Ash P
Well, I'm certain plenty of y'all had never thought that this existed. You'd have to find it on YouTube to even see the movie, in case you're wondering. A heads up, the quality isn't good, but it'd be interesting to see it on Disney + as it would bring a lot of interest. That and the Shaggy Dog movie that was also released in the 90s can also be found on YouTube. I'm getting a little ahead of myself here. What do I think of this version of Freaky Friday? I'm actually mixed with this one. I see some folks saying this was better than the original movie. Some say it was a little less. I will say this isn't terrible or even great. It's got some moments as well as its funny moments.
The story is about the mother and daughter, Ellen and Annabelle Andrews, played by Shelly Long and Gaby Hoffmann, bickering one morning like any mother and daughter having a disagreement with one another would often do. As soon as Friday the thirteenth came along, Bill, played by Alan Rosenberg, gives both Ellen and Annabelle a matching set of necklaces and as soon as they were about to leave for their day, they've said some magic words and now both mother and daughter had switched bodies. So not only did they have to deal with some troubles that both sides had to deal with, but they also had to figure out how to get their minds back into their proper bodies.
I will be honest, the necklaces are a neat addition on how their bodies have been swapped and having to figure out how is a better concept then just out of nowhere, they say some words and all of a sudden, they would swap bodies. Yet it wasn't focused too much, and I'm not complaining since both mother and daughter have to go through what the other does on a daily basis. Like when Ellen (Annabelle) has to deal with her job as well as this meeting as well as dealing with Bill, who is actually the new boyfriend while Ellen is a single mother. That's a change from both the original 70s film and even the book, as far as researching for information goes. Then you have Annabelle (Ellen) having to deal with school that feels like it was all over the place. What I do remember during school was her friends. Especially on the terms of social differences.
There's also this weird subplot that the mother is afraid of heights, and her daughter is part of the swim team who has to make a dive. Honestly, it's an okay touch as that was also a change from the original 70s movie. Then you also have the brother and Luke, who are pretty non-existent except in the beginning. I find the mother's side of things a little more steady while the daughter's being all over the place except with the whole friendship subplot. I can admit that there were some rushed moments. I know this is one of those direct-to-TV kind of movies that tend to do that, and I often wonder what happened in between scenes and thinking that there was something else that was supposed to happen. But I digress.
Now I had never heard much about wither Shelly Long, but I have to admit, she is amazing with her acting, whether as a single mother or being the daughter trapped in her mother's body and acting like a teenager. Especially trying to keep her job steady. With Gaby Hoffmann, she also does well for being a rebellious daughter until both mother and daughter have switched places, and now she tries to find a way to switch back with the necklaces they were given. But again, whatever is going on at school outside of the friends is kinda rushed except for when she has to speak up and then send it to the principal's office. Everyone else within the cast was fine, yet they came and went.
Overall, it's fine. A little less than how I'd thought of the original Freaky Friday movie. It's got some moments. I had a few chuckles out of this one. Some good dramatic moments. If I were to have seen it on Disney + with an improved quality then how I'd seen this on YouTube, it might've gotten a little higher on the score, but it is what it is. With that, I give the 1995 Freaky Friday five Ellen on roller blades, going from one place to another out of ten. 5/10.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
08/12/25
Full Review
Gayle G
I enjoyed this version of Freaky Friday. It's not as well known as the others because it was made for TV, but it was good. I thought Shelley Long was funny as a kid in a grownup body. It's not my favorite Freaky Friday, but it was fun.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
03/21/23
Full Review
Steve D
There are better versions and the acting is so so, but it still works.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/17/23
Full Review
Audience Member
This made-for-TV movie has Shelly Long as Ellen and Gaby Hoffman (the daughter of Warhol superstar Viva) as Annabelle. A pair of magical amulets causes the two of them to switch bodies in this version and waterskiing has been replaced with diving.
Ellen is also a single mother dating Bill (Alan Rosenberg) and designing clothing, which is the 90s version of being a housewife. What livens this up are a great cast with Drew Carey, Sandra Bernhard, Carol Kane and the much missed Taylor Negron.
Writer Stu Krieger wrote The Parent Trap II, A Troll in Central Park, Zenon: Girlof the 21st Century and Phantom of the Megaplex while director Melanie Mayron is probably best known for playing Melissa Steadman on Thirtysomething even through she has more than sixty directing credits on her resume.
The other big change is that when Annabelle is in Ellen's body, she tells Bill exactly how much she dislikes him, thinking it will push him away. Instead, he proposes.
Forgive me for being weird, but…do these characters ever have to make love in these bodies? Because, well, that could be awkward.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Poor version of the frequently recycled story.
Rated 1/5 Stars •
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
01/20/23
Full Review
Audience Member
I love it more than the 2003 remake, so that's saying something
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/29/23
Full Review
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