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:

Twins | Summer Camp | London | Wedding Gown | Napa Valley

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 12

9:00 PM

DISN

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

Colour:

Colour (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:

The lost boy who shows up at the girls camp is played by Michael Lohan, Lindsay Lohan's real-life brother. Lindsay's siblings regularly appear as extras in her movies.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: At Camp Walden, when the water ballons are falling onto Annie's head, you can see the arm of a crew member pushing the largest balloon to fall over.

Quotes:

Elizabeth James: [Hallie, as Annie, is underneath Elizabeth's covers struggling to tell her about the switch] Annie!
Hallie as Annie: That's where I have to go! I have to go see Annie!
Elizabeth James: Oh, I see, and where might Annie be?
Hallie as Annie: In Napa, with her father Nick Parker.
Elizabeth James: You're not Annie?
Elizabeth James: That would be correct.
Elizabeth James: You're Hallie?
Hallie as Annie: I am. Annie and I met up at camp and, and we decided to switch places. I'm sorry, but I've never seen you and I've dreamt of meeting you my whole life and Annie felt the exact same way about Dad so, so we sort of just switched lives. I hope you're not mad because I love you so much, and I just hope that one day you could love me as me, and not as Annie.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Date Movie (2006)

Soundtrack:

Here Comes The Sun

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.