IT IS not even Friday yet, but many Filipinos already freaked out when they saw Filipino-Canadian actor Manny Jacinto grace the red carpet premiere of the fantasy-comedy film, “Freakier Friday,” in the Philippines.
Loud cheers erupted at the SM Mall of Asia Main Atrium on Tuesday, August 5, as Jacinto took the stage, and the screaming grew louder when he greeted the fans in a mix of Tagalog and English.
“Hello, everybody! Kumusta po kayo? Thank you for being here, wow, this is so exciting!” the Manila-born actor said.
Jacinto, 37, gained prominence for his role as Jason Mendoza in the fantasy-comedy sitcom, “The Good Place.” He further rose to popularity when he portrayed Qimir, or the Stranger, in the hit science fiction series, “The Acolyte.”
In “Freakier Friday,” viewers will witness how Jacinto gives life to the character of Eric Reyes, a lovely chef and single dad who becomes the love interest of Lindsay Lohan’s character, Anna Coleman.
If you are curious how freaky the sequel would get, here is what you should know about “Freakier Friday.”
A nostalgic film
“Freakier Friday” is a sequel to the fantasy-comedy film “Freaky Friday,” starring Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. It is based on the 1972 book of the same name written by Mary Rodgers.
When it was first released in 2003, several millennials and Gen Z were likely still in elementary school and kindergarten. Seeing Curtis and Lohan reprising their roles as Tess and Anna, respectively, on the big screen indeed brings viewers a lot of nostalgia.
The sequel will also feature other characters in the first film, including Mark Harmon’s Ryan, Tess’ ex-fiancè and now husband; Chad Michael Murray’s Jake, Anna’s ex-boyfriend; Haley Hudson’s Peg and Christina Vidal’s Maddie as Anna’s bandmates and best friends.
A ‘freakier’ plot
“Freakier Friday” is not freakier without a reason.
If “Freaky Friday” saw Anna and Tess switching bodies with one another, “Freakier Friday” will get more complicated as the two swap bodies anew, this time, involving two new characters: Julia Butters’s Harper and Sophia Hammons’s Lily.
Harper and Lily are Anna’s daughter and soon-to-be-stepdaughter, respectively, who team up to call off her upcoming wedding with Eric.
The four-way body swap in the sequel places Lily in Tess’s body, Harper in Anna’s, Tess in Lily’s, and Anna in Harper’s. The quartet must find a way to return to their respective bodies and deal with the myriad misunderstandings before Anna and Eric tie the knot.
Joining Jacinto, Butters, and Hammons in the roster of new characters are Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as pop star Ella and Vanessa Bayer as a fortune teller named Madame Jen.
Filipino representation
Viewers can also expect Jacinto to showcase Filipinos’ strong family ties as he plays the role of a devoted father to his daughter, Lily.
According to Jacinto, he drew inspiration from his parents to better portray his character in “Freakier Friday.”
“I was gonna play a father for the first time. I would have an anak—a little kid of my own for the first time,” the actor said. “I didn’t know how to react at first, but I just drew upon the experiences of my parents and maybe drew upon those memories.”
“They’re the biggest fans,” Jacinto said. “They would be here if they could. I think this would be incredible to them.”
Opening in PH cinemas
Directed by Nisha Ganatra, “Freakier Friday” will roll out in cinemas nationwide, starting Wednesday, August 6.
During the red carpet premiere, Jacinto invited Filipino fans to watch “Freakier Friday,” which he promised to be a “fun” film.
“Sana panoorin ninyo ang ‘Freakier Friday.’ Maraming, maraming salamat po, thank you for having me,” he said.
“It’s a dream to be here right now, so thank you! Mahal kita!” he continued, gesturing a finger heart to the crowd.
