Freaky Friday

Freaky Friday; fantasy comedy, USA, 2003; D: Mark Waters, S: Lindsay Lohan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Mark Harmon, Harold Gould, Chad Michael Murray, Stephen Tobolowsky

Anna is a normal teenager who has problems with her English grades in school, amateur rock band, problematic younger brother but mostly with her too serious mother, psychiatrist Tess, whom is preparing for an upcoming wedding with Ryan. When Anna and Tess one evening again enter into an argument they get a fortune cookie in a Chinese restaurant, waking up next morning and realizing they have switched their bodies! Tess, in Anna's body, has to write a test in school while Anna, in Tess' body, has to take care of her patients and the wedding. But in the evening they switch their bodies back and return to normal.

Although there are many films about the switching of bodies of two protagonists, the version from 2003 called "Freaky Friday" is one of better contributions. Of course, the movie lacks ambitiousness, master fullness, artistic values, ground-breaking style and so on, but it's simply irresistible, an amusing and accessible story about changing and questioning one's identity that's full of youth spirit and energy, even turning touching without becoming too preachy. After this film, Lindsay Lohan deservedly became a noticed actress, but still, the best role was delivered by the hilarious Jamie Lee Curtis, who simply steals the show with her energy and creativity. It's a simple film, consisting only out of one-note jokes and variations of the basic premise, with a clumsy execution, but a lot of situations are charming, like when Tess - in Anna's body - decides to dress conservatively and change her "wild" hair due, or when Tess (Anna) is in one talk show, in which she should have talked about her book, but suddenly starts acting like a teenager and cheerfully starts giving advice to the audience about "cute guys", which is a real jewel.

Grade:++