Lindsay Lohan returns to the screen, shaking off her tabloid image to embrace her role as a movie star in Netflix’s latest festive offering, ‘Our Little Secret.’ Following her 2022 comeback in ‘Falling into Christmas,’ which, despite its shortcomings, proved that Lohan still possesses her star power, this new film attempts to elevate the holiday comedy genre. After a less successful outing with ‘Irish Wish,’ Lohan’s latest project stands out as the best of her Netflix collaborations, albeit under a low bar.
‘Our Little Secret’ diverges from the typical Hallmark-style fare, drawing inspiration from early 2000s comedies like ‘Meet the Parents’ and ‘Four Christmases.’ Directed by Stephen Herek, known for his work with A-listers like Mark Wahlberg and Angelina Jolie, the film strives to attract fans of traditional rom-coms with a hint of ambition. The plot revolves around a deception reminiscent of the recent hit ‘Anyone But You,’ where Lohan and her on-screen partner, Logan, portrayed by Ian Harding, find themselves in a convoluted situation after discovering they are spending Christmas with the same family.
The story kicks off in 2014, with a proposal gone wrong leading to a decade apart, only to reunite under awkward circumstances. The ensuing chaos involves weed gummies, blackmail, and plenty of cringe-worthy moments. While the humor may not land as intended, the film maintains a brisk pace and features a lively cast, including former ‘Saturday Night Live’ stars and the talented Kristin Chenoweth, whose performance adds a spark to the otherwise lackluster script.
With a script from newcomer Hailey DeDominicis, ‘Our Little Secret’ struggles to deliver the wit and originality needed to elevate the material. As we wrap up the year, one can only hope that future comedies steer clear of tired clichés involving cannabis consumption. Overall, ‘Our Little Secret’ offers a perfectly fine, if unremarkable, holiday viewing experience, now available for streaming on Netflix.
