On Aug. 8, the sequel to the popular movie Freaky Friday premiered.  Titled Freakier Friday, the movie features Lindsay Lohan reprising her role as Anna and Jamie Lee Curtis reprising her role as Tess, Anna’s mother.  The movie is set around two decades after the first one, and features Anna attempting to help her daughter, played by Julia Butters, get used to their new family, and future step-daughter, played by Sophia Hammons, become accustomed to a new life together. 

The movie follows a wedding, just like the previous one.  Anna is getting married to a man from London, an arrangement that neither her nor her fiancé’s daughters are happy about.  The two girls are polar opposites, and neither wish for their parents to become married.  

Like the first movie, the characters switch bodies after meeting with a psychic.  This time around, however, the switch involves four people.  Anna and her daughter, Harper, switch, and Tess and Anna’s future step-daughter, Lily, switch.  After the characters switch into each other’s bodies, the two teenage girls (now in the adults’ bodies) realize they have the perfect opportunity to break up their parents.  Eventually, they realize that their parents truly do love one another, and the wedding goes on and the new family officially reconciles.  

“I watched Freakier Friday in Aug. when it first came out.  I had watched the first one a while ago, and I hoped that they would make another one.  I thought it was so interesting how the movie not only was a great comedy, but also explored family dynamics a bit.  It was also so amazing to see the actors again on camera,” said junior Simone Gordon. 

Nostalgia is a core element of Freakier Friday, which is a huge appeal for its primary audience of Millenials who grew up watching Freaky Friday, and are now similar ages to the original characters.  The film evokes a sense of nostalgia from the 2000s, with the soundtrack featuring Britney Spears and The Spice Girls.  The film even parallels one of Lohan’s first films, The Parent Trap, through Harper and Lily’s scheme to break up their parents.  

However, it also appeals to the Gen Z audience, with a Y2K influence, making the sequel balanced and effective for all generations. The movie also speaks at times to today’s generation.  This movie is not just a sequel to a classic film, but a story about maternal love and family.  Anna and her fiancé Eric are both single parents whose families have joined together, highlighting how family is not just from blood.  The mother-daughter relationship also plays a big role in this movie, as well as some important themes like understanding different perspectives and communication through generations. 

“I saw Freakier Friday recently with my mom, who grew up watching the original film.  I definitely picked up on themes of family and love.  Even though I had never seen the original, the whole movie was really funny, and I was able to understand the characters and plot pretty quickly.  We both loved it, and there was definitely something special about seeing it together,” said junior Siena McGuffin. 

The movie’s ending is rather touching.  In the end, Harper and Lily discover that they really do want to be sisters, and Harper discovers that her mom has been looking out for her all these years, in ways she would have never realized. 

The film is an overarching comedy.  It has enough funny moments to keep things light and entertaining, appealing even to people who have not seen the original film.  However, rare as it may be in a comedy – especially one aimed towards kids – the film tackles themes of understanding and identity.  The family dynamic evolves over the course of the film.  These moments of heart are enough to get viewers to reflect upon their own families. 

“I saw [Freakier Friday] with my family.  It was a really well done comedy, and we all found ourselves laughing throughout.  I enjoyed the movie a lot, and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted and fun flashback,” said Vivienne Gilliar-Smith. 

Freakier Friday is exactly what it should be: a fun, family film with enough emotion for it to resonate.  It is a comedic, feel-good family film with an interesting plot that provides a wholesome, enjoyable experience for all ages.