Freaky Friday (1995 film)
Freaky Friday is a 1995 American made-for-television fantasy-comedy film and a remake of the 1976 film of the same name produced by Walt Disney Television which premiered on May 6, 1995 as an ABC Family Movie.[1] It was the last in a series of four remakes of live-action Disney films produced for broadcast on ABC during the 1994–95 television season.
Freaky Friday | |
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![]() Promotional poster | |
Genre |
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Based on | Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers |
Written by | Stu Krieger |
Directed by | Melanie Mayron |
Starring | Shelley Long Gaby Hoffmann Catlin Adams Sandra Bernhard |
Music by | James McVay Lisa Harlow Stark |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers | George Zaloom Les Mayfield Scott Immergut |
Producer | Joan Van Horn |
Production locations | Pasadena, California |
Cinematography | Russ Alsobrook |
Editor | Henk Van Eeghen |
Running time | 86 minutes |
Production company | Walt Disney Television |
Distributor | Disney–ABC Domestic Television |
Release | |
Original network | ABC |
Picture format | Color |
Audio format | Stereo |
Original release | May 6, 1995 |
Chronology | |
Preceded by | Escape to Witch Mountain |
Plot
A mother, Ellen (Shelley Long), and daughter, Annabelle (Gaby Hoffmann), find it difficult to get along with each other because of their different views on their own lives and each other's. A pair of magical amulets causes the two of them to switch bodies for a day. Ellen's boyfriend, Bill, drives them both to work where she has to present a new clothing line. She, initially worried about the fact that she has no idea of what to do, goes along with it anyway. Meanwhile, Annabelle has an awkward day at school with her friends and she learns what her daughter's life is really like. Back at her job, Ellen and Bill eventually have an argument (with Annabelle saying how she feels about Bill in her mother’s body). He later apologizes to “Ellen” and proposes to her, much to her horror. “Annabelle” then calls and finally is able to convince Bill that they have truly switched bodies. He then realizes why “Ellen” turned him down. A little later they rush down to the diving event the school is holding because “Annabelle” can't swim. After they save her, they switch back and Annabelle and Ellen finally have a new understanding of what the other has to go through.
Among many changes from the original, this version of the story has diving instead of waterskiing as Annabelle's main hobby, which again plays a big role in the film's climax. Also, in the original (and the book), Ellen and Bill are married and Bill is Annabelle's dad, whereas in this adaptation, Ellen is a single mom and Bill is her new sweetheart. It also reveals how they switched bodies.
Cast
- Shelley Long as Ellen and Annabelle Andrews
- Gaby Hoffmann as Annabelle and Ellen Andrews
- Alan Rosenberg as Bill
In addition to the principal characters, the movie has supporting cast appearances by Drew Carey, Eileen Brennan, Carol Kane, Sandra Bernhard, Jackie Hoffman, Andrew Keegan and Marla Sokoloff.
References
- Cotter, Bill (1997). The Wonderful World of Disney Television. Hyperion Books. p. 113. ISBN 0-7868-6359-5.