Barnes & Noble

Based on Mary Rogers's popular book and filmed twice previously for Disney, Freaky Friday underscores the need for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to take its cue from the Golden Globes and recognize performances in a comedy. Jamie Lee Curtis brings all her exuberance to her liberating role as Tess, a stressed-out single mom juggling her psychiatric practice, the promotion of her new book, her impending wedding, and her two children -- her mischievous son, Jake, and 15-year-old garage rocker, Anna (Lindsay Lohan of The Parent Trap). Tess does not appreciate Anna's musical aspirations, while Anna resents her soon-to-be stepdad (Mark Harmon). One fateful night at a Chinese restaurant, the hostess notices them arguing and gives each a very special fortune cookie with a cryptic fortune. The next morning, Tess and Anna awake in each other's bodies and must learn respect for the other’s perspective in order to break the spell. Lohan hits all the right notes playing a buttoned-up adult in teen clothing. But Curtis, whether fending off one of Anna's classmates with a "Stacy's Mom" crush, or rocking out backstage during her daughter's concert audition, hasn't been this funny onscreen since A Fish Called Wanda. Not for mothers and daughters only, the smart and satisfying Freaky Friday is both one of 2003's surprise box office hits and one of the year's best live-action family films. And while some may fondly recall the 1976 version starring Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris, or even the 1995 TV version featuring Shelley Long and Gaby Hoffman, it’s clear that the third time’s the charm with this material. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

A high-strung mom and her punky daughter learn what it's like to walk in each other's shoes -- literally -- in Disney's second update of their 1977 teen fantasy comedy. The new-millennium Freaky Friday has disgruntled teen Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) living, sans father, with her uptight therapist-author mom Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and bratty brother Harry (Ryan Malgarini). The angst between the two reaches a fever pitch on the eve of Tess' wedding rehearsal: Anna wants to ditch the proceedings for an all-important band audition, but Tess sees the conflict as a show of resentment toward imminent step-dad Ryan (Mark Harmon). When the whole clan goes out to dinner at their favorite Chinese restaurant, their sage waitress (Lucille Soong) picks up on the tension between the mother and daughter and casts a spell on them via two magic fortune cookies. The next day, Tess and Anna must put up with life in each other's bodies -- until, as the fortune says, they can come to a greater understanding of one another. Freaky Friday was previously remade for TV in 1995 with Shelley Long and Gaby Hoffman in the leads. Michael Hastings

Product Details

• UPC: 786936225280
• Source: WALT DISNEY VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1), Theatre Wide-Screen (1.85.1)
• Presentation: Pan & Scan, Wide Screen
• Sound: THX-Supervised Mastering, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Time: 1:37:00
• Sales Rank: 2,248

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Freaky Friday

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