So firstly I love this film and secondly it’s obviously not that deep an a topic that’s been discussed numerous times - but I just recently watched it again for the 300th time.
But rewatching it .. god the parents were awful. Imagine finding out your only parent hid the fact you had a twin for 11 years (and was likely never going to tell you?) and that your other parent was ok with not knowing you or how you were doing because they had another version of you.
And then the mum/Elizabeh has the audacity to say to the twins “how could you do this to me??” When she finds out the dad/Nick didn’t know she was coming to meet him.
And when Nick meets Annie for the first time he’s just like “wow last time I saw you you had diaper rash” …
They really were the villains 🤦♀️
The other villain is whatever judge agreed to this custody arrangement!!
41
AlonnaReeseMar 24, 2026
+11
Approximately 90% of child custody agreements are worked out by the parents themselves without involvement by the legal system ([Source](https://parentclassesonline.com/child-custody-statistics/)). Presumably that was what happened in the film's backstory.
11
nicolasknightMar 25, 2026
+7
I looked it up once.
In written records this exact scenario was attempted ONCE by the parents.
And yup, the judge told them to sit and spin.
7
Educational-Beat9992Mar 24, 2026
+7
Maybe a judge wasn’t involved 🤷♀️
7
MWH1980Mar 24, 2026
+21
It’s not just that, but everyone in both households does not give away the secret to either girl.
These adults are pretty heartless if they could go through their whole lives and keep this secret.
Sometimes I think of the moment when Hallie reveals her true identity to Mom. One element they added is Hallie being scared to admit this, because she was the daughter Mom didn’t keep, and they work in a fear that if she finds out she isn’t Annie, she might hate her.
Then we have the line from Mom saying, “I’ve loved you your whole life.”
When I had time to think about this, I felt a proper comeback line would have been: “then why did you do this to us? Why didn’t anyone tell me I had a sister?”
21
googillyMar 24, 2026
+15
The original version rules.
15
itsmechickadeeMar 25, 2026
+2
I agree. It works better as a 60s movie
2
Educational-Beat9992Mar 25, 2026
+2
I’d disagree. I think depending on age and which one you saw first plays into which you prefer.
2
OnionDartMar 24, 2026
+8
Yes, but I’ve got closs and you dewn’t
8
Educational-Beat9992Mar 24, 2026
+2
Yeah but I know how to fence and you don’t
2
EatYourCheckersMar 24, 2026
+14
Are you talking about the Lindsay Lohan version? I grew up *loving* the original and could never really enjoy the remake. I wonder how you'd like the Hailey Mills version.
14
Educational-Beat9992Mar 24, 2026
+11
Well I’ve watched both. But I was 8 when the remake was done so it was aimed at girls my age so I will naturally prefer it.
11
EatYourCheckersMar 24, 2026
+4
Yeah, I was too old for the remake to hit with me.
4
mlledufargeMar 24, 2026
+3
I was when it came out, but I’ve learned to love it as its own thing.
I was also a big fan of the parent trap sequels, but those did not hold up in my mid-pandemic-lockdown rewatch. 😂
3
ravioli333Mar 24, 2026
+8
Haley Mills is fantastic in it. Just no comparison.
8
MWH1980Mar 25, 2026
+7
What I miss is that in the 1961 version, it feels like each girl gets a chance to get upset to the parent’s face (Susan: “Mother I think what you did to us kids is lousy! In fact I think it stinks!”).
I also like that even though we don’t get all the details, Susan and her Mom do discuss some elements about why she divorced the girls’ father.
The 1998 version sanitizes the whole thing a bit more, even in regards to what gets the girls in trouble at camp.
7
mangosandkiwisMar 25, 2026
+2
I found the parents in the 98 version really bland. They were more interesting and had more of their own storyline in the 61 version. Maureen O’Hara blew me away, she was so gorgeous and charismatic.
2
ReganXMar 24, 2026
+6
In addition to having to live with the fact that one of their parents was willing to never have contact with them again if it meant that they could avoid their ex, it wouldn’t surprise me if one or both twins ended up dwelling on the idea that their sister was the one both parents wanted to keep, and she was the one that the parent who lost the coin toss (or however they decided) got stuck with.
6
MWH1980Mar 25, 2026
+6
There is one element I picked up on years later, that when Hallie takes Annie’s place in London, she is fearful that if Mom finds out who she is, she won’t like or love her.
It’s one reason why in the “reveal” scene, she has a hard time just fully confessing it (even with her Grandfather pushing her on), afraid that if Mom finds out, she’s not going to love her like Annie, because she kept Annie.
6
Educational-Beat9992Mar 24, 2026
+2
I mean were things really that bad they couldn’t even keep in contact (whilst living their separate lives) just to know their child was ok? Then both twins repeatedly asked if their parents were angry they’d switched places - their parents should be apologising to them for life 🤦♀️
2
ReganXMar 25, 2026
+1
The girls were about a year old when they were separated, right? They probably spent virtually all of their time together, and then suddenly, their twin was gone and they had no idea why.
1
SerWrongMar 25, 2026
+3
The scene where the lady who is with the dad (I still have no idea what her role or job is in the house) realizes it was the other twin. She got all emotional and went in a big hug. That felt the most realistic scene in the whole movie.
3
Ready_Corgi462Mar 26, 2026
+1
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has been wondering what Chessie’s role is in the Parker household for over 20 years lmao
1
Hey-Bud-Lets-PartyMar 25, 2026
+1
Which version?
1
Ready_Corgi462Mar 26, 2026
+1
I love this movie so much due to childhood nostalgia, but when I rewatched it for the first time as an adult I got SO SAD watching Halle prepare herself to meet her mother for the first time - in disguise and all alone, no less. When she is overcome with emotion and starts to cry, my heart broke for her!
Honestly, even outside of the twin stuff, it was also terrible that the dad was like “welcome home! Oh by the way, you’re about to have a stepmom and actually I asked her to marry me before she ever met you - and no, I wasn’t concerned with you adjusting or prioritizing how she’d integrate into this family before I did this”
Then I had to remind myself it’s a children’s disney movie and I needed to learn to suspend my disbelief 😂 but it’s definitely so wild when you view it through adult eyes
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