“Freakier Friday” is the heart-warming sequel to the 2003 comedy “Freaky Friday.” It debuted in theaters in August and is directed by Nisha Ganatra, who has previously directed numerous TV shows such as “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” I loved watching this movie in theaters. The nostalgia of the movie is part of what drew me to it and made the movie such a great experience.
It begins with Anna Coleman, now all grown up, who is a single mom to Harper Coleman. Harper, a rebellious teenager, has a strained relationship with her mother and also has a passion for surfing, as they live in California.
The sequel is similar in the way that it mirrors Anna and Tess’ relationship with the one Anna now shares with her daughter Harper. Tess, the mother of Anna and grandmother of Harper, devotes her time to helping Anna raise her daughter. She says in the movie that when Anna decided to become a single mother, she promised that she would fully support her. While the sentiment is pure, this is a central point of conflict in the movie. Tess is overbearing and sometimes undermines Anna as a mother.
When Harper goes to school at the beginning of the movie, it is established that her enemy is a girl from Britain named Lily. In short, they start a food fight and get in trouble. Because of this, their parents met and hit it off immediately. A few months later, they announced that they are getting married. This means Harper and Lily are going to be stepsisters.
Similar to the original, the movie explores themes of blended family dynamics and mother-daughter relationships. However, unlike the first movie, it’s now these soon-to-be stepsisters who are given a cryptic message before they switch bodies that basically tells them they need to understand each other in order to switch back to their regular selves. Also in contrast to the first movie, the switch is performed at Anna’s bachelorette party by a sketchy psychic who operates out of a back room.
When they wake up the next day, Anna and Harper have switched bodies, and Tess and Lily have swapped too. Now they have to navigate each other’s everyday lives, with Harper going to work and wedding planning as Anna, and Lily tagging along as Tess.
Part of what makes the movie good is, of course, the nostalgia. The original “Freaky Friday” was a childhood favorite of mine, so when I saw the trailer, I knew immediately that I had to see it. It did not disappoint.
What also makes the movie such a hit is its cast members. The cast is filled with classic stars of the 2000s, most notably Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. There are also appearances from two SNL stars, former member Vanessa Bayer and current member Chloe Fineman.
The movie is candidly funny and lighthearted, while also meaningful. The theater was filled with the laughter of all age groups. By the end, you’re left with a strong message of the importance of family and mother-daughter relationships. Most of the time, sequels that are redone years later feel forced and reheated, but “Freakier Friday” is different. It’s the same rough outline, but with new, dynamic characters and a fresh story. Overall, it is the perfect sequel that anyone could’ve asked for.
