“Why are my hands so dry? Why am I so tired?” [PREACH]

Genre: Body Swap Sequels
Release Date: 2025
Where I Watched: Disney Debut

Gist:It’s been a while since we’ve seen mom Tess and daughter Anna. Quite a while; Anna’s a grown woman with a teenager of her own, and Tess is using her therapist creds to start a podcast. But when Anna falls in love with Eric, a guy that’s perfect for her, but happens to be the dad of her daughter Harper’s nemesis Lily? Let’s just say there’s one heck of a shakeup during the rehearsal party.

Gotta say: Curtis and Lohan are names that’ll get me to watch anything. (Yep. Even I Know Who Killed Me. I have a problem.) So when I saw this sequel was in the works over two decades after the 2003 original? I got excited, because I knew these two had it handled. And damn, they do.

This Friday is just as funky fresh as the first one. Maybe even more so for those of us who saw the original in theaters back in the day. Director Nisha Ganatra manages to keep all the subplots straight, while making sure the film doesn’t feel bloated. You’d think it would be way too much for a film that’s less than two hours. You’d be wrong; Friday pays homage to the first film while having fun bringing these characters to a new decade.

It doesn’t hurt that new cast members are joined by a huge chunk of the original film’s cast, and locations. There’s the same Chinese restaurant, with the same owner. That same detention hall, and the same teacher (apparently you shouldn’t invest retirement pensions into crypto). Even the OG members of Anna’s group Pink Slip are here. Wait, is that Elaine Hendrix, the minx of Lohan’s Parent Trap, playing a PR maven? You bet.  They’re all simply part of the new story, and there’s never a OMG REMEMBER THEM moment, just a good time thanks to a cast that’s up for anything.

Meanwhile, writer Jordan Weiss keeps the dialogue firmly grounded in each character’s age and experience… Which makes it a whole lot of fun when the swaps happen and the actors need to channel someone else. The quartet of Curtis, Lohan, as (grand)mom and (mom) daughter, and newcomers Julia Butters (Harper) and Sophia Hammons (Lily) work together perfectly. Plus, they make the most out of every scene, from slapstick comedy to moments that pack a truly emotional punch. Trust me, the way things wrap up is super sweet and over the top, in the best way. Cue the confetti cannon!

If you can, make this a double feature with the original Friday. And maybe even thrown Lohan’s Parent Trap into the mix as well, because why not? This is a mashup of body swap and marriage hijinks, so grab something you probably shouldn’t snack on, and enjoy.

Come for: A visit with Jamie and Lindsay
Stay for: A genuinely touching family story