Freaky Friday 1976 vs 2003

FREAKY FRIDAY: The good version and the bad version.

   I love Freaky Friday, the 1976 version of course. The classics are always the best. Jodie Foster as Annabel and Barbara Harris as Ellen (the mother) trading places. Always better than the 2003 version with Lindsay Lohan.

  First off the one that started it all.  The book. Freaky Friday written by Mary Rodgers who also wrote Hot Spot and From A to Z. Freaky Friday is a story of a mother and daughter that don't understand each other and wonder what it would be like to be one another, and all of a sudden, on a Friday of course, the mother is the daughter and the daughter is the mother and experience wacky things on this one tipicle day.

   The movie versions are somewhat like that, but I feel as if the 1976 version is more understanding and more to the book than the 2003 version because of it having more a mother/daughter connection than it having a misunderstanding connection with this movie, but that might just be me.


   First the good version: Jodi Foster plays Annabel Andrews a thirteen year old girl who doesn't understand her mother, Ellen (portrayed by Barbara Harris). Annabel has a brother name Ben whom she calls 'Ape Face' who is a tidy, neat person who deep down doesn't know that he really likes Annabel but will never know that till she becomes the mother. Ellen, the mother, doesn't understand the daughter much ether. She thinks Annabel has it easy. Getting through life easy, knowing the pressures it will be when she becomes a grown up, or even a mother.
  Soon, when she becomes, Annabel, Annabel feels as if being mom is easy, not knowing what is ahead. Her husband Bill, (played by John Astin from Addams Family) wants her to do everything to get ready for the big "Aquacade" that he has planning for some clients (one of them portrayed by Dick Van Patten), such as ironing his shirts, making dinner and all that.... and when mom is Annabel, she discovers her father's sexy secretary. LOL. My favorite scenes in this movie mostly is the hilarity antics that take place. Mostly the constant doorbell ringing of getting the car done, the carpet cleaners, drapery man, even firing Mrs. Schmuts a heavy drinker of a maid. I just love this movie. I don't know why, but I have loved that movie even since I was little. Even the mother connecting with Boris, (although in the book it's Morris). Boris doesn't go to school because of adenoids. Eventually at the end, they are switched back (after a hilarious chase scene with the cops) they learn a lot about themselves. And at the end, Ben and the Father want to switch places oh boy. If u haven't seen this one, and I know my family has, see it. It's a good watch.


   Now...The Horrid Version: First off, there is no father. He's DEAD!!! Ok, this is a Disney film alright. Seems Lindsay Lohan as Annabel Andrews is not good as when she was little and was in the Parent Trap (I somewhat liked her in that) The mother, portrayed by want to eat a lot of yogurt Jamie Lee Curtis, named Tess 'Not Ellen' is getting Married. She's also an author I guess, publishing a book, and she and Annabel don't get long (guess they are trying to be like the book but not that much). Also Annabel use to have another friend, but now they're enemies and she tortures Annabel to pieces. Annabel also plays in a rock band and her mother hates it when she plays after dark. Her brother's name is Harry (not Ben) She has a Grandfather, and they go to a Chinese restaurant where they still argue and a woman from the restaurant notices, and gives Annabel and Tess both fortune cookies and when they read it, they feel and Earthquake, but nobody else feels it. Next day comes, which is Friday, and Tess and Annabel are now Annabel and Tess. They have to live each others lives, experience what is going on, and Annabel/Tess thinks her enemy wants to be a friend and writes a noted down but eventually says that she was cheating for her to get back she writes 'I'm Stupid' on her test.  Tess/Annabel deep down doesn't like who she is going to marry and eventually by the end.... well you get the picture. The grandpa and son want to trade paces at the end too. My god this one was not even close to the book as it was the classic 1976 movie. I'll stick with the original movie thank you very much.


    Now you know many TV shows have been doing a lot of  'Freaky Friday' switcharoo theme such as the cartoon The Fairly OddParents That have not done one but two episodes about it. But there are many shows and even a movie called the change- up (which is horrible by the way) that want to see what the other person's life is like. Then you learn at the end, what there life is like and how hard it is and maybe you're better where you are now. Now you know the expression "You never know how a person feels unless you're wearing their own shoes" Till then, rent the classic 1976 version and stay away from the other one as far as you can. Caio Bloggers!