A tale of two women for pleasant comedy jape

Freaky Friday stars Jamie Lee Curtis as psychiatrist Tess Coleman, who despite making a living solving other people’s problems, doesn’t seem to be able to forge a reasonable relationship with her 15-year-old daughter Anna (Lindsay Lohan).

Their bickering world is turned upside down during a family night out at the local Chinese. Mother and daughter are given identical fortune cookies with magical powers.

When they wake up the next morning they find they have switched bodies. Lohan gets to see what life is like as a mother and Tess gets to relive life as a 16-year-old.

Needless to say this leads to all sorts of confusion, a few funny scenes or two, and finally a better understanding of each others’ point of view.

That’s all very cute and cosy, but Tess’ wedding is looming and the two have to find a way to switch back fast.

Freaky Friday is light, funny, enjoyable while it lasts and easily forgettable. Both Curtis and Lohan do their bit to keep things rolling along at a reasonable pace.

Curtis gives an excellent portrayal of a teenager trapped in an older, less perfect body, while Lohan makes us believe that she’s an older, more mature woman squeezed into a younger body.

They didn’t set the bar too high with this one, but they passed with flying colours.

Comedy, PG. 3/5