Freaky Friday (2003)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Mark Waters

Writers (WGA):

Mary Rodgers (novel)
Heather Hach (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

6 August 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Mondays are manic. Wednesdays are wild. And Fridays are about to get a little freaky.

Plot:

An overworked mother and her daughter do not get along. When they switch bodies, each is forced to adapt to the others life for one freaky Friday.

Plot Keywords:

Restaurant | Generation Gap | Chinese Restaurant | Remake | Widow

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Tess Coleman
Lindsay Lohan	...	Anna Coleman
Mark Harmon	...	Ryan
Harold Gould	...	Grandpa
Chad Michael Murray	...	Jake
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Mr. Bates
Christina Vidal	...	Maddie
Ryan Malgarini	...	Harry Coleman
Haley Hudson	...	Peg
Rosalind Chao	...	Pei-Pei
Lucille Soong	...	Pei-Pei's Mom
Willie Garson	...	Evan
Dina Waters	...	Dottie Robertson
Julie Gonzalo	...	Stacey Hinkhouse
Christina Marie Walter	...	Same Shirt Girl

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements and some language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:G (all jurisdictions) | USA:PG (certificate #39942) | Malaysia:U | South Korea:All | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Philippines:G | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:6 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, California, USA

Company:

Casual Friday Productions

Trivia:

There are various F.o.N. posters in the garage. F.o.N. is the band in which Danny Rubin plays.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tess (in Anna's body) wakes up after the swap, she makes her way out of Anna's room and the door, which was removed the night before, is still there. In subsequent shots, and conversations, it's obvious that the door isn't supposed to be there.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Tess: Honey, wake up.
Anna: No.
Tess: Anna. Greet the day.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Lindsay Lohan/Usher (#29.18)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

I've Got You Under My Skin

T.G.I.F.

This is about the third adaptation of the Mary Rodgers novel. Finally, the team behind this film has gotten it together. It's obvious the original text has been revised in order to include the language of today. But the best thing about the movie is the casting assembled for it, with a sure director's hand behind it.

Actually, this is about the first film that has made me laugh since "Bringing down the house" that came out earlier this year. Most comedies today seem to forget that the basic premise for their existence is to amuse the audiences and entertain them, at the same time.

Mark Waters, the director shows he has a fine sense of how to make things move constantly in this comedy about identity changes. Of course, this film wouldn't be half the fun it is without Jamie Lee Curtis, who has never been as effective in any previous films. Her take on Tess Coleman, the not so cool therapist, strikes the right tone.

Her daughter is played with a lot of conviction by Lindsay Lohan, who is totally believable as the typical teen ager working through the pain of losing a father and getting a replacement she is not too fond of.

Things move at a rapid pace; there is never a dull moment in the film. It's a perfect summer comedy that will leave the viewer satisfied and happy.