Some films succeed on charm and star power alone. They rally audiences with beloved actors and a heartwarming, feel-good message, and that combination is often enough to carry a project to success. The challenge arises when studios assume that the film’s triumph came from narrative strength rather than the perfect alignment of casting, tone, and nostalgia—and greenlight a sequel under that assumption. It’s a risky move, especially when the formula remains unchanged. Without something fresh or distinctive, a sequel becomes a gamble, leaving audiences—and studios—questioning how far star power can truly carry a film. “Freakier Friday” is a prime example of this dynamic.
A Trope That Never Gets Old
“Freakier Friday,” the 2025 follow-up to the early-2000s hit “Freaky Friday,” reunites Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan—two performers who radiate pure nostalgia and whose contributions to Hollywood are unforgettable. Putting them back on the marquee practically guaranteed audience curiosity. And in many ways, it worked. The original film hinged on a familiar but beloved concept: the literal “walk in another’s shoes,” a body-swap storyline that Hollywood has returned to time and again with successful results. Films like “The Shaggy Dog,” “Trading Places,” “The Change-Up,” “Face/Off,” and “The Parent Trap” all prove the enduring appeal of this trope. Pairing a classic theme with two major stars was no doubt a recipe for success. As Collider notes,
“Freaky Friday generated $160 million at the global box office and received numerous accolades, such as nominations for ‘Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy’ at the Golden Globes and more.”
Non-Reversals of Plot
“Freakier Friday” pushes the story into the future. Anna (Lohan) now has a teenage daughter, Harper, while Tess (Curtis) has stepped into her new role as “Glam-ma.” Anna has enjoyed a successful music career and now mentors her own rising artist. Harper, meanwhile, is firmly in that classic teenage phase where rebellion is practically a hobby. It’s an incident at school that kicks off the film’s central conflict.
Anna is called in after a science-lab mishap fueled by simmering tension between Harper and her lab partner, Lily Reyes. Fate intervenes when Anna meets Lily’s father, Eric—sparking an instant connection and opening a door in Anna’s life she didn’t realize she’d been waiting for. What follows is a whirlwind journey toward their upcoming wedding. But there’s a catch: Lily and Anna have a frenemy dynamic that quickly becomes the biggest threat to the couple’s happiness. As chaos unfolds, it takes a little magical intervention—and one more body-swap twist—for everyone to finally understand how much they mean to one another, both individually and as a family.
A Charming, If Unoriginal, Return to Form
Like its predecessor, this sequel aims to deliver feel-good, family-friendly fun. Curtis and Lohan remain effortlessly charismatic, seemingly ageless, and fully in command of their signature personas. On that front, the film succeeds. But the plot itself is essentially a reheated version of the original; only this time the “switch” is doubled. Instead of adding novelty, the extra layer sometimes creates confusion, making the story feel unnecessarily complicated and, at moments, borderline cringeworthy. Still, the filmmakers manage to soften the more awkward beats, and the movie ends exactly as viewers would expect—nothing groundbreaking, but satisfying enough. At times, Curtis seems particularly intent on commanding the screen, amplifying her performance to the point of being undeniably scene-stealing.
Even with its flaws, “Freakier Friday” fulfills its purpose: it may not innovate or elevate the concept, but it sends audiences out the door feeling lighter than when they arrived. That is the sole purpose. As Curtis shared with Deadline,
“Usually in times of turmoil and strife, you cling to something familiar, something safe—comfort food. And I think “Freakier Friday” is cinema comfort food.”
Uncut Diamonds 