FREAKY FRIDAY

US, 2003, 98 minutes, Colour.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Mark Herman, Harold Gould.
Directed by Mark Walters.

In the mid-70s there was a Disney film, Freaky Friday, with Barbara Harris and a young Jodie Foster as mother and daughter who did not see eye to eye with each other. A bit of hocus pocus and the two change bodies and have to cope with each other's lives - and learn to understand how mother's work and how daughter's work. In the 1980s, there was a spate of this kind of Vice Versa film, but it was mainly about boys changing with their fathers.

Now in the early 21st century, it is time to go back to female exchanges. Hence a remake of Freaky Friday. The first part of the film sets out to convince us that Jamie Lee Curtis, a widowed mother, a psychiatrist who is about to remarry, is proper, has rules in the house, has expectations of her young son and, especially, her loud, angry and rebellious daughter (Lindsay Lohan). It also sets out to convince us how rebellious a daughter can be (depending on whether you are a girl of 15 empathising with the daughter or an adult empathising with the mother).

They certainly do a good job because they are both convincing when the body exchange takes place. Lindsay Lohan, who has been most believable in her rages, now performs demurely as a mother trapped in her daughter's body. Jamie Lee Curtis has the chance to become all ditzy as a 15 year old trying to think, speak and act like an adult (with a great lack of success). Naturally, this gives an opportunity for comic mix-ups which keep us amused. Mark Harmon as the prospective husband spends most of the time bemused by the strange behaviour of what looks (but does not sound) like his wife-to-be.

It is easy to suspend disbelief in what seems impossible and simply enjoy the film and its themes of literally stepping
into someone else's shoes to understand them.

1. The popularity of the original in the 70s? The series of films with the vice-versa experience, parents becoming their children, children becoming their parents? A 21st century variation on the theme?

2. The California settings, lifestyle, families, schools, psychologists?

3. The family situation, the dead father, the mother wanting to remarry, the children and their reaction, the fifteen-year-old daughter and her spirit of rebellion? The strong-minded mother, with her psychological background? The stepfather and his wanting to be accepted on his own terms, his attempts to accept the children?

4. The title, the Chinese magic? The mother in her daughter's body, the daughter in her mother's body? Having to cope?

5. The establishing of the characters, Anna and her resentments, rebellion, angers with her mother, picking on her brother, disdain of her stepfather? The contrast with Tess, her seriousness, trying to cope with her children, with her practice, the preparation for the marriage? The characters sufficiently established so that the actresses could credibly perform in their opposite?

6. The build-up to the dinner at the restaurant, the resentments, the angers, the Chinese proprietor of the restaurant, her mother, the fortune cookies and the formula? The earthquake, the change?

7. Tess, serious, the book, listening to Evan in his session, her ability to deal with her psychiatric patients? Her looking forward to the wedding, to the dinner? Her being upset with Anna, Anna's failures at school, detention, boys, failing English? The request for the rehearsal and her refusal?

8. Anna, age, the loss of her father, picking on her brother? In the car, at school, the clash with Stacey? The encounter with the English teacher, his failing her? Detention? Swapping food with the supervisor? Meeting Jake, attracted? Her girlfriends, the rehearsal, her mother turning off the electricity?

9. Tess and her being in her daughter's body, trying not to act so seriously? The impression of her daughter's body, eating the French fries? Her going to school, the encounter with the English teacher, answering the question about Hamlet, his failing her? Her attempt to be friendly with Stacey and Stacey accusing her of cheating? The altering of her exam paper? The meeting with Jake, his surprise at her behaviour? Her telling off the English teacher, pointing out that he was jealous because of her having rejected him at a dance? Her having to cope with being in second place, the build-up to the wedding rehearsal dinner? Grandfather? Harry? The importance of the rehearsal? At the dinner, her reactions to Ryan? Her having to go to the audition, her not being able to perform, Anna playing in the background and her success? Listening to Anna make the speech, the toasts, selfless love, the role reversals? Each happy to be back as normal?

10. Anna, in her mother's body, Jamie Lee Curtis performing the sullen attitudes of a fifteen-year-old? Trying to pretend to be her mother? The credit card, the dresses, the haircut? Her going to the office, refusing to answer the phone, her dealing with her mother's clients and asking them how they felt? Her outburst against the woman who was reading her daughter's diary? Her meeting with Jake, the discussions about music, shared experiences? Jake thinking he was in love with Tess? Riding on the back of the motorcycle, Ryan seeing her? Her having to confess to her mother about cancelling the catering? Giving permission to go to the audition, playing in the background, success, her awkwardness especially with Ryan and kissing her, her excuses? Her discovering her brother's essay about her? The speech, the toasts, and the transformation?

11. Harry, his mother's care of him, his father's death, antagonism with his sister, the chasings, invading the room? Her reading his essay, the reconciliation?

12. Ryan, a good man, in love with Tess, in the background, trying to cope, his bewilderment with the changed personalities, his urging Anna to go to the audition? The marriage?

13. Grandfather, his deafness, trying to shout over the music practice, his place in the home, supporting the family?

14. The Chinese restaurant, the mother and her changing mother and daughter? Her own daughter's reaction?

15. The English teacher, failing Anna, the reasons for his vindictiveness? Detention and the supervision?

16. Jake, at the school, talking with Anna, his jobs, infatuated with Tess, at the audition, seeing the real Anna?

17. Stacey, the vindictiveness of girls, the sports practice, her being hit on the head, the attempt at reconciliation by Tess, accusing Tess of cheating?

18. The comic possibilities of this kind of vice-versa experience? The importance of being in the other person's shoes, sharing their experiences, learning to cope, learning to understand and appreciate the other person?