The Parent Trap (1998)

Director:

Nancy Meyers

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

29 July 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Romance

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:

Famous Theme | Mistaken Identity | Comedy Of Errors | Bird | Assumed Identity

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Sept. 7

2:00 PM

HALMRK

Cast

Lindsay Lohan	...	Hallie Parker / Annie James
Dennis Quaid	...	Nick Parker
Natasha Richardson	...	Elizabeth James
Elaine Hendrix	...	Meredith Blake
Lisa Ann Walter	...	Chessy - Parker's Housekeeper
Simon Kunz	...	Martin - James's Butler
Polly Holliday	...	Marva Kulp, Sr.
Maggie Wheeler	...	Marva Kulp, Jr.
Ronnie Stevens	...	Grandpa Charles James
Erin Mackey	...	Hallie / Annie Acting Double
Joanna Barnes	...	Vicki Blake - Meredith's Mother
Hallie Meyers-Shyer	...	Lindsay
Maggie Emma Thomas	...	Zoe
Courtney Woods	...	Nicole
Katerina Graham	...	Jackie

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:

Brazil:Livre | Philippines:G | South Korea:All | Iceland:L | UK:PG (cut) | 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:

California, USA

Company:

The Meyers/Shyer Company

Trivia:

Camp Walden is based on an existing camp for Girls Denmark Maine. There is no Isolation Cabin.

Goofs:

Continuity: Near the pool, when Annie and Hallie confront their parents and Meredith, Meredith's initial reaction is quickly looking at the twins standing on either side of her. While she looks directly at one, she looks way above the other one's head.

Quotes:

Hallie as Annie: His and hers kids. No offense, Mom, but this arrangement really sucks.
Elizabeth James: I agree, it totally sucks.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The War at Home: The War of the Golds (#2.20)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)

Good natured fun

This is one of those rare cases where a terrific movie is equaled by its remake. Hayley Mills carried the dual roles of twins learning of each other's existence and concocting a plot to reunite their divorced parents splendidly in the '60's version, and Lindsay Lohan showed wonderful comedic talent at an early age in this delightful remake.

It's a Disney flick, so the comedy is family slapstick variety as you would expect. The evil stepmother-to-be is over-the-top evil (even called Cruella De Ville by one of the girls), and she's a character you love to hate. The obvious chemistry of the parents (Randy Quaid and Natasha Richardson) is great, and begs a question which is never answered to satisfaction, "Why did they split up in the first place?" Everything in the film symbolically shows that they were made for each other: even their respective maid and butler take a shine to each other.

The fx and editing to stand Lohan's two characters together is magnificently done; it really looks like two actresses. No split screens, backs of heads of fake-looking "doubles" etc. to distract you from the movie. Lohan skillfully contrasts the American/British accents and mannerisms of the two girls; you know and believe which twin she is at any given moment.

Well directed, well acted and fun. I'll even forgive the film makers for ripping off the stranded-in-the-lake scene from "Meatballs." The closing credit snapshots provide a sweet epilogue to tie up loose ends.

Good family oriented comedy worth a rental.