I haven’t published a Word on the Street post in two weeks, so I thought this movie news story would be a perfect way to get back to talking about movie related topics that I find interesting. Yesterday, Collider released an article about how one of their writers, Christina Radish, asked Kevin Feige in an interview about the title for the next Avengers film. In that same article, Mr. Feige indicated that the title would be revealed later in 2018, after the start of the Captain Marvel marketing. You can read Mr. Feige’s quote and the Collider article here:
My friends, Bucky, Bucky, and Thor, at a screening of Avengers: Infinity War. Photo taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.
After reading this article, I was, honestly, not surprised by what Mr. Feige said. Last month, John Campea, on The John Campea Show, talked about the official DVD release date for Avengers: Infinity War being set for August 14th. It makes sense for Marvel to wait until after the film has made its theatrical run to announce the title for the next film, especially if that title contains any spoilers from Avengers: Infinity War. It also makes sense for Marvel to focus on releasing their Captain Marvel advertisements first, since that movie is being released next March and there has, so far, not been any official marketing for the film yet. Personally, I think the title for Avengers 4 will be revealed toward the end of the movie’s very first trailer, as to encourage people to watch the trailer and catch them by surprise. But for now, we’ll just have to take Dale Travers’ advice from Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Lost Without You and “trust the timing”.
If you want to watch the video that I referenced in this post, type “Infinity War Digital Details, Deadpool 2 Box Office – The John Campea Show” into Youtube’s search bar.
What are your thoughts on Kevin Feige’s statements? Do you agree with Marvel’s decision to possibly reveal the Avengers 4 title in late 2018? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below!
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: 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.
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.
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!
Recently, I came to the realization that I’ve now published 50 posts (my Waffle Street movie review was my 50th post)! In honor of this accomplishment, I decided to do something different from the usual content I have been posting on 18 Cinema Lane. I’ve been wanting to make this list for a while and I only found one other list of its kind on the internet (besides mine, of course). By reading the title, you know that this post is going to be all about the ten worst Hallmark movies I’ve ever seen. Before I start naming the movies that are guilty of earning my dislike, I just want to make it clear that this entire list is not only based on my opinion, but also on the movies that I have personally seen. Also, the purpose of this list is not for me to be mean-spirited, but rather for me to express my pure honesty. With each of my Top 10 picks, I will also suggest which movies you should watch instead, as a way to introduce you to movies that I think are better alternatives than the ones on my Top 10 list. Now, let me take a moment to name the Dishonorable Mentions. These are movies that I thought were bad, but not enough to be Top 10 worthy:
The Last Cowboy, Wishing Well, Gift of the Magi, Class, Accidentally in Love, Oliver’s Ghost, A Christmas Wish, The Music Teacher, The Nearlyweds, Space Warriors, The Good Witch’s Wonder, Wedding Planner Mystery, The Memory Book, I Do, I Do, I Do, So You Said Yes, Merry Matrimony, Karen Kingsbury’s The Bridge Part 1, Surprised by Love, Love on the Air, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: From Paris With Love, Dater’s Handbook, Ms. Matched, Summer Villa, A December Bride, Love You Like Christmas, Murder She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery, Flower Shop Mystery: Mum’s The Word, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: From The Heart, JL Family Ranch, The Irresistible Blueberry Farm, Death Al Dente: A Gourmet Detective Mystery, Hailey Dean Mystery: Murder, With Love, Love Blossoms, My Favorite Wedding, Falling For Vermont, All Of My Heart: Inn Love, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Higher Ground, Murder She Baked: Just Desserts, Hailey Dean Mystery: Dating Is Murder, A Song For Christmas, Frozen in Love, One Winter Weekend, Home by Spring, Marrying Mr. Darcy, and A Painted House
Now that I have that out of the way, let’s dive into the official list, starting with number 10:
10. Firelight
Released shortly after A Smile as Big as the Moon (one of my favorite Hallmark Hall of Fame movies), I was hoping Firelight would help the wave of Hallmark Hall of Fame’s (HHoF) greatness grow. Sadly, this movie made that wave crash onto the shore. The story was too basic for a typical HHoF movie and the storyline about the young women volunteering to be firefighters didn’t seem to lead anywhere. Also, the characters were so forgettable, that I don’t even remember their names. Cuba Gooding Jr. is a good actor, but there wasn’t much he could do to save this film.
Instead, watch: Blind Spot (as of June 2018, it’s available on Hallmark Movies Now), A Smile as Big as the Moon (also on DVD and Hallmark Movies Now (as of June 2018))
9. A Family Thanksgiving
I’ve heard some people say that this movie was originally created to be a Lifetime movie, but since I haven’t found any confirmation about this, I’ll keep A Family Thanksgiving on my list. This movie has three offenses against it, which are:
Shamelessly rips off Lifetime’s Holiday Switch
Contains some content that would normally not be allowed in a Hallmark movie
Makes so few references to the Thanksgiving holiday, that this exact same plot could have been placed in any time of the year and not make any amount of difference
Instead, watch: An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving (available on DVD)
8. When Calls the Heart (2013)
This movie had one of the worst instances of false advertising in Hallmark movie history. All of the marketing for this movie made it seem like Maggie Grace and Stephen Amell were the main stars of the film, with Lori Loughlin in a prominent supporting role. When I did see When Calls the Heart, Maggie and Stephen ended up portraying two supporting characters whose stories were told through a series of flashbacks, with Lori featured in about the last five minutes of the film. The other problems this film had were very slow pacing and an unnecessary cliffhanger ending. No wonder it felt like When Calls the Heart’s first season was trying to rewrite the show’s history, to separate themselves as far as possible from this movie.
Instead, watch: The When Calls the Heart television show and/or its accompanying movies (When Calls the Heart: New Year’s Wish, When Calls the Heart Christmas, and When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree. Only When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree is not available on DVD, as of June 2018. Seasons 1 through 4 are available on DVD)
7. Our Wild Hearts
This movie has almost every “horse movie” cliché you can think of. Cambrie Schroder does the best she can with the acting material she is given, but the character development of her character, Willow, is sloppy and all over the place. Also, just because a character mentions they’re a dancer (only once throughout the film), that doesn’t justify throwing in a random dance scene into the story. Similar to what I said about Firelight, Ricky Schroder is a good actor, but there was not much he could do to save this film.
Instead, watch: Flicka: Country Pride (available on DVD)
6. Date with Love
I have never seen a movie about the prom that was actually good. Date with Love was not the movie to change my mind about that. The story itself felt like it was told a few years too late, with more people in 2016 putting a bigger emphasis on “promposals”. Even though Shenae Grimes-Beech is a good actress, her character was very unlikable. Alex (Shenae’s character) seemed too immature for a character her age. Also, there were several events in this movie that were so unrealistic, it took me out of the film (and I am more than willing to suspend my disbelief for a Hallmark movie).
Instead, watch: Summer of Dreams (available on DVD)
I once read online that this movie could have been the start of a television series. Honestly, I’m glad it wasn’t. With bad special effects in-between scenes and a story that was stuffed with characters and stories, the worst offense this movie makes is revealing the whodunit, howtheydunit, and whytheydunit shortly after a mystery was introduced. This takes the fun right out of solving the mystery alongside the protagonists and watching this movie at all.
Instead, watch: Any of the mystery series on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (Garage Sale Mystery, Aurora Teagarden, Hailey Dean, etc. Some of the mystery movies from this network are available on DVD)
4. Love by the Book
This is so far the first and only Hallmark movie that made me want to fall asleep. The story was very dull and the main character was too immature for someone her age, making her very unlikable. Also, when the protagonist keeps getting called “book goddess”, it was so cheesy that it became disgusting.
Instead, watch: A Novel Romance (available on DVD)
3. Northpole
This movie was so bad, that I could only sit through about 12 minutes of it (yes, you read that right). The acting was bad, the special effects were even worse, and the three separate stories didn’t seem to mesh very well. The dialogue was too cringy for a typical Hallmark movie’s standards and I felt that Santa was barely in the film despite being a movie titled Northpole.
Instead, watch: Charming Christmas (available on DVD)
2. Good Witch: Spellbound
This movie is the reason why I don’t watch the Good Witch television show anymore. Starting in the show’s third season, I felt that the writing became really bad. So, I watched Good Witch: Spellbound with an open mind, hoping it would be so good, that it would give me a reason to continue watching the show. Unfortunately, this was not the case, as you can see from the movie’s appearance on my list. The writing was the worst part of this film, with beloved characters evolving for the worse and sometimes being given terrible subplots. Nick’s sole purpose in this movie of him trying to scare his dad is a good example of this. Also, this movie has one of the worst reveals in Hallmark movie history.
Instead, watch: The Good Witch movie franchise (some of the movies are available on DVD), Season 1 and 2 of Good Witch (which are both available on DVD), Good Witch: Halloween (available on the Season 2 DVD) and Good Witch: Secrets of Grey House (available on the Season 3 DVD)
1. Back When We Were Grownups
Where the heck do I begin with this movie? For starters, the character of Rebecca Davitch is one of the worst protagonists in Hallmark movie history, mainly because she doesn’t do anything in the film that seems memorable or note-worthy. The family seems dysfunctional just for the sake of it, with the cast having little material to work with. As a Warehouse 13 fan, I was excited to see Allison Scagliotti’s performance in this film, but, unfortunately, she was featured in this movie for about two minutes or less. Back When We Were Grownups doesn’t run on a plot or storyline, but rather on the reactions of (mostly) the main protagonist (who doesn’t seem to put in a lot of effort into solving her family’s dysfunctionality). Remember, you know a Hallmark movie is bad when a birthday banner says “Happy 100th Poopy” instead of “Happy 100th Poppy” and no one seems to care.
Instead, watch: The Beach House (available on DVD August 7th, 2018)
To this day, it still amazes me that this actually existed in a Hallmark movie and no one seemed to notice. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.
What do you think of my list? What is the worst Hallmark movie you’ve ever seen? Share your thoughts in the comment section!
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 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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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 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!
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.
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!
Last month, I talked about how the third Darrow & Darrow movie was going into production in the Vancouver and British Columbia area. On the website for What’s Filming, not only were more cast members attached to the project (including Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Tom Cavanagh, and Wendie Malick), the title of the film was also revealed! The “In Production” page on What’s Filming’s website has the movie listed as “Darrow & Darrow 3: Body of the Crime”. Remember, Hallmark may change this title before the film’s release, but this is what the Darrow & Darrow sequel is being called for now.
I have mentioned before that I like the Darrow & Darrow series and I also reviewed Darrow & Darrow: In the Key of Murder last month on 18 Cinema Lane. In that review, I shared my disappointment about the Darrow & Darrow sequel being a murder mystery. While Hallmark has not released a synopsis yet for the third Darrow & Darrow film, the title that was revealed on What’s Filming’s website indicates that the story could, once again, revolve around a murder mystery. Personally, I hope this isn’t the case because the majority of the movie series on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries center around a murder mystery. Because of this, each of the series seem to lack major differences from each other, making it difficult for newer series, such as the Fixer Upper Mystery series, to stand out from the rest. What made me enjoy the first Darrow & Darrow film was the mystery being a theft, which is very different from most of the series on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. It seemed like this particular series was going against the grain and making creative choices that most series on that network have not chosen before. With a unique identity and so many stories to tell, I hope the Darrow & Darrow series can stay true to itself and not get lost in the shuffle of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ growing list of movie series.
What do you think of the title for the next Darrow & Darrow film? Do you like it or dislike it? Tell me how you feel in the comment section!
Have fun at the movies!
Sally Silverscreen
Link to the “In Production” page on What’s Filming’s website: http://www.whatsfilming.ca/inproduction/ (If you visit this page after June 29th, “Darrow & Darrow 3: Body of the Crime” will be taken off this list)
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 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!
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.
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!
As Hallmark’s “June Weddings” line-up continues to be in full swing, Hallmark recently released a synopsis for two upcoming, wedding themed films! These films are Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar and Yes, I Do. Last month, I talked about how the newest Signed, Sealed, Delivered installment received an official movie page on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ website. Now, with the synopsis being incorporated into that page, it looks like all the important elements of Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar’s movie page are falling into place very nicely. Back in April, I wondered if a movie called “I Do” could replace “Dream On” in Hallmark’s “June Weddings” line-up. Well, “I Do” became Yes, I Do and it is definitely a part of the “June Weddings” line-up! With this latest movie news, keep on reading and see what I think about each synopsis!
Two days ago, Hallmark released a synopsis for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar on both the Crown Media Family Networks’ and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ website. Here is the synopsis featured on the movie’s official pages from each website:
From the website of Crown Media Family Networks:
“Just a week before Rita and Norman’s long-awaited wedding day, the POstables go beyond the call of duty when, after completing their postal mission, they attempt a much bigger reunion – that of a mother and daughter separated by the years”.
From the website of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries:
“When plans for Rita and Norman’s long-awaited wedding begins falling apart days before their nuptials, their challenges inspire changes that make their wedding more meaningful. Meanwhile, Shane convinces Oliver that the team should urgently focus on finding clues to deliver a package containing a wedding dress”.
Personally, I find the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series to be very hit-or-miss. Even though I plan on watching this movie with an open mind, both of these movie descriptions don’t really add any excitement or anticipation for me. One of these reasons is how “on-the-nose” some of the story elements sound. I’m not a fan of the title of this film because it doesn’t have a creative, double meaning like the other Signed, Sealed, Delivered titles (an example: Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Lost Without You; where the title is not only about the military veteran and his K-9 companion, but also about the POstables themselves). From a creative perspective, I think the package could have contained a wedding memento that didn’t feel so obviously connected to the POstables’ story, such as a flower girl’s basket. The specific story associated with this basket could have been relatable to all the POstables, not just the engaged couple (maybe the story behind the basket could be about childhood dreams vs. grown-up expectations). Both of these movie descriptions also make it sound like Hallmark will, once again, adopt the planning-a-wedding-in-an-unrealistic-time-period cliché. I am curious about something that was mentioned in the synopsis from Crown Media Family Networks. It was mentioned that a “mother and daughter” were “separated by the years”. In the previous Signed, Sealed, Delivered installment, Shane revealed that she has a sister who, Shane feels, tore her family apart. Maybe the POstables’ “mission” will involve helping Shane and her family heal? We’ll have to wait until July 15th to find out.
Link to the official movie page for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar on Crown Media Family Networks’ website: https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=143&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=series&ShowTitle=Signed%2c+Sealed%2c+Delivered+To+the+Altar
Link to the synopsis on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ website: http://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/signed-sealed-delivered-to-the-altar/about-signed-sealed-delivered-to-the-altar
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=143&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=series&ShowTitle=Signed%2c+Sealed%2c+Delivered+To+the+Altar
Yesterday, Crown Media Family Networks released the synopsis for one of their “June Weddings” movies, Yes, I Do, on their website. This movie is about the following:
“Busy chocolatier Charlotte has left her boyfriend James at the alter three times and now she needs to prove to him that she really does want to marry him. Things are complicated when James’ ex-girlfriend Nicole, who is also the owner of Chocolate Monthly Magazine, arrives on the scene and says she wants him back”.
Honestly, I think the majority of this synopsis sounds too ridiculous for my liking. Also, I’m not a fan of this title either, as it doesn’t sound very creative. However, I like how Hallmark is highlighting an occupation that hasn’t been featured in a Hallmark movie before (a chocolatier). I’m also happy that Marcus Rosner has finally gotten a lead role in a Hallmark movie! Ever since he first appeared on When Calls the Heart in 2015, he has proven that he has what it takes to be a leading actor on Hallmark Channel. The question is: will he put all the talent he has into this role like he has in his other supporting actor roles? We’ll have to watch Yes, I Do to find out.
Link to the official movie page for Yes, I Do on Crown Media Family Networks’ website: https://www.hallmarkchannelpress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Yes%2c+I+Do
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
What are your thoughts about these movie descriptions? Are you looking forward to any of these films? Let me know in the comment section!
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 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”.
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.
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!
18 Cinema Lane 
