I’m all for the Lohanissance. I’m glad Lindsay Lohan is acting again. 1998’s “The Parent Trap”, her on-screen debut, is one of my 10 favorite movies. She had quite a run from ’98 to 2005, including “Life-Size”, “Get a Clue”, “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen”, “Herbie: Fully Loaded” (all for Disney) and “Mean Girls”. But 2003’s “Freaky Friday” isn’t one of the best of her filmography. I re-watched it for the first time in two decades just a few days ago and it confirmed what I remembered: a chaotic, mostly unfunny and unintelligent family comedy.
That, combined with the weak trailers for “Freakier Friday”, made my expectations heading into this long-awaited sequel pretty low. But while it has some problems, I’m pleased to report “Freakier” is better than “Freaky” and much more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be.
Lohan and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis reprise their roles of daughter and mother, Anna and Tess Coleman, who switched their roles to mother and daughter, respectively, in eventful fashion in the first film. This time the switching mix also includes Anna’s daughter Harper (played by Julia Butters) and her schoolmate and possible new stepsister Lily (Sophia Hammons).
The first half-hour of “Freakier Friday” is on par with the original: overstuffed, over the top, flat and messy. Once the switch occurs, this time via Vanessa Bayer’s fortune teller (just one of her many gigs), Jordan Weiss’ script begins to find its way. I give Weiss and director Nisha Ganatra (of the solid “Late Night” and quite good “The High Note”) credit for not just occasionally referencing the previous installment, but mirroring it in smart ways. “Freakier” intentionally follows similar story beats, with parallels, callbacks, cameos and advancements that fans will really like. In that respect — a major component of this experience — this is a very loyal sequel.
In terms of entertainment value, it’s Curtis who delivers some of the biggest laughs, with lines and comedic situations that older moviegoers will especially appreciate. “Freakier Friday” is a rare PG-rated Disney live-action film these days (non-Marvel and non-LucasFilm) that really isn’t for kids. This movie was made for the twentysomethings who grew-up with “Freaky”, their parents and grandparents. Those under the age of 12 might actually be bored with everything except an early schoolyard food fight (the film’s worst scene).
By the third act, we get a legitimate amount of heart, with some honest, moving scenes featuring all of the core cast members… and a nice concert, too. I’m glad Disney gave “Freakier Friday” a theatrical release. It’ll do well on Disney+ down the line, but playing first in theaters is important for a number of reasons, allowing for cinema memories, no matter what day of the week you see it. Rock on!
LCJ GRADE: C+
Running Time: 111 min.