Take 3: Yes, I Do Review

On July 2, 2018 By 18cinemalane2 Comments

Now that Hallmark’s “June Weddings” line-up has come to an end, it’s time for me to offer my opinion on this particular collection of films as well as my review of the “June Weddings” finale, Yes, I Do. Last month, I shared the synopsis for this movie and said that it sounds too ridiculous for my liking. But since there was interest expressed in that Word on the Street post (it received 3 likes), I decided to review Yes, I Do. I also saw the trailer for the film and I was as unimpressed with it as I was with the film’s synopsis. Despite these less-than-stellar pieces of advertising, I chose to watch this movie with an open mind. In my review of The Beach House, I said that my expectations for the film were lowered because of the weak marketing campaign. Because of my lowered expectations, The Beach House ended up being such as pleasant surprise for me! Did I feel the same way about Yes, I Do? If you want find out, keep on reading my review!

Yes I Do poster — *Yes, I Do* poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. Image found at https://www.hallmarkchannelpress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Yes%2c+I+Do

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Yes, I Do had a good cast! The three stars that stood out to me were Marcus Rosner, Jen Lilley, and Jessica Lowndes! The first time I had ever seen Jen perform in a movie was when I saw Lifetime’s The Spirit of Christmas. After I saw that movie, I realized just how talented Jen is! I have seen most of Jen’s Hallmark movies and even though they haven’t been my favorite movies, she still finds a way to give a good performance. As I’ve mentioned in the Word on the Street post about the Yes, I Do synopsis, Marcus has proven that he has what it takes to be a leading actor in a Hallmark movie. He certainly proved that he can lead a Hallmark movie, as he gave a very good performance in Yes, I Do! Because of this, I hope that he gets more lead roles in Hallmark movies! Jessica gave a good performance as well, especially for her first supporting actress role in a Hallmark movie and her first Hallmark movie that was not Christmas themed!

Diversity of occupations: In my Word on the Street post where I shared Yes, I Do’s synopsis, I mentioned that I liked how the job of a chocolatier was being highlighted in a Hallmark movie, especially since that occupation has never been featured before. This movie did a good job in not only highlighting a chocolatier’s job, but also showing the different components of that job. I also liked how the job of a helicopter mechanic, another occupation that has never been featured in a Hallmark movie before, was showcased in this film. It was nice to see both protagonists have unique occupations that are rarely seen on Hallmark.

The marriage aspect of a wedding: When it comes to these wedding themed movies, the important component of marriage is usually glossed over in favor of the wedding itself or for the preparation of the wedding. This is because the pretty aesthetics that are shown in these movies can sometimes get in the way of the moral and symbolic aspects of a wedding. I liked the scene where the priest is talking with Jen’s character, Charlotte, about the seriousness and importance of making that decision to marry someone. It was a breath of fresh air to have at least one character remind some of the other characters in the film, as well as the audience, about the reason for a wedding.

Delivery Stickers Set — Helicopter sticker image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/delivery-stickers-set_1539060.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/banner”>Banner vector created by Macrovector – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

The plot: Last month, I confessed that the synopsis for Yes, I Do sounds, to me, too ridiculous for my liking. When this synopsis was played out on-screen, it still seemed ridiculous to me. This movie felt like it was more about an adolescent trying to catch the attention of their crush and less about two businesspeople choosing to take the next step in their relationship. The incorporation of the planning-a-wedding-in-an-unrealistic-time-period cliché (one of my least favorite Hallmark movie clichés) into this story didn’t add any enjoyment. Also, Jessica’s character, Nicole, didn’t provide any explanation for why she wanted to date James again, making that aspect of Nicole’s story seem very random in the movie overall.

The character of Charlotte: While Jen gave a good performance in Yes, I Do, I was not a fan of her character. Charlotte, the protagonist of the film, was very unlikable. She never really gave any explanations for choosing to not get married, but, instead, provided excuses. There was one moment of the film where she seriously contemplated if she was allergic to weddings (I’m not making this up). Speaking of allergies, the part about Charlotte’s chocolate allergy was poorly written to the point of appearing very unrealistic. Charlotte is more “book smart” than “street smart”. However, this character’s lack of “street smarts” doesn’t come across as charming, but rather annoying.

Lack of on-screen chemistry: In Yes, I Do, Jen Lilley and Marcus Rosner didn’t have any on-screen chemistry, even though both of them gave good performances in the movie. It seems like their characters spent more time apart than together. I thought that Marcus had better on-screen chemistry with Jessica Lowndes than with Jen. Until after I saw Yes, I Do, I never realized how much I wanted to see a Hallmark movie starring Marcus Rosner and Jessica Lowndes.

Too many plots: There were five major plots in Yes, I Do. Because of this, some stories felt like they were more overshadowed than others. An example of this is James trying to find his grandfather’s beloved car. I thought this was the best story in the movie (I would have wanted to see a Hallmark movie with that particular story as the main plot), but it didn’t receive as much attention as some of the other stories in this film. Also, there were stories that were never resolved, such as Charlotte’s attempt to win a chocolate contest from a renowned magazine.

Counter of sweets — Chocolates and sweets shop image created by Bearfotos at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/counter-of-sweets_1328775.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food image created by Bearfotos – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Yes, I Do was not a good movie. It was so bad, I chose to fast forward through a few moments of the movie just to get through it. This is the second year in a row that the “June Weddings” line-up has ended with a movie I didn’t like (I was not a fan of My Favorite Wedding). Speaking of the “June Weddings” line-up, this year’s collection of movies is, to me, weaker than last year’s. I think Hallmark relied too much on sequels to previously released films that had a strong fan following. For me, each of those sequels were disappointing to a certain extent. Love at First Dance was decent, but it felt like it was missing something and seemed to get overshadowed by the “June Weddings” sequels. Hallmark will start their “Summer Nights” line-up in late July, which I’m hoping is stronger than not only the “June Weddings” line-up, but the other seasonal line-ups that have premiered on Hallmark Channel so far.

Overall score: 4.3 out of 10

What are your thoughts on Hallmark Channel’s “June Weddings” line-up? Are you excited for the “Summer Nights” line-up? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New Review

On June 24, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Because my review of Wedding March 3: Here Comes the Bride became one of my most popular movie reviews (at 18 views and counting) and because I said I would review the fourth movie, I kept my promise to review the next installment in the franchise. In my review of the third film, I talked about how Wedding March 3: Here Comes the Bride was a good continuation to the series. For the fourth movie, however, I was a bit concerned because the marketing campaign put more focus on Andrew Walker and Merritt Patterson (the guest supporting actors) than Jack Wagner and Josie Bissett (the stars and regulars of the series). To make the movie-viewing experience more interesting for myself, I decided to put together a double feature with the fourth Wedding March movie and The Enchanted Cottage. I thought The Enchanted Cottage was a good film despite its flaws. Do I feel the same way about Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New? Keep reading if you want to find out!

Wedding March 4 poster — *Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New* poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=258&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Wedding+March+4+Something+Old%2c+Something+New.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The cast of Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New was good! Everyone portrayed their characters so well and complimented each other’s performances. I was happy to see Emily Tennant return to the series, especially since she didn’t star in the third movie. I remember as if it were just yesterday when I first saw Emily’s performance as Cecilia Rendall on Cedar Cove. Since then, I’ve been impressed with Emily’s acting talents and would love to see her get a starring role in a Hallmark movie! Also, Andrew Walker and Merritt Patterson were great additions to this cast!

The on-screen chemistry: There were four on-screen couples that were featured in Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New. I felt that all of them had good on-screen chemistry! Each on-screen relationship felt realistic and believable. Also, everyone in their respective on-screen relationship appeared as if they truly cared about the other person.

The scenery: In my review of Wedding March 3: Here Comes the Bride, I talked about how beautiful the scenery was for not only that film, but also for the series. The same goes for the fourth film, as most of the story took place in or around the Inn. There was more beautiful scenery when Mick and Olivia go on vacation to Lake Champlain. The mountains that were featured in this movie were breathtaking and I hope they are showcased in future Wedding March films.

75628-OEJ0NK-229 — Wedding cake image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/enjoyable-wedding-card_953556.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/frame”>Frame vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Comedy that was toned down: One of the things I liked about Wedding March 3: Here Comes the Bride was Jack Wagner’s comedic timing. He certainly brought comedic relief to Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New, but not as much as in the previous film. Overall, I felt that the fourth movie did not have as many comedic moments as the third movie did. To me, having less comedy in the film didn’t seem to make sense because the tone of the movie was light-hearted.

A misfocus of stories: As I mentioned before, the marketing campaign for the fourth installment did concern me. This is because the supporting actors/characters received more attention in the advertisements than the main actors/characters. In the film, Mick and Olivia had a weaker story than Rob and Abby, which would kind of explain the focus on Andrew and Merritt in the trailer and poster. Honestly, I think the main story should have been about Mick and Olivia, like it has been in the three previous films. The secondary story, however, should have been about Grace and her fiancé, whose story seemed to get overshadowed by Rob and Abby’s story. Having Mick and Olivia plan a wedding that was so close to home would have been an interesting direction for the series to take, but I’m assuming Grace and Eric’s wedding will take place in a potential fifth film. Rob and Abby’s wedding/story felt like it should have been contained in its own movie, with Andrew and Merritt as the leading stars.

No progression for Mick and Olivia’s relationship: Toward the beginning of the year, I remember there was a teaser trailer for the fourth Wedding March movie that hinted at the idea of Mick and Olivia taking the next step in their relationship. There was even a moment in the fourth film where it looked like Mick was going to propose to Olivia. Sadly, Mick and Olivia’s relationship has stayed the same since the second movie. For a series that has had four movies, I was hoping that Mick and Olivia would, at least, get engaged in Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New. Now, it seems like Mick and Olivia’s relationship is at a stand-still.

216982-P0L3YH-117 — String lights with hearts created by Freepik at freepik.com <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/valentine-s-day-background-with-string-lights_1476879.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

My overall impression:

As a movie, Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New was decent at best. But as a sequel, it felt like a “filler” episode on a television show. Other than the engagement of Grace and Eric, the overall story of the fourth installment didn’t add anything interesting to the series as a whole. While the story of Rob and Abby was fine, it felt like it belonged in its own movie. As for Mick and Olivia’s story, there wasn’t much to get excited about. Now that I’ve seen all three sequels from Hallmark’s “June Weddings” line-up (Marrying Mr. Darcy, The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells, and Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New), I can honestly say that these movies left me more disappointed than I had hoped. Because these sequels make up the majority of the “June Weddings” line-up, I feel that, so far, last year’s line-up was stronger than this year’s. Since I haven’t seen Love at First Dance and Yes, I Do yet, I’ll hold off on giving my final judgment of this year’s “June Weddings” line-up as a whole. As for the Wedding March series, if there is a fifth movie, I will definitely watch it. However, I will lower my expectations for that film than I did for Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New.

Overall score: 7.3-7.4 out of 10

Did you watch the fourth Wedding March movie? Would you like to see Mick and Olivia get married? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill Review

On June 19, 2018June 24, 2018 By 18cinemalane5 Comments

As Hailey Dean Mystery Month came to a close, I was blown away by the response for my review of Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Marriage Made for Murder. Of June 2018, it is my most popular movie review with 34 views and counting! With that said, I thought it would be appropriate to review the next Hailey Dean movie as well as the final chapter in this specific trilogy of the series. I have to say that Hailey Dean Mystery Month has been such a pleasant surprise for me! The movies in this trilogy have not only gotten better with each film, but the series as a whole has gotten stronger! Now that I’ve seen Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill, the moment of truth has come to find out what my thoughts are on the film. Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s solve this case together!

Hailey Dean 6 poster — *Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill poster* created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Image found at https://www.hallmarkchannelpress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=143&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Hailey+Dean+Mysteries+A+Will+to+Kill.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The cast in Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill, as well as the rest of the movies from Hailey Dean Mystery Month, has consistently brought the best of their acting abilities to the table! This is especially the case (no pun intended) for Kellie Martin. Her acting talents were showcased very well in this film and the strength of her talents really shined in the scene where the guilty party is revealed. I was also impressed with Chad Lowe’s performance. Before Hailey Dean Mystery Month, I had never seen any of Chad’s acting performances, so I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Looking back on all three films, I think that Chad has consistently pulled off a good performance every single time!

The mystery: In Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill, the central mystery is centered around who killed Hailey’s fiancé, Will. The only other mystery movie (that I can think of) from Hallmark’s second network that dealt with a cold case was Garage Sale Mystery: The Wedding Dress. This was a very interesting and creative direction for the Hailey Dean series to travel, especially since the character of Hailey Dean usually solves murders that are less than a year old. There were also details and clues surrounding the case that I felt added intrigue to the overall story.

The pace: In both of my reviews for the previous Hailey Dean films, I’ve mentioned that I was not a fan of each movie’s pace. The pace for Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill, however, was very steady. This allowed the story and its events to have a natural progression.

OYHKOT0 — Newspaper image created by Zlatko_plamenov at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-psd/newspaper-mockup_1386098.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/mockup”>Mockup psd created by Zlatko_plamenov – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

The comedy being toned down: Every mystery series on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries either has a character or certain moments that bring comedic relief to that specific film. Most of the humor in the Hailey Dean series comes from the interactions between Hailey and Fincher. While there were comedic moments between these two characters in Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill, there wasn’t as much comedy in this film as in the two Hailey Dean films that came before it.

Sabrina’s reduced appearance: In my review of Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2=Murder, I talked about how I didn’t like the story that the character of Sabrina was given. I also talked about how Sabrina wasn’t really given a story in Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Marriage Made for Murder. In Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill, Sabrina was barely in the film. Like I said in my Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Marriage Made for Murder review, her character could have written out of this movie and it wouldn’t have made a difference.

317324-P8VMXF-91 — Tools of a writer image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/camera-and-coffee-near-notebook-and-accessories_2399437.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/vintage”>Vintage image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

I really enjoyed Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill! This was a great conclusion to Hailey Dean Mystery Month! Before the release of Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2=Murder, I was skeptical if a month being dedicated to what I thought was Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ weakest series could work. Now that I’ve seen and reviewed all three Hailey Dean Mystery Month films, I can honestly say that I feel this series has definitely improved! After watching Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill, I started to wonder where the story would go from this point? I do want the series as well as Hailey Dean Mystery Month to continue, so hopefully Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will have new Hailey Dean movies ready for next June.

Overall score: 8 out of 10

What are your thoughts on Hailey Dean Mystery Month? Which mystery series would you like to see get its own month? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Waffle Street Review

On June 17, 2018June 19, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In the movie and novel, Wonder, Auggie Pullman said “Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world”. This quote has not only become a kind of unofficial motto for 18 Cinema Lane, but also my mission for this blog: to give movies or movie related subjects that I care about a “standing ovation”. So, when I came across a film called Waffle Street, I knew this would be no exception, especially since it seems like so few people have talked about the film. Based on a true story, the premise behind this film sounded, to me, like the kind of story that could be uplifting and inspirational. It also seemed like this movie could be filled with lessons and morals that audience members can not only find relatable, but also take away and apply to their own lives. With all that said, you’re probably wondering if Waffle Street is truly deserving of this “standing ovation”. Let me whip up and serve my review so you can find out!

Waffle Street poster — *Waffle Street* poster created by MarVista Entertainment. Image found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Waffle_Street_Official_Movie_Poster.jpg

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: I thought that the cast of Waffle Street was good. However, the two stars that I felt were the most talented were Danny Glover and Julie Gonzalo. Three months ago, I said in my review of The Sweetest Heart that Julie has shined on Hallmark Channel since 2016. In Waffle Street, Julie still finds a way to shine as her performance was one of the best parts of this film! I’ve also seen Danny in the original Lethal Weapon film and, most recently, The Christmas Train, so I knew he had good acting talents. Danny’s portrayal of Edward Collins was great!

The morals and lessons: Something that I liked about Waffle Street was the morals and lessons that the story was trying to share with the audience. As the character of James “Jimmy” Adams (portrayed by James Lafferty) travels on his journey of personal growth, he comes across moments that present lessons about hard work, goal setting, and not easily giving up. He also is given morals about honesty, putting in a good effort into everything you do, and that no occupation is perfect. The morals and lessons from Waffle Street seem relatable and inspirational, as well as having the ability to touch people’s lives.

328349-PA6D1I-520 — Waffle and maple syrup as best friends image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/friendship-day-background-with-cartoon-food_2416674.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 slow pace: In my opinion, the pace of Waffle Street was slow. Because of this, most scenes felt longer than they needed to be.

Too much exposition: In about the first thirty minutes of the film, the story is loaded with exposition. While exposition is an important component to any movie, especially if it involves a true story, it feels like it was served up (no pun intended) in Waffle Street a little too soon. There was even exposition given about the restaurant in the film, but its delivery just felt random. Having the story’s exposition dispersed throughout the film is a creative choice that I think would have worked better for this film.

An unlikable lead couple: Though this movie is based on a true story, the way the characters of James “Jimmy” Adams and Becky Adams were portrayed in the film made them appear unlikable. There were times when both of them seemed selfish and weren’t overly bothered by what their significant other wanted. In the film, James and Becky barely had a conversation with each other and when they did, the topic didn’t seem very important. The way the couple was portrayed in Waffle Street didn’t give me the impression their relationship was a healthy one.

Not enough character development: In Waffle Street, the only character that I felt was given the appropriate amount of character development was James “Jimmy” Adams. Because of the other characters’ lack of character development, it made them seem like they had no greater purpose in the story other than being a part of James’ life experience. Even though there were several characters throughout this film, I didn’t feel like I truly got to know most of them, but only became familiar with them. Out of all of them, I, as a member of the audience, only got to know three of the characters in Waffle Street.

An unnecessary toilet scene: One of the lessons that Waffle Street teaches its audience is that every occupation has an unglamorous side to it. While this lesson is important to learn, the way this movie executes this lesson was definitely not needed. In the film, James has to clean a toilet that is so clogged up, he has to fix it with gloved hands. What makes this scene unnecessary is the creative team behind this movie decided to literally show their audience the dirty toilet (twice). It was so disgusting, I had to look away from my TV screen until the toilet scene was gone.

61511-OANU9Y-551 — Diner image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/american-vintage-restaurant-hand-drawn_902205.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Waffle Street is a very average film. While I admit there are good lessons and morals that can be found within this story, I can think of movies and stories that share these exact same themes, but in a better way (a good example: Cooking with Love). What’s disappointing about this film is that it had the potential to not only be a good movie, but to also share a story that deserved to be told through a cinematic lens. However, the overall execution of this film, in my opinion, did not do this true story justice. Though I don’t believe the overall film deserves a “standing ovation”, I definitely think the cast does, especially Julie Gonzalo and Danny Glover. Even if Waffle Street wasn’t as good as I had hoped, I will continue to talk about movies that I feel need to be talked about more.

Overall score: 5-5.1 out of 10

Have you seen Waffle Street? What inspiring, true story do you think deserves a movie? Tell me below in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Marriage Made for Murder Review

On June 15, 2018June 15, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Welcome back to Part 2 of my reviews for Hailey Dean Mystery Month! If you read my review for Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2=Murder, you would remember that I thought the movie was a decent start to this three part movie event. Since these three Hailey Dean movies have a overarching story, I decided to review Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Marriage Made for Murder. Like I did with the last Hailey Dean movie, I watched this film with an open mind and continued to give Hailey Dean Mystery Month a fair chance. So, what did I think about this Hailey Dean film? What direction do I think this series is moving in? You’ll just have to read my review of Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Marriage Made for Murder to find out!

Hailey Dean Mystery 5 poster — *Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Marriage Made for Murder* poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Msyteries. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=143&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Hailey+Dean+Mysteries+A+Marriage+Made+for+Murder

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Just like in the previous Hailey Dean film, the cast in this movie was good. There were also some really good stand-out performances. Two of those came from Matthew MacCaull and Sarah Grey! Though the character of Jonas wasn’t in the movie as much as some of the other characters, Matthew still found a way to shine in this film. Sarah’s performance was so memorable, it lingered in my memory for days after I watched the film. Sarah’s portrayal of the character Nicole made me wish that Sarah would get a starring role in a Hallmark movie!

The mystery: In Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Marriage Made for Murder, there were some creative choices that were made that I don’t often see in other mystery series on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. One example of this is who ends up finding the murder victim. Usually, the protagonist is the one who ends up finding the murder victim by sheer accident. In this installment of the Hailey Dean series, it’s the widow of the murder victim who ends up finding the murder victim. I thought this was an interesting way for the mystery/movie to start. Also, the mystery itself was well-written.

The on-screen chemistry: As I’ve already mentioned in this review, Matthew MacCaull gave a really good performance in this film. He also performed really well alongside Kellie Martin as Hailey’s boyfriend. Jonas and Hailey’s relationship came across as very believable and charming, thanks to the acting talents of Kellie and Matthew. I also felt that Viv Leacock and Alvina August had good on-screen chemistry, with the possiblity of Fincher and Meghan starting a dating relationship exciting! I’m really looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds for these two on-screen couples!

38045-O1CZXU — Art tools image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/flar-art-tools-pack_835368.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/paint”>Paint vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A slower pace: The pace of Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Marriage Made for Murder was slow. However, it was not as slow as it was in the previous Hailey Dean film.

A lack of story for Sabrina: In my review of Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2=Murder, I talked about how I didn’t like Sabrina’s story. In this movie, Sabrina wasn’t really given a story. At times, it felt like Sabrina was there for the sake of being there. This character could have written out of this movie and it wouldn’t have made a difference.

Psychological consultation — Therapy session image created by Pressfoto at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/businesswoman-talking-to-her-psychologist_860909.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Pressfoto – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

I liked Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Marriage Made for Murder more than Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2=Murder! In such a short amount of time, this series has found its footing and is starting to get stronger. After watching this installment of the Hailey Dean series, it not only made me want to watch more Hailey Dean movies, it has gotten me excited to see the final movie in Hailey Dean Mystery month! In my review of Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2=Murder, I shared how skeptical I was about the Hailey Dean Mystery series being given its own month. Looking back, I realize it was a better decision than I had originally thought! Be sure to come back to 18 Cinema Lane when I review the next installment in the Hailey Dean series!

Overall score: 7.5 out of 10

What do you think about the Hailey Dean series? Are you enjoying Hailey Dean Mystery Month? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells Review

On June 10, 2018July 17, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

With all this talk of wedding themed movies, I realized that the only wedding themed movie I’ve reviewed so far is Wedding March 3: Here Comes the Bride. This gave me a good excuse to watch The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells and review it for my blog! The Perfect Bride was one of my favorite movies from Hallmark’s “June Weddings” line-up last year! So, when it was announced that Hallmark would be giving this movie a sequel, I couldn’t have been more excited. Kavan Smith and Pascale Hutton have quickly become popular within the realm of Hallmark, especially after their characters, Rosemary and Lee, became an official couple on When Calls the Heart. With fantastic on-screen chemistry on one of Hallmark’s popular shows, it seemed like a good idea to cast both Kavan and Pascale as the lead protagonists in a Hallmark production. Though I can only speak for myself, I feel that having Kavan and Pascale lead a Hallmark movie together was one of the best decisions in Hallmark movie history! After reading all these great things about the first Perfect Bride movie, you’re probably wondering how I felt about the sequel. You’ll just have to keep reading my review of The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells in order to find out!

The Perfect Bride Wedding Bells poster — *The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells* poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=The+Perfect+Bride+Wedding+Bells.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells had a good cast. I liked seeing the various character interactions, especially since the majority of the characters in this movie are from the first movie. Speaking of which, Kavan Smith and Pascale Hutton’s performances were the highlight of this film, just like they were in the first movie! Both of their talents are so well-rounded and versatile, with each actor complimenting the other.

The on-screen chemistry: Last month, I said that Torrance Coombs and Fiona Gubelmann had the best on-screen chemistry in any Hallmark movie this year. However, Kavan and Pascale’s on-screen chemistry takes the number one spot for best on-screen chemistry among the Hallmark movies in 2018! Like in the first movie, Kavan and Pascale came across like they truly got along with each other. Their on-screen chemistry was believable and enjoyable to watch!

The humor: The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells had the right amount of humor. I felt like it really complimented the romantic elements the film had to offer. I also think that Kavan Smith had such great comedic timing!

152398-OUS8J8-399 — Wedding couple image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-wedding-invitation-with-happy-couple_1259848.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/wedding”>Wedding vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A slower pace: The pace in The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells was slower than in the first movie. It picked up when Nick and Molly started planning their wedding, but only by a little bit.

Too many conflicts: There were three major conflicts in this movie: Nick and Molly preparing for their wedding, Molly having to work with her ex, and Nick organizing his first art show. It like these conflicts were competing between each other for the attention of the audience. Because of this, things that made the first movie so memorable, like the Bridal Boot Camp itself, ended up getting overshadowed.

The planning-a-wedding-in-an-unrealistic-time-period cliché: This movie, unfortunately, adopted one of my least favorite Hallmark movie clichés. What’s worse about this cliché in The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells is that almost all the supporting characters remind the protagonists that they don’t have to plan a wedding in an unrealistic time period. There are even times when the protagonists remind each other about this dilemma. At first, this was funny because I felt like these characters were representing my opinions as an audience member. As the movie goes on, this became annoying because anyone who has seen enough wedding themed Hallmark movies would know how this cliché plays out.

61555-OB5ZO0-824 — Wedding couple with cameras image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/original-cards-for-wedding-photography_913021.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/logo”>Logo vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells was a good movie, but not as good as the first one. It felt like a step backward, kind of reminding me of how I felt after watching All of My Heart: Inn Love. After watching the sequel, I ended up feeling more disappointed that I had hoped. Kavan and Pascale deserve to lead a really good to great Hallmark movie, especially because of how talented they are individually and as a pair. Both of them shine so bright in their own movies on Hallmark as well as on When Calls the Heart! Hopefully, Kavan and Pascale can continue to be cast together in more Hallmark productions as the years go on.

Overall score: 7.6 out of 10

Have you seen The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells? Do you want to see Kavan Smith and Pascale Hutton star in more Hallmark movies? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2=Murder Review

On June 6, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

If you’ve read my reviews for Reap What You Sew: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery and Darrow & Darrow: In the Key of Murder, you would know that I enjoy the mystery movies that Hallmark Movies & Mysteries offer. Each film feels like a thrilling adventure where the protagonist is always willing to bring viewers along for the ride! While there are mystery series that I really like, such as Darrow & Darrow, I feel that the Hailey Dean series is the network’s weakest. I liked Hailey Dean Mystery: Deadly Estate, but I wasn’t a fan of Hailey Dean Mystery: Murder with Love and Hailey Dean Mystery: Dating is Murder. When Hallmark announced that June would be Hailey Dean Mystery Month, I, honestly, thought that the Aurora Teagarden series should have gotten its own month instead. However, I recently watched Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2=Murder and gave the idea of Hailey Dean Mystery Month a fair chance. What did I think of the first of three Hailey Dean movies? Keep reading to solve this mystery!

Hailey Dean Mystery 4 poster — *Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2=Murder* poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Image found at https://www.hallmarkchannelpress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=143&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Hailey+Dean+Mysteries+2+Plus+2+%3d+Murder

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The cast of this Hailey Dean movie was good. In the scene where the guilty suspect is revealed, Kellie Martin and Keith MacKechnie gave one of the most powerful performances they ever have in any Hallmark movie they’ve starred in! There were other actors in this movie that had stand-out performances as well. One of them is Viv Leacock, whose comedic timing was perfect. His portrayal of Fincher Garland is great and I hope that Viv is cast in more Hallmark movies!

The mystery: In almost all of the mystery movies on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, the body of the murder victim is shown within about the first twenty minutes of the film. In Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2=Murder, the victim was first deemed missing, their deceased body found later in the film. Characters who end up going missing in these mystery movies disappear later in that specific film’s story, so I think this was an interesting and creative way to start the mystery/movie. As for the mystery itself, I feel that it was well-written.

The dialogue: Not only was the dialogue in this movie well-written, it was also well-executed by the cast! What the characters said felt like natural conversation, with some of the actor’s lines sounding creative and clever. The best line in this movie was when Fincher tells Kellie, “I want to live to see tomorrow’s burrito”.

Burrito wrap sandwich — Burrito photo created by Jcstudio at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/burrito-with-rice_1055227.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food image created by Jcstudio – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about this film:

The pace: In most of the mystery movies on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, the film’s pace has been a bit faster than the movies on Hallmark Channel. This is caused by the suspense of the mystery as well as a balance of the film’s subplots. The newest Hailey Dean movie, however, has a pace that is slower than what I had hoped. Because of this, moments that should have been suspenseful and shocking felt like the energy was zapped out of them.

Sabrina’s story: I was surprised that Sabrina didn’t have any connection to the mystery in this movie, especially since she played a significant role in the previous film. She was given a subplot that I was not a fan of. It wasn’t that her story was bad, it just didn’t add anything to the overall movie.

168714-OVJRD7-558 — Chalkboard image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/mathematical-operation-written-on-blackboard_1357576.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Backgroundimage created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2=Murder was not as good as Hailey Dean Mystery: Deadly Estate, but it was better than Hailey Dean Mystery: Murder with Love and Hailey Dean Mystery: Dating is Murder. It was a decent start to Hailey Dean Mystery Month, but I hope the other two movies are stronger than this one. As a movie blogger and Hallmark fan, I want the Hailey Dean series to be a great series. I have seen mystery series on Hallmark’s second network that had less-than-stellar starts, but became stronger as the series went on (an example: the Flower Shop Mystery series). There have also been mystery series that had great starts, but fell apart at the end (another example: the Murder She Baked series). While I don’t know what the future will hold for the Hailey Dean series, all I know is I will continue to watch the rest of the movies in Hailey Dean Mystery Month and maybe I’ll review them for 18 Cinema Lane.

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Have you seen any of the Hailey Dean movies? What is your favorite movie series on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries? Please tell me what you think in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Flicka: Country Pride Review

On June 1, 2018June 2, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Anyone who has read my Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap posts would know that my favorite character on When Calls the Heart is Tom Thornton. And anyone who has read the Season 5 finale re-cap post would know how disappointed I was by Tom’s absence in that episode. As a fan, I have found a way to make up for the dissappointment. According to his IMDB Filmography, Max Lloyd-Jones (the actor who portrays Tom Thornton) starred in the film, Flicka: Country Pride. It just so happened that this movie was airing on television recently, making this movie reviewing experience too good to pass up. Before watching this movie, I:

Have never read My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara.
Have never watched the My Friend Flicka television show.
Have never seen any of the previous Flicka films.
Did not watch a trailer or read reviews for Flicka: Country Pride.

I had no idea what to expect from this film. This was the second straight-to-DVD and third/final film in the Flicka trilogy, so my expectations were set low. How did Flicka: Country Pride turn out to be? Keep reading to find out!

Flicka Country Pride poster — *Flicka: Country Pride* poster created by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Poster image found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flicka_3_Country_Pride_movie_poster.jpg

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: While the cast of Flicka: Country Pride was good, the three stand-out performers were Kacey Rohl, Teryl Rothery, and Max Lloyd-Jones! I had never seen any of Kacey’s acting performances before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect of her performance in this movie. However, Kacey’s performance in Flicka: Country Pride blew me away as she successfully helped carry this film alongside Clint Black and Lisa Hartman! I’ve seen Teryl perform in five Hallmark movies, as well as Cedar Cove, and she was a great addition to this film’s cast! Besides When Calls the Heart, I’ve seen Max in six movies and several episodes/video clips of Switched at Birth. What I’ve noticed after watching these projects, including Flicka: Country Pride, is that Max has always appeared to put in a 100% effort and all the talent he has into the roles he is given.

The cinematography: For a straight-to-DVD film, and just as a film in general, there was good cinematography! Some of the best scenes in Flicka: Country Pride were the scenes that involved any of the characters riding horses. The camera angles and editing that was used for these scenes helped add a sense of excitement and intrigue.

The incorporation of grief: In most movies featuring a young, grieving protagonist, the focus on grief appears self-contained for the young protagonist. In Flicka: Country Pride, however, we get to see how grief affects the other characters surrounding the young protagonist. What’s also interesting is how grief influences the choices and ways of seeing the world for some of these characters in the film. I felt this was a great choice for the creative team behind this movie as this concept is not always explored in family/children’s films.

The on-screen chemistry: When I was watching Flicka: Country Pride, I felt that Max Lloyd-Jones and Kacey Rohl had good on-screen chemistry! Their relationship on-screen appeared so believable, that it looked and felt like they truly cared about each other. The friendship that both Max and Kacey displayed in this movie came across as very life-like, with both of them acting like they really got along with each other.

Tom Thornton Flicka 3 screenshot — Max Lloyd-Jones: The star of this review. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

What I didn’t like about this film:

Some predictability: During my viewing of Flicka: Country Pride, I noticed there were some moments in the film that felt predictable. It wasn’t like a typical Hallmark Channel movie, where you, more often than not, know most of the movie before even watching it. However, there were some story points that I was able to correctly guess before it happened.

An insufferable bully: While Siobhan Williams did a really good job portraying the character of Kacey’s bully, I really did not like Siobhan’s character. Not only was she annoying, but she could easily get under someone’s skin. Also, I can’t believe Siobhan’s character was named Stephanie Meyers (I’m not making this up). Either that was pure coincidence or someone really didn’t like the Twilight series.

Lindy and Toby’s relationship: Clint Black and Lisa Hartman had good on-screen chemistry in Flicka: Country Pride, but I felt like their relationship was not highlighted to the level that it could have been. In the movie, Lindy and Toby try to pursue a romantic relationship. However, compared to the other storylines and subplots, this particular story element didn’t feel like it went anywhere. It seemed like it just got lost in the shuffle.

The ending: To me, the ending of Flicka: Country Pride was too much of a cliffhanger. Toby tells Lindy that he has a surprise for her, but we never get to find out what that surprise is. The fact that this movie is the last in the Flicka trilogy makes this ending even worse. Based on the ending, my guess is the creative team behind Flicka: Country Pride planned on making a fourth movie, but they never got around to it.

horse saddle - soft focus with film filter — Horse with saddle photo created by Topntp26 at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/stallion-black-equine-race-sky_1104246.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Topntp26 – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Flicka: Country Pride is a good movie! In fact, this movie surpassed my expectations! What’s great about this movie is if you watch it without ever having seen the other Flicka films preceding it (like I did), you won’t have a difficult time following along with the story. I’m actually glad I saw Flicka: Country Pride because now it raises an interesting question: how come we, the Hearties, have never seen Tom Thornton ride a horse on When Calls the Heart? In all the seriousness I can give as a movie blogger, I think Tom being able to ride a horse would make a lot of sense. I feel this way because:

I would be willing to guess that Max Lloyd-Jones gained some horse riding experience while working on Flicka: Country Pride.
In Season 2, Tom did mention his family had a farm.
Not only have we seen Jack and Charlotte (Tom and Jack’s mom) Thornton ride a horse on When Calls the Heart, but Tom and Jack’s dad/Charlotte’s husband was a Mountie.

Hopefully, if Max Lloyd-Jones returns to When Calls the Heart to reprise his role as Tom Thornton, maybe we’ll see him finally ride a horse. As for Flicka: Country Pride, I would definitely recommend this film!

Overall score: 8 out of 10

So, what did you think of this review? Are you encouraged to give Flicka: Country Pride a chance? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Royally Ever After Review

On May 25, 2018June 1, 2018 By 18cinemalane3 Comments

Because I haven’t reviewed a Hallmark Channel movie in two months, I decided to review Royally Ever After. 2018 has become the year of the “royal” movie. Whether to commemorate Harry and Meghan’s wedding or to keep up the network’s success with the ratings, Hallmark continues to create fairytale-esque stories set against a contemporary backdrop. Royally Ever After is Hallmark’s fourth “royal” themed movie for this year. This breaks the record for most “royal” movies released on Hallmark in an individual year! Since 2011’s Smooch, “royal” themed movies have become a staple on Hallmark Channel. Out of the twelve “royal” themed movies that Hallmark has made in this seven-year time-frame, I have seen nine of them, with most of these movies being really good. So, where does Hallmark’s newest “royal” story rank among these movies? Find out in my Royally Ever After review!

Royally Ever After poster — *Royally Ever After* poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Royally%20Ever%20After&IsSeries=False.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The entire cast of Royally Ever After was great! Everyone gave a performance that felt so believable and convincing. However, Fiona Gubelmann’s performance was the one that shined the brightest! Not only was her portrayal of the character of Sara believable (like the rest of the cast), but it was also very genuine. Fiona’s performance was such a joy to watch and I hope she continues to be cast in Hallmark movies.

The on-screen chemistry: Torrance Coombs, like Fiona Gubelmann, gave a good performance in Royally Ever After. Though this was Torrance’s first role in any Hallmark movie, he proved that he, just like Fiona, has what it takes to lead a Hallmark production. Together, both Torrance and Fiona gave such a great performance, that their on-screen chemistry was convincing. In fact, I feel that Torrance and Fiona had the best on-screen chemistry in any Hallmark movie this year (so far)! Both of them came across as if they truly got along. The other couples in Royally Ever After also had good on-screen chemistry! Sara’s parents (portrayed by Fiona Bell and John Guerrasio) and Daniel’s parents (portrayed by Carmen du Sautoy and Barry McGovern) appeared as if they truly belonged together.

The scenery: Royally Ever After was filmed in Ireland and the country’s beauty really shows in this movie! The natural landscapes were magnificent to look at and a highlight in the film! Hallmark does not film in Ireland enough, so I hope more Hallmark productions get filmed there in the future.

Not relying on “Hallmark royal movie” clichés: One of my issues with these “royal” movies is that they, more often than not, lack difference between the films. They almost always follow the same beats and patterns, sometimes making me wish Hallmark would retire from the fairytale-esque storytelling. Royally Ever After, however, broke away from most of those clichés and felt like a “breath of fresh air”. One example of this is having the prince’s sister trying to sabotage the protagonists’ relationship instead of the prince’s mother. These creative choices made me enjoy Royally Ever After even more!

114885-OOYJTA-978 — Princess tiara image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/ornamental-princess-crowns_1109199.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.

What I didn’t like about the film:

As I reflect on this movie, I can’t think of anything that I didn’t like about the film. To me, this is the closest to being a “perfect” Hallmark movie that I’ve seen in a very long time.

Old castle in the mountians. — Castle photo created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/old-castle-in-the-mountians_1286237.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/tree”>Tree image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

I really loved Royally Ever After! In my opinion, this is the best “royal” movie Hallmark has ever made! I felt so happy after watching this film, feeling that this was time well spent. I would love it if this story continued through sequels, possibly with the first wedding themed “royal” movie that could be titled “Wedding Ever After”. If you get the chance, I would highly recommend Royally Ever After!

Overall score: 10 out of 10

Have you seen Royally Ever After? What’s your favorite “royal” movie from Hallmark? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Avengers: Infinity War (SPOILER-FREE) Review

On May 17, 2018May 17, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

The day has finally arrived for me to review my most anticipated movie of 2018! Successfully avoiding possible spoilers, I had excitement and anticipation riding on my shoulders. This movie was definitely a cinematic event, probably one of the biggest this decade has ever seen. Avengers: Infinity War has been dominating the box office recently, dethroning previous champions and achieving almost every record imaginable. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) celebrating a milestone birthday, the hype for this film was absolutely real. But is Avengers: Infinity War worthy of all this attention and popularity? While you’re reaching for the stars, make sure to check out my review of Marvel’s newest installment; Avengers: Infinity War!

This review has no spoilers ahead!

Avengers Infinity War Bucky poster — Bucky and his friend, Bucky, really wanted to get a picture with the *Avengers: Infinity War* poster! Photo taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The entire cast of Avengers: Infinity War was fantastic! Everyone put everything they had into their acting performances and it truly showed in the film. All of the comedic and dramatic timing was perfectly executed, as all of the actors and actresses’ portrayals appeared natural and believable. Because of the superb job from the cast, it helped me as a movie-goer put emotional investment into the characters.

The cinematography/special effects: All of the special effects in Avengers: Infinity War looked beautiful! Not only were the different environments pretty to look at, they all felt so distinctive and life-like! I also really liked the character designs of the CGI villains, especially Thanos. They all looked and felt very real, helping to make these characters come across as believable.

A balance of comedy and drama: While Avengers: Infinity War is a film that has a more serious tone, there are comedic moments that help prevent the movie from being “doom & gloom” from start to finish. The insertion of the jokes never felt forced, as they were both well-written and well-executed. But whenever there were dramatic moments in the film, it felt like it matched the overall tone the creative team behind this movie was trying to achieve.

Thanos as a villain: When watching Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos ended up scaring me. One reason for this is how Thanos felt like he was justified in creating and attempting to execute his plan. The other reason is how Thanos felt like nothing could stand in his way of his goals. Both of these aspects of Thanos made him one of the most memorable villians in the MCU.

Avengers: Infinity War logo created by The Walt Disney Company and Marvel Studios. © Disney•Pixar. All rights reserved. Marvel and Avengers Characters: ©2017 Marvel. Image found at https://marvel.com/.

What I didn’t like about the film:

The ending: Since this is a spoiler-free review, I can’t really elaborate on why I don’t like the ending. What I will say is that I felt like it was shocking just for the sake of it. Also, it didn’t seem to make a lot of sense to me.

The end-credit scene: Like I said about the ending, I can’t explain why I didn’t like the end-credit scene. All I’ll say is I felt it didn’t make a lot of sense and to me, was not worth the wait.

Bucky and Thor at the movies — My friends were excited to see *Avengers: Infinity War*! Photo taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

My overall impression:

Avengers: Infinity War was a good movie! There are a lot of things that this film did right, such as effectively balancing both comedy and drama. However, I didn’t think this was a great film. Going into this latest Marvel movie, I knew this would be a “set-up” film. But I was hoping that it wouldn’t be Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 all over again, where the majority of the events in the film happened for the sake of setting up the next film. While Avengers: Infinity War is a better movie than the seventh Harry Potter installment, it still felt like a “set-up” for the next part in the Avengers story. Because the next chapter in this saga is coming in about a year, I’m only bothered by some of the events in the movie to a certain extent. Hopefully “Avengers 4” will be a better film than what we ended up receiving this time around.

Overall score: 8.5 out of 10

Have you seen Avengers: Infinity War? Was it worth all the hype for you? Please tell me what you think in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen