A Wedding-Focused Reaction to ‘Freakier Friday’

August 9, 2025

jmunney Cinema, Movie Reviews , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

A Lineup of Freaks (CREDIT: Disney/YouTube Screenshot)

Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, Manny Jacinto, Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, Maiteryi Ramakrishnan, Vanessa Bayer, Jordan E. Cooper, Stephen Tobolowsky, Elaine Hendrix, Chloe Fineman, Rosalind Chao, Christina Vidal Mitchell, Haley Hudson, Lucille Soong

Director: Nisha Ganatra

Running Time: 111 Minutes

Rating: PG

Release Date: August 8, 2025 (Theaters)

I love weddings. And if 2003’s Freaky Friday and its sequel Freakier Friday have taught me anything, it’s that body swaps tend to happen in the leadup to a wedding. So do I have a little switcheroo to look forward to in my own matrimonial future? Perhaps. Does a new stepparent situation need to also be part of the mix? That’s what these movies seem to imply, but there are surely other valuable lessons that could be learned from changing perspectives like this. Anyway, body swapping right before a wedding might sound fun, but the reality is that I’d probably be too busy with last-minute wedding prep for the experience to be fully satisfying. (Even if I were just a passive observer and not one of the swappers!) But I’m glad that Freakier Friday has shown us another way that it might go down. Jamie Lee Curtis is still having the time of her life!

Grade: More Frothy Than Freaky, as Per Usual (But That’s Okay)

‘Raya and the Last Dragon’? More Like ‘Raya and the Dragon-Who-Can’t-Stop’!

March 11, 2021

jmunney Cinema, Movie Reviews , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Raya and the Last Dragon (CREDIT:
Walt Disney Animation Studios/YouTube Screenshot)

Starring: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Izaac Wang, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Benedict Wong, Sandra Oh, Thalia Tran, Lucille Soong, Alan Tudyk

Directors: Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada

Running Time: 107 Minutes

Rating: PG

Release Date: March 5, 2021

Now that I’ve seen Raya and the Last Dragon, do I want a dragon of my own? It doesn’t have to be a “last” dragon, but I guess if that’s all that available… Anyway, if she’s voiced by Awkwafina, I won’t complain. In fact, that’s a positive in my book! She’s good company. That’s probably my most positive takeaway about this movie. Sisu’s a friend to all, as she’s been imbued with the personality of the lady who voices her, i.e., one of our favorite current Queens-bred rapper-actor-comedians. And I’m also happy to report that friendship ultimately shines through brilliantly in this flick, even with creatures who initially seem like they’re going to be enemies. That’s great news in a world in which magic objects can turn people to stone. You suddenly find yourself alone, but next thing you know, a dragon’s your best friend.

Also, the music reminds me of Woodkid’s “Run Boy Run,” a song that’s had a surprisingly strong pop cultural impact.

Grade: 3 out 5 Credit Purchases