Tag: Hallmark

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Enjoying the Time We Have

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

Going into the twelfth season of When Calls the Heart, a Heartie can’t help but become reflective over their favorite show. However, it seems like When Calls the Heart’s creative team wanted their fans to look back at how far the show has come. A few examples are Elizabeth teaching her son the meaning of the word, ‘reflective’, and Rosemary reminding Nathan how no one knows what the future holds. It’s amazing this program has stayed on the air for eleven years and twelve seasons! In the history of television, few shows have made it that far. But if the history of television has taught us anything, another season is not guaranteed. While renewal news has usually come quickly for When Calls the Heart, it’s easy for Hearties to take that news for granted. Earlier in this introduction, I mentioned Rosemary telling Nathan how no one knows what the future holds. She followed that up by saying how we should enjoy the time we have. So, let’s enjoy this re-cap of When Calls the Heart’s season twelve premiere!

Just a reminder: If you did not see the season premiere of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

When Calls the Heart season twelve poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

Season: 12

Episode: 1

Name: The Mountie Way

Major stories:

Superintendent Andrew Hargreaves arrives in Hope Valley to give Elizabeth one of Jack’s prized possessions. This object is a medal Jack earned before he passed away. The medal leads Elizabeth to explain to her son what ‘reflective’ means. She also allows Jack Jr. to wear his father’s medal on his first day of school. Inspired by Jack’s bravery, Jack Jr. lets Lilly borrow the medal when he learns she’s nervous about being one of the youngest kids in Elizabeth’s class. Jack Jr. and Elizabeth also agree how having the medal is a reminder that Jack will always be with them. Meanwhile, Superintendent Hargreaves assigns Nathan to train a Mountie cadet named Oliver Garrett. Nathan is told Oliver is at the bottom of his class. But after he and Bill talk to Oliver, they think something isn’t adding up. That’s because Oliver seems enthusiastic about being a Mountie. In fact, he expresses interest in the forensic and scientific sides of the profession.

Throughout this episode, Lucas encourages Lee to go to Capitol City to work on their national park project. Lee is hesitant because of how much time he thinks he’ll spend away from his family. Rosemary is also hesitant about Lee’s potential travels for the same reason. Henry comes up with the idea to name the national park after Goldy. This development makes Rosemary reconsider letting Lee go to Capitol City. In the end, Lee and Rosemary compromise. Lee goes to Capitol City during the week and comes home on the weekends. When Lee is contemplating his potential trips to Capitol City, Rosemary is frustrated by The Valley Voice’s decreased readership. Lee jokingly recommends radio shows advertise in the newspaper. This suggestion inspires Rosemary to create her own radio program.

Winner’s medal image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/golden-awards-set-with-colors-details_844356.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/gold”>Gold vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor story:

Lucas and Lee have different priorities when it comes to the national park project. For Lucas, it’s about revitalizing his disastrous approval rating. For Lee, on the other hand, the project is about providing Goldy and her generation with a gift that keeps on giving. On the train ride to Capital City, Lee and Lucas cross paths with Edwin Mitchel, who used to work with Lucas. Edwin brings up Lucas’ approval rating and says he has some ideas to save Lucas’ reputation. Even though Lee is skeptical of Edwin’s offer, Lucas is open to hearing what Edwin has to say.

Railway Train image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-train-retro-background_1112415.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

  • Back in 2021, I wrote a list of the top ten things I’d like to see in When Calls the Heart’s ninth season. One of those things was Hope Valley’s first female Mountie. When I discovered a new Mountie would be introduced in season twelve, I was so excited at possibly getting my wish. But season twelve’s premiere left me disappointed. Oliver has potential to be a well-written, well-acted character. However, not giving Hope Valley their first female Mountie is such a missed opportunity.
  • Is it just me or has Lee’s sawmill disappeared from Hope Valley? When Lee made his debut in season two, one of his purposes was to open a sawmill and provide job opportunities for Hope Valley’s residents, especially after the coal mine’s closure. But ever since Rosemary started the town’s newspaper, it seems like the sawmill isn’t a priority for Lee like in past seasons. In fact, the sawmill wasn’t brought up in this episode. If Lee is not running his sawmill anymore, who is?
  • Throughout season twelve’s premiere, the children of Hope Valley become obsessed with a comic book about a character named Captain Billie. It even gets to the point where the children debate if comic books should be considered literature. I found this debate ironic because When Calls the Heart is based on a pre-existing book series. I also think it would be a good idea for Elizabeth to take that aforementioned obsession and turn it into a class project where her students create their own comic books!
  • In this re-cap, I mentioned Rosemary being inspired to create her own radio show. For me, this part of the episode was ironic. That’s because, in my re-cap post about season ten’s finale, I said I wanted to see Fiona create her own radio show. From the way Rosemary described her ideal radio program, the primary focus would be on news within Hope Valley and its surrounding areas. Since Rosemary has written for The Valley Voice for a few seasons, this seems like a good idea that I can’t wait to see upfold!
Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on When Calls the Heart’s season twelve premiere? What are you most excited about this season? Please tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: New ‘Hannah Swensen Mystery’ Movie on the Way!

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

When I talked about One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery in my list of the top ten worst movies I saw in 2024, I said I hope Delores receives better story ideas if there are more Hannah Swensen films in the works. Days after that list was published, Hallmark revealed another movie in the Hannah Swensen series! On Hallmark Mystery’s website, an official page has been created for Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. The film will premiere on February 6th and the story is about the following:

“Hannah’s favorite reality show takes over The Cookie Jar. When the producer is found dead, Hannah and Norman team up to track down the killer. Chad invites Hannah to court”.

According to the film’s official page, Alison Sweeney, Victor Webster, and Barbara Niven will return to reprise their roles. Even though Norman was mentioned in the synopsis, it’s unknown, at this time, if Gabriel Hogan will also return to reprise his role.

Magnifying glass image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/magnifying-glass-with-fingerprint-in-flat-style_2034684.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/flat”>Flat vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

There are some noticeable observations coming from the official page of Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. Looking at the release dates for this movie and The Jane Mysteries: A Deadly Prescription, Hallmark’s new mystery titles will premiere on Thursdays instead of Fridays like last year. Norman’s involvement was limited in One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, not only when it came to solving the case, but also within the overall story. The synopsis of Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery states, “Hannah and Norman team up to track down the killer”. This statement assumes Norman will play a larger role in the 2025 movie. Ever since Chad was written into this series, he and Hannah don’t work together as consistently as Hannah and Mike did. However, Chad still finds a way to have a presence in Hannah’s life. A perfect example is brought up in Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery’s synopsis, which states “Chad invites Hannah to court”. Everything I just said makes me wonder if the creative team of the Hannah Swensen series wants to create a love triangle between Norman, Hannah, and Chad?

What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Are you looking forward to the premiere of Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery? Please let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Referenced official page of Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery: https://www.hallmarkmystery.com/reality-bites-a-hannah-swensen-mystery

The Top Ten Worst Movies I Saw in 2024

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

While 2024 was, for me, a better year for movies, I still saw some movies I didn’t like. Similar to my worst movies list of 2023, most of the films on this year’s list were disappointing or average. But, unlike 2023, the top four titles are from different genres. The dishonorable mentions section has returned! This time, however, there are more DNFs (did not finish). Like I have said in past lists, my top ten worst movies I saw in 2024 list is not intended to be mean-spirited, negative, or disrespectful. It’s just a list of my own, honest opinion. Since I reviewed some of the movies on my list, I will provide the links to those reviews in this article.

Dishonorable Mentions

The Reluctant Debutante, The Gambler: Luck of the Draw, Jazz Ramsey: A K-9 Mystery, Million Dollar Lethal Listing, CrimeTime: Freefall (I turned it off after about forty minutes), Mermaid Down (I turned off this movie after about twenty minutes), Blood, Sweat and Cheer (I turned it off after about eighteen minutes), and Temptation Under the Sun (I turned off this movie after about twenty-two minutes)

Image by starline on Freepik

10. Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch

In the 2020s, Hallmark has come up with story ideas that worked well enough for a stand-alone mystery movie, but unsustainable for a multi-chapter series. One of these ideas came from Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch. This film made the same mistake as Mystery Island: not allowing the protagonist to use her skills to solve the case. For Lauren, the main character in Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, her psychology skills were so underutilized, she seemed more like an over glorified intern. Thick French accents making several characters difficult to understand is another major flaw of the film. It prevented me from being fully invested in the story. Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch was, in my opinion, a disappointing movie. But compared to the other titles on 2024’s worst of the year list, Hallmark’s production was, simply, ‘underwhelming’.

Take 3: Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch Review

9. Boy in the Walls

When I first read the synopsis for Boy in the Walls, I thought the film would be a spookier version of 2016’s Boy in the Attic. Sadly, this was not the case. The 2023 Lifetime presentation contained a mystery that was drawn out for too long. It also doesn’t help how the protagonist made one dumb decision after another. Without spoiling the film, all I’ll say is the title is misleading. If you haven’t watched either referenced movie, I’d recommend Boy in the Attic.

8. The 39 Steps

In my review of The 39 Steps, I said the 1935 picture was the most “meh” title from Alfred Hitchcock’s filmography. This statement was made due to the limited sense of urgency and intrigue within the story. As I also said in my review, The 39 Steps seems longer than an hour and twenty-six minutes. The drawn-out nature of the movie created a slow and boring build-up to a reveal that feels kind of ridiculous and anti-climactic. While romance has been incorporated in some of Alfred’s films, it didn’t work in The 39 Steps. Richard and Pamela’s attraction for one another was too abrupt, welcoming the presence of the “insta-love” trope. Even though The 39 Steps was a disappointing movie, I gave it a lower placement on my list. Comparing the 1935 film to Alfred’s other productions, Hitchcock’s filmography shows how much he improved as a director.

Take 3: The 39 Steps Review

7. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Pack of Lies

There are some movies that, in my opinion, should have been documentaries instead. The 1987 Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, Pack of Lies, is just one example. This film in the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection is based on a true story. While “based on a true story” movies can be engaging, intriguing, and even thought-provoking, Pack of Lies was disappointing. Like I said in my review of the 1987 production, the film was a two hour slow and tedious build-up to a resolution that was underwhelming and anti-climactic. The creative team’s decision to choose telling over showing caused other flaws, from little lapse in time to things not making sense. Pack of Lies proves Hallmark Hall of Fame movies are not created equally. However, there are other Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations from the 1980s I like, such as the adaptations of The Secret Garden and A Tale of Two Cities.

Take 3: Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Pack of Lies Review

6. One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

While A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery was slightly better than One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, I was still disappointed in the latter film. For starters, Victor Webster and Alison Sweeney had no on-screen chemistry. A character (not Hannah) solves the mystery by making an assumption about the case and being conveniently correct. But the worst part about One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery was Delores’ subplot. Up until this film, Delores was very against Hannah getting involved in cases, as well as dating Mike. So, for Delores to become a private investigator and seem to treat her new job as a joke completely went against her character. In fact, this was such a bad creative idea, Delores’ private investigating career was barely mentioned in A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. If there are more Hannah Swensen films in the works, I really hope Delores receives better story ideas.

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Pack of Lies poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Robert Halmi, and CBS

5. My Life Is on the Line

This Lifetime movie had one of the network’s most creative story ideas. The 2024 picture was about a woman who tried to solve a mystery on her computer at her office cubicle. But the longer I watched this movie, the sooner I realized that aforementioned idea wasn’t sustainable for a feature-length production. Instead, the novelty of how the mystery was solved got old very quickly. My Life Is on the Line is yet another Lifetime film where the protagonist makes a collection of dumb choices. Her decision-making is so bad, other characters in the story, including her boss, call her out for it. Lifetime’s 2024 presentation was, for me, the most disappointing movie of the year.

4. Network

Network holds the honor of not only being the first film I reviewed for my Comparing with the Critics series, it’s also the first film I disagreed with the critics on. Even though Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert placed the movie in their list of the top five films from 1976, I would call Network one of the “Dogs of the Year”. For me, it was more of an endurance test, where the story’s first half was a drawn-out search for a resolution to the movie’s conflict and the second half was a yelling contest. Being a pretentious picture by taking itself too seriously and telling a dry, boring story didn’t work in Network’s favor. There are movies from the 1970s I like. Unfortunately, Network isn’t one of them.

Comparing with the Critics – Best of 1976 – Network

3. Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s

It’s ironic that Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Heartache and Homecoming became the third worst movie of 2023 and now Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s became the third worst movie of 2024. When you look past this irony, you’ll see how Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s shares some of the same flaws as its sequel, like not understanding how technology works. Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s contains its own flaws, with poor special effects as one example. While this movie is so bad, it’s, at times, unintentionally funny, I do acknowledge how challenging it can be to create a cinematic project. In fact, the best way to sum up Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s is the quote, “Mistakes are proof that you are trying”.

Take 3: Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s Review

2. Revenge Best Served Chilled

This Lifetime movie from 2022 had a very misleading title and synopsis. Not only is there no revenge in the story, there’s also nothing being chilled throughout the film. According to a plot summary I read, Revenge Best Served Chilled is about a series of murder mysteries taking place at a wine expert competition, with the protagonist trying to clear her name and solve the mysteries. The movie actually emphasizes the wine expert competition to the point where there is little to no mystery involved. Like Boy in the Walls and My Life Is on The Line, the protagonist, Emily, makes so many dumb decisions. I, honestly, should have turned this movie off after Emily doesn’t lock her family’s restaurant’s front doors as she’s spending the night at the restaurant. But I naively thought Revenge Best Served Chilled was going to be a better movie.

1. Frankenstein (2004)

I referenced this movie while reviewing the Hallmark adaptation of Frankenstein, as I was pointing out a technical error on Wikipedia. When I saw the version of Frankenstein starring Vincent Perez, I immediately knew it was going to be the worst movie I saw in 2024. While this movie contains some interesting ideas, those ideas are bogged down by other ideas. The excessive number of ideas made the story feel like a series of vignettes either loosely connected to each other or not connected at all. What also makes the overall story weak is how nothing is explained. The ending is one of the most “sequel bait” endings I’ve seen in a long time. I would strongly discourage readers from checking out this version of Frankenstein. More time will be spent being frustrated than entertained.

Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s poster created by Glass House Distribution

Have fun in 2025!

Sally Silverscreen

The Top Ten Best Movies I Saw in 2024

On By 18cinemalane4 Comments

For me, 2024 was a better year for movies. That’s because I saw more movies I liked, compared to 2023! Another difference from 2023 is how, on 2024’s list, more movies are theatrical pictures. However, there are still some made-for-TV productions that found a spot on my list. With more likable movies comes the return of the honorable mentions section! In that part of my list, most of the films are television projects. Since I reviewed almost all the movies on this year’s list, I will provide links to those reviews in this post. So, with 2025 on the horizon, let’s begin my list of the top ten best movies I saw in 2024!

Honorable Mentions

Legend of the Lost Locket, My Baby Is Missing, My Mother’s Split Personalities, Christmas on Division Street, and Interstellar

Image by starline on Freepik

10. I Heard the Bells

I Heard the Bells achieved so much in a short amount of time. The 2022 movie was chosen for my 500 Blog Follower Dedication Review. Then, I Heard the Bells became my 400th published movie review, as I recently revealed in my list of the ten movie trends I don’t understand. Now, the film is the only Christmas picture to earn a place on 2024’s best movies of the year list! When I wrote about I Heard the Bells, I compared it to It’s a Wonderful Life. Both titles are not only about more than just the Christmas holiday, they also cared about their overall presentation. I Heard the Bells was a visually immersive movie because of the attention to detail placed on historical accuracy. The strength of the acting performances allowed the story to be engaging. While it’s too early to say right now, I think I Heard the Bells could be a Christmas classic!

Take 3: I Heard the Bells Review + 500 Follower Thank You

9. Easter Parade

If I could choose one word to describe Easter Parade, it would be “colorful”. With the movie’s creative team taking advantage of Technicolor, costumes and décor boasted vibrant hues that complimented the story’s spring season! The musical numbers provide another strength in Easter Parade. From Fred’s festive and creative solo, “Drum Crazy”, to Ann’s energetic and fast-paced solo, “Shakin’ the Blues Away”, the movie’s musical numbers were enjoyable because of their choreography and delivery. The reason the 1948 film is placed lower on my list is due to the premise-driven story and the limited inclusion of Easter. However, Easter Parade’s positives outweigh the negatives!

Take 3: Easter Parade Review

8. For Me and My Gal

In my review of For Me and My Gal, I mentioned how Breen Code era movie musicals contain simpler stories. These simpler stories will typically feature lower stakes. But in For Me and My Gal, the story of Harry and Jo included stakes that were higher. The story wasn’t afraid to show Jo and Harry making difficult decisions when it came to their dreams. Along their journey, the duo even deals with regret and heartbreak. The way World War I was incorporated into For Me and My Gal gave the script a sense of realism. Creative decisions like that one gave the 1942 picture emotional depth!

Take 3: For Me and My Gal Review

7. Willow

When I started my Comparing with the Critics series, I knew there were some movies I would disagree with the critics on. What I didn’t know was how much I would like Willow. Now that I’ve seen the 1988 film, I can understand why some people have given it the coveted title of “classic”. Likable elements, such as humor and unique perspectives on familiar story ideas, provide arguments for the aforementioned claim. The simplistic and straight-forward nature of the story made it easier to follow what was happening on screen. For me, Madmartigan stole the show! Movies like Willow make me thankful for my Comparing with the Critics series.

Comparing with the Critics – Worst of 1988 – Willow

6. Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit

2024 saw the premiere of two Curious Caterer films; Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans and Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit. Though I liked Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans more than Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit, Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit was still a good movie. The fifth chapter in the series consistently carried the strong components of the Curious Caterer story, like the acting, humor, and prioritizing the mystery. A peek behind the music industry’s curtain and the incorporation of serious, real-world topics helped make the identity of Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit unique. As of the publication of this list, Hallmark has not provided any 2025 dates to the Curious Caterer series. If there are going to be more Curious Caterer films, I hope at least one of them is a seasonal picture.

Take 3: Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit Review

Hallmark’s Frankenstein poster created by Hallmark Entertainment, Hallmark Channel, Silverstar Ltd., Larry Levinson Productions, and RTL

5. Hallmark’s Frankenstein (2004)

Back in March, I called Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein a “hidden gem”. This claim was based on my observation of how a good movie was not only forgotten by time, but also overshadowed by other titles released in 2004. What makes this version of Frankenstein a good movie, in my opinion, is how respectful it was toward Mary Shelley’s novel. One great example is Luke Goss’ portrayal of The Creature, as the way emotion was utilized throughout Luke’s performance highlighted how complicated The Creature is. Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein is another movie where the visual presentation created an immersive experience. Combining set design, costume design, and attention to historical accuracy, the movie made me feel like I was transported to another time and place.

Take 3: Hallmark’s Frankenstein (2004) Review (Double Feature: 2004 Edition Part 2)

4. The Boys in the Boat

If you’re going to create a sports movie involving a team sport, it’s important to make the camaraderie among the team believable. An on-screen team with believable camaraderie helps the audience stay invested in the story, as well as the team’s journey. Because the acting performances were strong in The Boys in the Boat, the camaraderie within the team dynamic felt genuine. The 2023 film also makes rowing look exciting! This was accomplished through cinematography, editing, and music selection. The Boys in the Boat is a “based on a true story” film that, in my opinion, is worth the time! This is yet another production where historical accuracy was a top priority.

3. Amadeus

Out of all the movies I reviewed for my Comparing with the Critics series, Amadeus is, so far, the only movie I agreed with the critics on. While the biopic is a glamourous spectacle, it also contains substance. Thought-provoking material can be found in the script, such as how fame can negatively impact the human soul. The story is an immersive, detail-oriented character study that explores the good and bad sides of the music industry. The creative team’s focus on detail made Amadeus look and feel historically accurate, as can be seen in the costume and set design. F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce each gave a strong performance. I can, honestly, say the 1984 movie is one of the best biopics I’ve ever seen!

Comparing with the Critics – Best of 1984 – Amadeus

2. Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans

Remember when I said I liked Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans more than Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit? One reason why I said this is Goldy’s consistent involvement in Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans’ case. Other reasons why I liked the fourth chapter in the series are the creativity of the mystery, the quality of the acting performances, and how humor was written into the story. Looking back on Hallmark’s mystery films I saw in 2024, this Curious Caterer movie is pretty unique. That’s because, as I mentioned in my review, it’s a locked room mystery revolving around a costume party. In 2023’s best movies of the year list, I claimed Curious Caterer: Grilling Season was the best film in the series. I certainly changed my mind after I saw Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans!

Take 3: Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans Review

1. I Am David

It’s amazing how I Am David became 2024’s best movie in March and clung on to the number one spot all these months later! This impressive film allowed the story of David and his journey to be told with genuine emotion and sincerity. This was achieved through every aspect of the production, like the acting performances and the screenwriting. Exploring light and darkness, as well as showcasing Europe’s natural landscape, gave the production visual depth. Timeless, universal messages were also woven into the script. As I said in my review, I wish more people knew about this movie. Hopefully, my review or maybe this list can encourage someone to check out I Am David!

Take 3: I Am David Review (Double Feature: 2004 Edition Part 1)

I Am David poster created by Walden Media, Film and General Productions, Lionsgate Films, Artisan Entertainment, and David Productions Ltd.

Have fun in 2025!

Sally Silverscreen

The Christmas Movies Tag!

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

Two weeks ago, Hamlette (from Hamlette’s Soliloquy) tagged me in the Christmas Movies Tag! The timing of this tag was perfect because in 2024, I 1) wrote only four list articles and 2) participated in only one tag. With Christmas just around the corner, I found another reason to accept Hamlette’s invitation. Over 18 Cinema Lane’s six-year history, several Christmas movies have been reviewed. This helped when choosing titles for the Christmas Movies Tag. For films covered on my blog, I will provide the links in this tag if anyone is interested in reading my full thoughts on the featured movies. Before I begin the Christmas Movies Tag, I need to list the tag’s official rules, which are the following:

  • Fill out the prompts (expound as much or as little as you like)
  • Tag some friends (however many or few you feel like)
  • Have fun (this is mandatory)
The Christmas Movies Tag banner found on Hamlette’s Soliloquy

1. A favorite funny Christmas movie

Back in 2019, I discovered why The Nine Lives of Christmas is so beloved in the Hallmark fan community. One appealing aspect of the movie was definitely the humor! In my review of the 2014 film, I pointed out how the dialogue among the characters helped make the story’s very first scene hilarious. The genuineness of the dialogue was well-written and good-natured. I also mentioned how Ambrose the cat served as some of the film’s comic relief. Memorable moments, such as when the cat sits on Zachary’s chair, made my viewing experience enjoyable. At the time, most of Hallmark’s Christmas movies seemed light on humor. So, watching a humorous picture like The Nine Lives of Christmas was refreshing!

Take 3: The Nine Lives of Christmas Review

2. A favorite poignant Christmas movie

For this prompt, I chose two movies. The first is 2016’s Winter Thaw. From what I remember, the religious messages and themes associated with Christmas are prioritized over the holiday itself. In fact, there are so few references to the Christmas holiday, it’s easy to forget Winter Thaw is a Christmas movie at all. The second movie is one I reviewed last year; Christmas Princess from 2017! As I stated in my review, this film avoided several Christmas related tropes and clichés because Donaly’s journey to the Rose Court was the story’s main focus. Similar to Winter Thaw, the secular elements of Christmas don’t take center stage in Christmas Princess. But, like It’s a Wonderful Life, the 2017 presentation presents a story about a person trying to do “something big, something important”.

Take 3: Christmas Princess (2017) Review

3. A favorite romantic Christmas movie

Before I was a movie blogger, I saw the 2015 made-for-TV production, The Spirit of Christmas. Though it’s been almost ten years since I’ve seen the film, I remember how strong Thomas Beaudoin and Jen Lilley’s on-screen chemistry was! Because of this on-screen chemistry, I was invested in the story. I also rooted for Daniel and Kate to find a way to be together. The Spirit of Christmas is a film I’d love to revisit on 18 Cinema Lane!

4. A favorite feel-good Christmas movie

In 2022’s edition of my top ten best movies of the year list, A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love made history by becoming the first and, so far, only Christmas movie to be the best movie I saw in any given year! How the 2021 title earned this honor was having their story revolve around a group of people using their skills and talents to help a family in need. Including Advent gave this film a more unique identity and provided a newer approach to the Christmas movie genre. Showcasing Christmas activities, such as gift exchanging, in creative ways crafted A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love’s identity as well. Movies like this one make me wish Hallmark continued the Godwink series.

Take 3: A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love Review

5. A favorite movie adaptation of A Christmas Carol

Years ago, I saw the Hallmark Channel production, It’s Christmas, Carol! What I remember the most was how good Emmanuelle Vaugier’s and Carrie Fisher’s performance was! They were not only strong actresses individually, they also worked well together. The acting became one of the reasons why I liked this film. However, it’s been over ten years since I last saw it. Hopefully, I’ll receive a chance to revisit It’s Christmas, Carol!

Christmas Princess (2017) poster created by Entertainment One and Really Real Films

6. A Christmas movie you watch any time of year

Similar to prompt number two, I’m selecting two films. I have reviewed both of these titles recently. My first choice is the 1991 television movie, Christmas on Division Street. One of the reasons why I liked this film is how the story’s messages and themes apply to the Christmas season as well as outside of Christmastime. But the appearance of Christmas is inconsistent in Christmas on Division Street, as the holiday isn’t recognized until forty minutes into an hour and thirty-three-minute story. My second choice is I Heard the Bells. In my review of the 2022 title, I compared I Heard the Bells to It’s a Wonderful Life. This is because both of these films are about more than just the Christmas holiday. They focus on a man and his story, also exploring how that man’s relationships affect his existence.

Take 3: Christmas on Division Street Review

Take 3: I Heard the Bells Review + 500 Follower Thank You

7. A Christmas movie that surprised you

My best movies of the year list of 2023 saw A Biltmore Christmas earning a spot in the list’s top three! When I wrote about the film, I explained how I had developed low expectations for the movie due to how much hype and publicity it received. I’m glad I gave A Biltmore Christmas a chance, as I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was! There were so many likable elements to this story, with the attention given to historical accuracy being just one of them. The script gave Hallmark Channel a different type of narrative for their Christmas pictures, utilizing historical fiction and aspects of time travel. A Biltmore Christmas even won the Gold Sally Award’s inaugural Top Gun: Maverick Award!

8. A favorite “but is it really a Christmas movie?” movie

One of the movies I reviewed in my Halloween Double Feature was 2002’s The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire. The most surprising part of that movie was the story taking place during the Christmas season. Even though Christmas played a minimal role in the film, it was interesting to see the holiday associated with vampires. It was also fascinating to watch an alternative Christmas mystery from Hallmark. The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire shows how the concept of vampires can be incorporated into almost any type of movie in almost any time of year. The 2002 picture is also proof how, when they put their mind to it, Hallmark can think outside-the-box when it comes to their Christmas movies.

Take 3: The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire Review (Halloween Double Feature Part 1)

9. The oldest Christmas movie you’ve seen

When I reviewed Meet Me in St. Louis in 2019, it became the oldest Christmas movie I saw and wrote about on my blog! Released in 1944, this film represents the best the Breen Code era had to offer, especially when it came to the musical genre. The acting keeps this movie going and the songs provide a good tonal balance throughout the production. Judy’s rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is so iconic! While there have been many versions of that song, Meet Me in St. Louis’ version is my favorite.

Take 3: Meet Me in St. Louis Review + 75 Follower Thank You

10. The newest Christmas movie you’ve seen

Due to Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker’s popularity, I reviewed the 2024 Great American Family presentation, A Little Women’s Christmas. To me, this was a fine, wholesome, and pleasant picture. I liked how the creative team showed respect for the source material. But I wasn’t a fan of how confusing the ending was. I also didn’t like the inclusion of the “it’s not what you think” cliché, as it added predictability to the story. However, A Little Women’s Christmas is still a movie I would recommend.

Take 3: A Little Women’s Christmas Review

Meet Me in St. Louis poster created by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Loew’s, Inc. Image found at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meet_Me_in_St._Louis_poster.jpg

Since the month of December is usually the busiest time of year, not only because of the Christmas/holiday season, but also because of the days leading up to New Year’s, it can be challenging to set aside time to participate in a tag. I also want to express my gratitude for 18 Cinema Lane having another successful year. So, I’m giving my readers an open invitation to the Christmas Movies Tag! If you like what you’ve read, you’re welcome to create your own tag post any time you wish!

Have fun on Christmas!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Cancel Christmas Review

On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

When choosing to review a Hallmark Christmas film, I sometimes select an “older” production that isn’t featured during “Miracles of Christmas” or “Countdown to Christmas” as often as it used to. I figure if either Hallmark Channel or Hallmark Mystery continues to prioritize their “newer” movies, 18 Cinema Lane will take the time to give these “older” pictures their much-needed recognition. Cancel Christmas is one of these films. Premiering in the early 2010s, Cancel Christmas was released during a time when Hallmark Channel aired less than twenty movies during their “Countdown to Christmas” line-up. This movie was also released during a time when Hallmark’s Christmas projects weren’t mandated by the network’s brand, allowing each movie to be as creative as their respective creative team desired. When I wrote about hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween, I mentioned how Hoops & Yoyo would appear in an article of things you can no longer find from Hallmark. If this article existed, Christmas movies featuring Santa would also be included. Comparing today’s Hallmark Channel with the network of yesteryear, Santa’s appearances in Christmas cinema have become rarer. So, similar to hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween, Cancel Christmas serves as a time capsule of how different Hallmark Channel was over ten years ago.

Cancel Christmas poster created by Chesler/Perlmutter Productions, Daro Film Distribution, and Hallmark Channel

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Since the dawn of cinema, there have been countless portrayals of Santa. How Santa carries himself on screen depends on the actor, screenwriting, and director. In Cancel Christmas, Judd Nelson presented Santa in a way I don’t often see in the world of Christmas cinema. This movie shows Santa as softer-spoken, displaying jolliness through actions instead of just words. His overall demeanor was that of a “wise elder”; thoughtful, reflective, and willing to be a mentor when necessary. Judd’s portrayal of Santa stresses one of the themes of Cancel Christmas; it doesn’t matter what Santa looks like, what matters is the goodness in his heart. Working alongside Santa is an elf named Randal. Portrayed by Justin Landry, Randal ended up stealing the show! He was the perfect opposite to the character of Santa, being enthusiastically joyful and wearing a smile with an up-beat attitude. Randal’s laugh was infectious, making me laugh along with him. I, honestly, wish this movie had been about Randal!

If a Christmas movie features a “Scrooge” type character (a character whose heart changes over the course of the story), the character’s gradual change needs to feel genuine. The more genuine this transformation is, the more opportunities the audience receives to have empathy for that character. Sante Scaletta portrayed a “Scrooge” type character in Cancel Christmas. Farley Morgan is known as a bully at his school. Around his friend and authoritative figures, Farley carries an arrogant attitude. He presents himself as more invincible than he really is. But behind closed doors, the emotional walls surrounding Farley become dismantled. From happily playing with his dog, Kip, to tearfully sharing family memories with his father, Farley’s emotional range broadens. Because of Sante’s impressive performance, Farley’s gradual change in Cancel Christmas truly felt believably genuine!

The messages and themes: In a typical Christmas film, especially from Hallmark, important messages and themes are sprinkled throughout the story. These messages and themes serve as lessons for the audience to learn. They’re also ways for the audience to relate to the characters. As I mentioned earlier in this review, Farley is a bully at his school. Toward the beginning of Cancel Christmas, he and his friend, Steve, attempt to pull a prank on their teacher, Mrs. Claymore. However, Mrs. Claymore is spared from the prank because the prank ends up affecting someone else. At school one day, Mrs. Claymore tells Steve if she had been affected by the prank, it would have made her cry. She shares this to remind Steve how his and Farley’s actions have consequences.

The setting: On-screen text reveals how Cancel Christmas takes place in Atlanta, Georgia. This was a nice change of scenery from the backgrounds of most of Hallmark’s Christmas productions! Snowy, small towns have become a staple in the network’s Christmas cinema. The reality, though, is how not everyone’s environment reflects what Hallmark projects. By placing Cancel Christmas in Atlanta, Georgia, the movie’s creative team gives the audience an idea of what the Christmas season is like in one of America’s southern states. Relatable Christmas activities, such as making Christmas dinner and decorating the school, are emphasized throughout the story. Among Hallmark’s collection of Christmas films, southern states have rarely made an appearance. So, I appreciate Cancel Christmas’ creative team filling this particular creative void!

Adorable Santa image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/christmas-background-with-funny-santa_1324597.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A weak villain: Constance is introduced as the villain at the beginning of Cancel Christmas. She informs Santa his job is in jeopardy because of how spoiled the world’s children have become. While Santa speculates Constance’s motive for endangering his job, a clear explanation is never provided. Constance’s appearance in only three scenes prevented her from having a more intimidating presence. Jean Yoon, who portrayed Constance, gave a good performance with the provided script. But when it came to Constance being a weak villain, I fault the screenwriter.

Too many stories: Sometimes, a Hallmark Christmas movie will feature multiple stories within its script. The collection of stories can range from having one main plot and one or two sub-plots to a variety of characters crossing paths with one another. What makes some of these movies work is how all those stories are woven together. But, in Cancel Christmas, the threads between the stories were unimpressive, causing the script’s abundance of stories to be noticeable. Besides the main plot of Santa trying to save his job, there were about five sub-plots, from a news reporter trying to find the “real” Santa to Farley’s friend, Steve, organizing a fundraiser. There was creativity found within these sub-plots. In fact, some of them belonged in their own movie. However, all these stories ended up competing against each other in Cancel Christmas. It also doesn’t help how the film has a run-time of an hour and twenty-seven minutes. Having so many stories in one script made the movie feel kind of overwhelming.

Unnecessary clichés: I will commend the creative team behind Cancel Christmas for trying to incorporate as much creativity as possible into their project. But there were a few clichés that could have been left on the cutting room floor. As I mentioned in my list of the top ten worst clichés from Hallmark movies, the “business person is a jerk and/or out of touch” cliché has become one of the network’s more over-used clichés. It has, more often than not, been included in rom-coms, in order to make the businessman seem less desirable than the male protagonist. The “business person is a jerk and/or out of touch” cliché found a place in Cancel Christmas. In this movie, the cliché was connected to a story that has been adopted by a lot of entertainment media; the bully/antagonist having a tragic backstory and/or being misunderstood. To me, these parts of the story were more predictable than they needed to be. However, I understand their purpose in the movie was to instill compassion and empathy to the film’s audience.

Dog collection image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/dog”>Dog vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movies have changed since the network began in 2001. In the earlier years, these movies didn’t follow a pre-determined formula or adopt as many of the clichés viewers see today. Hallmark’s “older” productions were given more opportunities to find their respective audience because there were fewer Christmas films airing during the Christmas season. Like I said in my review, I commend the creative team behind Cancel Christmas for trying to incorporate as much creativity as possible into their project. From Judd Nelson’s portrayal of Santa to the story taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, these creative choices felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the network’s more recent offerings. Though there were things I liked about this film, it contained noticeable flaws. Not only was the villain weak, the movie featured too many stories. There were also some clichés that were, in my opinion, unnecessarily added to the film. I wish Hallmark would go back to making creativity the rule itself. So many stories and ideas could be told through the network’s programs. But with Hallmark making the same types of projects, the network seems content with creating repetitive and predictable presentations.

Overall score 7.1-7.2 out of 10

Have you seen Cancel Christmas? Are there any “older” Hallmark Christmas movies you enjoy watching? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I decided to choose a Thanksgiving film as the first seasonal movie to review this Christmas/holiday season! While searching for options, the 2012 Hallmark presentation, Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, crossed my path. I hadn’t seen this film in its entirety prior to 2024. But over the years, I had heard good things about it. Within the Hallmark fan community, Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade has received the title of “classic”. Because of that, I wanted to see for myself if the film’s hype was legitimate. Whenever a Hallmark movie becomes popular, I try to check out the movie in order to form my own opinion. Sometimes, I feel the hype was earned, like with the 2014 film, The Nine Lives of Christmas. But I have found myself disagreeing with popular opinion, such as with 2006’s The Christmas Card. What will be my thoughts on Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade? If you want to know the answer, you have to keep reading my review!

Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade poster created by Hallmark Channel, Pitchblack Pictures, and LaCanada

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: In a story that primarily revolves around the male and female protagonist, the likability of those characters is determined by the performance of the lead actor and actress. With their portrayal of Emily and Henry, Autumn Reeser and Antonio Cupo effortlessly carried Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade! Emily is a bright, energetic, and up-beat woman. Her enthusiasm for Chicago’s Thanksgiving parade is charming, with that charm radiating off the screen. Throughout the movie, Autumn displays an understanding for her character’s emotional range. Emily’s energetic bubbliness is showcased enough to keep the character likable. Meanwhile, Antonio’s character, Henry, boasts a more serious personality. This seriousness doesn’t prevent Henry’s suave charisma from shining through. What Autumn’s and Antonio’s performance share in common is how consistent they are. That consistency helped make Henry and Emily strong characters!

Antonio and Autumn are not the only actors giving consistent performances in Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade! From time to time, Emily interacts with a co-worker named Donna. Similar to Emily, Donna has a bubbly personality. Because of April Telek’s acting strengths, I looked forward to seeing Donna show up in the story. In fact, I wish Donna received a larger role in the film. Another likable character was Emily’s friend, Jaclyn. Despite appearing in the movie for a limited period of time, Ali Liebert helped her character shine by presenting Jaclyn with a warm, friendly personality. I wish Jaclyn was given her own sub-plot to be more involved in the story.

The on-screen chemistry: As I just talked about in this review, Autumn Reeser and Antonio Cupo effortlessly carried Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Another reason why I believe this statement is because of their on-screen chemistry. This movie uses the trope of “opposites attract”. Because of the aforementioned performances of Antonio and Autumn, the attraction of Henry and Emily felt believable! Their banter went back-and-forth like a ping-pong game, providing lively, even funny interactions. The more time they spent together, the more Emily and Henry’s feelings for each other naturally progressed. Despite being “opposites”, these characters found common ground and tried to get on the same page. Henry and Emily kind of reminded me of Oliver and Shane from the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series.

Emily’s wardrobe: Throughout Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Emily consistently wears vintage attire. I liked this creative decision because Emily’s wardrobe not only complimented Autumn, it made Emily a unique character! One of these outfits was a pink dress with matching jacket. Paired with a pink pillbox hat, this outfit represents the classy and sophisticated way Emily presents herself. Even when she takes a simple trip to the grocery store, Emily sports a deep teal, long-sleeved dress with a pleated skirt. When Henry invites her to a basketball game, Emily stays true to herself by wearing a red, short-sleeved blouse, dark blue jeans, and a red belt. The only “modern” part of the ensemble is a Chicago Bulls cap.

Image of Thanksgiving dinner created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A secondary holiday and parade: Hallmark does not create Thanksgiving movies often, especially this decade. So, when I watch one of their Thanksgiving pictures, I hope the holiday is featured similarly to Christmas in their Christmas productions. As the story progressed in Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, however, I quickly took notice of how Emily and Henry’s relationship was prioritized over Thanksgiving and the titular parade. The Thanksgiving holiday was barely referenced in this movie. There were no Thanksgiving decorations to be seen and I don’t recall any of the characters saying the word “turkey”. While parade preparations were shown throughout the film, they were only featured in short segments. This is a shame because aspects of the parade, such as “parade camp” or a group of clowns visiting children at the hospital, could have served as the story of their own movie. I wish the parade and/or Thanksgiving had been more involved in the plot. With Emily sharing a brief history of the parade early in the film, Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade could have had a story similar to A Biltmore Christmas.

The “it’s not what you think” cliché: Among Hallmark’s collection of clichés is the “it’s not what you think” cliché. This is when the protagonist sees or hears something out of context and automatically assumes the worst. Hallmark has sometimes used this cliché in a way that complements the story, like in Easter Under Wraps and Rome in Love. But there are times when this cliché has been included in a movie just for the sake of it. In the case of Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, I understand the “it’s not what you think” cliché was intended to create conflict between Henry and Emily. However, I don’t think the cliché’s inclusion in the story was necessary because it happened right after Emily experienced a difficult time in her life. To me, that part of the film seemed cruel and a bit mean-spirited toward Emily.

A rushed backstory: One of the themes of Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade is “looks can be deceiving”. Despite this theme being utilized well at times, the overall utilization of this theme was not consistent. During the film’s climax, important pieces of a character’s backstory are presented in a rushed manner. That information helps another character change their perception of the character in question. Instead of rushing to deliver this information before the end of the movie, it should have been given over the course of the film. That way, the audience has time to digest and ponder the character’s backstory.

Group of clowns image created by Freepik at freepik.com. Image by Freepik

My overall impression:

Because Hallmark creates so few Thanksgiving movies, I’m always rooting for their Thanksgiving pictures to be good. But, like Hallmark’s Christmas productions, these films are not created equal. As I’ve mentioned in the past, An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Hallmark films. One reason why is how Thanksgiving is acknowledged throughout the story. Unfortunately, Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade did not follow in the footsteps of the 2008 film. In fact, Thanksgiving and the titular parade were overshadowed by Emily and Henry’s relationship. This is one of those movies where a better story idea can be found within the script. But the reason why I kept watching the film is because of the acting performances! Autumn Reeser and Antonio Cupo shined bright together, carrying the movie with their acting talents and on-screen chemistry. The supporting cast was strong as well. I liked Emily’s wardrobe because it helped make her such a memorable character. The combination of Autumn’s performance and the screenwriting contributed to that too. Out of Hallmark’s Thanksgiving projects I’ve seen, Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade falls somewhere in the middle. While the 2012 picture isn’t bad, it could’ve been stronger.

Overall score: 6.7 out of 10

Have you seen Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade? Has Hallmark created a Thanksgiving movie you’d like to see me review? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun on Thanksgiving!

Sally Silverscreen

My Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List 2024

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

With the Christmas/holiday season fast approaching, it’s that time of year for my annual Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List! For readers new to 18 Cinema Lane, this tradition shares the movie related things I’d like to receive for Christmas. The list’s format follows the quote; “Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read”. The items on my list, including this year, have been a combination of realistic requests and wishful thinking. With those explanations said, let’s get into 2024’s Christmas wish-list!

Image by freepik

Something You Want

Since there are movies associated with the Murder, She Wrote series, I will bring this want up in my wish-list. During my Cabot Cove-thon Blogathon, I published an editorial about why Universal Orlando Resort should host Murder, She Wrote weekend. Throughout this article, I explained why this event should work by presenting a basic concept of the event’s schedule. Murder, She Wrote weekend is an event where all parties involved would benefit. Universal Orlando Resort would receive an opportunity to not only make a profit, but to also utilize an intellectual property (IP) that used to have a presence in the park. Attractions and businesses within the park’s boundaries would be able to welcome more guests and increase their revenue. Fans of Murder, She Wrote would have a chance to meet other fans and celebrate the legacy of the show. If Murder, She Wrote weekend becomes an actual event, I think it has the potential to become a cherished Universal Orlando Resort tradition!

Cabot Cove-thon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original picture found on IMDB.

Something You Need to See

When I reviewed the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Pack of Lies, in June, I referenced a Hallmark commercial that was based on a true story. In this commercial, a man, whose first language is not English, is looking for the perfect card for his wife, who will soon arrive in the United States. When he goes to a Hallmark store, the man is assisted by an employee named Rose, who helps him find exactly what he is looking for. After watching this commercial, I developed a collection of questions: What happened to the man and his wife? Are they still together? Did she like the card he bought her? What about Rose, does she still work at Hallmark? Has she retired? And the biggest question of them all; what compelled Hallmark to turn this particular story into a commercial? With everything I just said, I think the commercial could serve as the story for a future Hallmark movie! If the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series continues, that commercial could also serve as a plot in a future Signed, Sealed, Delivered film!

This screenshot, taken by me, Sally Silverscreen, is from the aforementioned Hallmark commercial from 1987.
This screenshot, taken by me, Sally Silverscreen, is from the aforementioned Hallmark commercial from 1987.
This screenshot, taken by me, Sally Silverscreen, is from the aforementioned Hallmark commercial from 1987.

A movie related piece of clothing or accessory I’d want to wear

While we’re on subject of Pack of Lies, I want to talk about an outfit Teri Garr’s character, Helen, wore in the 1987 film! During Christmastime, Helen’s outfit was a black and blue ensemble that consisted of black kitten heels, black and blue plaid slacks, and a black sweater over a blue turtleneck. For accessories, Helen wore her hair in a black bow and displayed black stone earrings. I like this outfit because of how timeless it is! It works in either the 1960s, 1980s, or today!

This screenshot, taken by me, Sally Silverscreen, is from the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Pack of Lies. Because Helen wore this outfit in only one scene, this is the only time where her complete outfit is shown on-screen.
This screenshot, taken by me, Sally Silverscreen, is from the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Pack of Lies. Because Helen wore this outfit in only one scene, this is one of the few times her earrings and bow are featured on screen.

A book I’ve read that I’d like to see adapted into a film

In my post about the Finally Fall Book Tag, I mentioned The Princess Spy being the best book I read for 2024’s Eurovisionathon. While discussing the book, I talked about how it was both educational and entertaining due to Larry Loftis’ research and literary skill. Looking back on other non-fiction stories from World War II, I realized how underrated Aline Griffith’s story is. When it comes to films taking place during World War II, the espionage side of the war effort is not commonly featured. Because of these factors, I would like to see The Princess Spy adapted into a movie!

The Princess Spy book cover found on Goodreads

What are your thoughts on my Christmas wish list? Are there any movie related things you’d like to receive during the Christmas/holiday season? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun during the Christmas/holiday season!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

For the recent We Are Family Blogathon, I had planned to review the Diagnosis Murder episode, “Guardian Angel”, and the 1964 movie, The Chalk Garden. While I wrote about the aforementioned television episode, I wasn’t able to discuss the movie due to those plans falling through at the last minute. I still want to review The Chalk Garden. It just didn’t happen as soon as I hoped or expected. So, to make it up to my readers who were anticipating a review of the 1964 film, I decided to write about a Halloween themed picture. I read an article on Business Insider about the thirty things you can’t find in malls anymore. One of the mentioned points was movies set in malls. As soon as I read this, I immediately thought of the 2012 Hallmark film, hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween! I brought this movie up in my review of The Legend of Billie Jean, when a scene in the 1985 film was reminiscent of Hallmark’s production. In that review, I said I only saw pieces of the movie. That, paired with the fact the only other animated movie I’ve written about this year, so far, was Cricket on the Hearth, is the reason why I chose hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween for this review! Is this film a trick or treat? Keep reading to find out!

hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween poster created by Bent Image Lab, Pershing Road Productions, and Hallmark Channel

Things I liked about the film:

The use of color: In my review of Cricket on the Hearth, I talked about how well color was used throughout that movie. I even mentioned how some of the best animated movies boast bright, colorful hues. hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween followed Cricket on the Hearth’s footsteps by displaying a strong understanding for how to effectively incorporate color into their production. During their mall adventure, Hoops, Yoyo, and Piddles take advantage of the different shops and attractions at North Escapades Mall. One of these stores is called “bling you phone!”. The store’s sign and window frames are coated in a deep purple hue. This simple creative choice drew the audience’s attention to this particular location, especially since the colors surrounding the “bling you phone!” store are warm beige, faded brown, and cream. Later, at a sporting goods store, Hoops and Yoyo are camping in a big, orange tent. Surrounding the tent are products displaying shades of green, red, and yellow. Even in the smallest of details, the hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween’s creative team took advantage of every opportunity to include color in their project!

Expressive characters: A strength of any animated movie is how expressive the characters are. Facial expressions, body language, and even the vocal inflections of the voice actors can show the audience how a character is feeling. Despite the simpler designs, the characters in hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween were very expressive! This was achieved through the movement of eyes, mouths, and eyebrows. When Hoops, Yoyo, and Piddles discover their local store has sold out of Halloween costumes, they are shocked by the emptiness of the surrounding shelves. Hoops’ and Yoyo’s eyes are wide, with Hoops even looking at the top shelves. Piddles’, Yoyo’s, and Hoops’ mouth is in an open frown, emphasizing how shocked they are. Hoops’ and Yoyo’s eyebrows are shown in an upward curve, which adds to their feeling of shock. These simple movements allowed the characters to effectively display their emotions!

Self-awareness: Skilled screenwriters will weave self-awareness into a script to subtly and cleverly make jokes or present an interesting point. hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween featured some moments of self-awareness through dialogue and “Easter eggs”. While Hoops, Yoyo, and Piddles are looking at a mall directory, a large Christmas advertisement is shown next to these characters. On this advertisement, a picture of Santa is next to a statement claiming “Santa Claus is coming”. Later, Piddles rides near an animatronic of Santa. Next to Santa is a sign saying “It’s Halloween! That means you’re already late for Christmas!” The placement of these “Easter eggs” addresses how early Christmas has been advertised. I found this piece of self-awareness ironic, as Hallmark now starts their Christmas movie line-ups weeks before Halloween.

Cute Halloween border created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/halloween-background-with-fun-style_1310632.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

An unclear demographic: Animation is typically associated with an audience of children or families. However, some animated programs were created with an older audience in mind. With that said, I’m still trying to figure out who was hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween’s intended audience. Toward the beginning of the film, the reference to cinnamon buns sounds like a comparison to a smoking addiction. Hoops even reminds Yoyo how he’s wearing his “cinnamon bun patch”. After Hoops, Yoyo, and Piddles become trapped inside the mall, they are chased by ghosts. During the chase, Yoyo randomly screams “We need to find a bathroom”, leading to a scene where Hoops and Piddles wait for Yoyo outside of the mall’s bathrooms. This scene was one of two moments of “bathroom humor” throughout the film. Was hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween created for a younger audience, with certain jokes going over their heads, or was this movie always intended for an older audience?

Parts of the story that don’t make sense: Earlier in this review, I mentioned the “bling you phone!” store at North Escapades Mall. The reason this store was featured in the movie was Piddles’ desire to decorate her phone case. Piddles’ phone can be seen a total of three times. This fact raises the question of why she didn’t call for help after she, Hoops, and Yoyo became trapped inside the mall? What also doesn’t make sense is how Piddles would easily agree to take advantage of the mall after hours, especially since, before the mall closed, she reminded Hoops and Yoyo of a Halloween party they needed to attend that night. I know fictional stories, including those from animated movies, require their audience to suspend a certain amount of disbelief. However, in the case of hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween, that suspension of disbelief caused some parts of the story to not make sense.

Scenes that were too long: At the beginning of hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween, Hoops is driving Yoyo and Piddles to the store. This scene establishes the reason for the trip and the date of the story. But Hoops’, Yoyo’s, and Piddles’ trip to the store takes up almost three minutes in a twenty-one-minute movie. Though I understand the scene’s purpose of setting up the story and providing exposition, I think it should have been trimmed shorter to under two minutes and thirty seconds. This is just one example of how some scenes were too long in hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween.

Image by evening_tao on Freepik

My overall impression:

When explaining why I chose to review hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween, I brought up the Business Insider article about the thirty things you can’t find in malls anymore. If there was an article of the things you can no longer find from Hallmark, Hoops & Yoyo would be included. This movie serves as a time capsule of how different Hallmark Channel was twelve years ago. As I mentioned in my review, the Christmas “Easter eggs” were ironic because, as of 2024, Hallmark starts their Christmas movie line-ups weeks before Halloween. The 2012 movie also provides a more unique story when it comes to Halloween cinema. The mall is a location not typically associated with the holiday. While I won’t spoil the reveal of what’s haunting North Escapades Mall, I will say this revelation paired with the chosen location is creative and well-written. Though Hallmark is not known for their efforts in animation, the simple creative decisions like knowing when and where to use color worked in the network’s favor. The expressiveness of the characters also helps. If you’re looking for a Hallmark movie that’s found off the beaten path, I’d suggest getting to know Hoops & Yoyo!

Overall score: 7.1 out of 10

Have you seen hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween? Would you like to see me review hoops&yoyo Ruin Christmas during the Christmas season? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun on Halloween!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit Review

On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

When I reviewed Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans back in April, that movie became the best Hallmark mystery of 2024. Now six months later, Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans is still the best Hallmark mystery movie of the year! When I learned Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit was on the horizon, I was so excited for the film’s release. Part of my excitement was due to how much I liked Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans. The Curious Caterer series is one of the strongest series Hallmark has ever created. The strength of Nikki Deloach’s and Andrew W. Walker’s performances, as well as their on-screen chemistry, is one reason why Curious Caterer has been an enjoyable collection of films. It also helps how the movies have been well written. Can Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit be just as good as Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans? Keep reading my review to find out!

Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit poster created by Timeless Pictures and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: As I said in my review of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, the strength of the cast can add to the story’s intrigue. Even though the acting has been consistently successful in the Curious Caterer series, this is impressive when you consider the series has utilized a rotating secondary cast! I have always liked Jaycie Dotin’s portrayal of Marla Maguire. I not only liked her performance in Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit, I also think she and Luke Camilleri had really nice on-chemistry! When Marla meets Jax backstage before the concert, he shares a memento from his late sister. His entire demeanor is sad, yet he appears appreciative when Marla asks about the memento. Marla’s tone of voice indicates she’s trying to be understanding of Jax’s situation. Later in the film, when Jaycie and Luke appear together in another scene, Jax and Marla are all smiles. They both look comfortable in each other’s company and seem to enjoy spending time with one another. I hope Luke and Jaycie star together in another Hallmark production!

Another strength of the Curious Caterer series is the strong on-chemistry of Nikki Deloach and Andrew W. Walker. Their portrayals of Goldy and Tom were, once again, one of the best parts of the movie! Now that these characters have an established, romantic relationship, they received more opportunities to spend time together in Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit. While observing Goldy’s mystery board, Tom asks why Selena would kiss her former band member, Derek. Goldy then proceeds to kiss Tom. After the kiss, Tom asks her if the kiss was meant to be evidence. Goldy happily replies she just wanted a reason to kiss him. Tom and Goldy’s interaction in this scene was not only sweet, it also felt genuine. Andew and Nikki’s acting abilities made their characters’ interactions enjoyable to watch!

A behind-the-scenes look at the music industry: The mystery in Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit revolves around the death of a band member during a live performance. Because the band and those surrounding them are consistently involved in the story, the movie’s creative team gave the audience a peek behind the music industry’s curtain. During a discussion between Tom and the band’s manager, Nicola, Tom learns each band member was insured in order to keep investors happy. This was new information to me, as I had never heard of musicians being insured before. Prior to the concert, Goldy and Marla were preparing to make their catered food. They were told by the band’s electrician, Sam, they could only use one electrical socket due to the older age of the venue and the other plugged-in electrical equipment. When people attend a concert or a live performance, they are so focused on what is happening on stage, details like a venue’s age or electrical power grids may not cross their minds. Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit showed what goes into planning and delivering a musical event.

Incorporating serious, real-world topics: Hallmark productions, whether it’s a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie or a Christmas film, sometimes include serious, real-world topics into their scripts. What can make or break a script is how these serious, real-world topics are incorporated into the story. The way these kinds of topics were included in Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit was more subtle, yet there was enough information for the audience to understand what was happening. As Goldy is serving drinks to the band members before the concert, she reassures Derek (a recovering alcoholic) there are no alcoholic ingredients in his drink. Because Derek’s drink and Jax’s drink appear similar, Goldy stops Derek from consuming Jax’s drink, which contains rum. This mistake causes Derek to accuse Jax of trying to break his sobriety. The scene I just described felt like a realistic interaction, with the subject of addiction naturally woven into the dialogue. This was made possible by the quality of the acting performances as well as the screenwriting.

Detective work image created by Photoroyalty at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/investigation-background-design_1041877.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Photoroyalty – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Miscast characters: Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit begins twenty years ago, with the band, The Faithfuls, celebrating the success of their single, “Love Me Always”. This opening scene implies the band members are in their early twenties, especially since they all share a bottle of champagne. Several scenes later, when Marla and Goldy explain to Olive who The Faithfuls are, Goldy and Marla claim they were high-schoolers twenty years ago. When the band members are reintroduced in the story, they appear to be the same age as Marla and Goldy. This creative flaw is not the fault of Garrett Black, Luke Camilleri, and Tammy Gillis, as they all did a good job with the provided acting material. However, I do fault the casting director for not recruiting actors who appeared older than Goldy and Marla.

Goldy’s limited involvement in the case: Throughout the Curious Caterer series, Goldy has worked alongside Tom to solve a given case. But in Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit, Goldy’s involvement in the case is limited. She still created a mystery board (which she and Marla called “Rhythm and Clues”) and helped Tom solve the mystery. Compared to the other films in the Curious Caterer series, Tom did the majority of the sleuthing. Goldy did not question potential suspects or gather clues as much as she has before. She and Tom seemed to be on separate pages when it came to catching the culprit.

Lack of food footage: In my reviews of other Curious Caterer films, I have either praised the creative team for their use of close-ups of appetizers or criticized the creative team for their lack of close-ups of food. Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit adopted the latter flaw, as there were barely any shots of Goldy’s catered food at the concert. In the greenroom, there were a few close-up shots of the band members’ drinks. A quick shot of vegan drumsticks was featured in a fan’s video. But other than these, the audience isn’t given a clear idea of what else Goldy served at the event. To me, this was a missed opportunity, especially since I was curious why Marla and Goldy needed to use an air fryer.

Music and stage image created by Topntp26 at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/music-sign_1179519.htm’>Designed by Topntp26</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/vintage”>Vintage image created by Topntp26 – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

With Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit being the fifth movie in the series, this collection of films has found its rhythm (no pun intended) and understood what works for the overall story. Components like the acting, humor, and prioritizing the mystery have been consistently strong. There were even times when a Curious Caterer movie improved upon the flaws of the preceding chapter. I liked Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit! The peek behind the music industry’s curtain gave this film a unique identity. Serious, real-world topics, such as addiction, were thoughtfully incorporated into the script. Even though I thought the fifth movie in the Curious Caterer series was good, I still think Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans was slightly stronger. Goldy’s involvement in Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit’s case was limited, making it seem like she and Tom were on separate pages when it came to solving the mystery. I also believe the band members should have appeared older than Goldy and Marla. As of the publication of this review, Hallmark has not made any official announcements for movies premiering in 2025. But if there are more Curious Caterer films in the works, I would like to see a seasonal picture, such as a Christmas or Halloween themed Curious Caterer production!

Overall score: 7.6-7.7 out of 10

Have you seen Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit? Would you like to see more Curious Caterer films in 2025? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen