Our Little Secret – Familiar But With a Big Heart (Early Review)

Our Little Secret is the latest Netflix romcom from director Stephen Herek and Lindsay Lohan, following their previous collaborations Falling for Christmas and Irish Wish. The story follows Avery (Lohan) and Logan (Harding), two best friends, turned lovers who eventually broke up once Avery moved away. Many years later, the pair would find themselves unceremoniously reuniting as they are forced to spend Christmas under the same roof following the reveal that their current partners are siblings. A true delight of a Christmas romcom with the makings of an undoubtable crowd pleaser, the film will surely do well in the midst of what has been a revival of the romantic comedy genre.

While not necessarily bringing anything new to the table, it is a charming and irresistibly sweet film that delivers an entertaining watch that is full of heart and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Featuring humour that works more often than not, it is guided by a colorful cast of characters who play well off of each other. Overflowing in Christmas spirit, it will have put audiences in the mood, compared to the more recent Netflix Christmas offerings.

Lohan has been on a winning streak ever since her recent comeback to acting, and this film is not just her best film in recent years, but is also her best performance since her return. She perfectly encapsulates Avery, making for a character audiences can easily invest in while getting to show off her impressive comedic chops. On the other side, Harding is just as good as Logan, showing some terrific comedic timing, especially as he found himself in increasingly humorous and awkward situations. In the end, the great chemistry between Lohan and Harding creates a dynamic worth rooting for, in the hopes that Avery and Logan can perhaps get back together by the end.

Meanwhile, the film boasts a great supporting cast for a streaming release. First things first, Chenoweth steals every scene she’s in as Erica, the family matriarch. Then, Henry Czerny brings heart to Mitchell, a role that should have been featured more and played a more vital role in the story. Rounding out the supporting cast, Tim Meadows, Chris Parnell, and Jon Rudnitsky are fun additions. That being said, as enjoyable as it may be, the film is far from the next Christmas classic by any means, having its fair share of problems, many that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. From the moment the film starts, it becomes abundantly clear how the story will ultimately end, hitting nearly every predictable story beat one can imagine along the way. While its approach may not be new, it tackles the familiar in a decently compelling way. And though as great as the cast is, the argument could be made that there are too many characters, therefore certain get overshadowed at the expense of others.

At the end of the day, Our Little Secret is an enjoyable Christmas romcom whose issues are mostly alleviated by its big heart and delightful cast, all working together to make the film work so much more than it probably should have otherwise. While it might not be the greatest film by any means, it is far and beyond the best Netflix original Christmas release this year so far and one of the best in a very long time. All in all, it is definitely worth a watch this upcoming holiday season.

still courtesy of Netflix

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Connor Carey

www.connorsmoviereviews.com/