Freakier Friday (2025) Review!!

Synopsis – Years after Tess and Anna endured an identity crisis, Anna now has a daughter and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might strike twice.

My Take – Released at the height of Lindsay Lohan‘s popularity, Freaky Friday (2003), the third film adaptation of the 1972 novel of the same name by Mary Rodgers, worked well enough as a sweet and silly teen comedy with a big heart and good original songs.

Add to that the chemistry between the then-teenage Lohan and the parental Jamie Lee Curtis, especially with her knack for physical comedy, the outrageous body-swapping premise ensured that the fantasy comedy won over many new fans over the past decades.

Now going with the ongoing trend, the sparky partnership has reunited 22 years later and in the hands of director Nisha Ganatra (The High Note), the follow-up is successful in recreating the spirit of the original. In fact, it is more than a nostalgia-fueled sequel.

Written by Jordan Weiss (Sweethearts), it’s a warm, cleverly made family film that mines plenty of humor and heartfelt moments from the generational divide, while sprinkling in a few genuine tear-jerkers along the way.

Sure, it doesn’t break any ground, but there is simply so much fun to re-watch Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan‘s timeless dynamic. Resulting once again in a crowd-pleaser filled with humor, heart, and a touch of magic. A sequel that can comfortably sit side-by-side with the original as a delightful piece of family entertainment.

Set twenty-two years after their bodies had swapped, the story once again follows Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) and her psychiatrist mother Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis). Anna is now a busy music producer and single mom to a tomboyish teenage daughter, Harper (Julia Butters), who she co-parents with Tess, who is now in her podcaster era.

Unknown to them, Harper is having trouble at school with Lily (Sophia Hammons), a new British exchange student, as the two are struggling to get along. And to make matters worse for them, following a meeting at their principal’s office, Anna begins dating Lily’s single dad, Eric (Manny Jacinto), which six months later results in a marriage announcement. Much to the dismay of Lily and Harper.

In a twist of fate, at Anna’s bachelorette party, following an encounter with a quirky medium (Vanessa Bayer), the four woman wake up the next day to find their bodies swapped with each other. As Anna and Tess freak out about how the girls are going to handle their responsibilities, the girls plot to break up their parents so they don’t have to live under the same roof.

As a proper sequel should, the film does up the ante compared to its predecessor. By having four characters swap bodies rather than just two, there are more arcs to be had and additional perspectives to explore. In that sense, the film succeeds at offering audiences something new while keeping the original spirit. Jordan Weiss’ screenplay keeps things moving without dragging or rushing. Every character gets enough screen time and material to feel fleshed out, even for newcomers to the franchise.

The comedy stays family-friendly without tipping into cringe territory, and the sincerity in how it approaches its themes makes the emotional moments land. The narrative skillfully explores the generational misunderstandings between parents and teens, ultimately transforming them into moments of empathy and love.

Tropes like an outfit-changing montage, which in other films might feel tired, are delightful here, especially with Lily’s love of fashion driving Tess’ pink sunglasses and safety-pin-adorned jackets.

At the same time, the film deserves praise for how it incorporates callbacks to the original film too. The return of Chad Michael Murray’s biker love interest Jake creates one of the film’s funniest scenes, as Lily’s Tess whispers flirting tips to Harper’s Anna, resulting in a dazzling showcase of Lohan’s slapstick sensibilities.

Even characters such as Stephen Tobolowsky‘s Mr. Bates reappear, and part of the fun is how they have (or haven’t) changed in the interim, and they’re all featured in an organic way to the narrative.

What keeps the film from feeling exhaustive, though, is that it has some genuine heart. There are a few familial moments of bonding and reaching understandings that have genuine emotion. Sure, a few scenes pull on heartstrings or feel a bit convenient, but it works for what it is.

Performance wise, Lindsay Lohan marks a delightful return to the screen. Not just exercising her comedic chops again, but singing and expressing emotional range. Jamie Lee Curtis, on the other hand, tops her performance from the first film, leaning headfirst into wild physical comedy and doing some serious emotional heavy lifting for the Lily character.

Julia Butters, whose talent has been evident since her scene-stealing work in Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood (2019), turns in another fully fleshed-out performance. Sophia Hammons as the posh, snobby Lily, is equally great, and the two of them do a wonderfully subtle job of embodying the adults.

Manny Jacinto, despite being saddled with a baffling British accent, brings sincere warmth to his role. In supporting roles, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Haley Hudson, Lucille Soong, Mark Harmon, Rosalind Chao, Vanessa Bayer, Sophia Hammons and Christina Vidal are good. On the whole, ‘Freakier Friday‘ is a fun sequel that manages to touch heart as much as it manages to tickle the funny bone.