The Parent Trap (1998)

Identical twins Annie and Hallie, separated at birth and each raised by one of their biological parents, later discover each other for the first time at summer camp and make a plan to bring their wayward parents back together.

Director:

Nancy Meyers

Writers:

Erich Kästner (book), David Swift (screenplay)

Stars:

Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson

2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Grandfather
Joanna Barnes	...	Vicki Blake
Hallie Meyers-Shyer	...	Lindsay
Maggie Emma Thomas	...	Zoe
Courtney Woods	...	Nicole
Kat Graham	...	Jackie (as Katerina Graham)
Michael Lohan	...	Lost Boy at Camp

Storyline

When two pre-teens named Hallie and Annie meet through their summer camp, their two lives are rattled when they realize that they are identical twins. With parents, British mother aka famous dress designer Elizabeth and American father, a wine maker named Nick, living in two different sides of the universe, the girls decide to make an identity swap in hopes of spending time with their other parent. The girls later choose to aware their guardians of the swap while at a hotel in NYC, which late reunites the divorced pair and sends them back into remarriage with each other.

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Plot Keywords:

divorce | twins separated at birth | f rated | wolf whistle | horse riding | 

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Taglines:

Twice the Fun, Double the Trouble.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Family | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild mischief

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

29 July 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Disney's The Parent Trap

Filming Locations:

27 Berkeley Square, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,148,497, 2 August 1998, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$66,308,518

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$92,108,518

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinema Vehicle Services, The Meyers/Shyer Company, Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The reaction of Nick Parker (Dennis Quaid's character) reaction to seeing Elizabeth (Natasha Richardson's character) for the first time in 11 years is identical to James Garner's character's reaction in Move Over, Darling (1963) upon seeing his missing wife after 5 years. In both films, the man is on an elevator with his current partner and leans over in disbelief as the door closes. James Garner's character in Move Over, Darling (1963) is also named Nick. James Garner actually copied the move in the elevator from Cary Grant who did the same thing in the movie My Favorite Wife (1940). When Cary Grant entered the elevator with his new bride Gail Patrick he was shocked to see his first wife Irene Dunne who after seven years had been declared missing at sea and presumed dead that very morning. Move Over, Darling is a remake of My Favorite Wife. Dennis Quaid also does a very distinctive voice impersonation of Cary Grant in the scene following the camping trip.

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Goofs

When Elizabeth takes Hallie (as Annie) to the studio, there are yellow "No parking" lines outside in the street, but as the camera looks out of the window at them, they are no longer there.

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Quotes

Chessy, the Parker's Maid: [upon seeing Elizabeth after so many years] Hi, you probably don't remember me. I...
Elizabeth James: [gives her a kiss on the cheek] Chessy!
Chessy, the Parker's Maid: I knew I always liked her.

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Crazy Credits

During the end credits, pictures from Nick and Liz's wedding are shown.

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Alternate Versions

A version shown on the Disney channel also edits the piercing scene as well as the the following two scenes:

• When Annie says "Oh my God! Oh my God" in reference to her father's house;
• When Hallie, in London, tastes the wine and says that she prefers the softer California grape.

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Connections

Referenced in The War at Home: The War of the Golds (2007)

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Soundtracks

Parents Just Don't Understand
Written by Pete Harris, Will Smith, and DJ Jazzy Jeff (as Jeff Townes)
Performed by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Courtesy of Jive Records

User Reviews

A Delightful Family Film

There is only one movie in history that I can name that my wife, my mother and my six-year-old daughter enjoyed equally. This is it.

This is an astonishly effective and pleasant remake of a very good film. It's light, romantic, touching and downright funny. You cannot pour enough accolades on young Lindsay Lohan, who effortlessly plays both twins, and, if you listen closely, juggles four accents. (She changes her Brit accent when she plays her own American alter-ego pretending to be herself in England - if you saw the film, you know what I mean).

Natasha Richardson and Dennis Quaid with that big, goofy, infectious smile, give the film its romance and maturity, without stepping on the fun-filled kid's plot. This is simple, easy-to-watch family entertainment.

There is also a great editing and effects element. You never once notice a split screen or cheap over-the-shoulder shot when both of Lohan's characters are on-screen - its really quite astounding how seamless it is.

My daughter, after seeing this in the theater, quickly proclaimed this her favourite movie ever. We own the video, and I have watched it with her at least a dozen times without growing tired.

A perfect rental after a bad day, or when you want to have a family movie night. *** out of ****.