Years after Tess and Anna endured an identity crisis, Anna now has a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge, Tes...
More than 20 years after Disney’s 2003 hit “Freaky Friday” hit theaters, the sequel “Freakier Friday” returns with another round of body-swapping mayhem. This time around, the cast is familiar (and older), and the story brings a lot more characters, a lot more confusion, and way less to love. This is a movie that’s not quite good enough to be opened in theaters and would’ve probably been a better fit as a direct-to-streaming release on Disney+, but it’s still quite nice to see a female-centered, family-friendly romp.
The film picks back up with Anna (Lindsay Lohan), now a single mom to a rebellious teenage daughter Harper (Julia Butters). Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) is still a loving and constant presence in their lives, and she is thrilled when Anna announces that she’s going to marry her new boyfriend Eric (Manny Jacinto), single dad to Harper’s classmate Lily (Sophia Hammons). Surfer tomboy Harper and hip fashionista Lily are as different as night and day and obviously don’t get along. But when a mysterious event causes all four of the women to switch bodies, another magical identity crisis occurs. But breaking the spell won’t be so easy this time, especially as Harper and Lily scheme to break up their parents’ nuptials.
The movie wants to be sweet and meaningful about blended families and the pain of growing up, and it mostly succeeds. There’s some truly heartfelt messaging about how finding your family isn’t easy, the value of communication and empathy, and positive themes about moving forward after heartbreak and grief. The film never feels preachy and its sincerity is genuine and touching. Unfortunately, most of the movie is kind of a mess, and the plot is clunky and forced.
The first thirty minutes are particularly painful, and the film continuously suffers from lazy storytelling. The jokes fall flat with tired, clichéd observations about aging, women’s bodies, and getting older than actual comedic writing. A pointless fashion montage and underwhelming musical performances stretch the runtime without adding much value. The humor leans heavily on broad, low-effort punchlines rather than clever writing or original setups. And the body-swapping gimmick, which worked great when it was just two people, gets way too chaotic when it’s suddenly four. It’s hard to follow who’s who, and the whole thing ends up feeling more confusing than funny.
Even worse, no one seems to have really thought through the weirdness of a teenage daughter waking up in her mom’s body right before her mom’s wedding. The idea of a teen interacting with her mother’s fiancé as her mother is more than a little creepy. It’s an “ick” factor that the movie shrugs off like it’s no big deal, but it proves to be an awkward stumbling block that’s hard to ignore.
The one saving grace here is Curtis, who continues to prove that she is an actor at the top of her game. She’s an absolute joy, carrying the movie with her signature mix of sharp comedic timing and genuine heart. She’s effortlessly funny and believable in every scene, elevating even the laziest material with her charm. Curtis is the reason to watch this movie and without her, it would likely be a total flop.
Despite the positive messaging and a few sweet, feel-good moments, “Freakier Friday” is weighed down by its uninspired humor and convoluted script. The idea is a fun one, but this sequel is more exhausting than enjoyable.
