Disney Family Favorite - 2003 Remake of “Freaky Friday”

In a few weeks I will be checking out the upcoming long-awaited sequel to the 2003 remake of “Freaky Friday” - “Freakier Friday” (which starts at the Dietrich on Aug. 8). So, with the sequel coming out soon, I wanted to revisit the 2003 remake that I haven’t seen in some time.

Tess Coleman and her teenage daughter Anna couldn’t be more different, and it’s driving them both insane. After receiving cryptic fortunes at a Chinese restaurant, the two wake up the next day to discover that they have somehow switched bodies.

Unable to switch back, they are forced to masquerade as one another until a solution can be found. In the process, they develop a new sense of respect and understanding for one another.

The 2003 “Freaky Friday” movie is a great movie to see with the entire family. This remake delivers a good amount of laughs and a great story about a mother-daughter relationship that will eventually get closer.

The comedic timing and on-screen chemistry between Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan as the two leads is a major strength of the remake. While their moments together are highly entertaining, it’s the scenes where the characters have to go through each other’s lives after the body swap is where the laughs really come into play.

Throughout the movie, we see how Anna (as Tess) tries to go through her mom’s life at her workplace (Tess is a therapist) and her upcoming wedding. And, seeing Tess (as Anna) struggle with the challenges of high school which leads to funny, yet awkward situations as she tries to navigate a world that’s not hers. Let’s just see if their on-screen chemistry is still the same in “Freakier Friday” in a few weeks.

“Freaky Friday” also has some moments that are generally moving and heart-warming. There’s a moment where Anna (still as Tess) delivers a heartfelt toast at the rehearsal

dinner, accepting her future stepfather, and acknowledging his role in her mother’s happiness.

And, by walking in each other’s shoes, Tess and Anna develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for each other’s lives and perspectives. The experience also transforms their relationship, allowing them to support and value one another.

Trivia: Movie producer Andrew Gunn said he initially hoped Jodie Foster, who played the daughter in the original “Freaky Friday,” would be game to play the mother in the remake. Foster declined, in part because of concerns that the casting stunt would overshadow the movie’s overall merit. In this remake, the mother and daughter do interact with each other while they are switched, while in the original, this never once happened.

MPA: Rated PG for mild thematic elements and some language  (runtime 97 minutes)

You can stream “Freaky Friday” and the original 1976 film on Disney Plus!