Warning: spoilers for Our Little Secret & EXmas.
Netflix’sOur Little Secretis a Christmas rom-com starring Lindsay Lohan, and its premise might sound familiar to some, as a movie quietly released in 2023 shares the same concept. As part of Lindsay Lohan’s creative partnership with Netflix comesOur Little Secret, directed by Stephen Herek and executive produced by Lohan.Our Little Secretfollows Avery (Lohan) and Logan (Ian Harding), who met when they were kids and formed a very strong and special friendship, which, with time, developed into love. Unfortunately, they break up when Avery gets a job in London and Logan tries to get her to stay.
Ten years later, Avery, who returned to the city at some point, is dating Cam (Jon Rudnitsky), and Logan, who never left, is dating Cassie (Katie Baker). Avery and Logan are spending the holidays at their respective partners’ family home, but to their surprise, Cam and Cassie are siblings, so Avery and Logan have to spend a couple of days together. Avery and Logan agree not to tell anyone that they know each other, but they aren’t counting on one big obstacle.Our Little Secretisn’t the only Christmas movie with this idea, aslast year’sEXmasalready did this story.
EXmas & Our Little Secret Are Both About Exes Spending Christmas Together
EXmas & Our Little Secret Share The Same Concept
Among the many Christmas movies released on streaming in 2023 is the rom-comEXmas. Directed by Jonah Feingold and written by Dan Steele,EXmasstars Leighton Meester as Ali and Robbie Amell as Graham, a young couple who get engaged. However, they break up, but Graham’s family keeps in touch with Ali as they still love her as if she were family. With Graham not coming home for Christmas,his parents invite Ali to spend the holidays with them, but Graham decides to surprise his family and arrives home in time for Christmas.
Graham is shocked to see Ali there and so is she to see him there as he wasn’t supposed to be home for the holidays.Graham and Ali end up in a battle to see who Graham’s family will pick, as he’s sure they will kick Ali out at some point, but she’s confident that they will keep her around until the end of the holidays, and she will further earn their love. Their battle unleashes fun chaos, but it also makes them reconnect and remember their good times together.
InOur Little Secret, Avery and Logan make a deal: Logan will help Avery win Cam’s mother over, and she will help him with a construction proposal he’s working on. However, their obstacle is Cam and Cassie’s youngest brother, Callum (Jake Brennan), who eavesdrops on them and learns their secret, which he uses to his advantage. BothOur Little SecretandEXmassee some fun Christmas chaos, all thanks to exes being forced to spend the holidays together.
Our Little Secret Gives An Extra Twist To EXmas’ Story
Our Little Secret Adds More Trouble To The Story
InEXmas, both Ali and Graham start seeing people from town to mess with each other, butOur Little Secretadds some extras to the story that make it even funnier.Avery and Logan’s new partners being related adds an extra twist and conflicttoOur Little Secret, which leads them to keep their secret to not mess with the holidays – though that’s exactly what ends up happening. In addition to this,Our Little Secrethas some big twists and reveals in its third act, asAvery and Logan aren’t the only ones keeping a secret.
Instead of competing to see who the family will side with, like Ali and Graham do, Avery and Logan team up to help each other, showing the deep care and love they still have for each other. Surely, the love and care between Ali and Graham also come to light at one point during their holiday chaos, butEXmasleans more toward romance whileOur Little Secretis more on the comedy side.
Why EXmas Got A 41% Critics Score On Rotten Tomatoes (But A Fresh Audience Score)
EXmas Succeded With General Audiences But Not With Critics
Despite its premise and the chaotic fun that Ali and Graham’s battle unleashes,EXmasdidn’t get the attention it deserved.EXmaswas more of a quiet Christmas release in 2023, as it was released on Amazon Freevee without a big marketing campaign. At the time of writing,EXmashas a 41% critics score onRotten Tomatoes, and critics had different points against the movie and there doesn’t seem to be a consensus on what went wrong withEXmas. To some, the performances were bad (in a funny way) while others felt it had an uneven tone, and, for others, it wasn’t entertaining at all.
However, those who grantedEXmasa “fresh” score found the movie to be charming, entertaining, praised the comedic talents of Meester and Amell, and liked its blend of romance and comedy. General audiences were more welcoming ofEXmas, giving it afresh 61% popcornmeter score(formerly known as “audience score”). Viewers have calledEXmassilly but cute, funny, full of heart, and delivering exactly what it promises: a fun, charming, and heartwarming Christmas rom-com.
Our Little Secret
Our Little Secret is a holiday drama in which two resentful exes find themselves spending Christmas together after discovering that their current partners are siblings. The film explores themes of reconciliation and the complexities of family dynamics during the festive season.
