Freakier Friday - 6.8./10

Jadd J.A.D.D. Jadd

I watched the original back in 2003 when I was eight years old. I rewatched it afterwards. It's very much a period of its time, very early 2000s. Which means it's very much a product of its time, including the slang and offensive stereotypes of the Chinese. I mean, yikes. This movie and Mean Girls are nostalgic and part of many childhoods. This movie will evoke a nostalgic feeling and appeal to a new generation. I know that when I get older, it won't matter that there's a generational gap between the 2000s and now. With all the slang and innuendo across all genders, the angsty, woe-is-me teenager is pretty annoying, across the board, of all genders in the angsty phase. I understand everyone goes through it, or maybe I don't understand because I'm 30 and to some that's old.

Lindsay Lohan is making her resurgence as she delivers flair and charm to her role. Jamie Lee Curtis is having fun, and it's affections. Their relationship in the original and the sequel feels believable and bonded in love. Julia Butters and Sophia Hammons are excellent in their roles, particularly as they play with the swapped bodies. Manny Jacinto is charming and charismatic with a convincing British accent. I haven't seen Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in anything before, but she is also crushing it in her role. Chad Michael Murray and Mark Harmon come back to recurring roles, and they are also good. Not every single actor phones it in and has fun.

It's a very predictable movie, which works for movies like this, and that's not a bad thing: as long as the characters are likable, which it succeeds at. Instead of two, these four bodies get switched, and it can get confusing about who's who. The original movie effectively balanced comedy and dramatic moments. Here, it feels somewhat uneven and like two different movies; it doesn't quite come together.

I enjoyed it, and it was a nice, heartfelt entertainment. This movie is perfect for mothers, daughters, families, and the generation that grew up with it.