Jamie Lee Curtis has openly defended the new film Freakier Friday after it faced strong criticism from some reviewers, including a harsh assessment from Time magazine. On Friday, Curtis expressed her disagreement with the negative review by stating,
SEEMS a TAD HARSH. SOME people LOVE it. Me being one.
The actress’s response highlights her positive view of the movie despite mixed critical opinions.
Controversial Review Challenges the Need for a Sequel
The Time review took a strongly critical stance on the sequel, titled
‘Freakier Friday’ Is Humiliating to Everyone Involved.
Critic Stephanie Zacharek argued that the sequel was unnecessary, noting,
No one, as far as we know, actually asked Disney for a sequel to 2003’s buoyant, surprisingly unsyrupy generation-gap comedy ‘Freaky Friday,’
implying that the original film’s fans did not seek continuation.
However, Jamie Lee Curtis directly challenged this claim in an earlier interview with The Times. She shared that when promoting her other project, Halloween, she was repeatedly asked about the possibility of a new Freaky Friday film, saying,
In every single city I went to, the only movie they asked me about besides ‘Halloween’ was ‘Freaky Friday’ – was there going to be a sequel?
To seize the opportunity, Curtis personally contacted Disney CEO Bob Iger, emphasizing the demand for the sequel.
She recalled telling Iger,
I said: ‘Look, I don’t know if you’re planning on doing [a sequel], but Lindsay is old enough to have a teenager now, and I’m telling you the market for that movie exists.’
Her conversation helped illustrate that a sequel could resonate with contemporary audiences.
Plot and Themes of Freakier Friday
The new movie reunites Jamie Lee Curtis with Lindsay Lohan, reprising their roles from the original 2003 film where mother and daughter swapped bodies. In this follow-up, Lohan’s character is a mother with a teenage child, who also has a stepdaughter that complicates family dynamics. The body-swapping premise returns as the mother, daughter, stepdaughter, and child find themselves swapping identities, creating moments of lighthearted fun.
The film’s storyline combines classic family comedy with themes of empathy and communication, bringing a wholesome message to viewers.
Cultural Impact and Critical Reception
William Bibbiani of TheWrap praised the film’s core message, writing,
There’s a fundamental kindness to the ‘Freaky Friday’ films, a reassuring belief in the importance of empathy and communication,
and added,
Marrying that sentiment to a whimsical wish fulfillment fantasy about being a kid again or, conversely, having all the power of a full-grown adult, is extremely appealing.
This perspective presents the film as more than just entertainment, emphasizing its thoughtful themes.
Freakier Friday is currently screening in theaters, inviting audiences to judge for themselves whether it lives up to the original’s spirit or not.
