Freaky Friday (2003)

"Freaky Friday" - Turnabout is Fun Play
by Homer Yen
(c) 2003

Okay, admit it. When you were in your teens, the lives of your parents either baffled you, annoyed you, or both. They wore drab clothing, imposed unrealistic rules, and were an embarrassment to you when your friends were around. What is up with these strange creatures we call parents?

Ironically, when we finally grow up and have kids of our own, we might be appalled at the clothes they wear, the people they like, and their eclectic interests. To have a kid understand the adult world and an adult understand the kid world, you'd almost have to have an out-of-body experience and switch places.

In the family-friendly and very funny "Freaky Friday," this is exactly what happens. A busy mother, Dr. Tess (Jamie Lee Curits), and her rebellious teenage daughter, Anna (Lindsay Lohan), are having a heated disagreement over their current priorities. The mother, recently widowed, has met the very nice Ryan (Mark Harmon) and wants to marry him over her daughter's objections. Meanwhile, Anna is discreetly trying to enjoy herself, which includes fawning over the nice-on-the-inside-but-grungy-on-the-outside Jake (Chad Murray) and playing guitar for her garage band. Anna believes that neither activity would meet the approval of her mom.

Then, something unexplained happens that puts both of them on a crash course into each other's lives. Tess and Anna become cursed. And when they wake up the next morning, they awake inside each other's bodies.

Body switch films always have good intentions, as it allows one generation to peek into another. It also let's actors that possess a youthful exuberance to let loose and to giddily act like the kids they once were. This film excels in both areas. It gives a chance for an adult to appreciate the tastes of today's teen. Meanwhile, the daughter can start to understand the choices that parents must make, whose logic frequently allude younger minds, but usually winds up being in their best interest. Both Tess and Anna become hipper and wiser as a result. It is a smart comedy with fun dialogue, a crisp pace, and an intelligent lesson learned.

Yet, in addition to what each one learns about the other, you can imagine the havoc that each one encounters. Anna-in-mom's-body must handhold psychiatric patients in need of guidance, negotiate her way through an on-air television interview, and plan for a wedding that she doesn't want. Meawhile, Tess-in-daughter's-body endures incompetent teachers, backstabbing classmates, and a horrifying on-stage performance with the garage band during a House of Blues competition. The comedic situations are virtually non-stop and will put a smile on your face.

Also deserving of enormous credit is the wonderful performance of Jamie Lee Curtis who lets it all hang out. With this exuberant performance, she revitalizes her career and the summer comedy movie season along with it. Although she will probably be overlooked during Oscar season, if nothing else, give her a Teen Choice award, please! This offering is truly a gem of a film. Thanks to clever writing, an unexpected dimension of charm, and inspired performances, "Freaky Friday" is probably the best comedy of the year.

Grade: B+

S:        1 out of 3
L:        0 out of 3
V:        1 out of 3

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X-RAMR-ID: 35605
X-Language: en
X-RT-ReviewID: 1192814
X-RT-TitleID: 1124788
X-RT-AuthorID: 1370
X-RT-RatingText: B+