Tag: mystery

Take 3: Darrow & Darrow: In the Key of Murder Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

With eight series currently in circulation, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries has been very busy keeping fans on the edge on their seats, providing compelling mysteries that will keep viewers involved in each film’s story. One series in particular is Darrow & Darrow. After making its debut last year, Darrow & Darrow has quickly become an important component in the web of franchises from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. With memorable characters, a well-written script, and a good mystery, Darrow & Darrow won over my heart. As I was excited for the sequel, I was also disappointed when I found out  the next movie would be centered around a murder mystery. This is because the mystery involved in the first movie did not have any murders, going against the grain from other mystery series on Hallmark’s second network. Did this change in the series affect my enjoyment of the film? Find out in my review of Darrow & Darrow: In the Key of Murder!

Darrow & Darrow 2 poster
Darrow & Darrow: In the Key of Murder poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=143&FeedBoxID=986&NodeID=307&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Darrow%20and%20Darrow%20In%20the%20Key%20of%20Murder&IsSeries=False

Things I liked about the film:

  • The acting: The cast in the Darrow & Darrow sequel was very strong! Everyone gave such great performances and complimented each other at the same time. The one cast member that impressed me the most in this movie was MacKenzie Porter. She did an excellent job not only with her acting performance, but with her singing performances as well! I also liked seeing Geoff Gustafson in a film outside of the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series because it allowed him to work with new material, keeping his acting performances interesting and entertaining. Geoff is a talented actor and it was good to see him in a role that is different from what most Hallmark fans are used to.

 

  • The mystery: Even though the sequel was a murder mystery (like most films on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries), it was compelling and intriguing. With enough suspects and clues, it allowed viewers to solve the case alongside the protagonists. Also, the charm of the series was never lost amid the darkness of the crime.

 

  • The on-screen chemistry: Just like in the first Darrow & Darrow film, the on-screen chemistry between Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Tom Cavanagh was fantastic! Both Kimberly and Tom pulled off a great performance individually and as a pair. Their line delivery was spot-on and their portrayals of Claire and Miles truly appeared like their characters got along. I’m really looking forward to seeing where Claire and Miles’ relationship goes from here!
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Magnifying glass image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/magnifying-glass-with-fingerprint-in-flat-style_2034684.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/flat”>Flat vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

  • Some of the side stories: While the story of Joanna working on the pro bono case was well-written, I was not impressed with Lou’s story. It felt like a repeat from the first movie, where an exceptionally gifted young person (Lou in this case) is having difficulty relating to their peers. I also didn’t like the story amongst the other lawyers at the Darrow & Darrow law firm. To me, this and Lou’s story just didn’t have a big impact on the film’s overall story.
Little girl in baseball outfit
Baseball girl image created by Brgfx at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/little-girl-in-baseball-outfit_2204168.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Brgfx – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

This was a really good continuation in the series! I ended up liking this movie just as much as the first movie! Hallmark Movies & Mysteries has done an excellent job when creating a newer mystery series that feels different from the other series they offer. While the series is only about a year old, it has plenty of room to grow, as more stories are still waiting to be told. Hallmark has not made any announcements about a continuation in the Darrow & Darrow series, but I hope more movies get made in the near future! This series has only gotten better and I can’t wait to see where the direction of this series goes!

 

Overall score: 8-8.5 out of 10

 

Have you seen the Darrow & Darrow sequel? What you think about the Darrow & Darrow series? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Reap What You Sew: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

As anyone who’s been paying attention to Hallmark knows, they take the ‘Mystery’ in Hallmark Movies & Mysteries very seriously. That’s why Hallmark creates a variety of mystery series, each with their own unique characters and stories. From the popular Signed, Sealed, Delivered to the powerhouse Garage Sale Mystery, the various series offered on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries shows how Hallmark strives to provide the best opportunities possible for story-telling. This is no different for the Aurora Teagarden series. Since its debut in 2015, the Aurora Teagarden series is one of the strongest on the network. With the ratings to prove it, this series has quickly become a jewel in Hallmark’s gold crown (yes, that joke was intentional). So, how does the newest installment in the series stack up to the rest? Let’s solve that mystery in my review of Reap What You Sew: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery!

Aurora Teagarden poster
Reap What You Sew: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=143&FeedBoxID=986&NodeID=307&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Reap%20What%20You%20Sew%20An%20Aurora%20Teagarden%20Mystery&IsSeries=False.

Things I liked about the film:

  • The acting: The acting abilities from this cast were good. However, the three actors that were the stand-outs in this film were Britt Irvin, Jesse Moss, and Julia Benson! Each of these actors pulled off a performance that was well-rounded and versatile. Britt, Jesse, and Julia impressed me for different reasons, with each of them shining on their own merits. I’m hoping that each of these actors can lead their own Hallmark movies in the near future!

 

  • The mystery: Like the other movies in the Aurora Teagarden series, the mystery in this movie was engaging. Because the reveal happened toward the end of the film, there was a sense of interactivity for the audience to solve the mystery alongside Aurora. Also, there were enough suspects and clues within the movie to keep viewers guessing.

 

  • The suspense: In Reap What You Sew, the suspense was on-par with the rest of the Aurora Teagarden movies. This is especially true about the third act of the film. Not only was there a good build-up to the suspense, but it was incorporated well in the climax. The reveal of the guilty party was definitely a highlight in this movie.
Sewing color background
Sewing pattern image created by Nenilkime at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Nenilkime – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/sewing-color-background_1380853.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

  • A slower pace: The pace of this Aurora Teagarden movie was slower than it has been in the other movies. However, this didn’t make me like the movie any less.

 

  • Too much exposition: The first quarter of this film is loaded with exposition from several of the characters. While it was necessary for this exposition to be featured in the movie, because there are usually several-month gaps between the Aurora Teagarden films, I feel that these expositions should have been spaced out through the first half of the film.
269703-P5H9WI-853
Magnifying glass image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/magnifying-glass-with-fingerprint-in-flat-style_2034684.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/flat”>Flat vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

As good as Reap What You Sew: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery was, it didn’t stand out from the other movies in the series. I will admit that having the characters of Lynn, Martin, and John absent from this movie made it feel like something was missing. However, like I said about the movie’s pace, it didn’t affect the quality or my enjoyment of the film. With the strength and likability of this series, there are still plenty of stories left to tell. This means that Aurora and her friends are not wrapping up the case anytime soon. In my heart, I still believe this series is one of the best on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. When another does get announced from the network, I will get excited about its arrival and, who knows, maybe I’ll review it for 18 Cinema Lane.

 

Overall score: 7 out of 10

 

What are your thoughts on the film? Do you like the Aurora Teagarden series? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Hallmark movie production news!

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

One of my favorite sites for movie updates is What’s Filming. Recently, there have been several Hallmark movies that are listed on the website. I noticed that most of these films are wedding themed movies, meaning that Hallmark’s “June Weddings” line-up is coming soon! All of the movies that I’ll be talking about are filming in the Vancouver and British Columbia area. Here is the list:

  • Marrying Mr. Darcy – Currently in production until April 19th
  • The Perfect Bride 2 – Starts production on April 9th and ends on April 27th
  • The Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New — Starts production on April 16th and ends on May 4th
  • Garage Sale Mystery: A Picture of Murder — Starts production on April 9th and ends on April 26th
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Wedding schedule image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/infographic”>Infographic vector created by Freepik</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/welcome-to-the-wedding_831989.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found on freepik.com.

I have a lot of thoughts about this news. For one thing, I’m not a fan of having all of the “June Weddings” movies be sequels. To me, it just feels like Hallmark is putting creativity on hold for the sake of trying to create another movie series. However, I do plan on watching these movies with an open mind. Out of the three “June Weddings” movies listed on What’s Filming, I’m looking forward to The Perfect Bride 2 and The Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New the most!

I will admit that I was not demanding a sequel to Unleashing Mr. Darcy because, at best, I thought the movie was just decent. My hope for Marrying Mr. Darcy is that it is a better movie than the first one was. On What’s Filming, some of the original cast members from the first movie are attached to the sequel. I really liked seeing this because it shows that Hallmark cares about keeping continuity with the previous film. An article on the website mentioned that Marrying Mr. Darcy will air on Hallmark on June 2nd, but Hallmark has not made any official announcements yet.

Seeing a new Garage Sale Mystery listed made me happy because I really enjoy watching this series! Out of all of the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie series, Garage Sale Mystery is one of the strongest on the network. I did enjoy Garage Sale Mystery month last year, so I’m definitely looking forward to it this August!

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What do you think about this news? Looking forward to any of these movies? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Link to the article about Marrying Mr. Darcy on What’s Filming: http://www.whatsfilming.ca/2018/04/03/marrying-mr-darcy-filming-vancouver/?referer=plist-655

Link to the What’s Filming “Upcoming” page: http://www.whatsfilming.ca/upcoming/ (if you visit this page after April 9th and 16th, The Perfect Bride 2, The Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New, and Garage Sale Mystery: A Picture of Murder will be moved to the “In Production” page for the Vancouver and British Columbia area)

Link to the What’s Filming “In Production” page: http://www.whatsfilming.ca/inproduction/ (if you visit this page after April 19th, Marrying Mr. Darcy will be taken off of this page)