Freaky Friday

This movie, unlike the two so called remakes actually follows the book. My kids have all loved this movie and had no trouble at all relating to the incidents.Sure they have typing class instead of computer class but so what? So what if the Mom stays home and the Dad works. Many families do that today. The brother appears to be in half day kindergarten because he is picked up from school before lunch. Maybe Mom will go back to work next year. It may be a bit dated but that doesn't detract from the movie at all.

Unlike many modern movies the kids are not smart mouthed brats who get away with such behavior. There are no gross jokes or rude, stupid humor.

This is a fun movie for families, especially mothers and daughters to watch together. I would recommend this over the other two because it's how the author intended the story.

FREAKY FRIDAY was one of several vehicles Disney crafted for future star Jodie Foster, when the precocious teen actress was under that company's tutelage. Her adult demeanor serves her well, playing a thirteen year old inhabited by her mother's personality. The real joy in this slapsticky farce is Barbara Harris, whose brand of humor is gainfully employed as the irrepressible Annabelle, stuck in her mother's body. This and FAMILY PLOT are probably Harris' most readily available films. Too bad Harris didn't make more.

Never particularly loved this movie but it is lifted above the usual Disney fare by Jodie Foster, who was just totally incredible in this. You watch her and she nails the part - her performances in her movies are always better than great but to have been this good as a kid is kinda spooky, she delivers her lines so well. She is just about one of the finest actresses working in movies today along with Meryl Streep. It is so rare for a child to be as mature in performance as Jodie was. I guess the nearest child star in terms of performance is Haley Joel Osment. I have seen the remake with LL and JC but they just do not make such a good job of the parts as Jodie and Barbara (who seems to have disappeared from the movie scene-curse of the older actress).

This is definitely one of the very best of Disney's many comedies. Perhaps it's the great writing from Mary Rodgers, author of the book, or the spectacular acting from the entire cast, especially a young Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris.

The film is incredibly funny, without being stupid, and it feels very real and authentic, an element that is gone from almost every other Disney film of the era. Although it includes the typical Disney chase scene, the rest of Disney's usual cliches are dropped so that the focus is on the characters and the believable and hilarious situations that they get into.

A definite 10/10! Go rent it! Be sure that you get the 1977 version, though, not the 1995 remake.

The original 'Freaky Friday', the original switcheroo movie. A mom and daughter getting their bodies exchanged (on Friday the 13th) is rife with possibilities, but considering this is a Disney production, it's a commendable adaptation. It's hilarious from beginning to end, especially because of the two talented leads, Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster, who assume each other's characters with terrific ease. Supporting actors like Marc McClure (Boris), Sparky Marcus (Ben) and John Astin (Bill) are noteworthy too.

There are so many laugh-out-funny and memorable sequences in the film, from the sports scenes (baseball and hockey) to car chases to stunts (water-skiing), but my favourite scene is the one with the father's (Bill's) secretary - after listening to Annabel's comments, she keeps entering the office, making herself modest with each entrance; it's just unbearably rib-tickling.

"I wish I could switch places with her for just one day." - I wonder, how many people must have tried using this line.

Even one likes, be sure to check out the 2003' updated adaptation as well; it's as hilarious and intriguing.