Top 10 Callbacks in Freakier Friday
#10: Make Good Choices
Anna and Tess reverse roles in more ways than one here. About twenty years ago, Tess was the high-strung parental figure who had to drag Anna out of bed. Now, a stressed Anna has a rebellious teenage daughter named Harper, who is given several wakeup calls. Tess is a more laidback grandmother who has slightly mellowed with age. This is reflected when Anna and Tess drop Harper off at school. Anna tells her daughter to make good choices, echoing her mother in the 2003 film. Despite stealing her line, Tess pokes fun at Anna for sounding so out of touch with todays youth. Jamie Lee Curtis actually improvised that line in the previous movie. Bringing it back was a good choice, indeed.
#9: Ticking Clock Till Wedding
Freaky Friday had a sense of urgency with the switch occurring shortly before Tess wedding. Freakier Friday again takes place over a long wedding weekend. In fact, this freaky Friday extends into a freaky Saturday. While Tess is still happily married to Ryan, Anna is getting hitched to Manny Jacintos Eric. When Anna and Harper switch bodies, it naturally leads to some awkward moments between Eric and his future step-daughter. This includes dodging kisses from her moms unsuspecting fiancé. Coping with the loss of a parent also remains a key theme. In this case, Erics daughter Lily is grieving her late mother. Not only is she dealing with her father moving on with someone else, but Lily is being moved across the pond as well.
#8: Sibling Rivalry
Harper and Lilly clashing at school ironically leads to their parents meeting and falling in love. So, they have a rivalry before even becoming siblings. While this dynamic adds a fresh element to the formula, the first film wasnt without sibling rivalry. Anna and her younger brother Harry were constantly at each others throats. To Anna, Harry is a little monster who lives to make her life hell. To Harry, messing with Anna is a form of affection. Anna doesnt realize this until she spends a day in her moms body, reading the essay that Harry wrote about his big sister. Actor Ryan Malgarini returns for one notable scene where Harry toasts his sister, looking back at the atomic wedgies she gave him fondly.
#7: Eating Junk Food
The best part of switching bodies with someone else? You can eat whatever you want without worrying about the consequences. This dawned on Tess in the last film, allowing her to scarf down French fries for the first time in several years. In the sequel, Tess and Anna wind up in younger bodies. Taking advantage of their faster metabolisms, the mother and daughter go on a fast-food bender. They dont just stop at French fries, partaking in ice cream, churros, cotton candy, and other treats we take for granted when were younger. We also have to give the filmmakers credit for not turning this into a blatant product placement montage, although we do get a scene at Walgreens. Is that a Hocus Pocus 2 callback?
#6: Tess Looks & Books
Just because youre in another persons shoes doesnt mean that you have to dress like them. Anna gave herself, as by extension her mother, a makeover in Freaky Friday. The sequel sees Harper switch up her moms wardrobe, although Tess undergoes the most changes with Lily in the drivers seat. In addition to a new hairdo and clothes, Lily tries to give Tess thicker lips, which backfires in retrospect. The good news is that Tess doesnt have a talk show appearance this time around. That said, Tess does have another book coming out, and Lily chooses the author photo. Tess therapy tactics have also seemingly rubbed off on Anna, who asks Harper and Lily to express how they feel at one point.
#5: Mr. Bates
Easily cinemas second-most infamous character with Bates as a surname, Annas high school English teacher was always out to get her. Tess figures out why, remembering how she rejected the creepy Elton when he asked her to prom. Fast-forward to today, Mr. Bates is still stuck at the same job because crypto wasnt the soundest investment. While this is a fitting punishment for Bates, it also enables him to punish Harper and Lily. Bates doesnt realize that hes actually tormenting Anna and Tess, although any member of the Coleman family will suffice. Elton may revel in getting revenge, but in a franchise about growing up, hes the one character who hasnt changed at all in more than two decades.
#4: ...Baby One More Time
While in her mothers body, Anna grows closer to her crush, Jake. The two bond over music, namely ...Baby One More Time. Although we all associate the song with Britney Spears, that isnt the version in the 2003 film. Rather, Bowling for Soups cover was used. Chad Michael Murray also tried his best to belt out the tune. It wasnt exactly the serenade that Jake envisioned. Jake now works at a record store where Harper, as her mother, tries to seduce him. This reunion comes with a ...Baby One More Time needle drop. Not only can Spears version of the song be heard, but Lily holds up an album with Britneys face on the cover, emphasizing that they got the real deal this time.
#3: A Jolt
Rosalind Chao and Lucille Soong both return as the Chinese restaurant owners, although it isnt a fortune cookie that instigates the swap this time. After an encounter with Vanessa Bayers fortune teller, the women switch bodies (and sleeping positions) again. Since Anna and Tess have already been through this, they know what will and wont work. Harper and Lily, meanwhile, try an old move from the first film. As Anna and Tess consider their next step, Harper and Lily can be seen charging at each other in the background. It might be the films funniest callback, given how suddenly it happens. Of course, Anna and Tess couldve told them that itll take more than a jolt to reverse their circumstances.
#2: Pink Slip
Pink Slip is a fictional band that we all wish were real. Were happy that Anna continued to pursue her music career, although she takes on a more behind-the-scenes role after becoming a mom. While she leaves Pink Slip to focus on Harper, Annas bandmates remain supportive. Christina Vidal Mitchell and Haley Hudson return as Maddie and Peg, respectively, for a Pink Slip reunion. A concert once again provides the venue for the climax, albeit with a twist. Instead of Anna playing guitar from the wings while Tess takes center stage, Harper brings her mother out so they can perform together. This reunion wouldnt be complete without a new cover of Take Me Away. Pink Slip grew up, but the songs still rock.
#1: Jakes Infatuation with Tess
Were not entirely surprised that Anna and Jakes relationship didnt last. Yeah, Jake liked Anna for her mind, but lets be honest. He was way more attracted to Anna when she was in Tess body. Although Jake has moved on from Anna, he still clearly has the hots for her mother. When he runs into Tess, under Lilys control, Jake doesnt hesitate to ask if shes still married. Either way, hed likely be open to letting her ride his motorcycle. This May-December relationship might not work out, but there are other fish in the sea. Jake meets one named Beth at Anna and Erics wedding. Beths hair and dress match Tess in the first film. What can we say? Jake has a type.
What do you think was the sequels freakiest callback? Let us know in the comments.
