I Rewatched This 25-Year-Old Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen Movie and There's Something I Just Can't Get Over
All signs point to us having a very demure, very mindful French Girl fall season. And while the popular Netflix series Emily in Paris is certainly going to be responsible for part of that, I’ve been thinking a lot about the original teenage It-Girls who were the definition of demure and mindful back in the 2000s—Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. The Olsen twins single-handedly built a multimillion-dollar empire while simultaneously being some of the most popular people on the planet without much internet and pre-social media. Among their many projects were a vast catalog of films, one of which was 1999’s Passport to Paris.
I recently rewatched the movie in honor of its upcoming 25th anniversary, and enjoyed the nostalgic blast to my early 2000s past. But what I really couldn't get over? The nostalgic elements were wildly reminiscent of today—from the fashion to the hairstyles (more on that below). Here are some additional reasons to give it a watch.
1. It Has a Fun Storyline
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Passport to Paris centers around 13-year-old boy-crazy twins Melanie and Alyson Porter, who get sent to Paris for a week to spend time with their rather strict grandfather Edward. I certainly wish my “punishment” for concerning behavior as a teenager would have been a trip to Paris, but...nonetheless, it doesn’t take very long for Melanie and Alyson to make their mark on the city (along with finding boys, of course). They also play matchmaker with their bodyguard and a supermodel they randomly encounter at lunch, which is a very fun twist.
2. The Late 1990s Nostalgia
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This film, quite literally, sends you back to 1999 with all of its nostalgia. Many late '90s and Y2K elements are trending again today, but the film is filled with early internet references, and late ‘90s slang, music and fashion that will make your inner child giddy. Speaking of the fashion…
3. The Super Stylish Fashion
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You may not see MK & Ash very often nowadays, but when you do, their outfits are always a talking point. This film is a reminder that their fashion dominance started during their pre-teen years, and their many chic Parisian outfits and hairstyling are another highlight of this movie. You’ll also realize that these young ladies were way ahead of their time as some of what they wore back then is popular now with the rise of demure and French Girl fashion. Even better is the fact that this film was released in November, 1999—right at the peak of fall fashion.
4. The Comedic Moments
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Believe it or not, there are quite a few hilarious moments in this film, like the twins secretly ordering McDonald’s because they weren’t a fan of the French meal served at dinner, accidentally spitting a drink in the face of their grandfather's butler and getting in trouble for dancing to hip-hop music. The twins also send their bodyguard on wild goose chases the whole time, which is fun to watch as they literally have him running around the entire city of Paris like a chicken with his head cut off. I laughed way more than I expected to.
PureWow Rating: 4.5/5 Out of 5 Stars
All-in-all, Passport to Paris is a really enjoyable film—especially if you’re a fan of all things Y2K like myself. It’s also currently one of the few Mary Kate and Ashley movies available to watch on streaming, which adds to its “rarity.” Definitely a great weekend afternoon watch you can enjoy as a throwback.
Watch Passport to Paris now on Prime Video.
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