In 2003, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan starred in the comedy Freaky Friday which has become a classic among fans of several generations. They return in this latest chapter, Freakier Friday, where they once again find themselves in someone else’s body, which freaks them out – again. What makes this new film “freakier” is that they are not the only people that change bodies. 

Anna (Lohan) is a single parent to Harper (Julia Butters) and is being helped by her mother Tess (Curtis). Harper is an easy-going girl who loves to surf. Harper’s arch enemy at school is Lily (Sophia Hammons), a rather snooty British girl who is only in America for a year while her father Eric (Manny Jacinto) is opening his newest restaurant. 

When Anna and Eric meet in the principal’s office after their daughters caused a ruckus, there is an instant attraction. As the months go by, their attraction grows into love and then an upcoming marriage.

The thought of being step-sisters infuriates the girls. Neither one of them is happy about the union. Where will they live? London or Los Angeles? They are miserable.

Then, just like in the 2003 film, they magically wake up one day to find they are in someone else’s body. Harper is in her mother’s body, Anna is in Harper’s body, and Tess is in Lily’s body, while Lily is in Tess’ body. So this is a double whammy.

Living in the body of Tess, the grandmother in the story,  is very strange for this teenager. When Tess and Ryan are in the pickle ball tournament, well, that’s something to see as this British girl who has never picked up a racket, must try to fake-it on the court.

Living in her mother’s body is eye-opening for Harper. She discovers how much her mother loves her. And soon Lily, living as Tess, realizes how much her dad loves Anna. But can they all be happy as one family?

But how can they change back? A fortune teller told them, “Change the hearts you know are wrong to reach the place where you belong.”

The girls decide to work together to break up their parents. After all, if they change their parents’ hearts then they will return to their rightful bodies. Right? Spoiler alert – NO.

The bonus features on the Digital and Blu-ray include several deleted scenes. While some are fun, the filmmakers decided they were not relevant to the final film.

There are three featurettes. One brings viewers into the making of the film, the stunts, and how the actors learned the mannerisms of the different characters in order to live as someone else.

Another featurette looks back at the 2003 film as the cast reflects on that experience and bringing their characters back for this sequel. They also discuss how Freaky Friday is a classic with a loyal fanbase.

There is a look a the two films with some fun facts and a music video of the original song in this film.

While Freaky Friday is a wonderful comedy, Freakier Friday is fun but lacks much of the cuteness of the original. It will, however, be enjoyed by viewers who have waited 22 years to see the characters they love come back to the screen.

Mark Harmon returns as Ryan and Chad Michael Murray returns as Jake. So, the whole gang is back together, with two new additions.

Freakier Friday is now available on Digital and will be available on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD beginning November 11, 2025. 

It’s interesting to note, the 2003 film was a remake of a popular 1976 movie of the same name starring Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris. Check it out if you can find it somewhere. It is also a fun film.

Freakier Friday is rated PG for thematic elements, rude humor, language, and some suggestive references. 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, and is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County. Francine is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer
Images supplied courtesy of Disney

What is touted as the final film in the franchise, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, once again has Tom Cruise in daring situations that amaze and entertain viewers. Cruise steps back into the shoes of Ethan Hunt in this daring adventure that could mean the end of the world.

Technology is a blessing and a curse, and in this story it is definitely a curse. In today’s world we know that AI is intelligent and always “learning.” The storyline in this film has an AI, known as the Entity, planning to take over all of the world’s nuclear missiles with the intent on ending humanity once and for all. When that is accomplished this Entity will be the only power and able to control everything that is to come.

Hunt and his team are not about to let that happen. There is a bit of a convoluted story about how they have to acquire separate items in order to trap the Entity. This story takes them around the world to the UK, Norway, and South Africa. 

Hunt’s team consists of Grace (Hayley Atwell), a brilliant pickpocket, Benji (Simon Pegg), a tech wiz, Paris (Pom Klementieff), Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis), and Luther (Ving Rhames). Esai Morales returns as Gabriel who is also trying to get the items to take over control of the Entity. Angela Bassett plays the President of the United States who has a difficult decision with her hand literally on the nuclear button. 

The movie is intense – and long! at 2 hours and 49 minutes, there are several scenes that go on, and on, and on. The water scene, for instance, could have been cut in half. But being the final film in the franchise (as it is supposed to be) it was probably Director Christopher McQuarrie’s intent to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as long as possible.

Cruise has mentioned that this is his last MI film, however there have been rumblings in Hollywood that there could be more, with or without Cruise. That doesn’t bode well for fans of the franchise and fans of Tom Cruise. When Sean Connery relinquished his role as James Bond, the franchise continued with several more actors taking on the role of 007. 

That doesn’t mean another actor would step into the shoes of Ethan Hunt. There could be a completely different MI team in the future, however it is more likely this is definitely the finale for Mission Impossible. It is interesting to contemplate. After all, Mission Impossible originated in 1966 as a TV series that ran for seven seasons. 

So, with all the high-flying (literally) stunts, the deep dive (literally) into the frozen arctic waters, and more intense situations, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning has all the ingredients of its predecessors. It is everything MI fans want and expect.

The Bonus Features

With several bonus featurettes, viewers see behind the scenes of the making of the film and how extraordinary the intense sequences were to not only imagine but also to create and execute.

“I love flying,” Cruise states. In one scene the actor had to hang off a bi-plane and maneuver himself inside the cockpit. This sequence is described as “unique” and “classic.” They had to rebuild vintage planes to specifications that would withstand everything they were put through. There is no doubt this scene will be part of Hollywood history. 

For the underwater sequence they built a special tank, which was huge. The frame of a submarine had to fit inside along with a specially built rotating gimbal that was lowered into the tank. This was a challenging part of the film, but one they managed to create to perfection.

Filming in the arctic, as they say “on top of the world,” was another challenge with temperatures in the minus forties. Can you say “brrrr?”

And there had to be a car chase. After all, what would an MI film be without one? This time they set the vehicles underground.

To say they went beyond what they had done in the past with all the thrilling and chilling (literally) sequences is an understatement. Watching the bonuses puts into perspective the dedication, creativity, and vision of the entire team of filmmakers. This is one momentous way to conclude the franchise.

The 4K Ultra HD steel-book comes with a 4K disc, a Blu-ray disc, and a disc filled with bonus features, as well as a Digital Code. The film is also available on a DVD.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and action, bloody images, and brief language.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, and is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County. Francine is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

The 1950 classic Sunset Boulevard is now available in 4K for the ultimate viewing experience in honor of its 75th anniversary.  Stars William Holden, Gloria Swanson, and Nancy Olson were nominated for Academy Awards as was Director Billy Wilder and several others. All in all, this film garnered 11 Academy Award nominations, with three wins.

William Holden stars as Joe Gillis, an out-of-work screenwriter who holds onto the dream of writing another great script. He is out of work, in debt, and out of luck. When his car blows a tire, he sees an empty garage in an old dilapidated mansion and pulls in, hoping to be able to use the phone.

The mansion is owned by Norma Desmond (Swanson), a former giant in the movies. Her silent films were treasured by audiences around the world. Norma has been living alone with her loyal assistant Max (Erich von Stroheim). She has no grasp on reality.
When she sees this stranger and learns he is a writer, she begs him to edit a screenplay she has written for her big comeback. At first he declines, but she is insistent. And, Joe desperately needs the money.

Another thing she demands is that he lives at the mansion. He is reluctant but does so. And little by little Norma begins taking over his life.

Soon Joe is a kept man. He is well dressed, well fed, but has nothing of his own. However, as he gets to know Norma, he feels closer to her and somewhat sorry for her. 

As the two become joined at the hip, Joe feels the pang of wanting his old life back and soon begins writing a script with the help of his old friend’s fiancé Betty (Olson). He must sneak out of the house at night to keep this secret from Norma.

The movie is as intriguing as Norma is psychologically disturbed. She is a sociopath, narcissist, and completely unhinged. Being in black and white adds to the drama. 

The movie is a classic. Cecil B. DeMille, Hedda Hopper, Buster Keaton, and several others make appearances in this tragic story of old Hollywood. It has even wormed itself into the lexicon of today with the phrase, “Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my closeup.”

Sunset Boulevard is now available from Paramount Home Entertainment on 4K (with Blu-ray and Digital Code). It is not rated however it is not for young viewers.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, and is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County. Francine is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.