Le Monde's opinion – Why not

In 1998, Lindsay Lohan was barely 12 years old when she became the new face of Disney. At the time, the studio had a preference for well-behaved young girls, launching them into sweet TV series and family films. The United States, from Shirley Temple to Miley Cyrus, has always sought to project an image of childhood innocence. Lohan starred in a string of blockbuster films: the charming Freaky Friday, directed by Mark Waters in 2003, followed the next year by the highly successful teen movie Mean Girls, also directed by Waters.

In Freaky Friday, the conflict between mother and daughter and the generational gap are resolved through a body-swap: One day, the daughter (Lohan) finds herself in her mother's body (Curtis), and vice versa, until they come to understand each other. The film was a massive hit, especially with home viewers. Then the young star grew up and rebelled, providing tabloid fodder with her escapades. After a long absence, Lohan made her comeback in 2022, starring in a series of Christmas movies produced by Netflix.

Twenty-two years after the original, Freakier Friday marks the return of the actress, now 39, to the big screen. The anxious teenager of the first film has become a successful working woman. Now, it's her turn to be the mother of a rebellious teenager, and even a stepmother, as her partner also has a daughter. A wedding is on the horizon, after which the new family will move to London. The problem: the two teenagers cannot stand each other and are willing to do anything to sabotage their parents' plans. Of course, the grandmother – still played by Curtis – remains in the picture.

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