By all rights, "Freaky Friday" should have been little more than a cinematic footnote, the latest example of a movie remake that didn't need to be made. But sometimes the seemingly impossible happens, and filmmakers actually manage to improve on creaky material.
For example, this re-do of the 1977 Jodie Foster vehicle, later remade for TV's "Wonderful World of Disney" 1995 with Shelley Long in the mother role, is funnier, sweeter and more charming than either previous version.
A lot of that has to do with Jamie Lee Curtis, who stars as Tess Coleman, a workaholic therapist about to remarry. Her high-maintenance teenage daughter Anna (Lindsay Lohan) isn't too thrilled about it, and the two spend most of their time butting heads.
That all changes in a hurry after a hex causes them to switch bodies. Suddenly Tess finds herself having to deal with tests, teachers and a would-be boyfriend (Chad Michael Murray), while Anna has to cope with neurotic patients and figure out what to do about the impending nuptials.
Even more daunting is the fact that these seemingly polar opposites will have to cooperate with each other if they're going to find a way out of their predicament.
Director Mark Waters is smart to keep the tone light fast-paced, so that some of the character inconsistencies and plot holes aren't glaring. Besides, he's got two most appealing screen heroines in Curtis and Lohan.
The former is clearly having a ball here. It's easy to forget just how funny she can be — it's been a long time since "A Fish Called Wanda." As for the latter, this is her second Disney remake (including the 1998 re-do of "The Parent Trap") and again she impresses; so why has it been five years since we've seen her?
As for their male co-stars, Mark Harmon is appropriately subdued as Tess' fiance, while veteran Harold Gould steals his scenes as Tess' somewhat confused father.
"Freaky Friday" is rated PG for slapstick violence (comic pratfalls and some vehicular mayhem), scattered use of mild profanity (religiously based) and some mildly racy innuendo. Running time: 97 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com