Why a critically panned 1995 comedy became a massive success on home video
In short: Released in 1995, It Takes Two was savaged by critics and struggled at the box office. Yet, this romantic comedy starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen found a second life, eventually becoming one of Warner Home Video's top-selling family films. Discover the strange gap between professional reviews and audience affection.
Directed by Andy Tennant, the 1995 film It Takes Two follows a classic narrative trope: two lookalike girls from different worlds meet by chance and orchestrate a romantic union between their respective parent figures. Nine-year-old orphan Amanda Lemmon, who dreams of being adopted by her social worker Diane Barrows, crosses paths with wealthy heiress Alyssa Callaway at a summer camp. The girls, realizing their lives are mirror images, decide to swap places to escape their circumstances. While Amanda navigates the luxuries of the Callaway estate, Alyssa experiences the camp life and eventually discovers the sinister reality of the Butkis family, who adopt children only to exploit them as slave labor in a salvage yard.
The film’s plot draws clear inspiration from Mark Twain’s 1881 novel The Prince and the Pauper and Erich Kästner’s 1949 book Lisa and Lottie, while echoing the premise of the 1961 film The Parent Trap. Despite this familiar framework, the production faced a harsh reception upon its November 17, 1995 release. Critics were largely unimpressed, with the film holding an 8% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 24 reviews. Reviewers like Roger Ebert described the plot as numbingly predictable, though he acknowledged the performances were praiseworthy. Metacritic echoed this sentiment, assigning the film an average score of 45, indicating mixed or average critical reception.
However, the disconnect between critics and viewers was stark. While the film grossed only $19.5 million against a $14.5 million budget in theaters, it found immense popularity in the home-video market, generating $75 million in sales. This performance cemented it as the fourth-largest seller in the family category for Warner Home Video. Audiences were far more receptive than critics, awarding the film an 'A' grade in CinemaScore polls. Parent Previews even gave it a 'B' grade, noting that while the story is predictable, it remains a family-friendly romp with only minor instances of child intimidation from the antagonists.
The film’s legacy is defined by this duality. It served as a vehicle for the Olsen twins, who won a Kids' Choice Award for their performance, and it remains a curious case study in how audience sentiment can override critical consensus. By the time the credits roll, set to the Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston song that gives the film its title, the narrative concludes with a classic happy ending, solidifying its place as a nostalgic staple for a generation of viewers who ignored the negative press.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: It Takes Two (1995 film)
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