The true point of the movie is for each to walk in the other's shoes. In the process of doing so we get to see some well done physical and situational comedy, most particularly by Jamie Lee Curtis. Both Tess and Annabell are both empathetic characters. While the focus is on the ladies, making this a mother-daughter film, males will enjoy the generational myopia of mother and daughter. A wonderful family film that I consider suitable for most family members.
Movie Review: The power of empathy, and understanding one another.
Summary: 5 Stars
Freaky Friday could probably been viewed as a sharp satire on modern society, a statement about mother-daughter relationships, or even a proclamation on the need for better communication. Whether it is or isn't hardly matters, because either way, Freaky Friday is probably one of the most delightful, entertaining comedies to come out in recent years. This is a snappy comedy that hits the mark again and again with its on-target observations about youth and middle-age.
Jamie Lee Curtis is on the top of her game, as Dr. Tess Coleman, a psychotherapist who is desperately trying to keep it together at home as she prepares for her upcoming marriage, while also battling the demands of her anxious patients. Tess's rebellious, puckish daughter Anna (Lindsay Lohan) is causing Tess no end of trouble. Anna won't get up for school in the morning, she plays loud music in the basement with her rock band, and she is constantly fighting with her younger brother, Harry (Ryan Malgarini). Anna thinks that her Mum is old fashioned and stodgy, a well-meaning control freak who just can't go with flow or understand the pressures that weigh upon her slender shoulders. Where mother and daughter really differ is in their views of Ryan (Mark Harmon), who is about to marry Tess.
Their disagreements erupt into a major mother-daughter shouting match one evening in the back of a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant owner's mother (Lucille Soong) sees what is going on and offers them some magical fortune cookies. The next morning - Freaky Friday - mother and daughter find themselves inhabiting each other's bodies. Since Tess's wedding is Saturday, they are under considerable pressure to switch back.
This is an imaginative story that really works well, and the laughs come thick and fast when both Anna and Tess "freak out" when they have to face the day trapped in each other's bodies. When Anna-as-Tess realizes that she now has the right to credit cards, she goes on a spending spree and jazzes herself up with some hip new clothes, ear piercings and a trendy new hairstyle. And she really savors the moments when Jake (Chad Michael Murray), the high school guy Anna has a crush on, finds himself attracted to her. Tess-as-Anna shocks her daughter's classmates with her new seriousness and puritanical habits, such as pulling down a friend's shirt because she is exposing too much midriff.
As the day goes on they develop a new understanding of each other's lives, and they learn to empathize with one another more effectively. The film's climax is at a rock and roll concert where Tess has to masquerade as a lead guitarist on the same evening as the wedding rehearsal and it's very funny. Freaky Friday is a wonderful film about the power of empathy, and the search for communication, with fine performances from everyone involved. Enjoy. Mike Leonard August 04.
Movie Review: Freaky Friday is freaky fun! Better than the original.
Summary: 5 Stars
I had a lot of fun watching Disney's remake of Freaky Friday. In some ways this updated version improves on the themes of the original 1970's version. Funny and smart, Disney's Freaky Friday makes a great date movie or a great family movie.
The story follows a family days before a widow's wedding to her new fiancé. Daughter and mother are at odds with each other over the upcoming nuptials A trip to the Chinese restaurant and a fortune cookie lead to daughter and mother switching bodies and experiencing each other's lives. It's only when they come to appreciate each other that things change back. I know I'm leaving a lot out; (I usually write detailed synopses in my reviews) but I really want people to watch this movie and experience it for themselves. Disney's Freaky Friday is JUST TOO GOOD TO SPOIL
This movie is a lot of fun; the jokes are hilarious and the music is great. My favorite scenes are the collision in the bedroom between Anna and her Mother. I also liked the talk show sequence and the scenes in the car with some McDonald's fries (I can relate.) Really funny stuff. The updated script is well written and the cinematography is solid.
Disney did a great job of casting their version of Freaky Friday. Each actor and actress is perfectly cast in their roles. Lindsay Lohan gives a strong performance as Anna. For a young actress she handles the dual role very well, making both a convincing teenager and middle aged woman trapped in a teenage body. Jamie Lee Curtis is hilarious in this movie. Her performance here is worth the purchase of the DVD alone; the way she transitions from middle aged woman to hot teenager trapped in a middle aged woman's body are incredible. Her scenes with Chad Michael Murray made the movie for me. I could actually feel the chemistry swirling between them. She needs to be in more movies; I love watching her perform. Chad Michael Murray is in top form here as Anna's love interest. They need to let him do more on One Tree Hill. Veteran actor Harold Gould gets some great lines in some key scenes. Mark Harmon (NCIS) is a surprise as the mom's love interest. Nice to see him playing something light and funny for once. Look for Christina Vidal as Anna's bandmate.
Both versions of Freaky Friday are Shawn James five star Essential Movies. After almost 30 years the story is on its way to becoming a modern classic. While you're buying this one pick up the original 1970's version and the great book both movies are based on.
Movie Review: (4 1/2) WOW! ACTUALLY BETTER THAN THE TRAILERS
Summary: 5 Stars
SURPRISE #1 ! The idea behind this movie actually manages to succeed due to excellent directing (Mark Waters), very good casting, an interesting script, and the musical element to the story. Jamie Lee Curtis is an amazing teenager.SURPRISE#2 ! There were a lot of truly funny moments that weren't in the trailers (which concentrated on the slapstick and one liners), in fact this is one of the few comedies that I believe is actually better than the trailers. (The humor is at times physical, often situational, but never crude or overtly sexual in nature.)
WARNING ! Don't attend this film if you hate rock music. The music (and its loudness) are a key element of the story.
This was entertaining beyond my expectations. Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) is an obsessive psychiatrist with a teenage daughter Anna (Lindsay Lohan) who not atypically are often at odds, especially concerning the daughter's musical ambitions. The relationship is stressed further by the fact that Anna has not come to terms with the fact that the widowed Tess is about to remarry. As you would expect, there is also a boy, Jake (Chad Michael Murray) of interest to Anna. Other members of the cast whose supporting roles are well played include Tess' fiance Ryan (Mark Harmon) and Anna's grandpa (Harold Gould). As the marriage date approaches and tensions escalate, suddenly rehearsal Friday becomes very freaky when Tess and Anna discover that they have switched bodies. As they try to cope with the bizarre situation and at the same time keep it secret lest they be considered crazy, the inevitable problems occur. Can Tess pass Anna's school test? Can Anna counsel Tess' patients?
What makes the movie effective and fun is that it has the right mix of comedy and seriousness. It doesn't try to come up with a serious explanation of how the switch occurs, it just stages it in a fun way and then moves on. Yet, instead of playing everything for laughs, it actually uses the basic element of the story to seriously address the issue of what would happen and how our viewpoints might change if we had to spend a day as someone else with whom we often disagree. Tess and Anna are both frantic to resume their lives, but can only do that by truly understanding the viewpoint of the person whose body they inhabit. Thus, they are changed forever by the experience. So this is a fun movie for everyone - family members, couples, friends, etc. Just remember, the music is loud!