The Parent Trap (1998)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Nancy Meyers

Writers (WGA):

Erich Kästner (book)
David Swift (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

29 July 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Tagline:

Twice the Fun, Double the Trouble.

Plot:

Identical twins Hallie and Annie were separated at birth when their parents divorced. After the two meet at summer camp...

Plot Keywords:

Twin | Summer Camp | Scheme | Napa Valley | Wedding Gown

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Lindsay Lohan	...	Hallie Parker / Annie James
Dennis Quaid	...	Nick Parker
Natasha Richardson	...	Elizabeth James
Elaine Hendrix	...	Meredith Blake
Lisa Ann Walter	...	Chessy
Simon Kunz	...	Martin
Polly Holliday	...	Marva Kulp, Sr.
Maggie Wheeler	...	Marva Kulp, Jr.
Ronnie Stevens	...	Grandpa Charles James
Joanna Barnes	...	Vicki Blake
Hallie Meyers-Shyer	...	Lindsay
Maggie Emma Thomas	...	Zoe
Courtney Woods	...	Nicole
Katerina Graham	...	Jackie
Michael Lohan	...	Lost Boy at Camp

Also Known As:

Disney's The Parent Trap (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild mischief.

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:PG (cut) | Brazil:Livre | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Philippines:G | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:o.Al. (w) | Norway:A | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Administration Building, Treasure Island, California, USA

Company:

The Meyers/Shyer Company

Trivia:

When Hallie arrives in London and meets Martin at the airport, at the point where the two begin their greeting, you can see Lindsay Lohan's mother holding her brother Dakota Lohan, and beside her is Lindsay's other brother Michael Lohan and sister Ali Lohan. (If you watch closely, Ali can be seen turning around to watch her sister, then Lindsay's mother turns to look as well.)

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the cabin when the balloons are falling on Annie, she looks up as the biggest one is about to fall. She moves to the side so she's right under the balloon.

Quotes:

Annie as Hallie: I know what mystery my father sees in you.
Meredith Blake: You do?
Annie as Hallie: You're young, beautiful, sexy, and hey the guy is only human, but if you ask me marriage is supposed to be based on more then just sex, right?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Lindsay Lohan/Usher (#29.18)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

How Bizarre

Classic Disney Comedy

School holidays can be deadly for older cinema patrons but sometimes there are films for children that are well worth a visit for adults. Unusually, The Parent Trap is a children's film that can even be recommended for children by the most morally bound parent - although there is a divorce that may need to be explained away. The Parent Trap is cute, sugary and funny - and unashamedly so. The Parent Trap was originally made in 1961 starring Haley Mills as a pair of twins who accidentally meet when they are eleven years old. Their parents divorced when they were babies. They then connive to get their parents back together. This is classic Disney material and the formula can and does work very well indeed in this modern version. Heaven only knows how the special effects are done but I suggest that you just forget about that and settle back and enjoy the film. You won't have any choice anyway. I was convinced that the twins must have been played by real life twins and I'm sure that I won't be the only one to fall for that particular Parent Trap. Young Lindsay Lohan plays the girls, (both of them!) complete with fabulous accents, sunny bright and distinctive personalities, appealing red hair, freckles and a great sense of fun. One of the girls has become a Londoner and one a Californian and the girls also sport very commendable English and American accents, as well as composites of the two accents when the girls switch places. It's also pleasing to see young girls being given the sorts of lightly rebellious antics to frolic with as are usually reserved for young boys. The story begins in a New England summer camp where practical jokes are the go, although the film is careful to keep nastiness well out of the way. It would be hard to accuse Lindsay Lohan's twins of any serious crime in any case. The girls decide to switch places so they can each meet their Mum and Dad. In true Hollywood style both parents are rich and attractive and they of course each have hired help (Lisa Anne Walter and Simon Kunz) who are of course are going to fall in love. But then we must have the wicked stepmother and this is provided by Meredith, a gold digger who's out to score the very rich hand of Dad. She's played with appropriate relish by Sharon Stone look alike Elaine Hendrix. The story really revolves around the parents, played by Natasha Richardson and Dennis Quaid. We can settle back and wait for the inevitable to happen, because we just know that this is going to be one of those "happily ever after" efforts where Mummy and Daddy will again fall in love and properly become parents for these two very cute and loving girls. But along the way be prepared for some very solid laughs and a wonderfully animated and motivated lizard.