Photo Credit: Getty Images
Lindsay Lohan stars in “Our Little Secret,” a Christmas rom-com that perfectly encapsulates the formulaic Netflix approach to its holiday movies. From director Stephen Herek, co-starring Ian Harding, Kristin Chenoweth, and Jon Rudnitsky, this is one of those stories about love entanglements and holidays that feels familiar and contrived.
It revolves around Avery – played by Lohan – and Logan, childhood buddies and former lovers who get back in each other’s company and navigate the holidays while keeping the relationship in secrecy. The movie opens with an animated prelude, detailing their perfect love story right until Avery is shipped out for a job to London in 2014 that mysteriously ends it. Hailey DeDominicis’ script doesn’t even attempt to get into what drove them apart, relying on a plot-driven rather than character-driven approach.
Fast forward to the present, Avery and Logan are single, but both with less-than-perfect partners. Avery’s boyfriend, Cameron (Rudnitsky), is a self-centered cryptocurrency bro, while Logan’s girlfriend, Cassie (Katie Baker), is a manipulative princess type. The kicker? Cameron and Cassie are siblings, and Avery and Logan reconnect at a family Christmas party thrown by the domineering matriarch played by Kristin Chenoweth.
It Is shallow in several ways, relying on tropes and clichés of the rom-com genre. The cringe-worthy moments will stand out, such as when Avery, accidentally high on THC gummies, gives a church speech that devolves into a rendition of Kool and the Gang’s “Celebrate,” with the entire congregation joining in. Such scenes show the movie struggling to balance its humor and heart.
Despite its flaws, “Our Little Secret” benefits from Lohan’s charismatic performance. She manages to bring a level of sincerity and charm to her role, even when the script fails her. Harding also delivers a solid performance, though their chemistry is hindered by the film’s superficial storytelling.
“Our Little Secret” illustrates the Netflix model of holiday rom-coms: predictable, light-hearted, and designed to offer easy, if shallow, entertainment. While it may not win any awards, it provides a dose of festive escapism for those looking to indulge in the season’s guilty pleasures.
On the whole, the film is a mixed bag, leaning extensively on established rom-com formulas without bringing much to the table. However, for all Lindsay Lohan fans and those wanting to cozy into a feel-good holiday film, “Our Little Secret” actually brings enough cheer of its own to merit one viewing.
