Freaky in 2003 But It Got Freakier in Fridays in 2025 💫

OK… confession time 😅

Feeling extremely guilty in 2025 because I’ve only managed to post two blog posts here so far. With the help of Chatgpt, I am being honest, at least I can start to blog more. It seemed that I have a huge writer's block nowadays. As I got older, penning down something random without overthinking is much more difficult. (Please check at the end of the post for a collage video I made for actors in 2003 and 2025)

One was to remember, my deceased blogger friend, Twilightman 👉 Here. This post is to review and revisit my teenage years of watching Freaky Friday 2003 (FF03). 

So when Disney officially announced Freakier Friday (2025) (FF25) — the long-awaited sequel to Freaky Friday (2003) — my first reaction was:

👉 Wait… is this real, or just another Hollywood nostalgia scam?

Yes, a gap of 22 years, having the same cast as a sequel instead of a remake. But beyond the nostalgia, this sequel feels symbolic — especially for Lindsay Lohan. After more than 15 years of personal turmoil, scandals, career breaks, and tabloid chaos, this film genuinely feels like her comeback chapter. Watching her return to the role that defined her early career is oddly emotional 🥹✨

Freaky Friday Movie Origins — Older Than You Think 📚🎞️

Fun fact many people don’t know: Freaky Friday is based on a novel, and the 2003 film is not the first adaptation.

The original Freaky Friday (1976) starred Jodie Foster as the daughter and Barbara Harris as the mother. Yes… 1976. Way before I was born 😆 (Even my IC wasn’t printed yet.)

That being said, I’ve only watched the 2003 version and the 2025 sequel, and both films triggered something powerful — nostalgia. They transported this 36-year-old guy, soon-to-be 37-year-old uncle, back to a time when life felt simpler, slower, and less algorithm-driven 👴🏻💭

Freaky Friday (2003) Review — Why It Still Works 🧁🎸

When FF03 was released, it was genuinely phenomenal.
Let’s be honest — Lindsay Lohan was irresistibly cute back then 😍

Yes, I admit it.
Back then, I still thought girls were cute, not emotionally unavailable 😆 But, taste changed over time. What made this movie work wasn’t just comedy — it was the emotional connection between mother and daughter, wrapped inside a fun body-swap concept.

⭐ Freaky Friday (2003) Ratings

#IpohboyMovie: 7.0 /10 (Surprisingly entertaining) 
📍 Google: 84%
📍 IMDb: 6.4/10
📍 Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Rating Score: 8 - 10 = Excellent; 6 - 7 = Good; 4 - 5 = So-So; 3 - 4 =  Below Expectation ; 0 - 2 =  BAD 

Why Freaky Friday (2003) Is Still Loved 📝

1️⃣ The soul exchange between Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) and Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) remains one of the best body-swap performances ever. Jamie Lee Curtis acting like a confused teenager is still comedy gold 😂

2️⃣ Once the souls switched, the emotional growth kicked in. Anna finally experienced how brutal adult working life can be, while Tess understood how lonely and misunderstood her daughter felt .Tess even found out that her son was constantly pranking his sister due to his sibling love.

3️⃣ Lindsay Lohan embodied the “mum trapped in a teen body” role shockingly maturely for her age, proving why she was once Hollywood’s it-girl 🌟

Bonus nostalgia triggers:
🎸 Garage band scenes
🥠 Iconic fortune cookies
👖 Early-2000s fashion
📼 Pre-smartphone life

Freakier Friday (2025) Review — Nostalgia First, Story Second 🔮👩‍👧‍👧

Now let’s talk about FF25 — a sequel nobody asked for, but most millennials secretly wanted.

⭐ Freakier Friday (2025) Ratings

IpohboyMovie: 5.0 /10 (Plain nostalgic)
📍 Google: 81%
📍 IMDb: 6.3/10
📍 Rotten Tomatoes: 74%

Rating Score: 8 - 10 = Excellent; 6 - 7 = Good; 4 - 5 = So-So; 3 - 4 =  Below Expectation ; 0 - 2 =  BAD 

What Works (and What Doesn’t) 📝

1️⃣ Pulling off a 22-year sequel and reuniting most of the original cast is already an achievement 👏 Sadly, Grandpa’s absence due to his passing was noticeable and emotional 😔

2️⃣ The cast aged gracefully, without awkward CGI tricks. Lindsay looks healthier and more confident than during her hiatus years. Jamie Lee Curtis clearly no longer cares about vanity and fully embraces comedy — especially after her prime in Everything Everywhere All At Once. And yes… Chad is still hot (even way after his prime in One Tree Hill) 😆 Some people age like wine. Some like expired milk. Gosh, I am so vibe-ing as a 90s millennia. 

3️⃣ The biggest weakness lies in the soul-swap choices. Instead of pushing boundaries, we got:

• Anna swapping with her daughter Harper (still relevant),
• Tess swapping with her future step-granddaughter Lily, which felt a bit forced.

Honestly? I was hoping for gender-swap chaos. But, missed opportunity in this sequel. Also, small acting note — Tess and Lily should’ve swapped American and British accents. That would’ve elevated the comedy and their acting instantly 🎯

4️⃣ The magic trigger felt weaker. Replacing the iconic fortune cookies 🥠 with a psychic, Madame Jen felt convenient and less charming. Unfortunately, the psychic played by Vanessa Bayer felt too unreal in this movie. 

5️⃣ Still… nostalgia wins ❤️
Callbacks, familiar faces, and emotional echoes carried the film. It feels like a warm hug from your teenage years — imperfect, but comforting.

And honestly?
I wouldn’t mind another sequel someday…
👉 Freakiest Friday, anyone? 😜🔥

Before the end, check out the collage I made for the cast in their 2003 and 2025 at my tiktok or shorts. Enjoy