Freakier Friday
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (out of 5 stars)
Over the years, there have been certain franchises that fall into the familial guilty pleasures category, and Freaky Friday is one of those examples. For those who can remember the 1976 version starring Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris, there was no surprise that the Disney machine would bring it back to life for a new generation. In 2003, Mary Rodgers' novel was given a modern spin with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in the title roles.
As both actresses have experienced different career trajectories, there was some surprise when the House of Mouse announced the sequel after two decades with an Academy Award-winner in one of the lead roles. Still, Anna (Lohan) and Tess (Curtis) are back in new roles as mother and grandmother to the passionate surfer and high schooler, Harper (Julia Butters), who isn't too thrilled with the prospect of her mother getting remarried. Especially when Anna's fiancé, Eric (Manny Jacinto), is the father of the teen's arch-rival, Lily (Sophia Hammons). As tensions rise, things come to a head at the bachelorette party when a psychic gives the four women palm readings that will cause their lives to intersect in less-than-surprising ways. The following morning, each must adapt to their new bodies and lifestyles while also figuring out how to reverse the incantation for the betterment of all involved.
As the crowd laughed through the predictable situations that unfold on screen, audiences benefited from the ludicrous concepts that are expected from this series. The central cast gives the impression that they are enjoying filling the shoes of these alter-egos and revisiting this world of living in someone else's shoes for a day. Director Nisha Ganatra has a track record of making films that delve into the unique connection between women and allow her actors to embrace the story with convincing enthusiasm. A movie that doesn't break any new ground has much to say about society. Still, it merely entertains its audience with laughs, relationships, and touches on enough reality to pull fans back into this mystical storyline one more time.
Freakier Friday delivers a Disney-like adventure that will provide generations of women a means of laughing at the aging process, family dynamics and how some things don’t change as the years go on. To hear the women of our family laughing together and talking about how this story is surprisingly reflective of their lives was priceless and worth getting freaky once again.
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Reel Dialogue: The power of familial love
What the Freaky Friday franchise offers to audiences is the value of families, in the best and worst of times. Amongst the comedy and farcical scenarios of the body swap concept, there is an underlying love between these women. And it demonstrates so clearly the importance of loving families. Whether they be biological, blended or circumstantial, those whom we come to call family should be those who care, love, support, and provide for us.
To look beyond the biological side of family, it is good to remember that those who share a faith in Christ are adopted into a family. We get to call God our Father and Christ our brother. We get to share together as brothers and sisters in Christ, enjoying love and compassion. We love those in our family, because the head of the family, God, first loved us.
No body swapping is needed; simply open the pages of the Bible to read about this familial bond that cannot be broken.
