Freaky Friday

Review by Clint Morris

When Disney starts doing it, you know it's obvious the remake trend is here to stay.

But don't go writing the reorganised retooling of Freaky Friday off just yet.

Some thing's might be better left alone, but then others - as this gem shows - can always do with a nice new coat and polish.

For anyone who saw the 1976 original starring Jodie Foster, the plot's largely unchanged. A squabbling mother (Jamie Lee Curtis) and daughter (Lindsay Lohan) magically switch bodies for a day and see how each other live.

Suddenly, Mum has to deal with highschool all over again - as well as a bully, budding boyfriend and spiteful teacher. And daughter has to step into Mum's shoes, juggling work with home - and an impending marriage.

For a film that had so much trouble in pre-production [first Annette Bening left, only to be replaced by Jamie Lee Curtis, then Tom Selleck was informed he'd now be played by Mark Harmon, and finally, Kelly Osbourne exited a supporting part at the last minute], Freaky Friday is not only very good, it's a pleasant surprise.

Everything runs so smooth; you'd think an angel sat on the production's shoulders from the time the "record" button was pressed on the camera.

What films like these need to work are lead performers that click and, fortunately, Curtis and Lohan do. Curtis is obviously having fun here, and not for a moment do we think she's not a teenager caught in an older woman's body.

Strumming on a guitar, crowd surfacing, teasing younger brother - she's as credible as an annoying sister. She is that good. As is Lindsay Lohan [who you may remember from Disney's remake of The Parent Trap a couple of years back], she's just splendid. Seamlessly moving from playing a teenager to an adult, it's scary just how fantastic she actually is: Her 'informal' speaking tone is the icing on the cake.

A fantastic script that's high on laughs, while keeping sentimentally to a minimum, is probably the standout star here though. There are so many highlights on offer here that I challenge anyone to treat the family to a better time this month.

3.5 out of 5

Freaky Friday
Australian release: Thursday September 25th
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Mark Harmon, Chad Murray, Harold Gould, Stephen Tobolowsky, Ryan Malgarini.
Director: Mark S. Walters.
Website: Click here

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