Our Little Secret Is Not-So-Secretly Great

Netflix and Lindsay Lohan’s partnership continues to succeed with the latest holiday rom-com, Our Little Secret. Since she returned to film with Falling For Christmas, Lohan has steadily chipped away at a place at the rom-com table, with hopefully more in store in the future after Our Little Secret. In Lohan’s latest project, there is a more subtle approach to storytelling that not only shows that holiday rom-coms don’t need to be outlandishly crazy to keep viewers watching but that sometimes keeping things grounded is just enough.

Our Little Secret starts with a simple yet delightful animated sequence fleshing out the longtime friendship-turned-relationship between Avery (Lohan) and Logan (Ian Harding). It seems they are destined for a romance made in romance novel heaven until Avery secures a dream job.

A proposal goes awkwardly and horribly awry, and the two are separated for a decade, living their lives and experiencing many world events that writer Hailey DeDominicis and director Stephen Herek were so kind to include in a montage. If you felt old and exhausted before watching this montage, wait until the end of it. A lot has happened in a decade.

The two accidentally meet again when they are forced to spend Christmas under the same roof after discovering their partners are siblings. Rather than take the route of least chaos, Avery and Logan decide not to tell anyone about their previous relationship. Unfortunately, when it comes to lying, it’s a slippery slope of deception that turns into a slowly encroaching avalanche of lies stacked upon lies. Reminder: If you lie to get your partner or their family to like you, it’s probably not a match.

The core of every good holiday rom-com: lying to your family.

But for Avery, who wants desperately for things to work between her and her partner, Cameron (Jon Rudnitsky), she’s willing to do whatever it takes to win over the matriarch of the family, Erica (Kristin Chenoweth), whose pointed passive aggressive comments will leave viewers squirming in their seats. The question is, though, are all of these lies worth it? As Avery and Logan work to help each other in Our Little Secret, the two realize that maybe what’s best is just within reach. There’s no need to lie to or hide from the people who already know and love all of you.

Family gatherings during the holidays can be hell, especially if you’re a new partner. Expectations, whether real or self-induced, are high. This natural tension-fest gives DeDominicis plenty to play around with in Our Little Secret, and she does so quite well.

The family members Avery and Logan meet are all incredibly dysfunctional, with the matriarch trying to keep everyone in line and up to her expectations. It’s a dynamic many will likely find familiar, and with Herek’s background in comedy, he wrings out every bit of humor (and a little tinge of horror) from the scenarios that play out onscreen without going too far. Well, almost.

Despite the more grounded vibes in Our Little Secret, there are a couple of ridiculous moments. There’s a questionable scene where Avery gets high in a church-like setting. Anyone who has gotten high off of THC will probably be left scratching their heads over some of Avery’s side effects.

While incredibly humorous, it seemed like a slightly lazy writing choice if only for the inaccuracies. However, this is a nitpick that gets tossed to the corner once the offbeat clapping kicks into gear, further amplifying the public speaking cringe in the scene.

Our Little Secret is the most well rounded of Netflix’s holiday releases.

The characters and story’s nuances make Our Little Secret not-so-secretly great. The connection between Lindsay Lohan’s Avery and Ian Harding’s Logan feels natural and lived-in, selling the fact that they’ve been friends their entire lives with ease. The dialogue further enhances this, with their mutual line deliveries being snappy and quick as soon as they are together. In contrast to how Avery and Cameron interact, the difference between the couples is night and day.

Each couple’s respective differences make the future for Avery and Logan seem most rewarding. While they may not be on the best of terms when they reunite, a huge part of the joy Our Little Secret brings is seeing them fall back into familiar comfort with one another. Even knowing that it’s just a matter of time before one (or many) of the lies finally allows them to recognize what’s right in front of them, there’s no sense of frustration because the writing and execution take us on the journey with the duo.

Of the four-holiday romance films Netflix has released this month, this one is the most well-rounded. While each one has the respective tropes they follow, Our Little Secret isn’t as obvious about the checkboxes on the list. Amid its slippery slope of lies, it takes unexpected twists and turns, granting the formula a fresh feeling. And because of the groundwork done from its opening animated sequence, the final romance at the end feels the most earned and realized, which should satisfy romance viewers.

If there is a rom-com you should watch this holiday season, Our Little Secret should top the list. Lindsay Lohan and Ian Harding are a match made in rom-com heaven, from which not even Kristin Chenoweth’s terrifyingly accurate matriarch can steal the thunder.

Our Little Secret streams exclusively on Netflix on November 27, 2024.