Body-Swap Bonanza: 'Freakier Friday' vs. the Haunting Thrill of 'Weapons'
FREAKIER FRIDAY: A BODIES-SWAPPED CHAOS, OR JUST A CLUNKY COMEDY?
In a shocking turn of events, the 2003 hit movie Freaky Friday is back with a sequel that promises to bring even more laughs and excitement. But does it deliver? Our reviewer took a closer look at this new installment, Freakier Friday, starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprising their iconic roles.
First off, let's talk about the genius of Mary Rodgers, the mastermind behind the original novel in 1972. She was the daughter of none other than Richard Rodgers, the co-writer of The Sound Of Music, The King And I, South Pacific, and Oklahoma! Talk about a talented family! But we digress.
In Freakier Friday, the body-swap phenomenon has now befallen not one, but two pairs of females. Anna (Lohan) is the single mom of Harper (Julia Butters), her own daughter who's growing up to be a surfer chick. Meanwhile, Anna's mom Tess (Curtis) tries to help out as much as she can.
But things take an unexpected turn when Eric (Manny Jacinto), a charming restaurateur with a British accent, comes into the picture. He moves from England with his daughter Lily (Sophia Hammons), and hilarity ensues as Harper and Lily become sworn enemies at school.
And let's just say Lily's accent is... something else. "Briddish" is how she pronounces it, but our reviewer isn't convinced. Maybe we should blame Jordan Weiss for the clunky script or the cast for trying too hard with those fake British vowels? Young Hammons, despite being a pretty picture, somehow forgets to act at times.
The plot thickens as Anna and Eric get engaged, much to Harper's dismay (and Lily's horror). In a jaw-dropping twist, magical realism kicks in, courtesy of a chaotic all-American psychic played by Vanessa Bayer. The result? Harper swaps bodies with her mom, while Lily becomes... well, it gets confusing.
But hey, Curtis gets some great lines, and there's passable comedy to be found. Our reviewer admits to chuckling during the screening, but overall, Freakier Friday falls flat. It's like they took all the good parts from the original and left out the best bits. The moral of the story? Even if you're a member of a super-talented family, not every sequel is going to hit it big.
WEAPONS: A SAVAGE AND INGENIOUS HORROR-THRILLER THAT WILL LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS
Now, on to something that's actually freaky – in a good way! Weapons, directed by Zach Cregger (Barbarian, 2022), is an ingenious horror-thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Here's the premise: at exactly 2.17am one fateful night, 17 kids from a single elementary school class mysteriously vanish without a trace. The town is left in shock, with many suspects pointing fingers at Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), their teacher. But what really happened to these missing kids?
Cregger masterfully tells the story through six chapters, each one exploring a different character's perspective. We meet Josh Brolin as a desperate dad searching for answers, and even get a glimpse into the mind of the missing Alex, played by an impressive Cary Christopher.
There are deliberate hints throughout that this is more than just a simple horror story – it's a commentary on the devastating reality of school shootings in America today. But don't worry; Cregger keeps you guessing until the very end.
With heart-stopping jump-scares and an over-the-top finale, Weapons is a masterclass in suspenseful storytelling. And with some judiciously placed humor to keep things light, this horror-thriller will leave you screaming for more.
In cinemas now, both Freakier Friday and Weapons promise to deliver on their respective promises of excitement and thrills. But don't say we didn't warn you – only one of them truly delivers!