The Parent Trap (1998)

Let’s talk about The Parent Trap—the Lindsay Lohan version, not the original from the 60s. I remember this movie being everywhere when I was a kid, and honestly, it holds up way better than I expected. The premise is absolutely bonkers in the best way: two identical girls meet at summer camp, realize they’re twins who were separated at birth, and then scheme to get their divorced parents back together. Wildly improbable, but it never once asks the audience to take it seriously. That’s part of what makes it work so well as a family film. On paper, the setup sounds almost melodramatic, but the execution is pure fun from start to finish.

What really makes this one sing is Lindsay Lohan. She plays both Hallie and Annie, and I still forget she's just one kid. Seriously, the accent work, the little mannerisms, and the way she interacts with herself in scenes are genuinely impressive for a child actor. It’s energetic without being cloying, and Lohan’s comedic timing is sharp. I can’t overstate how big a deal this was in 1998—everyone was suddenly obsessed with Lohan, and for good reason. The film leans pretty heavily on her performance, and it pays off.

Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson, as the parents, bring more charm than the roles probably deserved on paper. Quaid is laid-back and goofy but manages to land some surprisingly heartfelt moments, especially when the girls start unraveling the family secrets. Natasha Richardson is probably the emotional core, radiating warmth and just enough regret to make her side of the story believable. The chemistry between the two is understated, which actually works—I never felt like I was being hit over the head with romantic tension, and the focus stays mostly on the kids, where it should.

The tone is classic family fare: light, breezy, and sprinkled with just enough quirkiness. It definitely has a Disney vibe from that era, complete with goofy side characters (hello, Chessy the housekeeper and Martin the butler) and over-the-top soundtrack cues. Some of the gags are dated now, but honestly, most of the jokes still land because they’re rooted in character rather than 90s pop culture references. The best scenes let the twins be crafty and mischievous—there’s a prank war at camp that’s still hilarious—and it never takes a dark turn, which makes this an easy rewatch.

If I have to knock anything, it’s the pacing. The movie runs a solid two-plus hours, which is a stretch for a family comedy aimed at kids. There are long stretches in the second act that could probably be trimmed, especially around the romantic subplot. I also think the “evil fiancée” character (played with cartoonish glee by Elaine Hendrix) borders on over-the-top. She feels pasted in from a different, way more slapstick film. Her scenes are funny, but she never feels like an actual threat, which takes some tension out of the climax.

Visually, it’s nothing revolutionary, but for a Disney remake, the cinematography is surprisingly pleasant. The summer camp scenes are golden and nostalgic, all soft sunlight through pine trees and kids running wild. The London and Napa Valley settings have their own flavors—London feels proper and cozy, Napa is sunny and relaxed. You can tell the production leaned into location shots to separate the twins’ worlds, and it works really well. There’s a tactile, lived-in feel to both settings, which makes the eventual mashup of the two all the more fun.

What definitely stands out on a rewatch is the emotional undercurrent. There are real stakes here, at least from a kid’s perspective. The film doesn’t cheap out on the anxiety and yearning the twins feel about their split family. There’s a sleepover scene in the middle that’s genuinely touching—the dialogue isn’t flowery, but there’s an honesty to it that hits even if you’re not a kid of divorce. It’s subtle but refreshing to see a family movie willing to go there, even if it bounces back to hijinks a minute later.

All in all, The Parent Trap is about as solid a family movie as you’ll find from the 90s. It’s funny without being sappy, emotionally honest but never heavy, and anchored by a breakout performance from Lindsay Lohan that makes you wish more family comedies had this much spark. Is it silly? Absolutely. Is it a comfort watch? No question.