Freakier Friday

This weekend, Freakier Friday, the sequel to the popular 2003 film Freaky Friday, was released in theaters. Freakier Friday features a now adult Anna as she and Tess swap bodies with her daughter and future stepdaughter, and must set things right before her wedding. I have only seen the original film once, so I am not as big a fan as a lot of other people are, but I still thought it would be fun to see this concept again.

Thankfully, this movie turned out to be pretty good. Generally, long-awaited comedy sequels do not turn out well, but this was a rare exception. It was fun to see Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis reunite. I like that Lindsay Lohan is getting a bit of a resurgence in her career after her previous legal troubles. Just like in the first movie, the chemistry between the two leads is great. I like that we get to spend more time with them together, playing off of each other. I also like how the movie aged with the audience. The people who grew up with the original can now enjoy what the adult Anna is going through, as it seems more relatable. The movie also does a good job of handling callbacks to the original film. There are a few references to the original film that make for a good joke or satisfying moment, but they don't overdo it in the film like Happy Gilmore 2 does. I thought this movie was very funny, with a lot of moments that made me laugh out loud. I found this movie to be funnier than the original. I also liked the soundtrack of the film. There were a lot of good songs from Hot to Go, Spice Up Your Life, and Hit Me Baby (One More Time). The best way I can describe this film in comparison to the original is that it is the same but different. It captures the essence of the original but doesn't feel like a total rehash. There are enough new elements in it that justify its existence.

The biggest hang-up I had with this movie was that I thought it was a bit odd that the original Anna and Tess were a bit sidelined. The movie focuses on the two daughters trapped inside Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, with Anna and Tess being more of a secondary plot. I feel like they should have been included more in the story instead of just being stuck in detention and then going home.

Overall, this was a fun sequel to an iconic film and shows that sometimes long-awaited sequels can work out.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B Recommendation: Check it out