Highly Overrated But Still Good

Good concept, poorly executed.

Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

This is a bright and breezy Disney comedy that works because of the performances by Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris. Teenage Annabel Andrews (Foster) switches bodies with her mother Ellen (Harris) on Friday the 13th.Annabel realises that managing a home is not easy with cooking, cleaning, managing various workmen, doing various chores. Ellen finds out that being a high school kid is no fun. She messes up at the typewriter class, causes chaos at the photography darkroom and the hockey game leaves her bruised.It is a case of understanding each other's lives. Foster does well as the grown up mom inhibits her body, likewise with Harris playing the teenager all at sea at being domesticated.It is all amiable and easygoing which the kids would like then the film steps up a gear with a crazy finish as Annabel gets involved in a batty police chase through the city and Ellen gets involved in a barmy ski sequence.Some of the roles might be too conservative for today's tastes. The mother being the dutiful housewife for example but this was Disney of the 1970s.

This has got to be a top pick for original ideas ever put on film! The movie is very cute - quite comical - and very unique in film (or book) concepts.I've always wanted to do something like this in my life: trade places with someone - even my own mom!! What a great way to find out what the other is really going through everyday of their life. The film also shows as path to self-discovery in a way that is different.The self-discovery aspect of the movie is not quite obvious to some viewers - but it is there. What I mean is, if you really could trade places/bodies with someone like depicted in the film and you find out what the other is going through you will also start to question your own actions and beliefs before the body trade took place (self-discovery)! Example: "Ah now I understand what my mom was saying about this and I acted this way about it - now I have discovered a new way of viewing the situation because I understand my mom's point of view now that I have to be her!" The film also shows how sometimes we think we want to be so-n-so and if you live their life you may not want to be that person at all! Learn to at least like who you are and change what you don't like about yourself instead of wishing you could be someone else.Yes there is actually some pretty good life lessons in this film if you pay close attention to it - while enjoying the comedy in it! 8.5/10

I saw the remake of Freaky Friday first before I ever saw this Freaky Friday, and you might hate me when I say, I didn't know until a year ago that it was a remake, not to mention that it starred an unknown little actress, Jodie Foster. But when I heard, I got excited and wanted to see it immediately since I loved the remake, but I could never find the original at the video store, but finally I came across it yesterday at Hollywood Video. I just watched it this morning and while I enjoyed it, I found the remake to be a little more entertaining, I'll explain in just a minute.Ellen is a house maker and a mom who is constantly on the go and taken for granted, Annabelle is her sloppy disorganized daughter, and they just can't seem to understand each other. But when they are both talking about each other, they say the magic words "I wish she could just be in my shoes for one day", and their bodies switch! Now Ellen has to learn what it is like to be her tomboy sports loving daughter and Annabelle has to learn what a complicated life her mom has with chores, babysitting, cooking, and being in charge of the house with a husband who takes her for granted constantly.Freaky Friday has some good humor and some light laughs here and there, but I think the reason why I enjoyed the remake with Jamie Lee Curtis a little better was because of the times. Today's world is constantly on the go, not to mention I think that kids are a little more rebellious, so the mom and daughter had more to learn from each other in that film. But I would never say shy away from this Freaky Friday because it is a classic and has some good laughs and a good ending.6/10

Disney has this movie released in 1976, and the name of it? "Freaky Friday!!!!!" This is a very original film from the good folks at Disney. Here, for one day, two people happen to switch places!!!!! And thanks to this, many shows (mostly from the Disney properties) often follow the same format on at least one episode!!!!! (such as "8 Simple Rules," etc.)What I like about this movie: It's fun! I mean, with a name like "Freaky Friday," why wouldn't this movie be fun, huh????? Also, I recall seeing this on the old Disney Channel back in 1997, and I've seen the remake on ABC in 1995 (I think), and both movies are great! However, even though I've seen the 2003 edition, that is NOTHING like the 1976 and 1995 versions that Disney has released."Freaky Friday" is a fun classic. Hey, I've written this on a Friday, too! How ironic!!!!!10/10