The Lohan-aissance is officially upon us, with self-deprecating jokes and sledding of physical comedy. Welcome home, Lindsay.
National treasure Jennifer Lopez gave an Oscar-worthy performance in the exotic dancer’s true crime drama “Hustlers” in 2019. In 2022, Lindsay Lohan gives her career best in years with the holiday romantic comedy ” Falling for Christmas”.
As a lifelong Lohan fan whose childhood was marked by watching two Lindsays in “Parent Trap”, forcing my mother to see “Freaky Friday” for to understand My fate as an 8 year old and dreaming of moving to New York after watching the “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen” DVD nonstop, I wanted to believe in the Lohan-aissance. Like Santa Claus, the idea of icon Lindsay Lohan returning to the top in Hollywood seemed like the stuff of a Christmas miracle. Well, “Falling for Christmas” proves that every Lohan fan’s holiday wish has come true.
“Falling for Christmas” has a fairly straightforward plot: Lohan plays Sierra, a hotel heiress (think Paris Hilton meets Lohan Beach Club) with a heart of gold and a jewel-toned wardrobe. After a proposal from her handsome influencer (George Young) leads to a life-threatening skiing accident, an unconscious Sierra is rescued by local bed and breakfast owner and single father Jake (Chord Overstreet), who has just to be refused by Sierra. tycoon father (Jack Wagner) for a loan.
Sierra has amnesia, takes the name Sarah, and bonds with Jake’s daughter (Olivia Perez) and endearing stepmother (Alejandra Flores) while reminding everyone of the true meaning of Christmas. It’s “Overboard” without the questionable sexual politics of 1987 and far superior to the 2018 remake starring Anna Faris and Eva Longoria.
Lohan, who also produced the Netflix film under his multi-picture deal with the streamer, absolutely owns the film, with “High School Musical” alum Overstreet a worthy counterpart and generous stage partner. In the first minute of the film, Lohan as Sierra has a slow-motion entrance with the perfect après-ski outfit for an heiress. Sierra is the embodiment of luxury, and Lohan is the embodiment of timelessness.
“Fall for Christmas”
Scott Everett White/Netflix
In her thirties, Sierra still calls her billionaire father Beauregard “Dad” (less cringe than Ana de Armas purring the same in “Blonde”) and doesn’t know how to make a bed. She hopes to find her own path outside of the legacy of her family name instead of just taking on the made-up role of “vice-president of atmosphere” at Belmont Lodge, and it’s easy to see the comparisons between the Sierra snow hotel and Lohan hotel. Mykonos resort town filled with sand. Sierra even sings on the radio with “Jingle Bell Rock” (signals the encore of “Mean Girls”) when her boyfriend Tad dispels her vocal chops as “pitchy”. (Lohan posted his version of the Christmas classic ahead of the film’s premiere.)
Lohan is fine with self-deprecating banter at her expense and looks silly while getting messy through physical comedy involving toilets, raccoons, and the aforementioned skiing accident. Lohan shines in these moments, and the credits blooper shows that the shine has even extended to the set.
“Fall for Christmas”
Scott Everett White/Netflix
There are nods to Netflix, like Sierra awakened by a jarring Scottish jig from the trailer for Brooke Shields’ 2021 holiday romantic comedy “A Castle for Christmas.” Let’s be clear: “Falling for Christmas” is a step above a Hallmark Christmas movie. But it’s simultaneously a Christmas gem on Netflix, with Overstreet and Wagner, along with a delightfully over-the-top Young and heartfelt Flores, on par with Lohan’s compelling performance. As far as smaller supporting roles go, the film is a little flimsy and made for cable TV. But it’s Christmas (soon), and all is forgiven.
Why wouldn’t this small town know the famous daughter of the biggest local employer and quickly realize that Sarah is Sierra? Why wouldn’t there be more searches if Sierra’s been missing for almost a week? It does not matter. Really. ‘Cause when Lohan delivers the line, “What type breakfast?!” when debating whether to leave the hospital with Jake and go to his quaint North Star lodge, it’s worth it. Lohan is the polar star of the film and we will follow her wherever she goes.
Is “Falling for Christmas” Lohan’s “Citizen Kane”? Well, as Sierra, a widower’s daughter grappling with her past, present, and future over the holidays, and many a sled thanks to a Botox Santa replacement, it’s clear this is the Lohan’s best work in decades. Even Sierra has her own rosebud, Christmas snow globe, to remember. The ending to “Falling for Christmas” is pure “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and how wonderful that Lohan is back in Hollywood, just in time for the holidays.
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“Falling for Christmas” begins streaming on Netflix on Thursday, November 10.
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