Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are continual sources of pop culture entertainment. They were the cute kids everyone loved in their shared role as Michelle on Full House. They became businesswomen when they were only six years old. Their schedules were insane, but their decorum on talk shows and at public events was impressive for such young ages.
The fashion mavens may be more elusive these days, but fans never tire of recounting the twins' many works. Here is a look at ten of their direct-to-video products from the glory days.
Worst: Our First Video
The video that started it all. Once Dualstar got underway, the twins had a lot of projects to complete. One of them was their very first video. Not Full House, not a movie, but a good old-fashioned video. They sang classic songs like "Brother For Sale" and "I Am the Cute One" that got stuck in your head for hours. It's not that the video wasn't cute. It just capitalized on a skill set that the twins have admitted they don't really possess: singing. Their video industry had to start somewhere.
Best: The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley
Ashley and Mary-Kate struck gold with their detective series, which began in 1994. The twins made pretty cute sleuths, even if the franchise was completely unrealistic. With their trusty dog, Clue, the Olsen and Olsen Mystery Agency promised to "solve any crime by dinnertime." True fans might still remember the opening of the theme song: "Who stole the great hope diamond? What killed the dinosaur? Who makes the finest pizza? What's in your brother's dresser drawer?"
Worst: Billboard Dad
Billboard Dad is one of those movies that you want to love rewatching (which is an option, thanks to Hulu), but it just falls flat. Once again, the twins' movie mother is deceased. They feel sad for their lonely father, who is a sculptor being conned by his agent. Twins to the rescue! They set their dad up on some dates by climbing up a billboard on Sunset and writing out an ad for him. Yeah, right. Then, they fall for the agent's tricks before eventually outing the agent as a scam artist. The dad's new girlfriend has a troubled son, and the Olsen twins pick on him. If you have a choice among Olsen fare, skip this one.
Best: You're Invited...
Even if solving mysteries is more important than throwing parties, the You're Invited videos fare well based on nostalgia. The franchise starts out with the sleepover video in 1995, featuring the twins' pesky older brother, Trent. The videos did see a bit of a decline. By the time the series ended in 2000, the twins were rapping ("Noyz About Boyz") at a school dance.
Throughout the entire run, the twins got to do some really cool things with their friends, like have a fashion party at FIDM, have a Mall of America party in Minneapolis, and get special access to New York City Ballet.
Worst: Our Music Video
The Olsen twins knew how to milk a cash cow with all these videos. Compilation videos became pretty routine: a Christmas set included a Christmas detective video, a Christmas party video, and To Grandmother's House We Go. The You're Invited series starting grouping episodes together in threes and repackaging them in shiny new VHS cases. Such is the case with "Our Music Video."
This was a videotape of Mary-Kate and Ashley's "favorite" music from their videos, spliced together between the twins telling jokes while wearing Mario-style hats. If you're that curious, this media is listed as currently unavailable on Amazon Prime, but you can order it from Amazon for six dollars.
Best: Passport to Paris
Passport to Paris (1999) is one of the best Olsen travel movies simply because it is the first. Critics (and former fans) might complain about the privilege with which thirteen-year-old girls get to travel to Europe and turn it into their playground, but maybe that's what life is like if your grandfather is the US Ambassador to France. The movie is available to stream now on Hulu. After watching it, hop over to Netflix to see some fun parallels with Amanda Bynes' character and her father in What a Girl Wants.
Worst: The Challenge
This 2003 film is the last in the twins' direct-to-video franchise. It struggles with identity, because it technically fits into the travel movie category (the DVD case notes that it was filmed in Mexico) but it's no vacation. Shane and Elizabeth are competing on The Challenge, and they have spent years apart from one another, each living with one of their divorced parents. It would be nice to say that these films went out with a bang, but not so. At least the twins got to film New York Minute and see that go to theaters in 2004.
Best: Winning London
If the twins were going to travel the world, they couldn't skip England. This 2001 movie was a great moment in time for Olsen teen style, and it featured a unique concept. Instead of jetting off on a luxurious vacation, the twins travel because one of them is in the Model UN. All the boys, the tunes, and the deluxe views are still there--just with a little more studiousness than usual.
Worst: Our Lips Are Sealed
Our Lips Are Sealed (2000) is by far one of the worst videos to bear the Olsen name. The twins play teen girls named Maddie and Abby Parker who, along with their family, are in the Witness Protection Program. Maddie and Abby witnessed a jewel theft, and the family is constantly on the run because the girls can't keep their mouths shut about it. Australia is literally the last place on Earth the family can go for cover. How this plot could ever fly for a kids' movie is a mystery.
Best: When in Rome
When in Rome was released in 2002, it was the beginning of the end for Mary-Kate and Ashley's video empire. It may have some corny moments, but this adventure in Rome hits right in the gut of nostalgia. Leila and Charli get their dream internship, but they must put on their detective hats again to figure out who the mole in the company is. The classic is a great foreshadowing of the twins' true passion in life: fashion.