(L-R) Jamie Lee Curtis as Tess Coleman and Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman in Disney’s live-action ‘Freakier Friday’. Photograph by Glen Wilson © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
‘Freakier Friday’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on August eighth is ‘Freakier Friday’, which picks up the story of Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) 22 years after the mom and daughter duo swapped our bodies and discovered life classes.
Directed this time by Nisha Ganatra (‘Late Night’) the forged additionally contains 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’
Preliminary Ideas
Chad Michael Murray as Jake in Disney’s ‘Freakier Friday’. Photograph by Glen Wilson. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Legacy sequels and comedy; two examples of filmmaking which might be laborious to get proper. You’ve gotten studios trying to exploit traditional IP –– on this case, 2003’s light-weight however enjoyable Lindsay Lohan/Jamie Lee Curtis physique swap comedy ‘Freaky Friday’ (itself a remake, let’s not neglect) –– however within the transition to a extra up-to-date story with the core forged intact, one thing can typically be misplaced.
It’s a aid to report, then, that on this case, that ‘Freakier Friday’, which returns Curtis and Lohan (plus just a few different welcome characters from the primary movie), surrounds them with entertaining newer expertise and manages to seize the spirit with out feeling like a rip-off.
Script and Path
(L-R) Manny Jacinto as Eric Davies and Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman in Disney’s ‘Freakier Friday’. Photograph by Glen Wilson. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Jordan Weiss has the screenplay credit score right here, with Elyse Hollander scoring a “story by” itemizing, proof of the movie going by just a few script drafts on its journey to the display.
However regardless of the event course of, what has emerged nonetheless feels recent and humorous, heat and emotional, riffing on the essential physique swap idea, and borrowing some parts (akin to an impending marriage ceremony and stress between teenagers and moms –– or grandmother).
Just like the previous marriage ceremony custom states, one thing previous, one thing new, one thing borrowed and whereas “one thing blue” solely actually counts for the denim outfit Curtis’ character dons whereas occupied by another person, all of it serves to maneuver the story ahead whereas holding the laughs coming.
The connection between Lohan and Curtis stays robust, and the script finds methods to replace their relationship whereas holding them as acquainted characters. The brand new additions, in the meantime, together with Anna Coleman’s (Lohan) precise little one (Butters) and future step-daughter (Hammons), are worthwhile.
Director Nisha Ganatra, in the meantime, retains all of it ticking alongside nicely, making good use of Los Angeles places to have the movie really feel prefer it actually takes place within the universe of the 2003 unique.
She additionally represents a welcome transfer in direction of variety, one thing that happens right here each in entrance of and behind the digicam.
Solid and Performances
(L-R) Julia Butters as Harper Coleman and Sophia Hammons as Lily Davies in Disney’s ‘Freakier Friday’. Photograph by Glen Wilson. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan each appeared desperate to return to their roles, and from the seems of the film itself (and the blooper reel on the finish), they clearly had lots of enjoyable catching up with the characters of Tess and Anna Coleman.
With the film rapidly and easily briefing us on how their relationship has advanced now Anna is a mom of her personal (and has discovered love with Manny Jacinto’s Eric), it quickly will get right down to taking us by a well-recognized story that goes in fascinating new instructions.
The 2 actors are greater than able to throw themselves into the bodily comedy and likewise hit the emotional beats when wanted.
Julia Butters and Sophia Hammons carry the opposite finish of the heavy lifting because the warring future siblings who’re each sad with Anna and Eric’s marriage plans (and a possible transfer to London). The 2 actors actually make the characters’ points plausible, and are simply as adept in relation to the humorous moments.
Jacinto in the meantime, is a humorous performer who’s right here saddled a bit with too easy a task (and a British accent that doesn’t actually swimsuit him). But he’s nonetheless adept at hunky love curiosity and confused suitor.
‘Freakier Friday’ additionally brings again another legacy characters –– Chad Michael Murray as Jake, Anna’s previous flame, will get the meatiest position, and nonetheless carries his different torch, for Tess. And it’s at all times good to see perennial character actor Stephen Tobolowsky present up, right here reprising pissed off instructor Mr. Bates from the unique.
In new supporting roles, the likes of X Mayo (because the principal of Harper and Lily’s college) and particularly Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (star of Netflix comedy ‘Never Have I Ever’, who right here performs an excessively emotional pop star) actually make an affect.
Closing Ideas
(L-R) Mark Harmon as Ryan and Jamie Lee Curtis as Tess Coleman in Disney’s ‘Freakier Friday’. Photograph by Glen Wilson. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
‘Freakier Friday’ is a sequel that doesn’t embarrass the unique, has callbacks that work as greater than merely fan service and may deliver a smile to totally different generations.
It’s additionally that welcome comedy that’s truly humorous and makes good use of its forged.
What’s the story of ‘Freakier Friday’?
The story picks up years after Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Anna (Lindsay Lohan) endured an identification disaster. Anna now has a daughter of her personal and a soon-to-be stepdaughter.
As they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two households merge, Tess and Anna uncover that lightning may certainly strike twice.
Who’s within the forged 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
(L-R) Julia Butters as Harper Coleman, Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman, Jamie Lee Curtis as Tess Coleman and Sophia Hammons as Lily Davies in Disney’s ‘Freakier Friday’. Photograph by Glen Wilson. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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