| FREAKY FRIDAY |
 2003 - USADirector: Mark S. Waters -Reviewed by Vickie
That’s what I kept thinking all through this smart, spirited, updated remake of the 1976 Disney classic based on the book by Mary Rodgers. The body-switcheroo story finds stressed-out psychologist Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) at odds with her 15-year-old daughter, Anna (Lindsay Lohan), over just about everything. Events come to a head when they’re given magical fortune cookies that result in the body swap, forcing each of them to walk in the other’s shoes and live life in a world that isn’t their own. For Tess, it means learning about the trials and tribulations of high-school life in the year 2003, along with the value of rocking out in Anna’s on-the-verge-of-fame garage band. For Anna, it’s trying to juggle parenting, counseling her mom’s patients and planning a wedding... since Tess is preparing to walk down the aisle with her fiancé (Mark Harmon). Going into the intricacies of the plot is pointless, since the wonderful little twists and turns and supporting characters would require more explanation and set up than I’m prepared to write...and likely more than you’re prepared to read. So suffice it to say that honest-to-goodness hilarity—and a good amount of heart—ensues as both Tess and Anna’s eyes are opened to the reality of each other’s lives. Freaky Friday succeeds largely in part to its talented two leads. Suspension of disbelief is absolutely crucial in a movie like this one—you have to believe that Anna and Tess are really inside each other’s bodies. Physicality, cadence and speech patterns have to change, and it all has to be completely authentic. Both Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan *nail* this aspect of their work. I completely bought that Jamie Lee Curtis (who was HILARIOUS!) was, in fact, possessed by the spirit of a teenager—she skillfully played an adult, playing a teenager, playing an adult. Ditto for Lohan, whose age belies the maturity she was able to pull off. And can we talk about the soundtrack for a minute? TOTALLY cool! It’s filled with original music (since Anna’s band performs a few songs in the film) along with covers of classic (and not-so-classic) tunes by some of today’s more obscure acts (Britney Spears’ "(Hit Me) Baby One More Time" as done by Bowling For Soup, anyone?). I plan to own it before this weekend’s out. An additional note: I also loved Anna’s outfits (when she was in her own body, that is)—and I’m well past her age demographic! Appropriately enough, I took my mom to the screening with me and she enjoyed it just as much as I did (although, I don’t think she’s quite as anxious for the soundtrack as I am). Adults and teens were equally entertained, and some members of the audience cheered when it was over. Cheered, people! So, in this week when your other new-release movie-going options run the gamut from the intentionally gross and mature-themed (American Pie) to the unintentionally disgusting and juvenile (Gigli), I say check this one out. It’s guaranteed to slap a smile on your face for all the right reasons. |
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Freakin’ great! It’s freakin’ great!
