"Freaky Friday" - Movie Review

Genre:  Comedy

Rating:  PG (for mild thematic elements and some language)

Release Date:  August 6, 2003

Actors:  Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Mark Harmon, Chad Murray, Stephen Tobolowsky

Director:  Mark S. Waters

Special Notes: Originally, Annette Bening was cast as the mother with Tom Selleck as her fiancé, and Kelly Osbourne (MTV's "The Osbournes") had signed on to play the teenage daughter's best friend.

Plot:  Dr. Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) is a widow who's about to get married (Mark Harmon) but wants her fifteen-year-old daughter Anna's (Lindsay Lohan) approval. The two are having problems agreeing on clothes, music and just about everything else. One night the family goes to a restaurant where Anna and Tess are given a fortune cookie. The next thing they know – they've switched bodies. Time is running out as Tess realizes her wedding is approaching and Anna obviously doesn't want to be the bride inside her mother's body.

Good:  I laughed a lot at this movie and had more fun than I thought I would … it's that good! This is a wonderful story full of truths about parenting, adults and teenagers. I enjoyed the dialogue, situations and dilemmas the single mother faces with her two children. Lohan does an impressive job of trying to act mature beyond her years. I enjoyed the scenes that dealt with teen angst, peer pressure, mean friends, wanting to be in a band when mom doesn't approve … and of course the real-life situations, hilarious dialogue and watching Curtis (as the daughter in the mother's body) flirt with the daughter's boyfriend. (It felt very "Demi Moore," but in a funny way.) One thing is abundantly clear about halfway through this movie: this character had to be the most fun and the most freeing in Curtis's career because all she had to do was act younger and be silly. Curtis had a ball (who wouldn't!) when she got to dance, flirt with a boy, wear fun clothes and stick her tongue out at her younger brother and act like a teenager again – all of course in the name of getting back her body. I liked the family values that came together in the end and I really liked the fact that the teenager sees how she's acting, apologizes and supports her mom and her wedding.

Bad:  Several characters have varying degrees of attitude and disrespect for adults. There are mature issues discussed about a step-dad replacing a real dad, remarriage, playing in a band, etc. and some imitative behavior (since they are obviously switching roles). Mild language and a few crude remarks, as well as a few religious exclamations make this PG movie for older kids only and not for little ones because of the adult issues and situations.

Bottom Line:  This is a great movie for parents to see with their kids because both sides will be reminded about what it takes to walk in the other person's shoes for a while. Parents, this movie will remind you of what you like best about your kids and how it's important to try to recognize and understand your child's best qualities, hopes and dreams.

Originally published August 07, 2003.