How “Freakier Friday” Gets Sequels Right For Body Swap Family Comedies

In 2003, teenage daughter Anna (Lindsay Lohan) and mother Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) swapped bodies in Freaky Friday, via a magic spell when each simultaneously wishes for the same thing. The only way to break it is through mutual empathy. 

Amid the mayhem, they grow to like, appreciate, and even understand each other following the death of the patriarch and Tess’ new suitor, Ryan (Mark Harmon), who the kids grow to accept as part of their lives. “Welcome to the family,” Anna proclaims.

Twenty-two years later, the Colemans return. Fridays just got a whole lot freakier. Freakier Friday hits the screens with a four-way, multi-generational body swap bonanza that illustrates how the sequel, not only continues where the original left off, but shows the logarithmically evolving dynamics of the Coleman family.

Where Freakier Friday Begins

The story focuses on Anna, who has grown up and become a mother to a teenage daughter Harper (Julia Butters). Anna is engaged to single-parent chef Eric Reyes (Manny Jacinto) and is about to blend their families, including 15-year-old surfie gal Harper and Eric’s daughter, Lily (Sophia Hammons). Meanwhile, Tess, Anna’s mother, is now a grandmother navigating her role in this increasingly complex family matrix.

Tess has written a new book, but she’s still grappling with the realities of being a mother, stepmother, step-grandmother, and wife.

Tess and Anna have a reading from Madame Jen (Vanessa Bayer), which leads to Tess switching bodies with Lily, and Anna switching with Harper. This kicks the story into overdrive.

Anna switches bodies with her daughter Harper, and Tess swaps with Lily, her soon-to-be step-granddaughter-in-law. As Harper and Lily, now in adult bodies, plot to use their new powers to break up Anna and Eric’s wedding, the family is catapulted into comedic and heartfelt shenanigans. 

The first thing to notice before “Fade In” is even typed by screenwriters Jordan Weiss and Elysse Hollander, is the number of scene possibilities to show character conflict, misunderstandings, and reconciliations.

This film is about evolving family dynamics—the ever-changing, often chaotic dance between parents and kids as they grow up and grow old together – Jordan Weiss

The source material is based on the 1972 book of the same name by Mary Rodgers, based on characters created by Leslie Dixon and Heather Hach. “The magic of Freaky Friday is its truth about family—how we love, fight, and grow all at once,” Rodgers says.  The sequel channels the ethos that understanding comes through patience and shared experience.

Harper (Julia Butters), Anna (Lindsay Lohan), Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) & Lily (Sophia Hammons) Photo by Glen Wilson/ Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Deepening Mother-Daughter Relationships

Unlike the 2003 film, which focused primarily on the volcanic mother-teen daughter relationship between Tess and Anna, Freakier Friday broadens the emotional terrain by weaving in multiple generations and family configurations. Anna has transitioned from a rebellious teen to a struggling mother, facing her challenges with Harper, while Tess experiences the changes of becoming a grandmother and reassessing her family ties.

“The sequel isn’t about replaying the same story. It’s about showing that those complicated mother-daughter dynamics don’t stop evolving. Anna’s relationship with Harper mirrors the struggles Tess had with Anna, but with new frustrations and new love,” screenwriter Weiss states. It illuminates the messy honesty between mothers and daughters across different life phases. 

Harper’s teenage frustration, Anna’s attempts at modern parenting, and Tess’s wisdom (and stubbornness) all collide in ways that feel real and often hilarious. The clashes also serve as a beacon of hope and empathy as four characters are transplanted into bodies they don’t identify with. But living in someone else’s body is a pathway to understanding them. 

We wanted to honor the original’s heart but also tell a story that feels real and funny for today’s audiences—especially teens dealing with pressures we couldn’t have imagined two decades ago – Elyse Hollander

A key narrative technique in Freakier Friday is its use of emotional continuity. Characters are aged honestly, allowing the story to grapple with how parenting philosophies differ across generations and how patterns tend to repeat in families. Anna’s attempts at “millennial parenting” contrast with Tess’s traditional style, posing questions about how much parents really change from one generation to the next. The question of “best parenting” is not resolved, but the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.

The humor in Freakier Friday emerges naturally from these relationships and situational comedy. For example, the generational clash plays out in scenes where characters grapple with social media and digital culture—unfamiliar to the older characters but central to the teens’ lives. Social media mishaps occur when posts go live before checking them.

Eric Reyes (Manny Jacinto) & Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Nostalgia Meets Now: Narrative Techniques

Freakier Friday uses multiple narrative techniques to evoke nostalgic comfort while activating a new generation:

Strategic Callbacks and Easter Eggs: The film is peppered with affectionate nods to the 2003 film, from musical cues and iconic dialogues to visual parallels. However, these easter eggs are subtle and woven into the story in a way that rewards returning fans without alienating newcomers.

Multigenerational Storytelling: By expanding the story to include a blended family with step-relationships and grandchildren, the story acknowledges the shifting composition of families today. By simultaneously following both older (Tess and Anna) and younger generations (Harper and Lily), the film offers multiple vantage points on family, identity, and generational tension. 

Contemporary Cultural Touchstones: The screenplay integrates elements like social media lives, influencer culture, and digital communication anxieties, serving both humor and thematic relevance. Younger characters grapple with TikTok, viral videos, and online reputation, while older generations struggle to comprehend these worlds.

Layered Humor and Emotional Beats: The movie balances physical comedy and situational mishaps with poignant moments. For example, the body swapping leads to characters inhabiting not only different bodies but also new social roles—prompting reflection on identity, responsibility, and family bonds. Writer Elyse Hollander comments, “We wanted to maintain the laugh-out-loud moments, but always anchor them in the emotional truth of each character’s journey.”

Distinct Generational Voices: Each main character has a unique narrative voice and perspective. The screenwriters took care to authentically capture millennial, Gen Z, and older generational expressions and concerns. The contrast creates humor —underscoring that while family members may struggle to speak the same language, their feelings are deeply connected. Co-writer Jordan Weiss notes, “Getting the voices right was crucial. The characters needed to sound like themselves, not impressions, especially when they’re in each other’s bodies—that irony brings out the humor and the heart.”

In summary, Freakier Friday evokes nostalgia through selective callbacks and familiar resonating themes. This mix of reverence and reinvention ensures it resonates with longtime fans and new viewers alike.

by Staff Writer

From our in-house editorial team.