Fall seems like the perfect time to cozy up and watch a comforting, nostalgic movie from your childhood. “The Parent Trap” was always one of those movies, and I think it has been for a lot of people who fall in that weird age gap between Millennials and Gen Z.
For those unfamiliar with the classic Disney film, it’s based around two identical twins, Annie and Hallie, both played by Lindsay Lohan, who are separated shortly after they are born and raised on different continents. Years later they attend the same summer camp and form a close bond. Together, they decide to switch places to meet their other parent for the first time and try to get them to fall back in love.
Many people are rediscovering the movie, especially as trends from the 1990s come back. The movie has that decade written all over it. Even if I’m not a true 90s baby, it feels good to rewatch the movie and be transported back to my childhood — back to a time when I also was in camp and cutting pictures out of magazines.
Looking back, 90s fashion seems to be one of the most iconic parts of the movie. TikTok has even recently taken notice of the classic looks in the film, particularly now that hair clips and oversized shirts are back in style. Chessy especially has been revived as a style icon for her casual California outfits.
Listening to the soundtrack brings back buckets of nostalgia too. I’m sure I associate a lot of the songs with the movie, but some of them I listened to with my dad way before I ever watched it. “Here Comes the Sun” and “Do You Believe in Magic” were staples around my household. I always loved the scene where Annie sees London for the first time as “There She Goes” by the La’s plays in the background. When I rediscovered that song a while back, memories of watching “The Parent Trap” immediately came flooding back.
People in the Millenial/Gen Z cusp are now reassessing this movie that they grew up with. The movie's “villain” is Meredith, a woman who almost messes up the twins’ plans by trying to marry their father for his money. Even as a kid, I understood that she was the villain in the story. Recently, however, some on TikTok have declared their solidarity with Meredith. Furthermore, media outlets picked up on this shift toward supporting Meredith Blake. Some original viewers are now the same age as Meredith, 26, and envy her plans to marry rich, ship two annoying pre-teens off to boarding school and live a life of luxury on a vineyard.
I’m glad that these realizations have been gaining popularity on social media. “The Parent Trap” deserves more attention even two decades later, whether it’s reassessing certain characters or developing fashion inspiration. I highly recommend rewatching “The Parent Trap” during fall if it was one of your favorites as a kid. It’s the perfect time to feel all the sentimental feelings.
Just, maybe, close your eyes during the ear-piercing scene.
Hope Karnopp is the news manager and dabbles in music reviews at The Daily Cardinal. She previously hosted the Cardinal Call for WORT-FM and edited state news.
