Family entertainment in films has taken all sorts of forms. There’s movies that involve a mix of live-action and animation. There’s ones that involve fantasy and others involving more mature themes. The one thing though that tends to fascinate people in general are the concept of identical twins. There’s just something about two people who look and sound exactly alike and can sometimes be completely different. However, the similarities can overlap greatly in personality and sometimes even psychologically despite most thinking it is only cosmetic. One of the most recognizable set of twins to come out of Hollywood was Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, also known as the Olsen Twins. If it weren’t for the Full House TV show in the 1980s, it’s hard to say how popular they would have become. By the time this film came out, they were practically ending that series.
The story is about two twins living completely separate and different lives. Amanda (Mary-Kate Olsen) is a down on her luck orphan. She just can’t seem to find a good set of parents to adopt her with the help from her sponsor Diane (Kirstie Alley). Then there’s Alyssa (Ashley Olsen), the daughter of a successful business man Roger (Steve Guttenberg). By chance, one day Amanda takes a trip with her fellow orphans to the Callaway camp that Roger lets others use. Little do any of these four individuals know that their lives will be turned upside down when the twins discover each other and switch places. In a way, this is like The Parent Trap (1961) and its remake of 1998 although sharing a closer resemblance to the Prince and the Pauper. The script was written by Deborah Dean Davis known for penning a couple of episodes to various TV shows like Magnum P.I. and Knight Rider.
This is also Davis’ only theatrical film credit, which is sort of surprising because this is also one of her last credits to date. For viewers who have seen many movies before this one, will not be that new in terms of ideas. The predictability is very standard. Two twins aren’t happy with their current situations so they devise a plan to change that and most can anticipate where that leads to. Further making that more blatantly apparent is the reason Alyssa makes her plan with Amanda. Her mom has long since gone and daddy Roger has found himself a new woman Clarice (Jane Sibbett) who is clearly there for other reasons. It’s just plain as day, when it’s been seen, it’s known how the narrative will be executed. The directing from Andy Tennant doesn’t improve it by that much either.
Tennant would direct a year later Fools Rush In (1997) and even later Hitch (2005). From how the characters are written though, the main ones are still likable in their own way. Kirstie Alley has the very mom-like attitude towards Amanda and that makes her significant. Most remember Alley from her role in Cheers. Steve Guttenberg as Alyssa’s father is also friendly. He’s doesn’t come off as a jerk in any way, just very blind to his flaws. Guttenberg is well known for his parts in the Police Academy (1984) franchise. As if anything needs to be said about the Olsen twins, their acting is fine. They don’t come across annoying either. Jane Sibbett plays her part well as the woman who hangs with Roger for other obvious reasons. And there’s a butler Vincenzo (Philip Bosco) who also had some parts in other movies like Three Men and a Baby (1987) and Shaft (2000).
The chemistry between actors all seem to work out okay. There are some moments where things are taken too nonchalantly or various scenes seem over the top to be taken so seriously. But this does add to the humor. Filming the project was Kenneth Zunder. Having a mixed history of working on TV shows and movies, Zunder’s work is fine for this okay movie. The shots taken of the camp area and Callaway mansion are very spacious to look at. Zunder’s best credits belong to Chicago Hope and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Lastly the musical score wasn’t that memorable. Mainly because the score wasn’t that prevalent. Composed by Sherman Foote the music behind the scenes are just sprinkled throughout while most of what is heard is the soundtrack. Really not that interesting.
Aside from nonexistent music and a rather straight forward script that makes it quite transparent in story, it’s okay to watch. It’s a nice throwback to various actors people have come to enjoy and remember. The characters are written for each actor well, which gives good chemistry and the camerawork is serviceable.
Points Earned --> 6:10
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