Freaky Friday

On the surface, this Freaky Friday update (the 1976 original starred Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris) looks like typical Disney remake fare. Take a dated classic, give it a punky soundtrack and a belly ring and the movie doesn't have to write itself — someone already wrote it. This time out, it's Lindsay Loham (veteran of another Disney remake, The Parent Trap) taking the Jodie Foster role, but watch out: it's vet Jamie Lee Curtis who steals this show. When uptight lawyer mom (Curtis) and safely rebellious teen rocker daughter (Loham) are cursed at a Chinese restaurant, they wake up on the titular Friday having switched bodies. Hilarity ensues as they bungle each other's complicated lives until they've finally walked enough in each other's shoes (and comically screwed up their respective responsibilities) that the movie gods let them go, lessons learned. This competent effort runs its comic paces fairly effortlessly, but it's Jamie Lee Curtis who joyously takes to the release that playing an irresponsible teen offers. Watch for Curtis to repeat the feat Tom Hanks pulled off with Big — the role to which she'll draw the most comparisons — and score an Oscar nomination. Too bad the DVD focuses almost exclusively on teen marketing dream Loham, who offers her own "backstage pass" featurette and a few music videos. The deleted scene and bloopers are insubstantial, as is the alternate ending. It's Jamie Lee Curtis that makes this worth the 97-minute running time. (Disney/Buena Vista)