Our Little Secret is a hilarious holiday romantic comedy that calls back to the romantic comedies of the mid 2000s with some crude humour and undeniable heart that thanks to the wonderful pairing of Lindsay Lohan and Ian Harding and a scene stealing turn from Kristin Chenoweth, makes for one crowd pleasing film. 

 

It is a true joy having Lindsay Lohan back as an actress, as her romantic comedy films were a comfort in the early 2000s and we are back living in that era again. Marking her third film with Netflix, and her second Christmas film, Lohan’s latest romantic comedy is less cheesy, more grounded and a true crowd pleaser, especially when armed with an insanely talented cast that features Ian Harding, Kristin Chenoweth, Jon Rudnitsky, Katie Baker, Henry Czerny, Dan Bucatinsky, and Mr. Duvall himself, Tim Meadows. From the second Our Little Secret begins, it's full of laughter and romance, very quickly becoming a crowd pleasing romantic comedy that is certain to entertain audiences this holiday season.

 

When it comes to the romantic comedy genre, and specifically those films within it with the lead character meeting their loved one’s family for the first time, there are expected beats to hit. An overbearing parent, an incident involving the beloved family pet, a mix-up involving drugs, and family secrets coming to life forcing everyone to truly examine their relationships, and not only does Hailey DeDominicis ensure that every single one of them in her screenplay, she presents each one with great heart and comedic timing. Even though you have seen similar gags before within the genre, each comedic moment as we watch Avery and Logan navigate meeting the family while hiding their past relationship from everyone hits hard, generating thunderous laughter as each situation’s craziness fully takes advantage of the film’s rating. The writing balances the raunchiness of the humour with the individual stories behind it, creating something that just pushes the envelope just enough to generate laughter but that is still something your mother will have fun with. 

 

At the same time, Avery and Logan’s individual arcs are wonderfully developed as they grow into the mature adults they were not ten years prior while dating. Watching their romance rekindle helps build towards their anticipated happy ending that audiences want, and when DeDominicis reaches it in her writing, it plays out with such warmth and compassion that you are guaranteed to have a big smile on your face. And don't worry, there is a healthy helping of the Christmas spirit and decorations throughout the film, satisfying the audience’s appetite for the holiday season. But, unlike the majority of Netflix’s other holiday films that echo the calibre of the films of the Hallmark channel, Our Little Secret feels like a romantic comedy plucked right out of the mid 2000s, one that very well could have and should have been released theatrically, as it is a fun film meant to be experienced with a crowd sharing in the laughter.

 

Needless to say, the cast makes this film as much fun as it is as they fully embrace the humour, romance and festive spirit of the film, never for a second missing a beat. Lohan is charming and delightful, bringing her signature comedic timing to the film as well as an undeniable heart as she takes Avery on a journey of self discovery, allowing Avery to stand up for herself and learn what she truly wants for her future. Harding is great as Logan, creating one wonderful male lead who possesses the voice of reason and wisdom, while being hilarious as Logan finds himself out of his comfort zone in the comedic moments. It’s all done with a boyish yet disarming presence that begs the question why Harding hasn’t become a bigger star, as he has that star quality that instantly lights up the screen. Lohan and Harding have a splendid chemistry that captures the years of history between their characters with ease, sparring at first with some killer comedic moments, but always with a true sense of compassion for the other as they rediscover their true feelings for each other. 

 

Meadows and Bucatinsky have some great comedic moments sprinkled throughout the film, while Rudnitsky plays the unappealing boyfriend perfectly but is not given the opportunity to tap into his comedic talents. But, it is Chenoweth who steals the entire film as Erica. As the meddling mother of Cameron and Cassie, instantly disapproving of Avery and trying to secure the perfect son-in-law for her daughter, Chenoweth unleashes her inner monster as the antagonist of the film and creates many of the film’s funniest moments. With a bubbly personality and a smile, Chenoweth lets out zinger after zinger that embraces her character’s more villainous intentions as she clashes with Avery, sharing some laugh out loud moments with Lohan that will have audiences eager for their next project, but also while never losing the humanity of Erica and ensures that she is not a caricature but a strong willed character with her own arc.

Netflix holiday romances have become a staple of the Christmas season and Our Little Secret not only marks the best Christmas romance film ever from the streaming giant, but a truly terrific romantic comedy that is guaranteed to leave you howling with laughter. Utilizing some of the most beloved tropes of the genre with the winning pairing of Lindsay Lohan and Ian Harding and the deliciously wicked Kristin Chenoweth as the prickly matriarch as the cherry on top, Our Little Secret is everything that audiences love about the romantic comedy genre, wrapped up with tons of laughter, festive spirit and beautiful romance to make for one great film.