{"id":29023,"date":"2012-12-06T16:20:29","date_gmt":"2012-12-06T23:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=29023"},"modified":"2021-06-23T14:52:42","modified_gmt":"2021-06-23T21:52:42","slug":"freaky-friday-1976","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=29023","title":{"rendered":"Freaky Friday (1976)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I wish I could switch places with her, for just one day.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Poster-192x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"192\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-29024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Poster-192x300.jpg 192w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Poster-81x128.jpg 81w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA teenage girl (Jodie Foster) and her mother (Barbara Harris) switch bodies for a day, getting to experience life from the other&#8217;s perspective. They soon find that life as both a teenager and a housewife is incredibly hectic, as Harris attempts to help her husband (John Astin) prepare for a gala event that night, while Foster navigates through the treacherous waters of high school.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Barbara Harris Films<\/li>\n<li>Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Fantasy<\/li>\n<li>Jodie Foster Films<\/li>\n<li>Marie Windsor Films<\/li>\n<li>Mistaken or Hidden Identities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nBased on a <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Freaky_friday\">1972 children&#8217;s novel by Mary Rodgers<\/a>, this live-action Disney film was just one of five films 14-year-old Jodie Foster appeared in that year (others include <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=10015\"><em>Taxi Driver<\/em><\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1013\"><em>The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane<\/em><\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3751\"><em>Bugsy Malone<\/em><\/a>) &#8212; thus indicating her enduring popularity after years of work as a child actor in television and on the big screen. She does a fine job in her role here as a slovenly, athletic tomboy who spends most of her screentime &#8220;inhabited&#8221; by her mother &#8212; but it&#8217;s Harris (primarily playing teenage &#8220;Annabel&#8221;) whose performance really stands out. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Switching.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Switching-1024x546.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"341\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Switching-1024x546.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Switching-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Switching-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Switching-768x409.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Switching-1536x819.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Switching-506x270.png 506w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Switching.png 1829w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Better known for her work on Broadway than in films, this may actually be Harris&#8217;s best leading role onscreen: her no-holds-barred portrayal of an adolescent trapped in an adult body is a sheer pleasure to watch, from beginning to end. In early scenes, we see her luxuriating over the fact that she&#8217;s not only liberated from attendance at school but suddenly has a sexy, braces-free demeanor &#8212; only to quickly demonstrate how inadequately prepared she is to handle everything associated with the &#8217;70s vision of womanhood\/motherhood, from putting on false eyelashes (a great scene!):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Fake-Lashes.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Fake-Lashes-1024x565.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"353\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Fake-Lashes-1024x565.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Fake-Lashes-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Fake-Lashes-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Fake-Lashes-768x424.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Fake-Lashes-1536x848.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Fake-Lashes-489x270.png 489w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Fake-Lashes.png 1803w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; to preparing an impromptu meal for 30 to managing a household full of domestic assistants. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris-1024x546.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"341\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris-1024x546.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris-768x410.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris-1536x820.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris-506x270.png 506w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris.png 1831w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, the film as a whole is mostly deserving of her stand-out performance, with the switched-identities element particularly well handled throughout. While we only see each character in her original body for the first 12 minutes of the film (and during the tail-end of the hectic finale), we nonetheless continue to believe in and understand exactly what&#8217;s happened to them, thanks to clever use of voice-over (plus, of course, the spot-on performances by the female leads). If there&#8217;s one slight downside, it&#8217;s that Harris&#8217;s travails as teenage &#8220;Annabel&#8221; are so much more intrinsically interesting and hilarious than Foster&#8217;s as the adult &#8220;Ellen&#8221;. Foster is primarily shown being humiliated time and again at school &#8212; either from her lack of knowledge about &#8220;modern&#8221; equipment (she has no idea how electric typewriters work):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Typewriter.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Typewriter-1024x542.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"339\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Typewriter-1024x542.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Typewriter-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Typewriter-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Typewriter-768x406.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Typewriter-1536x812.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Typewriter-511x270.png 511w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Typewriter.png 1821w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; or her overabundance of knowledge in history class (where she&#8217;s viewed as a know-it-all), or her utter clumsiness on the hockey field (where she&#8217;s literally pummeled by members of the opposing team). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-Hockey.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-Hockey-1024x545.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"341\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-Hockey-1024x545.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-Hockey-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-Hockey-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-Hockey-768x409.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-Hockey-1536x817.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-Hockey-507x270.png 507w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-Hockey.png 1821w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In sum, &#8220;Ellen&#8221;\/&#8221;Mrs. Andrews&#8221; simply isn&#8217;t as interesting a character as &#8220;Annabel&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p>Regardless, the fast-paced screenplay (written by Rodgers herself) keeps us on our toes throughout, right up until the surprisingly enjoyable slapstick finale (involving a cop chase and an elaborate water-skiing revue). It&#8217;s also fun to see how cleverly Rodgers incorporates sly sexual innuendos without ever bordering on poor taste &#8212; i.e., the titillated reaction by Astin when Harris accidentally calls him &#8220;Daddy&#8221; a few times. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Astin3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Astin3-1024x545.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"341\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68635\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Astin3-1024x545.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Astin3-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Astin3-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Astin3-768x409.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Astin3-1536x818.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Astin3-507x270.png 507w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Astin3.png 1835w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, both Harris and Foster learn important lessons in how to empathize with each other (naturally), but this thankfully isn&#8217;t hammered over our heads. Somewhat surprisingly, <em>Freaky Friday<\/em> remains worth a one-time look by all film fanatics &#8212; primarily for Harris&#8217;s performance, but also as a pleasantly enjoyable situation comedy. Watch for the inspired final shot\/scene. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Barbara Harris as Ellen\/Mrs. Andrews<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris2-1024x542.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"339\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris2-1024x542.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris2-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris2-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris2-768x406.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris2-1536x812.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris2-510x270.png 510w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Harris2.png 1851w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jodie Foster as Annabel<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-1024x552.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"345\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-1024x552.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-768x414.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-1536x828.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster-501x270.png 501w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Foster.png 1813w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fun opening credits<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Opening.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Opening-1024x546.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"341\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Opening-1024x546.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Opening-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Opening-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Opening-768x410.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Opening-1536x819.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Opening-506x270.png 506w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Freaky-Friday-Opening.png 1813w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, for Harris&#8217;s stand-out performance. Listed as a Sleeper in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0076054\/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1976\/03\/07\/archives\/jodie-fosters-rise-from-disney-to-depravity.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/fantasy\/freaky-friday-1976.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdizzy.com\/freaky.html\">Ultimate Disney Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/75616\/freaky-friday#articles-reviews?articleId=176220\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I wish I could switch places with her, for just one day.&#8221; Synopsis: A teenage girl (Jodie Foster) and her mother (Barbara Harris) switch bodies for a day, getting to experience life from the other&#8217;s perspective. They soon find that life as both a teenager and a housewife is incredibly hectic, as Harris attempts to help her husband (John Astin) prepare for a gala event that night, while Foster navigates through the treacherous waters of high school. Genres, Themes, Actors,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=29023\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29023"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29023\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73276,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29023\/revisions\/73276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}