Comparison of Teen Comedy Remake Films

1) Freaky Friday

Remake Vs Original

Original Plot (1976): Annabel Andrews and her mother, Ellen, don't always see eye to eye. After a particularly frustrating argument on Friday the 13th, the two simultaneously wish they could switch places and suddenly their wish is granted. Each discovers how difficult it is to be in the other's shoes, with Ellen causing chaos at Annabel's school, and Annabel unable to deal with her mother's domestic duties. The two learn a lot about themselves and their relationship in the process.

Directed by Gary Nelson

The original film stars Jodie Foster as Annabel and Barbara Harris as Ellen.

The original Freaky Friday was nominated for 3 golden globe awards. 

Remake Plot (2003): Single mother Tess Coleman and her teenage daughter Anna couldn't be more different, and it is driving them both insane. After receiving cryptic fortunes at a Chinese restaurant, the two wake up the next day to discover that they have somehow switched bodies. Unable to switch back, they are forced to masquerade as one another until a solution can be found. In the process, they develop a new sense of respect and understanding for one another.

Directed by Mark Waters

The remake film stars Lindsay Lohan as Anna and Jaime Lee Curtis as single mum Tess.

The remake of Freaky Friday has been nominated for 1 golden globe award, has had 5 wins and another 9 nominations.

COMPARISON

Freaky Friday 1976	Freaky Friday 2003
Jodi Foster plays Annabel Andrews a thirteen year old girl who doesn't understand her mother	Lindsay Lohan plays Annabel Coleman as a fifteen-year-old girl who doesn’t understand her mother.
Annabel has a brother name Ben whom she calls 'Ape Face'	Anna has a brother called Harry and there is nothing in the film that suggests she calls him ‘Ape Face’
In the original film, Annabel’s mum is still married to her husband Bill	In the remake Anna’s mum is a single parent who is planning on getting married to her fiancé.
The swap in the original happens when Ellen and Annabel are in two different places. Annabel is at the mall with her friend eating ice cream and Ellen is at home doing the cleaning. At the same time they both say “I wish I could switch places with her, for just one day”. Then suddenly they have a body swap.	The swap in the remake happens when Anna’s mum’s fiancé take the family to eat out in a Chinese restaurant. Anna and her mother can’t stop arguing at the table and a waitress at the restaurant overhears this. Anna and her mum excuse themselves from the table and during their argument the waitress offers them both a fortune cookie with their fortune in it. They both eat the cookie and suddenly switch bodies in the restaurant.
Annabel’s mother in the original film is a housewife	Anna’s mother in the remake film is a upcoming author who has just finished writing her new book.
Annabel is a tomboy in the original Freaky Friday who is fairly intelligent but quite lazy.	Anna is a ‘rock chick’ in the remake of Freaky Friday who has her own band and is portrayed as being not as intelligent as the original ‘Annabel’

REVIEWS

The original Freaky Friday (1976) reveiws were very mixed, with top critics calling it "A good performance but a predictable plot" (Time Out Magazine) and "Dismal and cheap, like any 70's Disney movie would be" (New York Times). Yet some reveiws were positve calling it a "Kids comedy classic" (Sense Media) and an "Inspiring Disney comedy with fine performances" (CityBeat).

According to Rotten Tomatos the 1976 Freaky Friday recieved 71% positive critic reveiws and 58% of audiences enjoyed the film rewarding the film a 6.5/10.

The remake of Freaky Friday (2003) recieved much better reviews than the original, with many critics still slating the original in their review. "What should of been a bland Disney remake of a bland Disney film has somehow ended up as the most satisfying family comedy for a long time" (Film4), "A fun, well acted and laugh out loud remake" (Cinema Crazed), "A hilarious, heart warming remake" (Topics). However there were negative reveiws as well, "A flimsy retread thats bearly worth the effort" (Chicago Tribune)

Acorrding to Rotton Tomatos the 2003 remake recieved 88% positive critic reveiws, yet only a 57% audience satisfaction. The film is rated an average of 7/10.

In my personal opinion, I prefer the Freaky Friday remake with Lindsay lohan. I think the transition of the switch happens in a more interesting way and the original was slightly cheesy with the swap. Another reason why I prefer the 2003 remake is that more entertaining things happen throughout the film such as tess's new makeover scene, Anna's crush falling for her mum and the school scenes. It is more satisfying and funny than the original. I also like the relationship between Tess and Anna before the switch, even though they fight all the time, the director found a way to make it funny and a bit slap stick with their disagreements. Wheras the relationship between Annabel and her mother in the original seemed more spiteful and was slightly uncomforatble to watch.

2) Father of the Bride

Original VS Remake

Original Plot (1950): When beautiful Kay Banks announces her engagement to Buckley Dunstan, her doting middle-class father, Stan, must contend with a variety of problems, ranging from money issues to wedding planning difficulties. As things get hectic, Stan's wife, Ellie, tries to be the calm in the center of the storm. At the heart of the comedy, though, is Stan's emotional tie to his little girl, and his realization that she has indeed grown up.

Directed by Vincente Minnelli

The original Fther of the Bride stars Elizabeth Taylor as Kay and Spencer Tracy as Stan (The Father of the Bride)

Father of the Bride 1950 was nominated for 3 oscars and 1 other nomination.

Remake Plot (1991): George Banks and his wife, Nina, are the proud parents of Annie, but when she returns from studying abroad and announces that she's engaged, their whole world turns upside down, especially that of overprotective George. From meeting the in-laws to wedding plans with an over-the-top consultant and his flamboyant assistant, it seems as if the troubles never end.

Directed by Charles Shyer

The Father of the Bride remake stars Steve Martin as George and Kimberly Williams as Annie.

Father of the Bride 2003 has won 1 award and had another 4 nominations.

COMPARISON

Father of the Bride 1950	Father of the Bride 1991
The Father of the Bride is called Stan	In the remake of the film the father is called George
In the original the bride who Elizabeth Taylor portrays Is called Kay	In the remake the bride’s name is Annie
The mother of the bride is called Ellie in the original	The mother of the bride is called Nina in the remake
The set location in the original is set in the Suburb, outside New York.	The location in the remake film is set in the Suburb, outside Los Angles.
Gender roles are portrayed differently, in the 1950 original Ellie stays at home and always greets Stan as soon as he comes home	In the remake Nina runs her own successful business.
Bride Kay intends to marry her fiancé Buckley at age 20	Bride Annie intends to marry her fiancé Brian at age 22

REVIEWS

The original Father of the Bride had extremly good reveiws from critics and audiences. "One of the best comedys made in the 50's" (Movie Guide), "A honey of a pictureof American family life" (New york Times), "An endless array of laughs and goosebumps" (Moviehole). Despite all its positive reveiws, there will always be critics that dont approve, "Nightmarish comedy, about the hunt for a wealthy husband and an expensive wedding" (Classic film and television).

According to Roten Tomatos, the original Father of the Bride obtained a 93% positive critic reveiw score and a 73% audience satisfaction score. Overall the film was rated a 8/10. 

The 1991 remake of The Father of the Bride also recieved positive reveiws, however they did not match the height of the original. "The film does work, but not quite as well as the Tracy classic that it seeks to replace" (Empire Magazine). On the other had most critics did enjoy the film "A charming remake of a classic" (Film4), "Father of the bride should bring a smile to everyones face' (Metropolis). Still there were more negative reviews about the remake than the original with people calling it "A waste of talent" (Mercury).

From Rotten Tomatos, the remake of The Father of the Bride recieved 73% positive critic reviews and a 70% audience satisfaction. Averaging the film to be a 6/10. 

I saw the original version of The Father of the Bride a very long time ago and could not recall all of the events that happened. However I have recently watched the 1991 remake and from what I remember the two films were relativly very similar. I personally prefer the remake with Steve Martin as he is my favourite comedian and I think he brings a comic element to the film that Tracy didn't. Also as the remake version deals with more modern day events, the themes are easier for people to relate to. Yet the origanal is a classic that was just as heart warming.