The story of Can You Keep a Secret?
Emma Corrigan is having what might be her final moments. The plane's shaking violently, the oxygen masks are dropping, and she's convinced this is it—the end. So she does what any rational person would do: she turns to the attractive stranger beside her and unloads. Every embarrassing detail. Every humiliation. Every secret she's been carrying around like luggage she can't put down. The relief is real. The catharsis is real. And then the plane stabilizes. She survives. Life goes on. Except it doesn't, not really—because that stranger? He shows up at her office as Jack Harper, the young, elusive CEO of her company. He knows everything. Every mortifying confession. Every detail she thought she'd shared with someone she'd never see again. What unfolds is a romantic comedy built on the collision between vulnerability and exposure, between the person you are when no one's watching and the person you have to be at work.
Can You Keep a Secret?, based on Sophie Kinsella's 2003 novel of the same name, takes that premise and runs with it for 94 minutes. It's a film about the pitfalls and pleasures of telling the truth—the tagline doesn't lie. Emma's got to navigate the nightmare of her CEO knowing she's terrified of her job, that she's faked illness to get out of presentations, that she's basically been holding on by her fingernails. And Jack? He's got to decide what to do with this sudden window into the real person behind the professional facade.
Behind the making of Can You Keep a Secret?
Director Elise Duran brought this adaptation to life with a cast led by Alexandra Daddario as Emma and Tyler Hoechlin as Jack Harper. The screenplay was penned by Peter Hutchings, tasked with translating Kinsella's bestselling rom-com novel into a contemporary film that could land with audiences accustomed to both traditional romantic comedies and more modern takes on the genre. The production was a collaborative effort among several indie production houses—BCDF Pictures, Big Indie Pictures, Embankment Films, and 120dB Films—bringing together resources to create a film aimed squarely at the streaming market.
The film arrived in 2019 with a TV-MA rating, signaling that while it's a romantic comedy, it wasn't pulling punches on language or content. Box office performance was modest, as is typical for indie rom-coms in the theatrical space, but the film found its audience on streaming platforms. Critical reception, however, was mixed at best. The Metascore landed at 35/100, while Rotten Tomatoes rated it at 30% on the Tomatometer—solidly in "Rotten" territory. The IMDb community was somewhat more forgiving, rating it 5.4/10 across over 22,000 votes. These numbers suggest the film divided viewers: some found it charming enough, while others felt it didn't quite stick the landing on the rom-com formula.
What makes Can You Keep a Secret? stand out
Here's the thing about romantic comedies: they live or die on chemistry and vulnerability. Daddario brings a kind of earnest panic to Emma that actually works—you believe she's mortified, you believe the stakes feel real to her even when the situations are absurd. There's a scene early on where she's spiraling about work, and you can see the character's anxiety isn't played for laughs so much as it's the emotional core driving everything else. That's not nothing. Hoechlin, meanwhile, plays Jack with enough charm to make you understand why Emma might actually fall for him despite—or because of—the fact that he knows all her worst thoughts.
What's striking is that the film doesn't entirely botch the central tension. The premise could've been played as pure slapstick embarrassment, but instead it leans into something more interesting: the vulnerability of being truly known by someone, especially someone in a position of power over you. There's real awkwardness in that dynamic, and the film captures moments of genuine discomfort alongside the rom-com beats. The New York City setting provides a familiar backdrop—marketing offices, first-class flights, the corporate world where image is everything—that grounds the fantasy element in something recognizable.
That said, critical consensus suggests the film doesn't quite maintain that balance throughout. The reviews hint at a tonal inconsistency, moments where it shifts from character-driven comedy to more formulaic rom-com beats that don't always land. It's the kind of film where you can see what the filmmakers were going for, even if the execution didn't satisfy everyone.
Where to stream Can You Keep a Secret? online
If you're looking to watch Can You Keep a Secret?, the good news is it's available on major OTT services—check the "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page for current availability across all platforms. The film's journey to streaming was natural; as an indie production, it was designed with the streaming audience in mind from the start. Movie OTT tracks where films like this one are currently available, so you can find the right platform for your subscription without hunting around. Since streaming rights shift regularly, that widget will show you exactly which services have it right now.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is Can You Keep a Secret? based on a book?
Yes. The film is adapted from Sophie Kinsella's 2003 novel of the same name. Kinsella is best known for her Shopaholic series, and this romantic comedy has a similar blend of humor, heart, and contemporary female perspectives on work and relationships.
Q: Who stars in Can You Keep a Secret??
Alexandra Daddario plays Emma Corrigan, the lead character, while Tyler Hoechlin plays Jack Harper, the CEO. The film was directed by Elise Duran and released in 2019.
Q: How long is Can You Keep a Secret??
The film runs 94 minutes, making it a fairly standard length for a romantic comedy—long enough to develop the relationship arc without overstaying its welcome.
Q: What's the rating for Can You Keep a Secret??
The film is rated TV-MA, meaning it contains content not suitable for children under 17 without parental guidance. This typically includes language and some adult situations.
Q: Did Can You Keep a Secret? win any awards?
The film didn't achieve major awards recognition. It was reviewed modestly by critics, with a 35 Metascore and 30% on Rotten Tomatoes, though it found some appreciation from audiences on streaming platforms.
Final thoughts on Can You Keep a Secret?
Can You Keep a Secret? is a film for people who still have a soft spot for romantic comedies, even when they don't always work. It's got charm, decent chemistry between its leads, and a premise that's genuinely fun—the kind of movie you might stumble across on a streaming service and decide to give a shot. Don't expect critical darling status or awards-season buzz. But if you're in the mood for something light, something about the messy reality of being known by another person, and you've got 94 minutes to burn, it's worth considering. The film won't blow your mind, but it might make you smile. That's honest work for a rom-com.
