When I first saw the trailers for this film, I thought to myself — didn’t we get enough of this plot with BIG, 18 AGAIN, VISA VERSA or the original FREAKY FRIDAY? But when Jamie Lee Curtis received good reviews, my interest was piqued. I caught it on cable finally and I was surprised with some of its honest observations.
Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan, HERBIE FULLY LOADED) is a teenager in a rock band and her psychiatrist mother Tess (Curtis, A FISH CALLED WANDA) is about to get remarried to a man named Ryan (Mark Harmon, CHASING LIBERTY). The big conflict comes when Anna’s band has a big audition on the night of Tess’ rehearsal dinner. Neither of them can understand nor imagine the other’s point of view. A magic fortune cookie changes this by having Anna and Tess switch bodies.
This scenario creates a lot of comic opportunities and a way for the characters to literally walk in the other’s shoes for a day. Tess discovering Anna’s life is more emotionally convincing and engaging, but Curtis playing the teenager is the film’s highlight. This is not to say that Lohan is bad. She does a good job of subtly playing her mom without resorting to an easy over-the-top caricature. It’s the performances that truly make the film work.
I also liked the quick editing style of the early part of the film. It was subtle, but created the right tone for the frantic pace of Anna and Tess’ lives. However, the clueless grandfather (Harold Gould, SHAWKSHANK REDEMPTION) was an embarrassment. Senile grandparents are getting old and this one had no purpose except to provide a few stupid jokes at the expense of the aged. In the end, however, it’s a winning family tale that takes a tried and true story and breathes a bit of refreshing life into it.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
