It seems just like yesterday when a new, body switcharoo movie would come out every weekend. Big (my favorite of the genre), Vice Versa, Like Father, Like Son, 18 Again. Heck, we even had Oh Heavenly Dog, that flick in which Chevy Chase's soul was magically transported into Benji. The bottom line is, that whole gimmick was played out in numerous films of the 70's and 80's.

Freaky Friday is actually a remake of the 70's film starring Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris . The plot here is very simplistic. Jamie Lee Curtis is a work horse mom who hasn't much time to spend with her kids. When she does, she seems downright anal about everything. Curtis is a psychatrist, and the whole gag is that she patches together other people's problems even though she can't even really fix her own. Lindsay Lohan is her high school daughter, a spunky rock n' roller who has a knack for getting into trouble at school. Of course the two can't understand the complications of each other's lives, but are given that chance when their souls are magically switched.

The early goings on of Freaky Friday are quite dull. There's nothing fresh or interesting about the material. In particular, I was very bored by all
the unrealistic stuff going on at Lohan's school. She's constantly picked on by everyone from fellow classmates to a teacher who seems to be motivated by something out of his past. Then there's the high school crush scenario. Lohan is infatuated by a dark and mysterious young man who cruises around town on a motorcycle. Not surprisingly, mom disapproves of such young boys. Of course this is a Disney picture. If it's a realistic portrait of teen angst you want, go see the shocking Thirteen.

The big switch takes place at the worst possible time as Curtis is only a few days away from getting married while Lohan has a big audition coming up for her rock band. I'm probably giving the impression that I didn't care for Freaky Friday that much. Actually, once Curtis and Lohan switch lives, I slowly began to get sucked into the movie. Even though the situations were all pretty familiar, and ultimately quite predictable, I really found myself won over by the
performances of Lohan and Curtis. I didn't feel like I was watching mere impersonations. These two fine actresses do a terrific job discovering what makes each other tick.

Freaky Friday even had the nerve to take a couple of chances. Watching Curtis flirt with young Chad Murray was a hoot, and the final act of the movie is actually quite touching.

Freaky Friday is a Disney movie and it feels as such, and even though I wouldn't rank it amongst the best family films of the summer (I'd give that
honor to Finding Nemo, Whale Rider, or Spy Kids 3-D), it's certainly fun, well-intentioned entertainment. Freaky Friday is really worth watching because of high energy perfornances from Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.

On a sidenote, Jodie Foster got her start doing Disney fare (see the original Freaky Friday and Candleshoe), before moving on to serious acting
business in movies like Taxi Driver. Lohan has Parent Trap and the Freaky Friday remake to her credit. Does this mean Mr. Scorsese will be knocking on her door soon?