In Hollywood’s never-ending pursuit to revamp 90s and 2000s IP for nostalgia points, it was inevitable that a sequel to the cultural phenomenon Freaky Friday (2003) would be next for mining. Enter Freakier Friday, a sequel that comes over 20 years after the fact, which attempts to capture the simultaneously funny and heartfelt charm that carried the original to mixed results.

Both Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis haven’t lost a beat with their excellent performances and truly capture the energy of being a mind trapped in a different body 20 years later. The film also manages a surprisingly sweet message about the found family between two new stepsisters, Harper (Julia Butters) and Lily (Sophia Hammons), that keeps the story from being lifeless. 

Unfortunately, the film falters within its hit-or-miss generational gap humor, occasionally lazy nostalgia plays, and a deeply flat cinematic look and direction. So while this legacy sequel has enough to satisfy mega fans and be a cut above lazier nostalgia plays, it isn’t quite enough to save it from mediocrity.

Freakier Friday takes place years after the original, where Anna (Lohan) is now a single mother and music producer looking after her rebellious teen daughter Harper (Butters), who’s beefing with a new rival (and soon-to-be stepsister) at her school, Lily Reyes (Hammons). When Anna meets the love of her life, Eric Reyes (Manny Jacinto), her family (Harper and her mother Tess) and Eric’s family merge along with a myriad of challenges, especially between Harper and Lily. 

However, once Anna, Tess (Curtis), Harper, and Lily have their palms read by the same fortune teller (Vanessa Bayer), lightning strikes again, and Anna and Tess switch with Harper and Lily. Now the four of them must come together to learn yet another lesson that will serve them before Anna’s wedding to Eric.

Credit where it’s due, Lohan and Curtis still provide a great amount of fun as teenagers in the bodies of two adults, and it’s certainly where the film works best with its cross-generational appeal. A case where both actresses are totally game for anything physically and within mannerisms to convey the feeling of being so much younger without coming across as cringeworthy. Whether it’s trying to flirt with Jake (Chad Michael Murray) or having more full-on fashion sequences and old people jokes, both of them haven’t lost their charm, elevating jokes that would be much weaker without these performances. 

On the flipside, however, Butters and Hammons get very little to do as the older Anna and Tess, and they’re more placeholders as Lohan and Curtis’ performances are more central to the story’s core. It’s to the point that four people switching rather than two is unnecessary. It’s clear that the film revolves around Harper and Lily learning to like one another while in different bodies, so Anna and Tess’ body-switching isn’t explored to the fullest extent.

While the film walks a fine line between too many callbacks and parallels to the original film, it strikes a balance that is just enough distance for both nostalgia lovers and a new generation to enjoy. Characters from the original return, including Pei-Pei (Rosalind Chao), Mr. Bates (Stephen Tobolowsky), and the aforementioned Jake (Murray), but never in the way of in-your-face “remember this” cameos, and rather as characters that are just a part of the world of these movies, which is appreciated.

The film has more problems lying in its weak direction. Director Nisha Ganatra unfortunately creates a flat and drab-looking feature, which is all the more jarring considering the kinetic energy that was present in the original. This often undercuts the well-written screenplay and well-delivered bits of humor by the actors. At times, there’s not much visually that’s different from any Disney Channel original movie, which some might not mind. However, this, alongside the choppy editing, does the film no favors in terms of its pacing, as it’s almost 30 minutes longer than the first film.

So while Freakier Friday is well-intentioned, has some heartwarming familial messaging, and may appease some who are just looking for some breezy fun, it lacks the sharp look and fresh wit that made the first film so beloved. It’s somewhat of a better quality than previous hastily stitched together Disney nostalgia cash grabs, but not enough to subtract from the overall middling experience of watching it. 

Review Courtesy of Joshua Mbonu

Feature Image Credit to Walt Disney Pictures via Empire Online