I was probably in my early teens the last time I watched The Parent Trap. How could anyone not love that movie? It’s a timeless Disney classic — the ultimate childhood comfort film. Now that it’s cold outside and nostalgia’s hitting hard, I decided to rewatch it as an adult, and let me tell you…I have thoughts, questions, and concerns. So grab your Oreos, popcorn, and whatever ice-cold drink you’ve got nearby, and join me for a modern-day rewatch of a beloved film that somehow convinced every ’90s kid they could get their divorced parents back together.
1.
Let’s start with the obvious: what kind of wretched parenting plan is this?
2.
And don’t even get me started on the part where they just…never tell their daughters they have a twin sister out there. This is beyond diabolical.
3.
Fast forward eleven years, and it’s time to talk about that first camp sequence in the movie. Can we all agree that Hallie’s initially…kind of unbearable?
4.
Hallie and Annie’s prank war? Legendary. But let’s pause for a second ― how, exactly, did a group of little 11-year-olds manage to get all those beds on the roof?
5.
The more I watch, the more I question what kind of logic this camp is running on. As we’ve established, not a single adult seems to notice when Annie and her friends manage to get every bed in Hallie’s cabin onto the roof. No punishment, no consequences, nothing. But then, the next time around, when Hallie herself pulls a diabolical prank, both girls get in trouble.
6.
Ah, yes, the oh-so-touching moment where they connect the halves of their parents’ photo and finally realize they’re twins. I’m sorry, but come the fuck on, you guys. You mean to tell me you’ve been staring at your own face for weeks and not once thought, Hey, why do I look like the mirror version of this girl?”
7.
The twins set off to live each other’s lives, and let me tell you ― from an adult’s perspective ― I was NOT prepared to witness Hallie and Annie meeting their mom and dad for the very first time. I’m over here tearing up watching Hallie cling to her mom like she’s afraid to ever let go. And hearing Annie say the word ‘Dad’ at the end of every sentence because she didn’t get to do it for eleven years? A punch to the gut.
8.
Hallie mentioned back at camp that her and her dad have this super close bond, so my question is, how can Nick Parker ― “devoted father” ― possibly not realize something’s off about “Hallie”? Annie’s out here in California saying words like “horrid”, barely nibbling on her chili, avoiding the family dog, and randomly dropping French mid-sentence ― and he just…decides to ignore it? Chessy ― the family housekeeper ― on the other hand, clocks the truth immediately.
9.
Yes, Meredith used to be my childhood nemesis back in the day. Let’s not kid ourselves: she was, still is, and will forever be the villain. But watching her now? I can’t help but admire this diva. Just look at her: she’s got the beauty, the ambition, and the sheer audacity to get what she wants.
10.
I get it ― Annie and Hallie are young, reunited, and too busy basking in the newfound bliss of parental love for the first time in their lives. But still, how do they not take a second to stop and think, Jesus Christ, what our parents did was kind of really fucked up. The most we get is Hallie saying to Elizabeth, “No offence, Mom, but this arrangement really sucks,” to which her mother replies, “I agree, it totally sucks.” Like…huh? Who set that system up?!
11.
In London, Elizabeth is downright spiraling as she prepares to travel to the States. You can’t blame her — she’s about to see her ex-husband for the first time in eleven years — and truth be told, I’m looviing this mid-movie crash-out. Up until now, Elizabeth has been nothing less than a lovely, graceful breath of fresh air. But the second she starts packing to see Nick Parker? Our girl turns into a nervous mess. We’ve certainly all been her at some point, and that’s what makes this moment really hit differently as an adult.
12.
Martin is so real for this. Ate down with the dress selection, too.
13.
News flash: Nick is, in fact, not expecting Elizabeth in the States. She shows up (sidenote: after drinking herself to oblivion on the airplane) and is completely thrown when he looks more than stunned to see her. I mean, no shit. The real mystery here is how Elizabeth fell for her daughter’s antics again.
14.
Elizabeth might not win America’s parent of the year award, but Nick isn’t doing any better either. At this point, the girls’ mother, their grandfather, and even the two family butlers have all figured out that the twins switched places, but Nick? Still completely clueless as to anything going on around him.
15.
Now that both parents are finally aware of their daughters’ secret, can we talk about how Chessy and Martin’s reaction topped everybody else’s? When Chessy finds out about Annie, she immediately bursts into tears, reminiscing about the exact weight and length of the baby she hadn’t seen in eleven years. Martin, on a similar note, cannot stop sobbing upon hearing the news about Hallie.
16.
Nick and the girls head out on a camping trip with Meredith, and I can’t stop cackling watching her act like a total city girl. She hates nature, the bugs, the dirt — all of it, and Annie and Hallie are having the time of their lives making her completely miserable. But real talk: we need to discuss that scene where the twins drag Meredith’s air mattress out onto the lake in the middle of the night.
17.
I know this is a Disney movie and all, but come on — that ending could not be further off from reality. You’re telling me Nick and Elizabeth see each other for the first time in over a decade, spend maybe a weekend or two together because of parental obligations, and suddenly they’re like, “You know what? Let’s get remarried”?
Some overall thoughts now that the credits are rolling:
18.
Am I the only one who genuinely believed the twins were played by two different actresses as a kid? Like, I was well into my late teens when I found out Lindsay Lohan played the role of both Hallie and Annie.
19.
To whoever didn’t know this, I’m so sorry to be the one to break the news, but the actress who played Elizabeth — Natasha Richardson — passed away about eleven years after the movie came out. Watching her on the screen feels impossibly bittersweet. She was absolutely stunning, and by all accounts, even more of an angel in real life.
20.
I also happened to be watching this film right after seeing Elaine Hendrix’s (aka Meredith’s) Dedication Night performance on Dancing with the Stars, in which she paid tribute to Lisa Ann Walter, who played Chessy! Fun fact: the two have been best friends ever since meeting on The Parent Trap.
21.
On a last note, now that I’m 22, I just have to say it: Nick Parker is fine as hell. Please put him back on my screen immediately.
In the end, The Parent Trap will always be a classic. It’s nostalgic, it’s comforting, and it’s one of the most rewatchable Disney films ever created. Sure, I might have trouble looking past all those questionable parenting choices now that I’m all grown up — but hey, don’t blame me, blame my dire need to psychoanalyze every piece of media I consume. That’s all! Thank you all very much for coming to my TED Talk. Catch you all on my next rant!
This is your sign to rewatch The Parent Trap. What’s your favorite scene from the movie? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Stream The Parent Trap on Disney+ now.
