I’m no stranger when it comes to falling victim to nostalgia — and “Freakier Friday” is no exception. I’m not exaggerating when I say this is my FAVORITE Disney sequel to exist, even amongst the plethora of ’90s and 2000s comebacks.
“Freakier Friday” revives the original body-swap film, bringing back Anna and Tess Coleman (played by Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis), while adding new characters, Harper Coleman and Lily Reyes (played by Julia Butters and Sophia Hammons). Anna is engaged to Lily’s dad, therefore making Harper and Lily soon-to-be stepsisters.
Lily and her dad are from London, and Lily is eager to return, BUT because of this engagement, Anna and her fiancé have to decide whether to stay in Los Angeles—Harper’s home—or move to London—Lily’s home.
After meeting a janky psychic on the night of Anna’s bachelorette party, we find out Anna switches bodies with her daughter Harper, and Tess with her soon-to-be granddaughter Lily.
What I liked
The reason why this movie works so well 22 years later is that ALL the original actors reprised their roles. So not only do we have my childhood icons Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, we also have Chad Michael Murray as Jake, Mark Harmon as Ryan (Tess’ husband), Ryan Malgarini as Harry Coleman, and the band Pink Slip.
I mean, come on… who wouldn’t want to see Chad’s gorgeous face as Jake? And one of the funniest parts of the movie is that he’s still obsessed with Tess Coleman.
And with the return of Pink Slip, we get to hear the most iconic guitar riff of my childhood and listen to “Take Me Away” AGAIN on the big screen.
There was also a cameo of Elaine Hendrix — Meredith Blake from “The Parent Trap.” Seeing Hendrix and Lohan act together on screen as adults made me tear up a little, thinking about how the last time they acted together, Lohan was only 11 years old.
The plot made sense, and while some characters felt underdeveloped, seeing Anna Coleman succeed in life when we knew her as an angry teenager comforted me. Seeing her be a successful music manager and mom made me feel like I can accomplish my goals.
The emotional elements when the characters come to an understanding of one another (and switch back to their own bodies) felt natural. Because of the chemistry between actresses, it didn’t feel forced or awkward like how some sequels can feel — and I even shed a tear or two.
Obviously, this film isn’t revolutionary, but that’s not the purpose it serves. The hunger for memory, this thirst for nostalgia, is the driving force in this film — and it succeeded in that.
This film feels like a reunion with your childhood friends that you haven’t seen in years. That peaceful feeling of “look how far we’ve come” is what makes me adore this film.
What I didn’t like
I’m not going to lie… throughout the movie, I would get confused about who was in whose body. With two people, it’s not difficult to keep track, but with four people, it was at times too much.
Even though there were four individuals swapping bodies and learning their lessons, the emphasis was on Anna and Harper’s mother/daughter relationship. Because of this, Tess and Lily’s importance took the backseat.
Yes, they were the main characters, but it’s difficult to fully form four individual plots that don’t overshadow each other. I would’ve liked to see more of Lily because she is a crucial character, and we weren’t given the time necessary to understand her.
Her storyline had the potential to add another layer of emotional depth, but we simply weren’t given enough time to see her growth. If the film had balanced the four swaps more evenly, it might have felt more cohesive.
The verdict
While this film may seem like it’s not life changing to some, for those of us who grew up watching “Freaky Friday,” we understand the importance of feeling nostalgia.
Seeing familiar characters flourish and grow means we can have success in our own lives, and that ultimately, everything has a way of working out.
I’m rating “Freakier Friday” a 4 ½ out of five stars, and if you’re anything like me, wanting to reminisce on childhood favorites, this is the “ULTIMATE” option to “TAKE YOU AWAY.”
