I come from a big family of romantic comedy lovers, with the Hallmark Channel being a staple channel when we can’t find anything else to watch. However, there’s something even more magical about watching a rom-com as the snow is falling down outside and the Christmas lights hanging on your tree are twinkling. You begin to believe in Christmas magic and love as you sip your peppermint hot chocolate and snuggle up with the coziest blanket you can find. There is so much belief in the Christmas rom-com that streamers and studios alike push out an exorbitant amount of them each and every holiday season. It’s the same idea that led Netflix to make Our Little Secret, a film that may be set during Christmas but is something that can be enjoyed long outside the most wonderful time of the year.
Featuring a story from newcomer Hailey DeDominicis and directed by Stephen Herek (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead), Our Little Secret’s magic doesn’t come from the tinsel on the tree, but from the story at its heart. With a laundry list of well-known stars, such as Lindsay Lohan and Kristin Chenoweth, Our Little Secret is so packed with talent that it won’t be contained to just a present under your tree.
With universal messages extending past that of love during the holidays, Our Little Secret is the perfect romantic comedy for any time of the year.
[Warning: spoilers from Netflix’s Our Little Secret are below!]
The most awkward of reunions in Our Little Secret
Avery (Lindsay Lohan) and Logan (Ian Harding) have been in each other’s lives for as long as anyone can remember. Going from friends to more, the two were inseparable until life threw them a curveball. Wanting more from her life, Avery accepts a job halfway around the world in London, leaving Logan to make a desperate move, proposing at her going away party. The major act to keep her trapped in her hometown pushes Avery to break up with her boyfriend, which doesn’t go over very well. At least their paths won’t cross again…come on…this is a romantic comedy; of course they will.
A decade later, Avery’s preparing to meet her boyfriend Cameron’s (Jon Rudnitsky) parents for the holiday and wants to make a good impression. It’s never easy meeting your boyfriend’s mother for the first time, but the added pressure of Christmas makes it nearly impossible to get it right. Erica (Kirstin Chenoweth) is a cold woman towards her son’s girlfriends, with clear disdain for having to share Cameron’s attention with anyone else. The stakes are so high, so the only thing that could throw a wrench in Avery’s plan is the return of a familiar face.
Cue the return of Logan, who just happens to be dating Cameron’s sister, Cassie (Katie Baker). The decade has turned Logan into a buttoned-up working man who lacks the confidence he had when he proposed to Avery all those years ago. Quiet and reserved, his girlfriend Cassie is controlling and vapid, making them the most unlikely of pairs. However, Erica is more warm towards him than Avery.
Not wanting to screw anything up, Avery asks Logan for a gigantic favor; act like they don’t know each other. Surely, this plan will work out, as all hair-brained schemes do. Avery will go to the ends of the Earth to get Erica to like her, and Logan sees an opportunity to advance his career. Needing some help developing a business proposal, he promises to help Avery keep her secret and win over Erica in exchange for her expertise. Can the two of them make it through Christmas without spilling the beans? With complications around every corner, it becomes difficult to keep the charade up, especially when love is in the air.
A Christmas setting, but a universal message in Netflix’s latest Rom-Com
When my mother and I began this film, I assumed it would be like any other Christmas romantic comedy that has come out lately. A feel-good movie that celebrates love, however, doesn’t make a lasting impact past the holiday. In a world where a new Hallmark movie comes out every night from Halloween to Christmas, this thought process makes sense, as there is an overwhelming market of Christmas films such as these, and they all start to feel the same. Why would some Netflix film feel any different?
Now, I know there might be some of you thinking, “But Brian, how is this any other holiday film when it stars Lindsay Lohan and Kristin Chenoweth?” and you’d be right. Obviously, these two powerhouses are enormous draws for Our Little Secret, as both of those names are easily recognizable, and many of us recognize the talent they possess. It was definitely one of the reasons it was on my list of “Holiday Movies to Watch This Season,” as my love for both is strong.
Still, I’ve seen plenty of movies from Netflix and other major streaming services that use big names to draw audiences in but are ultimately forgettable. However, that isn’t what happened with Our Little Secret, as I couldn’t get this film out of my head for many reasons. Yes, the acting of everyone involved is top-tier for a rom-com, but what truly stuck out about this film was the message at the core.
Yes, there was still the message of finding love during Christmas times, but in Our Little Secret, that almost felt second to the larger message of finding yourself when you least expected it. Avery lost herself the day her mother died, and she has been running away from the pain and hurt, a fact that Logan brings up frequently. While his delivery could use some work, his point is true that sometimes, when we can’t face the truth, we run away as fast as possible in any direction.
However, Avery isn’t the only one who has lost themselves, as Logan isn’t exactly who he once was either. He’s settled into a life that is nothing short of average but also not the one he had for himself. He’s overworked in a job that doesn’t appreciate him and is the caretaker of his grandmother along with his mother. He’s complacent in his life, having never recovered from losing Avery a decade earlier.
So, throughout finding each other again in unlikely circumstances, they find strength in each other and themselves. Avery confronts her loss and ends up embracing it, eventually moving into her childhood home, where she feels the presence of her mom in every room. No longer does she need to run away from the uncomfortable feelings of grief, making her healthier and happier.
Logan also finds himself the courage to stand up for what he deserves and is more sure of his abilities than previously. He’s constantly doubting himself throughout the film until Avery intervenes and submits his plans on his behalf. It’s then that he sees a different path forward in his life and career. Does that path bring him and Avery back into each other’s lives? Absolutely, but the journey of self-discovery that Our Little Secret provides for these characters is even more enjoyable.
Final thoughts on Our Little Secret
While the holiday season might be coming to a close, there’s never a wrong time to watch Our Little Secret. Some of the plot might center around Christmas and the festivities, but the story in the film is unique in that it doesn’t feel tethered to the holiday season. There’s so much more within Our Little Secret that it doesn’t matter if you watch it now or in the heat of the summer, as the story of Avery, Logan, and the growth they experience expands beyond the boundaries of a traditional holiday rom-com.
Our Little Secret is now streaming on Netflix.
Learn more about the film, including how to watch it, on the Netflix site for the title.
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