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Our Little Secret (film)

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Our Little Secret
Official release poster
Directed byStephen Herek
Written byHailey DeDominicis
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyGraham Robbins
Edited byHeath Ryan
Music byEmily Bear
Production
companies
  • Capital Arts Entertainment
  • Good Entertainment Inc.
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • November 27, 2024 (2024-11-27)
Running time
101 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Our Little Secret is a 2024 American romantic comedy film directed by Stephen Herek and written by Hailey DeDominicis. It stars Lindsay Lohan, alongside an ensemble cast featuring Ian Harding, Tim Meadows, Jon Rudnitsky, Judy Reyes, Henry Czerny, Chris Parnell, and Kristin Chenoweth. The film was a part of Lohan's creative partnership with Netflix, under which she also executive produced the project.

Our Little Secret follows Avery (Lohan), who is spending her first Christmas with her boyfriend's family but discovers her ex is also part of the holiday festivities and decides to hide their romantic history. Production began in Atlanta, in January 2024, and concluded late in the following month. It was released on the streaming service, on November 27, 2024. The film received mixed reviews.[2]

Plot

[edit]

Avery and Logan have been connected since childhood, evolving from close friends to a couple. When Avery readily accepts an opportunity to work in London, he tries to propose at her farewell party, but she breaks up with him, uncomfortable with the pressure.

Ten years later, they meet again by chance, at Christmas, each dating siblings Cameron and Cassie Morgan. Mortified, Avery convinces Logan to keep their past secret, due to their partners' overbearing mother, Erica. While the Morgan family gathers for their annual portrait, Avery and Logan are sent to pick up a tree. Logan asks Avery, an expert in business proposals, to help with an architectural pitch. In return, he will help her win over the Morgans.

Later, Avery mistakenly eats THC gummies from the youngest Morgan Callum's coat pocket. Logan realizes the mistake and tries to cancel the reading Avery had volunteered for to impress the Morgans at 4 p.m. mass. As the edibles kick in, she ends up improvising and recounts the Bethlehem story by reciting lyrics from Kool & the Gang's "Celebration". The congregation surprisingly joins in, earning her praise from the priest.

That evening, due to munchies, Avery eats Erica's prized cookies and blames the family dog. Erica panics and rushes the small dog to the vet. Avery goes along, privately admitting her guilt to the veterinarian, paying a hefty bill to keep it secret. She spins the ordeal as heroic upon returning, but Logan scolds her for risking their cover. Callum overhears and promises to keep their secret but takes Avery's number, suggesting it will cost them.

During a night out, Cameron's ex-girlfriend, Sophie, unexpectedly joins the group. When Avery is called by her father's real estate agent, seeking the house key, Logan volunteers to drive her. In her childhood home, Avery shares how much she misses her deceased mother, and Logan comforts her. On the way back, they detour to pick up an intoxicated Callum, whom they had earlier provided alcohol for.

At Christmas Eve dinner, there are multiple revelations. Avery and Logan's shared small-town origin is revealed, and Sophie announces she is moving back. Logan accidentally discovers Erica's husband Leonard having an affair with Sophie's mother and Stan's wife, Marge. During Secret Santa, gifts get switched, leading to more awkwardness. As Avery and Logan scold Callum in private, Logan's mother and grandmother show up by surprise. He warns his mother to pretend to not know Avery, but the senior quickly exposes the exes. Soon, more secrets unravel, as Callum exposes Avery's earlier lies and Leonard's affair is revealed. Avery leaves the Morgan house.

Avery's father returns from his trip and surprises her with the key to her childhood home, as Logan told him she wanted it. Avery, in turn, pushes Erica to give Logan's proposal to Stan, which eventually lands him the job. At Avery's housewarming, Logan asks for a second chance. They confess their love and kiss. A year later, they are planning their wedding and living together. Logan's boss Stan drops off a tin of cookies, before meeting with the Morgan's children with his new love, Erica. Some time later, Avery and Logan get married.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

On January 22, 2024, Netflix revealed that Lindsay Lohan would be starring in Our Little Secret with principal photography underway in Atlanta and ran through late February.[3][4] Kristin Chenoweth, Ian Harding, Jon Rudnitsky, Chris Parnell, Tim Meadows, Dan Bucatinsky, Henry Czerny, Katie Baker, Ash Santos, Jake Brennan and Brian Unger were also announced to star.[5] Stephen Herek was set to direct from a script written by Hailey DeDominicis in her first produced screenplay credit.[6] Mike Elliott and Lisa Gooding served as producers, with Joseph P. Genier executive producing the film.[7] The project is a part of Lohan's two-picture partnership with Netflix she entered in March 2022 and marked her third consecutive romantic comedy for the streaming service, following Falling for Christmas (2022) and Irish Wish (2024).[8]

Lohan described the film as more grounded and relatable compared to her previous Netflix projects, stating: "I love that because my character goes through a very real-life, kind of romantic struggle where she revisits someone from her past that she had a relationship with prior, and it's kind of a tug-of-war situation where she doesn't know what to do."[9] Lohan and Harding revealed they filmed the more vulnerable moments between their characters first which allowed them to understand their connection and how close they were before shooting the "awkward" scenes.[10] Harding said that the opportunity to star alongside Lohan drew him to the project.[11] Chenoweth stated her love for playing a "villain" drew her to the character and compared it to The Real Housewives of Atlanta,[12] adding that comedians like Teri Garr and Carol Burnett inspired her performance.[13] They disclosed "a lot" of the movie was shot on a sound stage.[14][15] Dan Bucatinsky was hesitant at first about taking on the role due to his character's age and lack of screen time, but was able to contribute with ad libs and suggestions to the script which expanded his role and ended up considered it one of the most "enriching" experiences of his career.[16]

The film was originally titled "Merry Exmas", but Lohan suggested changing it to avoid the project being associated solely with Christmas, explaining: "That was a big part of me choosing to do this movie [it's] the story of a girl that's going through a real life situation and it just happens to be at Christmastime [...] it's not Christmas overload."[17][18][19] Lohan appreciated Netflix giving her a producing credit allowing her to have more control: "I got to really be a full-on producer, not just an executive. They trusted me with holding the reins and took my ideas and thoughts on board whether it came down to casting or costuming, and even some of the edits in the film."[20]

Music

[edit]
Our Little Secret
Soundtrack album by
Emily Bear
ReleasedNovember 27, 2024 (2024-11-27)
Recorded2024
GenreFilm soundtrack
Length32:06
LabelNetflix

Emily Bear composed the original score for Our Little Secret.[21] Netflix Music released a soundtrack album featuring the movie's score and the song "Happiest Christmas Tree" performed by Aliana Lohan on November 27, 2024.[22][23][24]

  1. Happiest Christmas Tree (Aliana Lohan)
  2. The First Morning
  3. 10 Years Later
  4. Avery Leaves
  5. Gummies
  6. The Introduction
  7. Driving to the Parents
  8. You Were Running Away
  9. Secret Santa
  10. Bathroom Talk
  11. A Deal
  12. The Prospectus
  13. Cookie Caper
  14. Our Little Secret
  15. Dad’s Toast
  16. Avery Delivers Prospectu
  17. Followed
  18. Best Christmas Ever
  19. Are You Done?

Release

[edit]

Our Little Secret was released by Netflix on November 27, 2024.[25] The film received screenings at the Bay Theater in Los Angeles starting on the same day.[26] It debuted at number one on Netflix's most watched films list the day after its release[2] and became the overall top-streamed title worldwide on Netflix for the week of November 23–29 with 32.4 million views.[27][28] It remained the top-streamed Netflix title globally for a second consecutive week from December 2–8.[29][30] In the United States, it was the most-streamed original film for the week of November 29–December 5 with 1 billion minutes watched, according to data provided by Luminate, topping Variety's Streaming Originals films chart.[31][32] As of December 17, 2024, Our Little Secret was the most-watched holiday movie released in 2024 by U.S. households that season, according to smart TV data collected by Samba TV.[33]

Reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 37% of 27 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.6/10.[34] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 41 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[35]

Emily Zemler of the Observer stated that the film "doesn't quite give [Lohan] her due" as Harding is a "solid romantic leading man" and the story would have "benefited from more of their history" and that their "big secret depletes the story of tension, especially since other characters are keeping actual, somewhat revelatory secrets."[36] Benjamin Lee of The Guardian compared the film to Meet the Parents and Four Christmases, calling it a "perfectly adequate Christmas comedy that could do with a boost."[37] Variety's Owen Gleiberman wrote: "You watch Our Little Secret, seeing through the paper-thin contrivances, tittering at the imbecilities, and somehow that all becomes part of the experience. It's mainstream fodder as downgraded camp. It’s pablum so numbing it makes you feel good."[38] Writing for RogerEbert.com, Marya E. Gates describes Lohan as a "sharp screwball comedienne" who "crafts an easy chemistry with Harding," also praising Chenoweth as a "fantastic [...] bless-your-heart Southern Queen Bee," concluding that the film makes the case that "if studios would back these kinds of mid-budget films for theatrical release, maybe we'd have movie stars again."[39] Randy Myers of The Mercury News called the film "one of the better holiday confections to drop down the chimney this year."[40]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Our Little Secret (12)". British Board of Film Classification. November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Blackburn, Alix (November 28, 2024). "One of Netflix's most-anticipated Christmas movies of 2024 just dropped — and it's already grabbed the No.1 spot". Tom's Guide. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  3. ^ "Lindsay Lohan to Star in 'Our Little Secret' for Netflix". Netflix. January 22, 2024. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Ho, Rodney (January 25, 2024). "Lindsay Lohan is in Atlanta for Netflix Christmas movie 'Our Little Secret'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  5. ^ Vlessing, Etan (January 22, 2024). "Lindsay Lohan to Star in 'Our Little Secret' for Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  6. ^ "Local screenwriter behind Netflix's holiday rom-com 'Our Little Secret' starring Lindsay Lohan". Discover Brantford. November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Grobar, Matt (January 22, 2024). "Lindsay Lohan & Kristin Chenoweth To Star In Netflix Holiday Pic 'Our Little Secret'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  8. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (January 22, 2024). "Lindsay Lohan and Kristin Chenoweth to Star in Netflix Rom-Com 'Our Little Secret'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "Lindsay Lohan Dishes on Her New Netflix Holiday Movie, 'Our Little Secret,' & More". PureWow. June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding & Kristin Chenoweth On Our Little Secret's Complicated History And Christmas Family Hijinks". Screen Rant. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  11. ^ "In Conversation With Ian Harding - Numéro Netherlands". Numéro. November 21, 2024. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  12. ^ "Kristin Chenoweth talks 'Our Little Secret,' marriage, 'Wicked'". Today. November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  13. ^ "Lindsay Lohan Unpacks 'Our Little Secret' and Reuniting with Chad Michael Murray on 'Freakier Friday'". Variety. November 27, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  14. ^ "Lindsay Lohan on Creating New Holiday Traditions with Son Luai (Exclusive)". Extra. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  15. ^ "Original 'Wicked' Star Kristin Chenoweth Reveals Her Honest Opinion of the Movie Adaptation". Collider. November 23, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  16. ^ ""Can you guess what the original title of the new Lindsay Lohan Christmas movie was?"". The Daily Beast. November 27, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  17. ^ Spoll, Jess [@jessspoll] (November 27, 2024). "Can you guess what the original title of the new Lindsay Lohan Christmas movie was?". Retrieved November 27, 2024 – via Instagram.
  18. ^ "Merry ExMas - Film & Television Industry Alliance". Production List. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  19. ^ "Lindsay Lohan wanted to make "more mature" Christmas film with Our Little Secret". Radio Times. November 27, 2024. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  20. ^ Bhuiya, Hannah (November 27, 2024). "When The Story Arc Bends Like the Horizon, and Infinitude is All We Can Feel". Flaunt. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  21. ^ "Emily Bear Scoring Stephen Herek's Netflix Film 'Our Little Secret'". Film Music Reporter. October 14, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  22. ^ "'Our Little Secret' Soundtrack Album Details". Film Msic Reporter. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  23. ^ "Our Little Secret (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film) - Album by Emily Bear". Apple Music. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  24. ^ Lohan, Aliana [@aliana] (December 3, 2024). "Our Little Secret out now on Netflix. Be sure to catch my cover of Nat King Cole "The Happiest Christmas Tree" what an honor!". Retrieved December 5, 2024 – via Instagram.
  25. ^ "The New Netflix Movies You Can Watch This Fall". Tudum. August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  26. ^ "Our Little Secret - Bay Theater". Bay Theater. Archived from the original on November 23, 2024.
  27. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (December 3, 2024). "Lindsay Lohan a Netflix Hit Maker as 'Our Little Secret' Dominates With 32.4 Million Weekly Views Through Dec. 1". Media Play News. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  28. ^ Campione, Katie (December 3, 2024). "'Our Little Secret' Spreads Holiday Cheer As Netflix's Most-Watched Weekly Title; JonBenét Ramsey Docuseries Leads TV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  29. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (December 10, 2024). "Netflix: Lindsay Lohan's 'Our Little Secret' Remains Atop Weekly Streaming Charts Through Dec. 8". Media Play News. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  30. ^ "Black Doves Soars and Our Little Secret Are Most-Watched Titles This Week". Tudum. December 10, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  31. ^ "The Most-Watched Streaming Originals". Variety. December 9, 2024. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  32. ^ Brown, Keelan (December 6, 2024). "'Tis the Season To Be Streaming". Luminate. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  33. ^ Fitzgerald, Toni (December 17, 2024). "The Top 10 New Christmas Movies Of 2024, Including 'Our Little Secret'". Forbes. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  34. ^ "Our Little Secret". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 5, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  35. ^ "Our Little Secret". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  36. ^ Zemler, Emily (November 26, 2024). "'Our Little Secret' Review: Lindsay Lohan Xmas Rom-Com Falls Flat". Observer. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  37. ^ Lee, Benjamin (November 27, 2024). "Our Little Secret review – Lindsay Lohan's Netflix comedy is a minor win". The Guardian. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  38. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (November 26, 2024). "'Our Little Secret' Review: Lindsay Lohan in a Christmas Rom-Com That Achieves Full Netflix Cookie-Cutter". Variety. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  39. ^ Gates, Marya E. (November 27, 2024). "Our Little Secret movie review". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  40. ^ Myers, Randy (November 27, 2024). "What to watch: 'Senna,' 'Little Secret' offer made-to-order holiday home viewing". The Mercury News. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
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