'Freakier Friday' Is For Our Inner Child Who Needed To Be Seen

It's the good kind of chaos.

Published on Aug 13, 2025

PHOTO: Disney Studios

Editor's note: This story contains major spoilers.

Watching Freakier Friday when you're in your mid-20s hits different. Well, this could be how people felt when Freaky Friday was first released in 2003. Whilst I—a toddler at the time—had no recollection of how I felt back then, LOL.

What people generally know about Freaky Friday, and its whole franchise, is that it's about the soul-swapping story between Jamie Lee Curtis (Tess Coleman) and Lindsay Lohan (Anna Coleman). It's become one of the classics, something you'd watch when you want a pick-me-up film on a Friday night. And for others, it's one of their favorite films of all time.

After watching the 2025 film, one can say that it wasn't about the star power. Freaky Friday struck a chord because it tapped into deep nostalgia and brought back all the feels—and that's exactly why it resonated with so many.

But not for me. It didn't bring anything back. Instead, it sparked something new—something I didn't know I needed to feel as a 26-year-old corporate girlie. Freaky Friday became a powerful reminder that, at the end of the day, life is meant to be lived with—and for—our family.

(Again, the next parts of this story contains major spoilers!)

What is the plot of 'Freakier Friday'?

Freakier Friday begins with Anna (Lindsay Lohan), who became a workaholic, strict, single mom to her teenager, Harper (Julia Butters). They don't see eye to eye most of the time, and so comes therapist Dr. Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) as the understanding and caring grandma to Harper.

Anna gets engaged to Filipino-British chef, Eric Reyes (Manny Jacinto). The catch? Eric is the single dad of Lily (Sophia Hammons), who is Harper's archenemy in school.

Harper loves Los Angeles—it's where she literally rides the waves as a surfer and feels most alive. Lily, on the other hand, dreams of returning to the UK to chase her passion for fashion. With their parents' wedding on the horizon, both girls are struggling to accept a new reality—one that could mean leaving behind the lives they've always known.

So, that's basically the conflict of the film: Anna clashing with Tess's parenting style, all while juggling her bridal era—and dealing with Harper and Lily, who can't stand each other and refuse to accept that they're about to become stepsisters.

Now, just a week before her wedding to Eric, Anna holds a bridal shower for herself where the soul-swapping magic will again take effect on her and her mom, Tess—and (!) now including Harper and Lily. It's a four-way switch this time around. Anna and Tess become Harper and Lily, respectively.

While Anna and Tess focus on getting the cure once again for their freaky incident, Harper and Lily make it their mission to find a way to separate Anna and Eric, and naturally let them call off their wedding.

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PHOTO: Disney Studios. Photo: Disney Studios

All The Things We Love About 'Freakier Friday'

It could've been a very cliché plot for most viewers, but Freakier Friday tackled the concept of family, sisterhood, and even Filipino representation in a delicate way.

Manny Jacinto's character as Eric Reyes

Okay, let's be real: Filipino representation in mainstream Hollywood films is rare. I'm talking about the good kind of representation that doesn't rely on oversimplification. More often than not, Filipinos are reduced to being the comic relief in films—portrayed with exaggerated accents, broken English, and tired stereotypes of the Filipino immigrant experience in America.

But Manny Jacinto's Eric Reyes offers a well-represented Filipino in the film. Eric is an accomplished chef with a new restaurant in Los Angeles that's named after his daughter, Lily. Eric and Anna's bridal lunch takes place in that restaurant, with Eric's Filipino parents attending.

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Photo: Disney Studios

As someone who grew up with those iterations of representation, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the parents didn't speak in broken English. Again, it's been the case in all those other movies and shows. They spoke fluently, conversing with everyone. They weren't just comedic relief. Their Filipino-ness wasn't just for laughs.

That's exactly how we saw Eric in the film. His being Filipino wasn't the centerpiece of his character—but it's his very Filipino traits that made his choice to put his daughter and family above all else feel so real. And if anything, Manny's authentic portrayal of a Filipino dad only added more heart—and charm—to Freakier Friday.

Lindsay Lohan being Lindsay Lohan

This goes without saying, but we're falling in love all over again with Lindsay Lohan. She's had her fair share of Netflix films available for streaming—and adding Freakier Friday to her recent roster is definitely a milestone.

She's one of the OG chick flick American actresses that truly captured everyone's hearts across generations. Seeing her reunite with Jamie Lee Curtis to reprise their roles was a total gift for longtime Freaky Friday fans and a warm welcome for a new generation of viewers.

It's like nothing changed. They are Anna and Tess. The chemistry, the timing, the soul-swapping chaos—it all feels so effortless, like they never stopped living in these characters.

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Photo: Disney Studios

Girlhood at its finest

Freakier Friday captures the highs and lows of girlhood. More than the mother-daughter body swap, it's about the clash of generations, the struggle for independence, and the deep, often unspoken love that ties women together across ages.

Through Anna, Tess, Harper, and Lily, the film reflects the many stages of girlhood—each one grappling with identity, change, and the fear of losing who they are or where they belong.

But in the middle of all the drama, it reminds us: girlhood is not just about growing up. It's about finding connection, choosing empathy, and holding on to the people who love you even when you're at your worst.

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Photo: Disney Studios

Click to Enlarge

Photo: Disney Studios

Love and family within

Freakier Friday tackles all kinds of love—from being a couple, to being sisters, friends, and of course, the love between mother and daughter. At the core of it all, the film wants you to remember how important family is.

I knew Freakier Friday spoke to me on a personal level when I heard the quote from the film, "Family isn't always perfect—but it is everything."

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Photo: Disney Studios

At some point in our lives, we've all been Anna, Tess, Harper, or Lily—caught up in our own wants, convinced we know what we need, and blind to everything else. But Freakier Friday reminds us not to lose sight of what truly matters.

It's a story about grounding ourselves in what's real—and that, above all, is family. And with all the ups and downs, the deadlines, and the chaos of everyday life, it was the reminder I didn't know I needed today.

Freakier Friday is now in Philippine cinemas.

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Kate runs on caffeine and K-drama cliffhangers. She also thrives on plot twists—on screen, on the page, and, of course, in the group chat.