A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Educational Value
very little
Kids will get an introductory look at some differences between two cultures: American and English. Additionally, there are visuals of a number of London's most beautiful and relevant landmarks.
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Positive Messages
some
The movie's positive messages include that true love conquers all and that good intentions trump questionable behavior. That said, dishonesty doesn't have many negative consequences in this film. The girls reach their goal by lying and manipulating ... as well as being adorable.
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Positive Role Models
some
Despite the fact that they're terribly dishonest and have made the unrealistic choice of splitting up, living on separate continents, and each raising a twin daughter, both parents are caring, responsible, and devoted. Other caregivers -- a nanny, a butler, and a grandfather -- are nurturing, unselfish, and loving. The twins are bright, resourceful, loving, independent, and capable of great (but ultimately harmless) mischief.
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Violence & Scariness
very little
A girl screams as her twin sister pierces her ears with a needle. In one comic sequence, a woman falls into a lake, then reacts to a small lizard on her head and in her mouth. A few scenes with somewhat mean-spirited teasing among young campers.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
Some warm kisses and embraces between adults. After losing a bet at camp, a girl has to jump into a lake, naked, at night. The sequence is shot from a distance, and there's no actual nudity on screen.
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Products & Purchases
some
Oreos, Skippy Peanut Butter, Harrod's Department Store, British Airways, Prada, Evian. Some of these products are mentioned in conversation as well as visually prominent.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a little
One of the main characters owns a vineyard; many scenes include drinking wine -- at meals and to mark a special event. At one dinner, an 11-year-old girl is given a small sip of wine and is asked for her opinion of its quality. The girls' mother, anxious about an upcoming event, drinks too much and gets tipsy while preparing for an uncomfortable meeting.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that even though it's funny and has a warm heart and happy ending, this Disney remake is about divorce and reconciliation and could require some explanation and reassurance. It's a complicated, unlikely story spun as a fanciful tale: The parents have lied to their kids, neither twin is aware of the other's existence, and each has been kept from one parent for eleven years. Deceit plays an important part in the movie's plot (albeit all in the name of family togetherness). Wine is consumed in several scenes, and the twins' mother gets slightly drunk before she faces her ex-husband. An ear-piercing scene results in an "ewww" moment, and a poker game results in a girl's embarrassing naked dive into a lake (a very wide shot). To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
This remake of 1961's THE PARENT TRAP stars Lindsay Lohan as both Hallie and Annie, twin girls separated at birth who meet up at summer camp and decide to switch places. Their father, Nick (Dennis Quaid), owns a vineyard, and their mother, Elizabeth (Natasha Richardson), designs wedding gowns. Meredith (Elaine Hendrix), their dad's scheming girlfriend, hopes to marry Nick for his money -- so Hallie and Annie set out to get their parents back together, and while they're at it, make life miserable for Meredith.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about divorce. How does this movie portray divorce? Is it realistic? Parents may want to reassure kids if they're distressed by the fact that the parents split up the twins and made no attempt to see the child they gave up.
How does this movie compare to the original? Why are some remakes good, while others pale in comparison to the original?
Movie Details
- In theaters: January 1, 1999
- On DVD or streaming: June 1, 2004
- Cast: Dennis Quaid, Lindsay Lohan, Natasha Richardson
- Director: Nancy Meyers
- Inclusion Information: Female directors, Female actors
- Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Book Characters
- Run time: 127 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: some mild mischief
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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