Freaky Friday (1976)

This is by far the best Disney live action film. The next best are Watcher in the woods, and Candleshoe. But this takes the pick. The film has a whole lotta heart and intellect. Dealing with a mother and daughter switching bodies(or is it minds?) the mother must go through the day in her daughters body at school, while her daughter goes through the hardships of being an adult in her mothers body. The charm in this comes not only from family dynamics, but from true characters and morals. Harris is especially funny as the stern but well meaning mother, while Foster is a hoot as the fun and fancy free daughter. John Astin is great as the misunderstood father and Patsy Kelly rocks as the drunkard Mrs. Schmouss! The film also deals with adult situations like alchohol, booze, dope, and "kissing games". As most Disney films did, this had family values that went beyond just brother/sister slapping around, and mothers yelling at their kids. Great acting from all, and the supporting cast is equally fine. Really enjoyable is the cameo by "Laugh in" star Ruth Buzzie as an opposing coach in the scene which Annabelles mother-in Annabelle's body-plays field hockey and wins the other teams points! The Chase in the finale is well rounded and brings the story to a truly classical endgame! Don't miss this film, if you can possibly help it. Also recommended: Watcher in the Woods; Candleshoe; Escape/Return to Witch Mountain, etc. ***** out of *****!!

Fmovies: I saw the remake of Freaky Friday first before I ever saw this Freaky Friday, and you might hate me when I say, I didn't know until a year ago that it was a remake, not to mention that it starred an unknown little actress, Jodie Foster. But when I heard, I got excited and wanted to see it immediately since I loved the remake, but I could never find the original at the video store, but finally I came across it yesterday at Hollywood Video. I just watched it this morning and while I enjoyed it, I found the remake to be a little more entertaining, I'll explain in just a minute.

Ellen is a house maker and a mom who is constantly on the go and taken for granted, Annabelle is her sloppy disorganized daughter, and they just can't seem to understand each other. But when they are both talking about each other, they say the magic words "I wish she could just be in my shoes for one day", and their bodies switch! Now Ellen has to learn what it is like to be her tomboy sports loving daughter and Annabelle has to learn what a complicated life her mom has with chores, babysitting, cooking, and being in charge of the house with a husband who takes her for granted constantly.

Freaky Friday has some good humor and some light laughs here and there, but I think the reason why I enjoyed the remake with Jamie Lee Curtis a little better was because of the times. Today's world is constantly on the go, not to mention I think that kids are a little more rebellious, so the mom and daughter had more to learn from each other in that film. But I would never say shy away from this Freaky Friday because it is a classic and has some good laughs and a good ending.

6/10

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.

Freaky Friday fmovies. 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).

Freaky Friday brings us to the home of John Astin and Barbara Harris with their children Jodie Foster and Sparky Marcus. Harris and Foster are constantly fighting, Foster is going through teen angst saying Mom doesn't understand her, Harris's life is not being made easy by having her first child going through the teen years.

But on a fateful day where legend has it strange things do occur, one morning as the family is starting their day, the souls of Harris and Foster exchange bodies. After a lot of yelling and screaming the two decide to live each other's day as their new outward appearance dictates.

The responsibilities of adulthood thrown on Foster's shoulders just overwhelm her. As for Harris it's not easy being a teen. It all adds up to some pretty funny moments. Best being Foster/Harris making a botch of a field hockey match and Harris/Foster on water skis.

I've always liked the way the Disney Studio always gave a lot of old time players the character roles that they used to get in the old days. In particular here is Patsy Kelly in one of her last appearances as a maid who liked a cocktail every now and then.

Freaky Friday proved to be one of the Magic Kingdom's most popular products. The recent remake with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis was as fresh as the original, though that one offered some kind of explanation for the strange occurrence.

This version just let the magic speak for itself.

It wasn't 100% perfect, but it did entertain me. I will say I also enjoyed the 2003 remake as it was fresh and funny. That said, this is definitely worth seeing. It does start off very briskly, but it loses its way just towards the end, and one or two of the gags were lacking. That said, the script does have its humorous and touching parts, the film is nice to watch visually with nice cinematography, scenery and costumes, the music was nice and upbeat and the premise intrigued me. The direction was also assured, but what made the film was the two sterling lead performances of Barbara Harris and especially Jodie Foster as the mother and daughter who swap bodies for a day. The supporting performances while not as effervescent were also effective. Overall, I liked it, it wasn't perfect, but there are certainly worse movies out there. 7/10 Bethany Cox