Weekend Box Office: 'Freakier Friday' Squeezes Through with Nostalgic Attractions
In theatres on August 8, the long-awaited sequel to the beloved 2003 film, Freaky Friday, titled Freakier Friday, has hit the screens. This new instalment, starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in their reprised roles, has received mixed-to-positive reviews but faces criticism particularly regarding its overstuffing and uneven execution.
Lindsay Lohan plays Anna Coleman, a solo parent and a music artist manager, while Jamie Lee Curtis takes on the role of Tess Coleman, Anna's step-sister. In a twist of fate, the Coleman family curse causes body swaps among Tess, Anna, Anna's daughter Harper (played by Julia Butters), and Anna's step-niece Lily (Sophia Hammons).
The film's comedy feels stereotypical and overstuffed, with some gags lasting too long. The story progression and pacing felt uneven, with an emphasis on aggressive, demographic-focused comedy that sometimes overshadowed plot development. This led to an imbalance, making the movie feel overstuffed with humor, particularly "ageist jokes" and "over-aggressive comedy," which detracted from the story's flow.
Despite these criticisms, the film boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Manny Jacinto, Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, and the charming Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as the upcoming music artist, Ella, managed by Anna. The audience's initial enthusiasm waned by the film's end, with observations that the energy dropped and the blooper reel was more entertaining than the movie itself, hinting at uneven execution in keeping viewer engagement throughout.
Conversely, positive aspects noted include strong lead performances, especially by Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, nostalgic appeal, entertaining character work, and moments of genuine emotional resonance. Audience scores have been high, reflecting a warm reception overall despite the critiques.
Anna's musical career was with a band named Pinkslip, and the film includes a romantic pairing between Lohan's character and Manny Jacinto's character. However, some characters were considered underused, including Anna and Harper in their teen bodies, played by Julia Butters and Sophia Hammons, respectively. The film also faces criticism for questionable soundtrack choices, including multiple Chappell Roan needle drops.
In summary, Freakier Friday is seen as a fun, family-friendly film with heart and humor, but its overabundance of jokes and flawed narrative pacing led to a sense of overstuffing and uneven execution that tempered its overall impact. Despite these criticisms, it offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane and entertaining performances that may appeal to fans of the original film.
- Gizmodo review of 'Freakier Friday' criticizes the film for its overabundance of jokes and uneven narrative pacing, which led to a sense of overstuffing and detracted from the story's flow.
- Io9-reviews of 'Freakier Friday' praise the strong lead performances of Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, but acknowledge mixed-to-positive reception due to criticism about the film's comedy and pacing.
- Movies-and-TV entertainment sites discuss the future of 'Freakier Friday' sequels and the potential impact on the franchise amidst reports of a divided reception from audiences and critics.
