That was an excellent one.

Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

I honestly barely remember the 1st movie version but this one is great as Jamie Lee Curtis gives a remarkably good performance. She and Lindsay Lohan are extraordinary and they make this far-fetched fantasy tale of body swapping quite believable. A few people thought that the "fortune-cookie curse" and Asian characters were a bit "stereotypical". As I have said in other reviews before: "It's a fantasy so don't take it too seriously". Yes, this body-switching "gimmick" has been used many times before in several (recent) movies and even in science fiction, such as "Star Trek". Here it also proves to be a powerful fable about cooperation and tolerance between family members. It manages to do all that and still be entertaining too! Very "clean-cut" but it just skirts past the un-nerving possibility that Mom could have had sex while inhabited by her 15-year-old daughter's soul. (It doesn't happen) It also covers the very real truth(s) about cruel "bullying" in high school and biased teachers that treat students unfairly. Both happened to me when I was a "kid". Both Lindsay and Jamie are actually playing the guitar and not faking it! Mark Harmon plays the the fiancé of Jamie. Lindsay is best known for: "Freaky Friday" and "The Parent Trap" remakes, "Herbie Fully Loaded", and "Mean Girls". All of which were made early in her film and music career.

A Friday on which mother and daughter switch bodies is certainly freaky. But you know what is more freaky? A teenage boy falls in love with both mother and daughter in a short time without any confusion! The plot is just unconvincing. Besides, what a pity to see Lindsay Lohan in this movie isn't nice-looking anymore. Personally, I like her in The Parent Trap very much.

There is a certain chemistry between Jamie and Lohan and their clash of generation is rather funny. As Jamie had been also a high grader decades ago (« fog », « Halloween »), this movie is also interesting the evolution of education and it's rather a bad one : clothes, manners, knowledge have become loose ! Actually ; when you see how Lohan dresses to go to school and the kind of music she does, well, it's not very kind, open and charming. I know that teenage means rebellion but emancipation can be light too. However my biggest dislike with this movie lies with its treatment of supernatural. The fact that mother and sister have changed souls and that audience can't discern it visually diminishes the impact. Maybe i am dumb, but every time i saw Jaime inhabited by Lohan's soul, i reacted as if she was Jaime who was still playing (I know it was that actually!). In other words, as I witness always the same body, for me, the person stayed the same. To be clear, as soon as the exchange happened, i would have rather Jaime playing the part of Lohan and vice- versa. This way, the supernatural effect would have been clear and it would have been more funny to see Jaime going to high school with Lohan's look… It's all the more logical that the movie cover makes this choice: Jaime dressed as a punk girl and Lohan as a Lady! I'm sure this kind of subjectivity reality has been done before (maybe in « X-files ») and i'm sure it would have benefit greatly to the movie !

This is one of those movies that had bad timing when it came to its release. An overworked mother and her daughter do not get along. When they switch bodies, each is forced to adapt to the others life for one freaky Friday. I thought this was cute and not bad. All of the fancy characters struggle against a system that has perpetuated falsehoods. From an artistic standpoint, there were some plot elements and character developments I didn't think were totally needed. They do however drive the story, which seemed to be their purpose, so I can accept them. I am not saying the film is a classic, but it was good enough.