Freakier Friday

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What’s After the Movie opens with Jamie Lee Curtis portraying Tess Coleman, a dedicated therapist who is preparing to record another episode of her popular therapy podcast. Over time, her relationship with her daughter Lindsay Lohan’s character, Anna, has improved significantly. Anna, a former musician who chose to focus on her family and her daughter Harper, has taken on a maternal role for Harper, played by Julia Butters. Harper is a teenage girl navigating her own challenges, especially with her mother’s upcoming wedding and her conflicted feelings about her future.

The story begins in Anastoria, as Anna struggles to get her daughter Harper, a lively and independent teenager, ready for school. Harper, who loves surfing and hanging out with her friends, is initially absent-minded and late, but she manages to get back home just in time for her mother to take her to school. At school, Harper is introduced to a new girl, Lily Reyes (played by Sophia Hammons), a confident, somewhat snobbish British student with a penchant for doodling fashionable designs in her notebook. During their chemistry class, Harper is forced to work with Lily, a pairing that sparks immediate friction. Their argument escalates when the two accidentally mix chemicals, causing a messy foam explosion inside the classroom.

Anna is called to the school to address the commotion and quickly runs into Eric Reyes, played by Manny Jacinto, Lily’s charming and handsome father. Their encounter is pleasant, and a quick connection forms between them. As days pass, Anna and Eric develop a romantic interest, leading to their engagement after about six months. This development, however, causes some tension within Anna’s family, especially with Harper and Lily, who are uncomfortable with the idea of the two moving to London. The move is especially difficult for Harper, who fears losing her friends and her familiar life, and for Lily, who is reluctant to join the Coleman family circle.

Meanwhile, Anna works in her capacity as a talent manager, with her client Maitreyi Ramakrishnan playing Ella, a pop star devastated after her breakup with Trevor Travis. Trevor, who is also a musician, has publicly moved on from Ella, even releasing a song about their relationship—adding to Ella’s heartbreak. Ella, a fan of Anna’s old band Pink Slip, seeks her help to regain her confidence. The subplot adds flavor and depth, illustrating the emotional struggles faced by those in the music industry.

The story’s humor intensifies during a bake sale where Harper and Lily, both participating to earn community service hours, have a messy altercation involving baked goods and food fights. Harper, feeling jealous and annoyed, hides Lily’s organic desserts, which leads to Lily retaliating by smearing cookies on Harper’s clothes. The clash ends with a key lime pie flying in a teacher’s face, resulting in an in-school suspension that worsens the girls’ disliking for each other. At home, Anna confronts them about the incident, highlighting the growing family tensions.

Later that evening, Anna hosts her bachelorette party, which includes former bandmates Christina Vidal and Haley Hudson, along with other friends. During the party, Tess attempts to connect with Lily about her reservations about joining the family, but Lily dismisses her rudely. Similarly, Harper vents her frustrations about the wedding. The evening takes a strange turn when a psychic, Vanessa Bayer’s character Madame Jen, offers them a free reading. She insightfully comments on the importance of lessons learned and change, and the room then begins shaking, signaling an ominous turn of events.

The next morning, chaos ensues as it’s revealed that Harper and Lily have switched bodies with Anna and Tess, respectively. Harper, now in her mother’s body, and Lily, in Tess’s body, are both horrified, realizing they must navigate their parents’ lives while trying to undo the spell. The older women, in younger bodies, are equally distressed and attempt to guide their daughters through this bizarre situation. The girls, in their parents’ bodies, try to dress in their signature styles, much to their parents’ embarrassment, and face the consequences of detention and classroom misadventures.

Harper, in Tess’s body, with Mark Harmon as Ryan, who is Tess’s boyfriend, joins a photo shoot for Tess’s upcoming book. She accidentally causes an allergic reaction with lip balm, puffing her lips comically. Meanwhile, Lily (in Anna’s body) joins Ryan for a pickleball match, surprising everyone by helping him win despite her nervousness.

In an effort to undo the body swap, Anna and Tess sneak into the teacher’s office and uncover that the detention supervisor, Stephen Tobolowsky, who is also Anna’s former teacher, is involved. Their attempts to act rebellious only get them more chores, making their situation more frustrating. Meanwhile, Harper and Lily—dressed in revealing outfits—try to seduce Jake at his record shop to gather clues about how to restore their bodies. Their interactions are awkward, especially when Lily admits her lack of experience with boys, and Jake remains infatuated with Tess, showing his ongoing affection for Anna.

As the story progresses, Harper visits Eric at an immigration interview, where she tries to throw him off, but he clearly cares deeply for Anna, which influences Harper’s perspective. She begins to see how sincere his love is for her mother, especially after witnessing his dedication. The characters’ perspectives start shifting, and Harper’s attitude toward her family begins to soften.

Their plans to disrupt Anna and Eric’s wedding meet with further complications, especially when Lily, as Tess, publicly announces she doesn’t want her mother to marry Eric. This causes Eric to reconsider, and ultimately he calls off the wedding, resulting in heartbreak for Anna. Amidst the emotional turmoil, the girls realize that genuine love and family are more important than the wedding plans.

Eventually, at the wedding venue, Anna and Harper, still in each other’s bodies, realize that Ella, the pop star, has surprised everyone by bringing her former bandmates Maddie and Peg to perform. Anna clarifies that her song “Baby” was written about Harper herself, emphasizing her love and pride for her daughter. When Harper unexpectedly steps up to perform alongside Anna, and they sing the song together, it becomes a heartwarming climax. Harper introduces Anna to the crowd, and her effort to sing publicly is both adorable and touching.

The emotional climax culminates in a heartfelt reconciliation—with Eric and Anna kissing and reuniting on stage. Lily, embracing her newfound family, agrees to become part of their lives as a sister. The earth shakes again, signaling the spell’s end, and everyone returns to their original bodies. The wedding proceeds, with Ella officiating, and Anna and Eric’s marriage is celebrated.

The film closes with a scene during the credits, where Tess is at a book signing, only to be mortified by a photo of her with puffed-up lips—Harper and Lily teasing her in good spirits. The credits roll with plenty of outtakes and bloopers, highlighting the film’s playful and warm-hearted tone.

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Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:13