Unraveling the Mystery of Netflix's Holiday Movie Montage
Context and Setup
The story of "Our Little Secret" begins in 2014 when our two main characters, played by Lindsay Lohan and Ian Harding, part ways in a rather dramatic fashion during a surprise goodbye-party-turned-proposal gone awry. As the opening credits roll, set against a jarring montage of news events, it becomes clear that this movie is not your typical holiday fare. The entire movie takes place in the chilly December setting, with the music of Calvin Harris' "Summer" adding to the festive yet somewhat disconcerting atmosphere.Fast forward to 2024, and our characters' lives pick up again at a seemingly fake-looking architecture firm. Ostensibly, the opening timeline is meant to give us a glimpse into the ten years since their breakup. But in reality, Netflix presents us with a chaotic mix of human-interest stories and aging memes from the past decade.
What's Included in the Montage
The montage features a wide range of events, from the ALS ice-bucket challenge to the legalization of same-sex marriage, Kobe Bryant's retirement to the invention of Beyond Meat, and the Thai cave rescue to Jeff Bezos's rocket and NFTs. There are even a few royal events thrown in, such as Harry and Meghan's wedding and Charles's ascent to the throne, perhaps to give a nod to Lohan's character's time in London. Additionally, there are headlines about three different Netflix shows, highlighting the streamer's impact on culture over the past decade.It's a strange combination that seems to have no real impact on the movie's plot, except perhaps in the minds of the characters as they reflect on the past ten years. This raises the question of whether it was a necessary addition or just a random assortment of events.
Netflix's Intent and the Viewer's Reaction
One theory is that Netflix was trying to prevent the good holiday vibes from being ruined by limiting the timeline to positive or at least neutral events. We see Bernie Sanders wearing a mask and mittens at Joe Biden's inauguration, but no mention of COVID-19 or the elections during this time. Bryant's departure from the Lakers is also conveniently omitted, along with any Harry and Meghan drama or the queen's death.Despite Netflix's best efforts, however, the decision to pack a decade's worth of random real-life headlines into a 90-second opening-title sequence still leaves viewers reeling. But there's still an hour and a half of holiday fun and Kristin Chenoweth to come after the credits, which helps soothe the nerves.