Freaky Friday (1977)

Now experience all the laughs of the original comedy classic that inspired Disney's hilarious hit remake. Trading places was never so funny, and it could only happen on Friday the 13th! That's when the tomboyish and free-spirited Annabel (Jodie Foster) switches bodies with her straitlaced mother, Ellen (Barbara Harris), and suddenly finds herself responsible for running the entire household. In turn, Ellen, now in her daughter's body, faces the daunting challenges of school, including a typing test, field hockey competition, and much more!

'70's Disney Fun!

It's Friday the 13th, and tomboy thirteen-year-old Anabel Andrews (Jodie Foster) and her more level-headed mother Ellen (Barbara Harris) are at odds again, causing each to wish they were in the other's shoes. Both seem to think the other has it easy, and they soon find out otherwise when their wish comes true and their spirits swap bodies inexplicably! Now in her mother's body, Anabel discovers that Ellen has more to do all day than sit around watching TV and eating junk, and also that her dreamy daddy (John Astin) isn't all he's cracked up to be as a husband. Meanwhile, Ellen learns that Anabel's life isn't all fun and games either, and that the pressures of teenage-life can be more than even an adult can handle.

It's a simple plot with a basic message, and the film has more entertainment value than anything else, but for that purpose it works so well that the idea has been used many times since, including as two remakes (though, oddly, considering the film's ending, never a sequel). This 1977 original could be considered typical Disney '70's comedy fluff, but maybe it's the stars and the appeal to the female audience that sets it above the others in the hearts and minds of Disney fans and film fans in general. To be straightforward, I, myself, am giving the film 4 out of 5 stars, despite the fact that I'm a Disney fanatic. I enjoy it very much, but even of the '70's Disney comedies, it's not among my top faves. I'm a big Kurt Russell and Dean Jones fan. I also have always kinda felt that the characters didn't seem to be right on with their portrayals of each other. They're great performances, but rather seemed more like they were playing a mother and daughter's interpretation of how a teen or adult would act, respectively being overly goofy and overly mature. It's not an extreme annoyance, but it is a slight impression I get. Luckily, both leads are such good actresses that the film is highly enjoyable anyway. The film is loaded with great actors in fact, and has some really great moments. Though Jodie Foster is undeniably a great actress, I have to say I find the scenes with Barbara Harris far more entertaining. Marc McClure as Boris Harris, the teenage boy across the street that Anabel is crushing on, is notable as well for some really hilarious moments. The Jodie Foster material is entertaining too though, and watching this film on the Disney Channel as I was growing up, I particularly enjoyed it for a couple of her cute friends, Virginia and Bambi, played by Vicki Schreck and Charlene Tilton.

For the Disney fan, the original "Freaky Friday" is a must-have, but anyone should be able to enjoy this wacky and fun classic, and ya gotta love those animated Disney openings! Full of groovy music and lots of laughs, the DVD is a great buy and even comes with a couple of extras. One is a match game that I didn't find all that special, but the other is an excellent interview with Jodie Foster about Freaky Friday and her career at Disney in general! An excellent supplement. The film is presented in its original widescreen format and is highly recommend for fun, family-friendly viewing!

July 27, 2008

Makes my wife happy

My wife loves this movie... and as always the original is much better than the remake. April 7, 2008

FREAKY FRIDAY 1977

I saw the Newer Version, FREAKY FRIDAY 2003, before I saw this Original. And it wasn't until a LONG while later as I didn't think that I would of cared for it. But, I really enjoyed this original version with Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster. Both ladies did a sterling job in playing their normal aged selves, then in switching over to their opposite ages. Barbara was so full of youthful energy, and Jodie was more mature in her attitude. Plus, I grew up in the 70's and it retains that 70's atmosphere. I still love FREAKY FRIDAY 2003 the best though, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, as they totally rocked the theater with their excellent acting skills and they also were EXTREMELY FUNNY! I think that if you see one or the other, then you HAVE to get the other as a companion DVD. For, though they are similar stories, each one has it's very own flavour. Plus, Boris is in both films. Nice touch. January 28, 2008

way funnier than the new one

I love this old classic. It is a whole lot funnier and just plain fun to watch. Alot less complicated than the new one. My kids loved this one. This was Disney at its best. November 19, 2007

I'd like to be you for a day...

Yours truly is in ecstasy right now. Here it is, Freaky Friday on DVD. I've had it on VHS for some time now and have been patiently waiting for the DVD release. And here it is. I've popped it in and the title sequence is playing now, ahhh the warm memories.

When I first saw this movie with some friends of mine it had a huge impact on my life. I can't help but think that my core philosophy has been impacted by this movie as well. The music is great, what little there is of it. Especially the opening song. I try to watch the opening at least five times before beginning the movie.

Jodie Foster is annoying. That's a given as she is annoying in every role she's ever played. I guess she was ok in Taxi Driver though. Let's put it this way, I'd never attempt to assassinate a president for her.

A strange thing about this movie is it seems like all the mothers in this movie are constantly trying to get their daughters' hair trimmed when their hair barely reaches their shoulders. I can only assume that they live in a town ruled by lesbians.

I don't know too much about Barbara Harris except that she is extremely hot in this movie. After they switch bodies things get hilarious. The mom is always criticizing her friends and the daughter is messing up the housework left and right. This does lead to the most confusing error of this movie. Annabelle is a tomboy, but after she trades bodies with her mom she becomes really feminine and is always putting on make up and flirting with boys.

It is hilarious how when the daughter, in her mom's body, calls her father 'Daddy' because he thinks this is his wife calling him some kind of sexy pet name. Mega-lulz.

This movie is just a lot of fun. If you accidentally bought that crappy remake, return it to the store or burn it, your choice. Just make sure you replace it with this, the real movie.

August 28, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...