The Parent Trap (1998)

The Parent Trap (1998); you might consider it the start of the Disney remake epidemic we’ve been going through in recent years, but as far as remakes go, I think this is a good one. Twins separated at birth, Hallie and Annie (Lindsay Lohan), meet at summer camp. They decide to switch places to get their parents back together. Their plan hits a roadblock when the twins realize that their father is about to marry the reprehensible, disingenuous, gold-digging girl-boss, Meredith Blake (Elaine Hendrix). This is the exact same plot as the original 1961 movie, but here it is used to create a completely different atmosphere. With Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give, The Holiday) in the director’s chair, this romcom really brings the rom in a way that the original doesn’t. From the moment we meet the twins’ parents (played by Natasha Richardson and Dennis Quaid) we get a sense of how much they like each other. Each one speaks fondly about the other in a way that is easy to believe. While watching this I found myself with butterflies in my stomach, anxious about the outcome of their relationship. This is due in part to Natasha Richardson’s excellent performance as the twins’ mother. She possesses a bouncy bubbliness that works well with the role of a woman nervous and in love. This film, much like the original, drags a bit during the camping scene where the gold-digger and the father break up. It focuses on the bratty antagonist Meredith for an extended period while building to a close, something that is frustrating to watch. It ends on a high note, however, with the mother and father reuniting. The soundtrack is fantastic containing banger after banger (There She Goes, In the Mood, Top of the World). It is one of the film’s highlights (how could you not have a good time while horns are blasting Soulful Strut at you). The Parent Trap is really just fun. It does a great job at building a romance between two people who are miles apart and is a good pick for easy-going summer viewing.