Prismark10 This is a bright and breezy Disney comedy that works because of the performances by Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris. Teenage Annabel Andrews (Foster) switches bodies with her mother Ellen (Harris) on Friday the 13th.Annabel realises that managing a home is not easy with cooking, cleaning, managing various workmen, doing various chores. Ellen finds out that being a high school kid is no fun. She messes up at the typewriter class, causes chaos at the photography darkroom and the hockey game leaves her bruised.It is a case of understanding each other's lives. Foster does well as the grown up mom inhibits her body, likewise with Harris playing the teenager all at sea at being domesticated.It is all amiable and easygoing which the kids would like then the film steps up a gear with a crazy finish as Annabel gets involved in a batty police chase through the city and Ellen gets involved in a barmy ski sequence.Some of the roles might be too conservative for today's tastes. The mother being the dutiful housewife for example but this was Disney of the 1970s.

jotix100 Parents and children are usually at odds in matters of responsibility and what is expected of them. Parents do not have it easy because there are times when they feel they want to step back from their stressed lives in exchange for what they perceive is an easy life their children are living. In turn, children would change places with a parent in that it would give them the freedom to do things their elders are denying them.Basically, that is the premise for this Walt Disney film that is based on the Mary Rodgers novel. Directed by Gary Nelson, the 1976 film pales in comparison to the much better revision of 2003 directed by Marc Waters resulting in a much entertaining film. The problem for this film lays in the fact it is not as funny as the much superior remake that came out almost thirty years later.The only thing going in this version is the wonderful performance by Barbara Harris, an actress that has not been seen much lately, but who always delivered either in her stage work, or in films. It is our loss. Ms. Harris is equally matched by Jodie Foster as the grown up trapped in a young body. John Astin, the wonderful Patsy Kelly playing a housekeeper from hell, Kay Ballard and Ruth Buzzi do their best to save the comedy.

Wegra Hmm... I must say this is one of those movies that sort of has aged over the years being this movie was made in the 70's Nothing wrong with that but the movie is kind of boring for the younger viewers.A young Jodie Foster plays a Preteen tomboy who gets into a lot of trouble with her family and social life. Till one day in some unexplained turn of events her and her mom Switch bodies.What kinda gets to me is that they never explained how it happen. Was it in the food in the restaurant? I WANT TO KNOW!!! D:Now to be fair it has its share of funny scenes. Like when the Mom is water skiing and such.This is the very few instances where I prefer the remake to the original.So overall, The movie is kind of outdated, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, Jodie Foster did have fun making this film so I should give credit for that. If you feel like taking a trip down memory lane this is for you.

Kristine I saw the remake of Freaky Friday first before I ever saw this Freaky Friday, and you might hate me when I say, I didn't know until a year ago that it was a remake, not to mention that it starred an unknown little actress, Jodie Foster. But when I heard, I got excited and wanted to see it immediately since I loved the remake, but I could never find the original at the video store, but finally I came across it yesterday at Hollywood Video. I just watched it this morning and while I enjoyed it, I found the remake to be a little more entertaining, I'll explain in just a minute.Ellen is a house maker and a mom who is constantly on the go and taken for granted, Annabelle is her sloppy disorganized daughter, and they just can't seem to understand each other. But when they are both talking about each other, they say the magic words "I wish she could just be in my shoes for one day", and their bodies switch! Now Ellen has to learn what it is like to be her tomboy sports loving daughter and Annabelle has to learn what a complicated life her mom has with chores, babysitting, cooking, and being in charge of the house with a husband who takes her for granted constantly.Freaky Friday has some good humor and some light laughs here and there, but I think the reason why I enjoyed the remake with Jamie Lee Curtis a little better was because of the times. Today's world is constantly on the go, not to mention I think that kids are a little more rebellious, so the mom and daughter had more to learn from each other in that film. But I would never say shy away from this Freaky Friday because it is a classic and has some good laughs and a good ending.6/10