I'm back with a lot of film and television show reviews at the moment, primarily due to the fact that I ended up getting a pretty nasty eye infection from a water fight holiday here in Armenia. This has kept me both bored and stuck inside over the past week as I slowly recover, but it has given me a chance to slow down a little and watch some films again, and I've definitely been missing it. Watching a few newer titles that I've enjoyed, some not so much that I didn't bother reviewing, but also going down the road of nostalgia and watching things I once watched many years ago. And today I'm going to be writing about another one of those titles: Freaky Friday. I'm not sure what made it suddenly come to mind, perhaps in search of a gentle comedy title from the earlier 2000s. And it's a film I don't think I've rewatched in a long, long time. So much of it felt quite fresh to me, as if it was the first time I was watching it. To add to this, there is, from what I recall, a sequel to this film meant to release sometime this year.
One thing you immediately notice here with Freaky Friday isn't the early 2000s aesthetic with uniquely designed phone models, or the music and cd players, rather it is the film's quick introduction and ability to pull the viewer in within its story. Jumping straight into the story and showing the dynamic of stressed-out mother and annoying bratty teenager. Though those aforementioned elements of world building from a bygone era certainly stand out in a film watched today. It is easy to notice and appreciate the culture that was present in the early 2000s, where life almost seemed a bit more simple. And perhaps later down the line as the years have gone by, this has amplified the fun of the film and its story: a time where now one might consider life to have been more appealing, but showcasing the stress of growing up within it. A contrast to what we believe and what would've been the reality: the same fears and anxiety in a lost youth trying to find themselves within a changing landscape where technology is all over the place and beauty standards promoted stronger than ever.
And we are reminded of this situation when the film's main narrative begins to take place: the mother and the daughter magically switched places, into each other's bodies. And through that they realise the horrors of the modern world through a different age. The struggles of a mother and adult to look after their family while climbing the insufferable corporate ladder. The nonsensical anxieties of a teenager struggling to pass themselves through high school where every move is judged by your peers. And witnessing these different aspects of life in each other's bodies from their different eras of growing up, it shows a more empathetic look at how life is for many different people, and that's something we all tend to forget, perhaps more so in this supposed more connected digital era. Where while we may look the same in terms of fashion trends and pop culture references, we're all going through our own fears and struggles. Just not all of them are displayed for all to see.
Despite the themes of Freaky Friday, it's still a solid comedy without looking too deep into things. It shows a time where Hollywood had creativity when it came to telling simple and unique stories. And this film is made quite decently, with a tight script but also fun cinematography. Much of the film looking like it was shot handheld with some shake to it, adding to the chaotic lives these two characters have in each other's bodies. And I think the casting is pretty solid, with Jamie Lee Curtis really pulling off that mother look and attitude, especially with her voice. And then a younger Lindsay Lohan a staple of the era, really pulling off that punk look and rebellious teenager personality. I don't think a film like this would carry the same impact if it were made today for those reasons alone. There just aren't suitable talent in Hollywood for it. Perhaps that's why such films aren't made so much anymore.
And regarding that sequel: I can't say I have much faith in it, though I'm sure it'll be a typical reboot that just carries the same exact story just in a modern setting. As far as I'm concerned, this will remain a standalone film. One that speaks of a different era while still having a solid story to it that speaks on the complexities of our individual lives.