To think the Parent Trap parents are the worst parents ever?

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

Disclaimer: lighthearted, I know it's a film.

Watching (the Lindsay Lohan) Parent Trap with DD, how utterly SHIT are both the mum and dad:

• they take one twin each when they're 1yo and vow never to see the other because the adults don't like each other
• they never acknowledge this or apologise for it
• they keep it a secret from their daughters that the girls have a twin, and seem to see now fault or feel no guilt about thia
• the dad gets engaged when his daughter is away for the summer, to someone she's never met, and "surprises" her with the news.
• when the mum finds out her estranged daughter has been with her in secret, she's more bothered about the prospect of meeting her ex again
• the dad lets his 11yo drink wine
• they get prickly when either child asks about their estranged mother/father
• when the girls almost kill the dad's fiancée by pushing her inflatable bed into the middle of a lake while she sleeps, he just goes "meh"

I also want to know -

• how a woman who only owns a wedding dress shop can afford to have a huge house in what looks like Holland Park, complete with butler
• why someone would send their child to the US from London for summer childcare
• how a 26 year old owns her own wildly successful PR company in California
• what kind of name is Chessie? (The "maid" in California)?

Even 8yo DD is pointing out how awful they all are 😂

[quote FurrySlipperBoots]@mongoosebaby Actually I think her accent is very good for a child! It annoys me though that 'Annie' says she eats Oreos with peanut butter at home (you couldn't get Oreos in the UK back then) and uses Americanisms like 'You're kidding!?' - I can see how the American writers wouldn't have known any better, but you'd think the English cast members would have pointed it out to them![/quote]
Are you sure about Oreos not being available? I remember my cousin buying them in Sainsburys for us in the 90s. Google seems to agree with me.

Nope. Sorry. It's like nails down a blackboard! Plus I used to teach drama for 10 year olds so I know lots can do better. However, I am prepared to conceed that it was most likely the directors fault, given the rest of the ridiculous interpretation of 'Britishness' in the film. A butler, really?? Come on.

you couldn't get Oreos in the UK back then)

Maybe they went to an American grocery store in London? There are a few.

Oh I love this film!! I haven’t seen it for ages!

@berrygirlie

Divorced in 2001! He's with a twenty-something year old now. *@jambeforeclottedcream*

That interesting dynamic when your son is closer in age to your wife than you are

@Meraas and that's why you don't have "the list" of famous people you can sleep with if they ever knock in your door, when you yourself are an A-lister

[quote GlummyMcGlummerson]@jambeforeclottedcream yes I think they do last that long! Out of curiosity I googled it once and it's about $10,000 per child in some places IIRC maybe USA holiday childcare provision is really shit? Mind you the Americans do like to overdo things - I thought badminton club 3 days a week for a month in the local sports centre was a bit much [/quote]
They run 10-12 weeks depending on the state, I’ve worked at several and kids come from all over the world we had Kids fly from France, Spain (they always arrive in limousines) and Japan. Best summer job ever.

@Meraas

you couldn't get Oreos in the UK back then)

Maybe they went to an American grocery store in London? There are a few.

You 100% could, Cyber Candy in London stocked them. I had them as a kid in London and the US.

@mongoosebaby

Nope. Sorry. It's like nails down a blackboard! Plus I used to teach drama for 10 year olds so I know lots can do better. However, I am prepared to conceed that it was most likely the directors fault, given the rest of the ridiculous interpretation of 'Britishness' in the film. A butler, really?? Come on.

American film makers do seem to love British stereotypes. If you are Scottish and ever want to rage watch 'Made of Honour' where the Scottish character lives in a castle and does log throwing as a hobby

YES, @GlummyMcGlummerson! What a ridiculous movie, speaking as a fellow Scot (though I do like Kevin McKidd!)

@jambeforeclottedcream

I only realised very recently that Dennis Quiad and Meg Ryan were together . Not sure if they still are or not

They had a son who in now an actor in The Boys. She cheated on him with Russell Crowe, he remarried and had twins.

Great film but YES, thank you! Those parents were shitty AF!!!

If it’s stereotypes you’re looking for can I present Wild Mountain Thyme featuring Emily Blunt and actual Irishman Jamie Dornan. A film so bad it made the news bulletins in Ireland each and every hour the day the preview was released.

i also fancy Jamie Dornan

GlummyMcGlummerson
I'm not even Scottish and that aspect of Maid of Honor makes me cringe

Another one is What a Girl Wants with Amanda Bynes and Colin Firth. That's another what Americans think of upper class Britain / London cringe fest

Also terrible ‘Leap Year’ with Amy Adams. We rage watch it as a nation.

@MadameMiggeldy yes yes yes, terrible stereotypes and Matthew Goode's accent was diabolical

@jambeforeclottedcream oh yes with debutant balls and grand houses. Because her dad couldn't have been a joiner living in a two-up two-down in Widnes could he.

If we’re on the subject of shitty parenting in films, can I just ask what the heck the parents in Stuart Little were smoking?!

THEY ADOPTED A TALKING MOUSE

And everybody just behaves like, “Yes, this is a perfectly sensible decision, and your existing human son is utterly unreasonable in his reaction to this.”

[quote GlummyMcGlummerson]@jambeforeclottedcream oh yes with debutant balls and grand houses. Because her dad couldn't have been a joiner living in a two-up two-down in Widnes could he.[/quote]
That would have been a much better film

His house was bigger than Buckingham Palace FFs and don't get me started about the fact that all the guys looked like Prince William apart from the actor who was meant to be Prince William!!!

@sachastark this was on the TV recently and I had the same thought. Why did everyone accept a talking mouse as an adopted son?!

And English people are always stiff upper lip types where the Americans are kooky and fun.

IME and having lives in the US, Americans are far more serious than Brits

I just love films that have Londons Calling playing over scenes of London..to show we are now in England!

The ear piercing in this always made me cringe a bit

Never mind Chessie - I've never heard the name Hallie used outside this film.

🤣🤣one of my favourite films, both versions.

@ZoeCM Halle Berry! It’s just missing an i.