Freakier Friday review: Get ready to party like its 2003 all over again

It’s clear that the girls often have disagreements, aggravated by the fact that Anna and Eric are preparing to relocate to London, which is where he’s originally from. As the wedding approaches, a twist occurs when the teenage girls run into a fortune teller (a comedian previously on Saturday Night Live named Vanessa Bayer), who has a variety of small businesses, one of them being printing business cards. Soon after, an exchange happens. Unbeknownst to Anna and Harper, they end up swapping bodies, while Tess and Lily do the same.

The unexpected, eerie revelation is entertaining, particularly with Curtis exclaiming “I’m rotting away!”, but director Nisha Ganatra (The High Note) finds it challenging to strike a balance. Although sequels should provide more thrills and improvements, the attempt to present a four-person body swap, escalating the absurdity of the initial film, is also the movie’s undoing. Frequently, you may find yourself perplexed about which character is portrayed by whom amidst all the turmoil.

In the midst of everything, it’s clear that many men are left in the dark – this includes Anna’s former partner Jake (Chad Michael Murray) and Tess’s husband Ryan (Mark Harmon). It’s no shock, given the focus on the women in this story. Even Anna’s old band, Pink Slips, makes a reappearance. As for recurring characters, Stephen Tobolowsky returns as Elton Bates, Anna’s former teacher who continues to wreak havoc at the school, tormenting a new group of students.

In this story, the Coleman family (including Lily) go through quite a bit of silliness as they all search for one another and rediscover their love for each other. The narrative is enhanced with a catchy soundtrack that includes songs by the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, and others, adding to the nostalgic feel. The setting is bright, cheerful, and reminiscent of the carefree Y2K era, but it doesn’t linger too long.

Written by Jordan Weiss, a newcomer who expertly captures the humor found in intergenerational conflicts within the Freaky Friday series, this movie offers numerous humorous moments, primarily poking fun at Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. For instance, they ridicule Coldplay and Facebook for being outdated. Unfortunately, some jokes, such as Tess’s lips swelling due to certain antics, seem overused from the get-go.

Generally speaking, Freakier Friday is primarily a joyful amusement park ride, orchestrated by the unparalleled Curtis, whose comedic delivery has always been pitch-perfect and that’s evident here as well. Lindsay Lohan also stars, and if this film becomes a success, it could potentially mark a comeback for her career. It won’t revolutionize your perspective – frankly, we don’t necessarily need a ‘Freakiest Friday’ – but considering reunions with nostalgic characters, it offers a satisfactory interaction.