Tag: mystery

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Solving the Equation

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In my last Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap post, I brought up the subplot of Toby and Cooper studying for an upcoming math test, where Toby believed he didn’t have to study for the test because the test questions were the same as the math homework. At the time, I thought this subplot was random, as it wasn’t resolved in the episode. However, it was resolved in this episode, providing an explanation for Toby’s attitude toward the math test. As I watched When Calls the Heart, I thought about how creating a television show is like trying to solve a math equation. Every season, new characters are added to the story. A show’s creative team figures out how to utilize their funds, subtracting money from the show’s budget. Over time, a show attracts more fans, multiplying its viewership. But there are instances when a show’s creative team makes a controversial decision, which divides the fans. In order for a television show to be successful, and even stand the test of time, a creative team needs to work through the equation to find an answer!

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

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

Season: 11

Episode: 3

Name: Steps Forward

Major stories:

Lucas has returned to Hope Valley to finalize the sale of the saloon. The sale is a success, with Lee signing the official papers. While most people are excited about the new hotel, some Hope Valley residents are not pleased with the changes coming Hope Valley’s way. One of these residents is Jay Campbell. He shares with Lee his frustrations about how busy Lucas has become, believing he hasn’t been heard. Jay turns toward Rosemary in an attempt to catch Lucas’ attention through The Valley Voice. While Rosemary agrees to publish Jay’s thoughts, she also contacts Montague, hoping to not only get an official statement about the new hotel, but to also question him about Lucas’ case. Days later, Rosemary and Lee visit the site for the new hotel, along with Edwin, Lucas, Elizabeth, and her students. The purpose of this visit is to capture photos for an upcoming article. Randall, Rosemary’s rival reporter, attends as well to take pictures for his article. During this visit, Randall reveals how the site actually belongs to Benson Hills, a detail that slipped through the cracks. In this episode, Lucas receives a hotel bid from Montague, but turns it down.

Bill takes a trip to Capitol City in order to prove a theory. Through an experiment, Bill discovers how Pike wouldn’t have enough time to reach the gun’s hiding place, shoot Lucas, and get away in a short amount of time. This leads Bill to speculate a second person was involved. When Bill returns to Hope Valley, he shares his findings with Rosemary. She confesses how she’s planning on questioning Montague under the assumption the phone call is meant to capture Montague’s official statement about the new hotel. During the phone call, Rosemary and Bill learn Montague was at a party at the time Lucas was shot. He claims over a hundred people saw him at the event. Later in the episode, Bill acquires the train schedule from the night Lucas was shot. Rosemary found a newspaper article featuring a picture of Montague from the aforementioned party, with the photo taken after Lucas was injured. Despite the evidence claiming Montague was not involved in the case, Rosemary and Bill agree to not rule him out.

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Minor stories:

After school, Elizabeth confronts Toby about his math test. She shares how he didn’t get a good score. This encourages Toby to confess why he didn’t study for the test, stating how he can’t grasp the concept of math, specifically division. Elizabeth promises to help him with his academic issue. Later in the episode, Elizabeth finds Toby crying in the library. He tells Elizabeth how he fears he’ll never understand math. Until she and Toby figure out how to tackle the math issue, Elizabeth suggests not giving Toby any more math tests. Toby is not the only student of Elizabeth’s struggling with a problem. In the Canfield family, Cooper and Angela have a feud. This feud started because Cooper’s baseball was destroyed and Angela’s hair ribbon was used as a slingshot. The sibling’s feud leads Joseph to tell his children about his brother, Jacob. He shares how a feud caused them not to speak to each other. Joseph’s story encourages Angela and Cooper to apologize and replace the damaged items.


Mike and Mei celebrate their five-month anniversary. They want
the day to be special, so they brainstorm ideas. A few days later, Mei comes up
with the perfect date. She surprises Mike with a picnic, taking place on the
spot where the new hotel will be built. Their date is interrupted by the photo
shoot hosted by Rosemary and Randall. In Hope Valley, Faith feels it’s unsafe
to look after Lilly at the infirmary, as she can’t divide her time between
taking care of Lilly and treating her patients. Some of Hope Valley’s women
suggest starting a day dare center, with the idea quickly agreed upon. Henry
even gives the women his former office for free. After the day care’s
establishment, Lilly confesses how she doesn’t have an aunt. Faith allows Lilly
to call her “Auntie Faith”.

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Some thoughts to consider:

·       
The longer a television show has been on the
air, the more inconsistencies will appear on the program. When Calls the
Heart is no exception to this statement. After Jack Jr. was born, Elizabeth
relied on babysitters to look after her son. These babysitters have either been
the Coulters or one of her students. But when the day care is established,
Elizabeth takes advantage of the day care’s services by placing Jack Jr. in the
day care. She also makes it seem like finding a babysitter has been a struggle.
During Jack Jr.’s time on the show, Elizabeth has never expressed a problem
with recruiting a babysitter for Jack Jr. With Elizabeth’s attitude toward the
day care, it makes her story seem kind of inconsistent.

·       
In season six, an orphan named Spencer stayed
with the Coulters. Because he was traveling with Grace, the co-owner of an
orphanage, his time with the Coulters was limited, lasting only two episodes.
This reflection made me realize how long Lilly’s story has, so far, lasted. Not
only is she staying at The Café under Faith’s care, a day care was established
because of her and she now calls Faith “Auntie Faith”. These observations have
made me wonder what is the creative team’s ultimate goal for this story?
Perhaps something will happen that will cause Lilly to be adopted by someone in
Hope Valley?

·       
When reading the title names of When Calls
the Heart’s episodes, I’m sometimes left confused by how a title relates to
an episode’s story. The next episode serves as the perfect example. This season’s
fourth episode is titled “Along Came a Spider”. In this episode’s synopsis, the
first line reads “It’s Easter in Hope Valley”. Maybe the connection between the
title and the story will reveal itself when the episode airs. But as of the
publication of this re-cap, I question what spiders have to do with Easter?

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What are your thoughts on this episode? Do you think Montague
hurt Lucas? Tell me in the comment section below!


Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen








Sunset Over Hope Valley: Lend a Helping Hand

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

This episode of When Calls the Heart shows Elizabeth planning a surprise party for Nathan. Because planning a party can be overwhelming, other residents of Hope Valley volunteer to help Elizabeth. Lending a helping hand is a common theme on the show. Hearties have witnessed individual characters act selflessly, from Rosemary donating bridesmaid dress material for bandages to Lucas sharing the magic of movies with Hope Valley’s residents. But when Hope Valley’s residents join together, Hearties see how anything is possible. Complications have reached solutions because the characters have worked together, putting their differences aside to reach a common goal. The help Hope Valley’s residents provide is genuine, coming from a place of goodness and charm. For me, this is what has made When Calls the Heart enjoyable to watch!

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

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

Season: 11

Episode: 2

Name: Tomorrow Never Knows

Major stories:

Elizabeth is reminded by Rosemary how Nathan’s birthday is just around the corner. When Elizabeth mentions this to Nathan, Nathan is convinced he’ll receive a surprise party due to Allie’s random decision to go fishing. After school one day, Elizabeth questions Allie about her plans for Nathan’s birthday. Allie confirms her plans only consist of going fishing. These plans change to both a fishing trip and a party because Nathan is still suspecting a party. Rosemary volunteers Elizabeth to plan the party, believing Elizabeth is capable of making this party a reality. As more residents find out about the party, they agree to help with party preparations. On Nathan’s birthday, he and Allie go fishing, where they don’t catch any fish. This works in Allie’s favor as she suggests having dinner at the saloon. At the saloon, Nathan is pleasantly surprised at how many people attended the party. He’s also surprised when Lucas later shows up.

Due to Lucas’ plans for the resort, he decides to sell the saloon. He feels hanging on the saloon would be a conflict of interest. This news makes Mike concerned for his job as saloon manager. When Lee looks at the saloon’s books, he discovers how profitable the establishment is due to Mike’s management. Lee plans on buying the saloon, but allowing Mike to continue managing it. Explaining this plan to Rosemary for the first time causes Rosemary to feel she and Lee don’t spend enough time together due to putting work first. He later explains to Rosemary how purchasing the saloon but allowing Mike to manage it would actually give them more time to spend together. Rosemary agrees to co-own the saloon after hearing Lee’s plan. She even suggests adding a stage to the saloon. When Mike learns of Lee and Rosemary’s plans, he is excited to keep his job.

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Minor stories:

Rosemary is frustrated at being “scooped” by another newspaper reporter. While some of Hope Valley’s residents are impressed with the competition, Rosemary reads between the lines, discovering how Lucas’ case’s official statement was copied word for word. She figures her problem is how she lacks a source. So, Rosemary turns to Bill for help. Bill questions Rosemary’s interest in Lucas’ case, wondering if all she cares about is creating an exciting headline. Rosemary reassures Bill how she just wants to protect Lucas because he’s her friend. Later in the episode, Rosemary receives a mystery board from Lee.

Bill calls Mei and Mike “newlyweds” as he passes by the pharmacy. Mike and Mei appear a bit uncomfortable by this comment due to how their relationship hasn’t become serious yet. After this comment, Mei has been distant with Mike. Mike thinks he did something wrong, but Mei is afraid to engage in a serious romantic relationship because to a past relationship, as she confesses to Faith. At Nathan’s birthday party, Mei shares her fears with Mike. But all Mike wanted to do was ask Mei to dance.

Faith has her hands full not only running the infirmary, but
also looking after Lily. She is sometimes frustrated by how frequently Lily
changes her mind about things. However, Faith recognizes how much joy Lily has
brought to Hope Valley. While Faith reads a story to Lily, Lily questions where
the parents of the story’s protagonist are. Faith explains how the story’s
protagonist went to live with her aunts. This encourages Lily to ask about her
grandmother. Faith tells Lily how her grandmother is being taken care of at the
hospital. When Lily asks how long her grandmother will stay in the hospital,
Faith suggests Lily close her eyes and picture her grandmother, trying to help
Lily overcome her homesickness. While Lily takes Faith’s advice, Faith closes
her eyes and pictures Fiona.

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Some thoughts to consider:

·       
I’ve always been confused on how to spell Allie’s
name. In When Calls the Heart’s promotional material, I have seen Allie’s
name spelled ‘Allie’ and ‘Ally’. To maintain consistency and prevent confusion
for my readers, I will be spelling Allie’s name ‘Allie’ for the remainder of
these re-caps.

At the café, Cooper and Toby study for a math test. Toby shares with Cooper how the test questions are the same as their math homework, so he feels he doesn’t have to study. Later in the episode, Minnie addresses what she overheard with Elizabeth as she’s grading the aforementioned math test. But this part of the story was not resolved. Toby is not confronted by Elizabeth and no lessons are learned. Because of everything I said, this subplot felt random.

·       
Henry comes back to Hope Valley! While talking
with Elizabeth, he shares how he visited Abigial and how Abigail wanted him to
be happy. Henry also volunteers to help the Canfields tend the trees in the café’s
backyard. During this episode, I noticed how much happier and calmer Henry
appeared. He seems to have adopted a genuine interest in Hope Valley’s agriculture
and foliage. Therefore, I’m curious to see how Henry’s story turns out this
season!

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What are your thoughts on this episode? How many changes do you
think the saloon will endure? Please tell me in the comment section!


Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen







Sunset Over Hope Valley: Nathan’s Standing Ovation

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

In this season premiere of When Calls the Heart, there were so many things that were inspiring enough to talk about in my re-cap’s introduction. However, I decided to focus on a quote I’ve referenced on my blog before. In the book, Wonder, the protagonist, Auggie, stated “Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world.” After a criminal was caught by Nathan in this episode, everyone wants to give Nathan his “standing ovation”. But Nathan doesn’t feel he deserves it, as he thinks he just did his job. The idea of a worthy individual receiving a “standing ovation” is a nice one. However, in order for a “standing ovation” to take place, the person in question has to want it. This is a concept that isn’t explored often in stories. Therefore, I’m glad Nathan’s story gave me something to think about!

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

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

Season: 11

Episode: 1

Name: When Stars Align


Shortly after becoming Governor, Lucas gets shot by someone
he knows. When Bill learns of this news, he informs Nathan and Elizabeth of
what happened. During a phone call, Edwin, Lucas’ campaign assistant, shares
with Elizabeth how Lucas had to have surgery in order for the bullets to be
removed. After learning this, Elizabeth and Bill go to Capital City to visit
their friend. Lucas not only survives his ordeal, he is eager to start his new
journey as Governor. However, he doesn’t remember who shot him. While Lucas is
in the hospital, Henry pays him a visit. Lucas offers him a position on his
team. Though appreciative of Lucas’ offer, Henry turns it down. Later in the
episode, Lucas calls Rosemary and Lee. He informs them of an upcoming radio
announcement and thanks Lee for giving him a patch of land. On the day of the
announcement, Lucas reveals he will build a resort near Hope Valley, using the
land Lee gave him. It is a part of Lucas’ plan to improve Hope Valley and its
surrounding communities.


Four months after Lucas was shot, Nathan arrested Pike, a
man who confessed to shooting Lucas. A gun with Pike’s prints is also
discovered. Believing justice was served, everyone in Hope Valley congratulates
Nathan for saving the day. Everyone except Bill. He feels Lucas’ case was
solved too quickly. Bill also finds it odd how Montague was overlooked as a
potential suspect. During a private discussion, Bill shares his concerns with
Nathan. Nathan confesses how he has his own hunch about the case, as well as
requesting the case remain open. Nathan’s request was denied. Meanwhile,
Rosemary is desperate to become involved in the mystery. By questioning Bill,
she discovers his doubts about the case’s outcome.

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Through a telegram, Faith learns Fiona has permanently moved
to Nashville. This news causes Faith to become lonely. She shares her feelings
with Minnie, who reminds Faith how she isn’t alone. In this same episode, Faith
takes care of a patient named Dora. Troubled by Dora’s cough, Faith listens to
Dora’s lungs. Discovering her patient has breathing issues, Faith prescribes
Dora medication. But the following day, Dora experiences a cardiac episode.
Concerned for her patient’s well-being, Faith calls the hospital in Benson
Hills. Because Dora came to Hope Valley with her young grand-daughter, Lilly,
Faith is worried about who will look after the girl. After Dora is sent to
Benson Hills, Dora sends a telegram informing how, during her recovery, Faith
she should look after Lilly.


Because of Fiona’s departure from Hope Valley, Mei has been
tasked with looking after the barber shop. Along with this responsibility, she also
has to maintain the pharmacy. Overwhelmed by everything on her plate, she asks
Mike for his help. He agrees to help, quickly taking note of Mei’s stress.
Offering another helping hand, Mike gives Mei a bike as a gift. He explains to
her how the bike will allow Mei to travel in a shorter amount of time. The
basket on the bike will also give Mei more room to store mud from Hope Springs.
Mei is appreciative of Mike’s gift. Their interaction causes Ned to comment how
Mike and Mei act like an old married couple.


With Lucas recovering in the hospital, Elizabeth reflects on
everything that happened in the four months since he was elected Governor. She
comes to the conclusion that life shouldn’t be taken for granted, as anything
can take place in the blink of an eye. In order to put actions to words,
Elizabeth decides to get a hair-cut. But with Fiona now in Nashville, Elizabeth
thinks the hair-cut will have to be postponed. Being the good friend that she
is, Rosemary volunteers to cut Elizabeth’s hair. Elizabeth accepts her friend’s
offer, but wants a hair-style that is simpler. The next day, Elizabeth reveals
her new hair-style with several of Hope Valley’s residents. The change with
Elizabeth’s hair receives positive results.

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Some thoughts to consider:
This season premiere of When Calls the Heart was pleasant! Even though some of the stories were stronger than others, there are things to look forward to for the rest of the season. However, I found this episode’s trailer to be a bit cruel. Within this commercial, there was a clip of Lucas from the previous season. When this clip appeared, a voice-over stated how Lucas doesn’t remember anything. I can only speak for myself, but I thought Lucas had developed amnesia. However, this episode revealed how Lucas doesn’t remember anything about being shot. This isn’t the first time When Calls the Heart’s marketing tried to make its audience assume the worst about Lucas. Plus, Lucas’ fans are likely still disappointed by his and Elizabeth’s break-up from season ten. Personally, I found that part of the trailer to be an unnecessary way to spark an emotional reaction over Elizabeth’s relationships.


When Abigail Stanton was on the show, her café was called Abigail’s Café. Since she owned this establishment, it made sense for it to be named after her. But after she left Hope Valley and the Canfields bought her half of the café, I always wondered why the café was still named after Abigail. While watching the season premiere, I noticed in one scene how the café now boasts a sign stating ‘The Café’. Because this restaurant has been a staple of Hope Valley since, practically, the show’s beginning, it makes sense for the café to not feature any person’s name in the title, as the establishment, figuratively, belongs to everyone.

During one of Elizabeth’s classes, Elizabeth tells her
students how, in the following days, Venus and Jupiter will align in the sky,
causing them to be visible from Earth. I found this part of the story to be an
interesting coincidence because this episode premiered the day before April 8th’s
solar eclipse. This isn’t the first time a story on When Calls the Heart has
been unintentionally relevant with the time it aired on television. In the
seventh season’s fourth episode, ‘Sweet and Sour’, Hope Valley’s chickenpox
outbreak coincidently paralleled 2020’s Coronavirus.

As I mentioned in this re-cap, Lucas shares how he will
build a resort on the land Lee gave him. Even though I’m excited to see this
resort come to fruition, I hope Lucas plans on building a theater on that land.
At this point, it’s a pipe dream for Rosemary to receive her theater. But I’ve
always been hopeful of Rosemary’s dream finally coming true. If any character
is going to make that dream a reality, it’s Lucas. Not only does he have the
funds and resources, he did introduce Hope Valley’s residents to movies through
his saloon.

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What are your thoughts on season eleven’s premiere of When Calls the Heart? What are you looking forward to seeing this season? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen



Take 3: The 39 Steps Review

On By 18cinemalane11 Comments

For the first annual Master of Suspense Blogathon (hosted by Maddy from Classic Film And TV Corner), I wrote about the 1955 film, To Catch a Thief. While I addressed how it was a “pretty looking movie”, I found To Catch a Thief prioritizing style over substance. In this year’s event, I have selected the 1935 production, The 39 Steps, which was recommended by Maddy from Maddy Loves Her Classic Films! There are several titles in Alfred Hitchcock’s filmography that have gained popularity over the years. But The 39 Steps has been overshadowed by Alfred’s more well-known projects. In fact, before signing up for the second annual Master of Suspense Blogathon, I knew very little about the film. However, I was familiar with Alfred’s forte for mystery and suspense, assuming I was, at least, going to see a creative concept come to life on screen. Was I correct in my assumption? Keep reading my review of The 39 Steps to find out!

The 39 Steps poster created by Gaumont British Picture Corporation and Gaumont British Picture Corporation of America

Things I liked about the film:

Robert Donat’s performance: Throughout The 39 Steps, I found the acting performances ranging from fine to well-done. However, I did like Robert Donat’s portrayal of Richard Hannay! What stood out to me was how at ease Robert appeared on screen. A perfect example is when Richard shares some of his family history with Pamela, who was portrayed by Madeleine Carroll. While telling Pamela about his family, Richard was comfortable giving this information, despite barely knowing Pamela. His body language appears relaxed and his facial expressions presented on his face effortlessly. The story itself rolled off Richard’s tongue as if he had told it multiple times. During this conversation, Richard was also yawning, indicating how tired he was by the events surrounding him during the film’s story.

The set design of Alt-na-Shellach: During the movie, Richard visits Alt-na-Shellach, the home of a man named Professor Jordan. The only room shown on screen was the sitting room, where a party was taking place. Despite appearing in only one scene, the room boasted nice set design pieces! Characters were greeted by a large, carved, wooden door. These carvings were intricately detailed, showing how much care went into creating that door. A big, ornate rug covered the majority of the floor, nicely complimenting the space. But the showstopper was the huge window overlooking a nearby river and featuring stained glass designs. I wish more scenes had taken place at Alt-na-Shellach, as I’m pretty sure other rooms would have looked great on screen too!

The mise-en-scène: For those who aren’t familiar with the term, mise-en-scène, it means how a scene is presented in a movie. In The 39 Steps, mise-en-scène was utilized in clever and visually intriguing ways. A great example is when Richard boards a train. On this trip, Richard is sitting across from two men. To avoid eye contact, Richard hides his face behind a newspaper. Wondering if the two men are watching him, Richard peeks over the top of the newspaper, where the audience can only see the men’s eyes. These visuals symbolized how Richard was hiding something behind the windows of his soul, how the eyes are sometimes described.

The Second Master Of Suspense Blogathon banner created by Maddy from Classic Film And TV Corner

What I didn’t like about the film:

Limited sense of urgency: Based on Alfred Hitchcock’s films I’ve seen, I’ve come to expect his stories to be filled with mystery and suspense. Because of these elements, I also expect a given story to contain a strong sense of urgency. While there were suspenseful, urgent moments sprinkled throughout The 39 Steps, these moments were not consistent. This made the story take its time being told instead of getting straight to the point sooner. During these suspenseful, urgent moments, there was no music playing in the background. A low amount of adrenaline and excitement was present in these moments partly due to the lack of music.

The “Insta-love” trope: In my recent review of Easter Parade, I explained what the “insta-love” trope was and why it was a major flaw in the 1948 movie. The “insta-love” trope was a major flaw in The 39 Steps as well. Richard and Pamela do not like each other. Even after being arrested, they continue to dislike one another. When they check into a hotel and pose as a married couple, Pamela and Richard’s dislike carries on. But hours later, they act like they’ve always been in a romantic relationship. The inclusion of the “insta-love” trope caused Richard and Pamela’s attraction to be abrupt, with the abruptness preventing on-screen chemistry between Robert and Madeleine.

An over-shadowed mystery: As I just mentioned in this review, I have come to expect stories filled with mystery based on Alfred Hitchcock’s movies I’ve seen. Because of those selected titles from Alfred’s filmography, I expect the mystery to be the story’s primary focus. In The 39 Steps, however, the story’s mystery was overshadowed due to the film’s creative team emphasizing Richard being on the run from the authorities. The mystery taking a backseat in the movie means the mystery itself wasn’t solved until the very end of the film. A longer wait time for answers causes The 39 Steps to feature a limited amount of intrigue.

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My overall impression:

Alfred Hitchcock has obtained a reputation for creating memorable productions. Whether it’s incorporating “modern” technology in The Birds or showcasing a pretty location in To Catch a Thief, Alfred’s movies have boasted his stamp of approval through various creative ideas. But out of Alfred’s films I have seen, and even reviewed, The 39 Steps is the most “meh” title from his filmography. The 1935 picture had such a limited sense of urgency and intrigue, I almost fell asleep while watching it. Richard and Pamela’s relationship was heavily affected by the “insta-love” trope, causing the relationship to feel like it belonged in a different film. This is a movie that seems longer than an hour and twenty-six minutes, creating a slow and boring build-up to a reveal that feels kind of ridiculous and anti-climactic. With all the flaws I discussed in this review, it’s a shame The 39 Steps turned out this way. That’s because there were aspects of this movie I liked, such as Robert Donat’s performance.

Overall score: 5 out of 10

Have you seen The 39 Steps? Are there any films of Alfred Hitchcock’s you like or don’t like? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch Review

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

I’m going to be honest; even though it’s only March, Hallmark has not impressed me with their new mystery films, so far. Both True Justice: Family Ties and Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers were, in my opinion, just ok. I did not enjoy CrimeTime: Freefall, turning the movie off after about forty minutes. Hoping luck would turn itself around, I decided to check out the newest mystery title from Hallmark; Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch. In the 2020s, so far, Hallmark has come up with some interesting ideas for their mystery films. While some of those ideas could lead to a potential series, other ideas were not utilized to their full potential. With Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, the movie contains several interesting ideas. Not only does the story take place in Paris, France, the protagonist is a psychologist in the world of fashion. Could these ideas come together to create a stylish and entertaining film? Keep reading my review to find out!

Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch poster created by Cineflix Media, Untitled Entertainment, and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Things I liked about the film:

Brooke D’Orsay and Gilles Marini’s on-screen chemistry: A staple of Hallmark’s mystery films is a male and female protagonist working together to solve a mystery. Sometimes, these protagonists will share a romantic relationship, with the initial spark taking place between these characters in a series’ first film. While it’s unknown at this time if Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch will lead to a series, I will say I liked Brooke D’Orsay and Gilles Marini’s on-screen chemistry! Brooke portrayed the protagonist, Lauren, with a warm and bubbly personality. Meanwhile, Gilles’ character, Andre, consistently carried his character with a serious demeanor. However, there were times when kindness broke through the seriousness. Together, Lauren and Andre shared a mutual understanding that allowed them to get along with each other. One scene shows Andre sharing a part of his life story with Lauren. Through the expression on her face and the look in her eye, Lauren appears sympathetic toward Andre. A subtle look of sadness is present in Andre’s eyes, yet he appears he can trust Lauren, despite barely knowing her.

The costume design: If a story is going to take place within the fashion world, the costume design should strive to look appealing to the eye. I can only speak for myself, but there were some style choices I liked seeing in this movie! More often than not, Lauren wears either red or pink. The pieces paired with these shades not only complimented the outfit itself, it also complimented Brooke D’Orsay. While walking home from a party, Lauren wears a red, silk gown with a halter top. As her jacket of choice, she wore a dark denim jacket that sparkled at just the right moments. Throughout the film, Lauren carried a red purse. In one scene, this purse was paired with a short, beige jacket. The dark and warm shades of the aforementioned jackets provided visually appealing color combinations!

Showcasing various facets of the fashion world: Throughout Hallmark’s cinematic history, there have been stories that explored the behind-the-scenes of a given industry. In the case of Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, the world of the fashion industry is examined. When Lauren first arrives in Paris, she is introduced to many members of a fashion label, from a model scout to a financial adviser. This scene alone showcases the many moving parts associated with a fashion company. Lauren learns about counterfeits and how they affect the fashion industry. I’m glad the film’s creative team didn’t shy away from including the not-so-glamourous side of the fashion world, as a more balanced perspective of fashion was presented to the audience.

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What I didn’t like about the film:

An underutilized profession: In Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, Lauren is a “fashion psychologist”; meaning she applies her psychology skills to the world of fashion. The idea of a psychologist using their skills and expertise to question suspects and come up with motives makes sense for a mystery story. Featuring a psychological perspective within the fashion world is a unique angle for a Hallmark mystery production. Unfortunately, Lauren didn’t utilize any of her psychology skills toward solving the mystery. In fact, her skills were so underutilized, they became pointless. There were even some characters who refused to accept Lauren’s psychological help. If anything, Lauren seemed more like an over glorified intern.

Thick French accents: I’ve mentioned before on 18 Cinema Lane how the delivery of accents can make or break a production. What can also make or break a production is how thick an actor or actress’ accent is. Within Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, several characters delivered thick French accents. This made it difficult to understand what they were saying and keep track of who was who. There were even subtitles, occasionally, shown on screen to help viewers understand what the characters were saying. However, some time was spent trying to figure out what the characters were saying that I wasn’t able to be fully invested in the film.

Underutilized characters: Riccardo Dolce is a fashion designer Lauren meets while working in Paris. With a striking appearance, Riccardo was surrounded in mystery. I genuinely wanted to know more about his designs, as well as his perspective on fashion. Sadly, Riccardo was featured in the movie only about two or three times total. Toward the beginning of Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, Riccardo claimed he wanted to collaborate with the designer Lauren was hired by. His reasons for the collaboration are never explained. Riccardo is just one of several characters who were underutilized in this film.

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My overall impression:

When I talked about Mystery Island in my list of the worst movies I saw in 2023, I hoped Hallmark would find the motivation to create better mystery productions. Despite it only being March 2024, I think Hallmark is still looking for that motivation. If I could describe Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch in one word, it would be ‘underwhelming’. Lauren’s psychology skills were not fully utilized, making her seem like an over glorified intern. The script caused several characters to be underutilized, sometimes featuring them in the movie for only a handful of scenes. Thick French accents made it difficult to understand what the characters were saying, which prevented me from becoming fully invested in the movie. Up until this point, Hallmark’s newer mystery films seemed to contain ideas that could allow more than one chapter. But now that I’ve seen Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, I honestly don’t know how this story could lend itself to a multi-chapter series.

Overall score: 5.2 out of 10

Have you seen Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch? What are your thoughts on the current state of Hallmark’s mystery movies? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

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

On By 18cinemalane15 Comments

When I write a movie review, I typically discuss what I liked and didn’t like about a movie, as well as summing up my thoughts in an overall impression. But for the 6th So Bad It’s Good Blogathon, I’m taking a different approach for this review. Readers of 18 Cinema Lane will know how long I’ve been searching for my “so bad it’s good” movie. Last year, when I wrote about Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter, I mentioned how I giggled a few times while watching the film. This was taken as a step in the right direction to finding my “so bad it’s good” title! For the aforementioned 6th So Bad It’s Good Blogathon, my original intent was to choose a movie that was built on a gimmick. Then I remembered how I found Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Heartache and Homecoming so bad, it was, at times, unintentionally funny. I also recalled how the 2022 project was actually a sequel to the 2018 film, Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s. Now that I’ve seen both films, I can, honestly, say the 2018 movie was so bad, it was, at times, unintentionally funny, though not as much as the sequel. So, in this review, I will provide examples of why Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s is so bad, it’s unintentionally funny at times!

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

Dr. Amy Bradford and her Veterinary Clinic

When I discussed Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Heartache and Homecoming in my worst movies of 2023 list, I mentioned how even though the protagonist is a veterinarian, she didn’t have to hold an animal every time a scene takes place at the veterinary clinic. This flaw constantly reminded the audience of the protagonist’s profession, making those parts of the script seem unnecessarily repetitive. When Dr. Amy Bradford first visits her veterinary clinic with her friend, Bethany, in Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s, it makes sense to show Amy with a bearded dragon. That scene establishes Amy’s role in the town and the story itself. But after the initial introduction, Amy is, once again, shown holding animals, whether Bethany is visiting the clinic or Amy is talking on the phone with her friends. It seems like the creative team behind Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s didn’t have confidence in their audience to remember Amy’s job. Personally, I found this flaw funny because of how frequent it was.

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Obvious Production Errors

Any movie will have its fair share of production related errors. But in Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s, several production errors were more obvious. Remember when I said Amy held an animal every time she was shown in her veterinary clinic? While on the phone with Bethany, Amy holds a brown rabbit with tall ears. A few seconds later, Amy is then holding a white rabbit with floppy ears. When Bethany and Amy first go to the veterinary clinic, both women drink a mug of tea. Before clinking mugs, Bethany is holding her mug by its handle in her right hand. After clinking mugs, she’s now holding the mug on its side with that same right hand. As she’s putting the mug to her lips, Bethany’s right hand returns to the mug’s handle. Toward the end of the movie, the villain escapes in a getaway van. One scene shows the villain entering the van and closing the door before it moves. The scene after that, the van drives away with the villain’s door open.

These three screenshots illustrate a production error I described in this review. Screenshots taken by me, Sally Silverscreen. Images created by Glass House Distribution

Not Understanding How Things Work

As I talked about in my 2023 edition of my worst movies of the year list, the script for Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Heartache and Homecoming reminded me of The Cookie Mobster, with the screenwriters not displaying an understanding for how some things worked. The example I brought up was how Game Boy Color video game consoles were incorporated into the story. Similarly, in Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s, the screenwriters repeated the same mistake as the 2022 film. One glaring example takes place as a character tries to use their cell phone. A volunteer at the protagonist’s church is about to watch a livestream video from her “smart” phone, with the video starting in a few seconds. The woman sitting next to her suggests she watches the video on the television that happens to be in the room. Confused by what the woman is requesting, the livestream viewer asks if it’s possible to do that with a phone. The woman then grabs the viewer’s phone, presses the phone’s touchscreen a few times, then the video magically appears on the television. It should be noted how the television was turned off prior to the woman turning the livestream video on the television. Cell phones in 2018 (when Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s was released) contain more advanced technology than cell phones from previous years. However, they are not “smart” enough to automatically turn on a television and connect to the television without the use of connecting wires or a remote control.

The Sixth So Bad It’s Good Blogathon banner created by Rebecca from Taking Up Room

Writing and Delivery of Dialogue

In this review so far, I’ve addressed some of the issues with the movie’s screenwriting. One flaw in this department is how the dialogue is written. There are some scenes where a character is supposed to deliver a strength filled line meant to be taken seriously. Due to the screenwriting, though, these lines don’t contain that emotional impact, causing them to sound funnier than intended. When Bethany visits a local real estate agent, she meets the realtor and his ex-wife. During Bethany’s visit, the realtor and his ex-wife get into an argument. After the realtor mentions how he should have fired his ex-wife, his ex-wife reminds him how that’s not possible by stating, “but I got half this company in the divorce settlement”. In an attempt to get the last word, the realtor replies, “Well, at least I got the cat”. Later that same day, Bethany is confronted at the local church by the villain. When the villain tries to intimidate Bethany to help them leave town, she utilizes some martial arts techniques to retrieve the villain’s gun and knock the villain to the ground. The villain then asks Bethany where she learned to fight. Bethany replies, in a serious tone, “I was homeschooled”.

Another issue with the movie’s script was how the dialogue was delivered. There were times when an actor’s line delivery was so unnatural, it sounded robotic. Toward the beginning of the film, Bethany is discouraged by her inability to bake a pie. Her mother reassures her by saying “No, it’s not. You’re much better with people than you are with pies. I mean, seriously, I have never met anyone that can connect with every single person that she meets. And that’s a gift”.  While Bethany’s mother gives her daughter a nice, encouraging comment, the limited use of vocal inflections and over-enunciating make this comment sound less genuine. When Bethany’s friend, Grace, visits Bethany’s family’s orchard, Grace reveals how she has worked in the Mount Hideaway facility for the past two weeks. Shocked by this piece of news, Bethany responds by saying, “You’re working at the classified facility outside my hometown?” This line delivery is so flat and over-enunciated, it sounds like Bethany is talking in slow-motion.

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Poor Special Effects

Whether a tv movie network production or an independent film, these types of movies are typically granted smaller budgets. This financial restriction means some film-making techniques could be out of reach, such as time-consuming and expensive special effects. If computer-created special effects are applied to a film with financial limitations, those effects could show the film’s budget. As Bethany is taking her burnt pie out of the oven, smoke appears to be coming out of the oven. But as Bethany is trying to fan the smoke away from the pie, it’s pretty clear the smoke is a computer-created effect resting atop the image and likely added in post-production. While Bethany is reminiscing on the past, she recalls how she and her friend, Jamie, spotted an abandoned car. This abandoned car looked too glossy for the long shot of the nearby river. In fact, the car appeared to be poorly photoshopped into the scene during the film’s editing stage. Because the car wasn’t blended into the scene well, its inclusion in the movie felt so jarring, it was distracting.

If you look at this picture’s bottom right hand corner, you will see how the car looks like it was probably added in the editing stage of this movie. Image created by Glass House Distribution

As Bethany pays her church a visit, she goes to the homeschool resource center. In this room, there is a poster that reads, “Mistakes are proof that you are trying”. This quote is how to sum up Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s. The 2018 picture is filled with production and film-making mistakes. These range from the obvious (such as a poorly photoshopped car) to the subtle (like no display of understanding for how technology works). However, these mistakes are proof the movie’s creative team tried to visually tell a story. Making a film is a time-consuming and financially-consuming endeavor. This creative endeavor also consists of a lot of moving parts, requiring various people to oversee different departments of the film-making process. Going back to Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s, I wouldn’t go so far as to choose this project as my “so bad it’s good” movie. But, while watching the 2018 film, I did find myself laughing more than I did watching Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter. Therefore, I will take that as another step in the right direction to finally finding my “so bad it’s good” movie!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

A Very Belated Buzzwordathon Fail

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Last month, in my post about what my readers could look forward to in 2024, I stated how I was taking a break from the Buzzwordathon readathon. But I also promised the reviews for October, November, and December’s books from 2023. As a blogger of my word, I am finally publishing the last three reviews of the previous year’s Buzzwordathon! Since I did read these books, but didn’t finish them within their respective months, I will consider these readathon challenges a “fail”. With this article published after Buzzwordathon 2023, these reviews will be shorter.

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October

The Witcher: The Last Wish book cover found on Goodreads

Title: The Witcher: The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

Theme: Magic words

The Witcher: The Last Wish is a collection of short stories that serve as an introduction to Geralt and the world around him. Even though I learned quite a bit while reading this book, it felt like I spent most of the book getting to know everyone but Geralt. In fact, there was one portion of an overarching short story where Geralt exposition dumped his entire life story. But there were parts of the book I did like, such as the magic system and the pacing of the action scenes. I also thought the politics within the story’s world were intriguing.

Overall score: 3.8 out of 5 stars

November

One Good Deed book cover found on Goodreads

Title: One Good Deed by David Baldacci

Theme: “Good”

One of David Baldacci’s strengths is creating literary worlds that are memorable enough to stick with the reader. This is achieved through strong descriptive imagery and world building. These writing techniques were applied to One Good Deed, creating a landscape that I could picture as I read the book. I also liked the banter between the characters, as it was quippy and clever. The protagonist, Archer, did amateur detective work in the story, but it wasn’t as consistent as I expected. Because One Good Deed is a slow-burn, character-driven story, patience is required from the reader.

Overall score: 3.7 out of 5 stars

December

A Song for Jeffrey book cover found on Goodreads

Title: A Song for Jeffrey by Constance M. Foland

Theme: Sound words

A Song for Jeffrey is a story that relies more on a premise than a plot. That, along with serious topics being incorporated, but not explored, in the story prevent the book from containing as much depth as other middle grade titles. However, there are good lessons found throughout the text, from how to be a good friend to trying to find the positives in life. Jeffrey is the best character from this book, as his personality is down-to-earth and friendly. While Dodie, the protagonist, means well and works through her flaws, she is kind of insensitive for most of the book. For about half the book, Dodie has a selfish, entitled attitude.

Overall score: 3 out of 5 stars

Have fun reading!

Sally Silverscreen

Disclaimer: The Witcher: The Last Wish, One Good Deed, and A Song for Jeffrey contain subject matter that may not be suitable for some readers. Reader discretion is encouraged.

Take 3: Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers Review

On By 18cinemalane5 Comments

It’s been stated before on 18 Cinema Lane that my Hallmark related content is some of my most popular content. I’ve also mentioned how the mystery genre is the most popular one on my blog. Whenever Hallmark releases a mystery film through Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, that has, usually, been a recipe for success for my movie reviews. With all that said, I chose to write about the second Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film to premiere in 2024; Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers! In my review of True Justice: Family Ties, I brought up how Hallmark’s newest mysteries boasted distinct identities. With Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, it is Hallmark’s first historical fiction mystery title! As I stated in my Word on the Street article about CrimeTime: Freefall, these new mystery movies from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries have the potential to start a new series. So, let’s take a carriage ride and solve a mystery, as I review Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers!

Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers poster created by Front Street Pictures and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Once upon a time, Ali Skovbye starred on When Calls the Heart, portraying Abigail’s daughter, Becky. By appearing on the show, Ali was given the opportunity the work alongside various actors and actresses. While watching Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, I could tell Ali’s television experiences worked in her favor! Throughout the movie, Ali was able to maintain good on-screen chemistry and camaraderie with the other cast members! After Emma’s half-brother, Brady, is arrested, Emma visits Brady in jail. During their visit, Brady appears frightened, fear displayed in his eyes and concern woven into his speech. Not only is concern seen in Emma’s eyes, a mixture of concern and reassurance can be heard in her voice. Any time Brady and Emma interact, Ali Skovbye and James Drew Dean’s on-screen camaraderie shown through, thanks to their acting talents! In the film, Emma interacts with her friend, Harriet. Portrayed by Amira Anderson, Emma and Harriet’s friendship appears genuine, making the audience believe these characters were friends long before the events of the movie. Once again, the on-screen camaraderie worked because of Ali and Amira’s acting abilities!

The wardrobe: Attention to detail can make or break any movie, especially a historical/period film. One way attention to detail can be showcased is through the wardrobe. Emma is surrounded by elite society in Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers. This social status is reflected in the characters’ attire. However, how wealthy a character is can be found in specific details. While Emma is connected to the Vanderbilt family, she doesn’t enjoy the financial benefits of being a Vanderbilt. At a debutante party, Emma wears a simple blue gown, displaying smaller details such as a lace collar, sparkly appliqués, and a little diamond necklace. Emma’s cousin, Gertrude, is also a wealthy relative. But her dress is a light pink gown covered in lace and featuring bigger puffy sleeves. Gertrude not only wore a bigger diamond necklace, she also wore a diamond tiara.

The set design: Wardrobe is not the only department where a film’s creative team can display attention to detail. In historical fiction or period specific movies, the set design can give the audience the illusion they traveled back in time. A creative team’s attention to detail can successfully pull off this illusion, as well as feature interesting design choices! In some of the homes in Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, stained-glass windows could either be seen in the background or in exterior shots. At Emma’s house, beautiful stained-glass windows featuring grapes were shown in the kitchen. Some homes also included fireplaces, boasting unique styles and designs. At Uncle Cornelius’ office, engraved wood patterns framed the fireplace. In another house, mosaic tiles surrounded the fireplace.

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What I didn’t like about the film:

Keeping track of who’s who: In any mystery story, there are a collection of characters. Most of these characters serve as potential suspects for the audience to speculate over. An abundance of characters were featured in Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers. But some of these characters did not make frequent appearances in the film, with their names being brought up more than they were shown on screen. It should also be noted how this movie had a larger cast. All this made it difficult to keep track of who’s who.

A dialogue heavy story: Dialogue is an important component of any film. For the mystery genre, dialogue can contain clues and necessary information about the film’s case. In Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, there were few physical clues included in the story. This forced the characters to rely on dialogue to solve the mystery. The movie having a dialogue heavy story also forces the audience to pay attention to what the characters are saying. If an audience member misses one piece of dialogue, they will be confused by what is happening in the film.

A low sense of urgency: There is, typically, a sense of urgency in murder mystery stories. This is because the characters express desire to catch the guilty party quickly, in order to prevent more people from getting hurt. While there is a murder mystery included in Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, the overall sense of urgency was low. Emma’s involvement in elite society is prioritized throughout the story. The low sense of urgency in the movie also caused the story to feel a bit drawn out.

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My overall impression:

Because Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers is Hallmark’s first historical fiction mystery title, it allows the movie to stand out among the network’s other mystery programs. While this uniqueness can encourage viewers to check the movie out, the true question lies in if this uniqueness can serve a movie series. It’s unknown at this time if Gilded Newport Mysteries will inspire more than one film. But only speaking about Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, the 2024 release emphasizes style over substance. It’s obvious the creative team behind the movie cared about the presentation of their project. The finer details of the set and costume design allowed the film to feel immersive, giving the audience the illusion they traveled back in time. When it comes to the mystery itself, however, it could have been stronger. Keeping track of who’s who and a dialogue heavy story could leave some viewers confused as the movie moves along. The low sense of urgency within the story makes the film kind of feel drawn out. If there is another chapter given to Gilded Newport Mysteries, I’d like to see a crossover between Gilded Newport Mysteries and A Biltmore Christmas! Since both titles have some connection to Vanderbilt, it would be interesting to see the protagonists of both movies interacting with each other!

Overall score: 6-6.1 out of 10

Have you seen Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers? Would you like to see Gilded Newport Mysteries develop into a series? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Top Ten Hallmark Movies That Should Have Received a Sequel

On By 18cinemalane5 Comments

Last September, my review of Guiding Emily became my 350th movie review! While I wanted to acknowledge this milestone, I wanted to acknowledge it by writing an article that was Hallmark related. Guiding Emily is based on a book that is the first novel in a trilogy. As of the publication of this article, Hallmark has made no announcements about the trilogy’s adaptation. The possibility of Guiding Emily receiving a sequel made me think of other Hallmark films I wish were given more than one story. That led to the creation of my list of the top ten Hallmark movies that should have received a sequel! For my list, a sequel doesn’t just mean a second part to a stand-alone story, but a continuation within an established story. Films on my list are categorized based on when they premiered. Because it’s still the beginning of 2024, I excluded Hallmark movies released in 2023, as it’s unknown at this time if Hallmark will grant any of those movies a sequel. My list is also based on my opinion, featuring titles I have seen and liked.

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1. Ordinary Miracles (2005)

Long before I became a movie blogger, I saw (and liked) Ordinary Miracles. Looking back on the movie almost twenty years later, this story made me wonder what happened to the characters after the film’s events. How did Sally move forward with her life? Did Kay continue to be a judge or did she choose a new career path? What ever happened to Sally’s boyfriend? Did he ever face accountability for his actions? With this story producing so many questions, it would have been interesting to revisit some of these characters and witness how their lives changed. Though as I previously mentioned, Ordinary Miracles premiered almost twenty years ago. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely this story will receive a sequel.

2. Perfectly Prudence (2011)

Perfectly Prudence is the sequel of the 2008 movie, Dear Prudence. Despite the tonal shift between the first and second films, I remember liking both titles! The reason why Perfectly Prudence is on this list is because of the movie’s abrupt ending. Toward the end of the 2011 film, Prudence was about to tell her daughter, Annie, who her father was. Right before Prudence shared this information with Annie, the story ended. I’ve always been curious how Annie would have accepted this news. But since Perfectly Prudence premiered thirteen years ago, I don’t think that mystery will ever get solved.

3. For Love & Honor (2016)

When I think of military academies featured in entertainment media, they have, typically, appeared in a stand-alone movie or television show episode. For Love & Honor is one of these programs, as Hallmark never continued this story beyond a first chapter. With the school’s commandant and academic dean working together to save their facility, each sharing the goal of improving their students’ lives, I think there was potential for the 2016 movie to start a film, even television, series! The main story could have revolved around a group of academy faculty, including Tom Brennan and Caroline Foster, trying to solve professional and personal problems. Stories involving some of the students may have served as the series’ subplots. If For Love & Honor had led to a series, it would have differed from a program like When Calls the Heart, as an academic setting would be more prominent.

4. Cooking with Love (2018)

Cooking with Love is one of only two movies to receive a perfect score on 18 Cinema Lane! Since its premiere in 2018, I’ve always wanted to see this movie receive a sequel! Because the story focuses on the behind-the-scenes process of creating a television show, there are so many directions a second chapter could go. The moral aspects of Valentine’s Day were prioritized in Cooking with Love instead of the holiday’s aesthetic, allowing another story to be told any time of year. When this movie premiered, its viewership numbers were on the lower end of the ratings spectrum. However, if Hallmark desperately needed ideas for future films, maybe they could consider revisiting the world of Cooking with Love.

5. Royally Ever After (2018)

Royally Ever After is the best movie I saw in 2018! The film’s choice to avoid a lot of cliches and tropes from Hallmark’s royal stories left such a good impression on me! Within the film, Sara and Prince Daniel become engaged. They even entertain the idea of wedding plans toward the end of the movie. In my opinion, Hallmark missed an opportunity to turn Royally Ever After into a series. The sequel would have focused on Prince Daniel and Sara’s wedding, appropriately titled “Wedding Ever After”. Other films would chronicle the couple’s journey, boasting titles such as “Christmas Ever After” and “Family Ever After”. Had Royally Ever After become a series, it would have provided something new for Hallmark Channel, as none of Hallmark’s royal movies have received more than one film.

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.

6. Wedding of Dreams (2018)

Yet another sequel joins the list! This time, it’s Wedding of Dreams, the second chapter of 2016’s Summer of Dreams! Ever since I saw the 2018 movie, I always wanted to see a third film. Likely titled “Christmas of Dreams”, the story could have prioritized Debbie and Noah’s first Christmas together. Debbie Gibson could have even created new Christmas tunes exclusively for the movie! Reflecting on this idea, I think “Christmas of Dreams” would have been a great addition to Hallmark Channel’s ‘Countdown to Christmas’ line-up. With all that said, this, in my opinion, was a missed opportunity for the network.

7. Rome in Love (2019)

Rome in Love was not only the best Hallmark movie I saw in 2019, it was one of the best movies I saw that year! Similar to A Biltmore Christmas and This Magic Moment, the story revolves around the process of making a movie. Unlike This Magic Moment, a movie premiere was not included in the story. Therefore, the characters from Rome in Love attending the premiere of the story’s film (a remake of Roman Holiday) could have served as the plot of a sequel! Along with this plot, Philip could propose to Amelia, ending the story with an engagement. Amelia’s sister, Kathryn, could come to Italy and fall in love, a story that would be the movie’s subplot. With Rome in Love being released five years ago, I don’t know what this movie’s chances are of receiving a sequel. But if Hallmark is looking for ideas for future projects, a second chapter for Rome in Love could be one of them!

8. Poisoned in Paradise: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery (2021)

In some of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ series, overarching mysteries were incorporated to give viewers a reason to follow the story. In the Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries series, Jeff is trying to figure out who shot him when he was a detective in Boston. As the story progressed, it seemed like Jeff was one step closer to solving his mystery. But because Poisoned in Paradise: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery was the last movie from this series to premiere, Jeff’s mystery was never resolved. The Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries series was abandoned by Hallmark in favor of producing stand-alone films. If the network knew they weren’t continuing the Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries series, they should have, at least, created one movie to give Jeff’s mystery some closure.

9. Mystery 101: Deadly History (2021)

Since the film’s release in 2021, fans of the Mystery 101 series have been curious about the cliffhanger ending of Mystery 101: Deadly History. They’ve even begged Hallmark Movies & Mysteries to create at least one more movie to resolve this mystery and provide the story with some closure. Unfortunately, the network unceremoniously cancelled the Mystery 101 series, leaving fans frustrated by the lack of answered questions. As a fan myself, I wish Hallmark Movies & Mysteries had given the Mystery 101 series a film to end the story on a strong note. The movie likely would have attracted good viewership numbers, as the Mystery 101 series was a successful series due to television ratings. Similar to what I said about Royally Ever After and Wedding of Dreams, choosing not to make one more Mystery 101 film was one of Hallmark’s missed opportunities.

10. Cut, Color, Murder (2022)

When I talked about how Poisoned in Paradise: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery should have received a sequel, I mentioned how the Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries series was abandoned by Hallmark in favor of producing stand-alone films. While some of these movies have delivered interesting ideas, there are a few titles that I think could have lent themselves to a series. Cut, Color, Murder, in my opinion, has potential for more than one story. The chemistry among the cast, as well as their banter, made these characters charming. Even though I won’t spoil the movie, I will say I’m curious to see which direction Chelsea’s story goes. If Hallmark decided to expand Cut, Color, Murder beyond the first chapter, I’m hoping the story is from Chelsea’s perspective, as her part of the story was more interesting that Ali’s.

Cut, Color, Murder poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

What are your thoughts on my list? Which Hallmark movies do you wish received a sequel? Please tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: True Justice: Family Ties Review

On By 18cinemalane6 Comments

Recently, I’ve been referencing the newest Hallmark Movies & Mysteries title, True Justice: Family Ties; within my list of the top ten best movies I saw in 2023 and when I talked about CrimeTime: Freefall in a Word on the Street story. Because the mystery genre is the most popular one on my blog and since I haven’t reviewed a mystery film since last October, I chose True Justice: Family Ties as the first movie to review in 2024! The 2020s has, so far, not been a strong decade for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. When it comes to their mystery programs, the network has produced more stand-alone films, leaving only two series to continue. But as I mentioned in my aforementioned Word on the Street story, the three new mystery films premiering on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries this year, so far, have potential to create a multi-story series. It should also be noted how each of these three movies seem to have their own unique identity, allowing them to stand out against one another. Could True Justice: Family Ties be the start of a new chapter for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries? Turn the page on this review to find out!

True Justice: Family Ties poster created by Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Katherine McNamara portrays the film’s protagonist, Casey. Throughout the movie, she tries to prove her brother, Marcus, was falsely accused of committing a murder. Even though Casey and Marcus shared only a few scenes together, both Katherine and Sam Ashe Arnold, the actor who portrayed Marcus, sold the idea their characters were siblings who truly cared about one another! In the scenes where Casey visits Marcus in prison, there is very present fear in Marcus’ eyes. You can even hear concern and uncertainty in his voice. While in prison, Marcus seems shaken up due to his surroundings. Meanwhile, the tears Casey sheds for her brother appear genuine. She looks and sounds heartbroken by Marcus’ fate. Because of Sam and Katherine’s performance, I wish these characters shared more scenes together.

True Justice: Family Ties is about a team of characters who come together to solve the film’s mystery. In order for this idea to work, it’s important to cast a group of actors who will make that on-screen teamwork appear believable. That was achieved in this movie, as the friendship among the “Justice Warriors” felt genuine, showcasing the camaraderie between these characters! One example presents Sarah and Liam discussing their plans for the future and what inspired them to make certain choices in their life. With Sarah being a law school student and Liam having his own private investigation business, differences are set aside to show them forming a friendship and getting along well with each other. Because of Alexander Nunez’s charisma and Marisa McIntyre’s believable performance, I could honestly see their characters forming a romantic relationship if True Justice: Family Ties became a series!

Utilized talents and skills: As I previously mentioned in this review, True Justice: Family Ties is about a team of characters who come together to solve the film’s mystery. To create a story with a good team of characters, each character needs to receive an opportunity to utilize their respective skills and talents. This movie allows Casey and her friends to use their talents, skills, even their intern/business experiences to their advantage. Because each character brings something different to the table, every character plays a role in solving the case. Sarah is a law school student who is also an intern at a forensic office. She is able to utilize her knowledge of the law and her internship to find fingerprints and rule out suspects. This was a great way to make Sarah a valued member of the “Justice Warriors”!

A unique perspective: A decade ago, Hallmark created the Darrow & Darrow mystery series. In that series, the characters solved mysteries by approaching each case from a legal perspective. If someone were to only read the synopsis of True Justice: Family Ties after watching Darrow & Darrow, they would wonder what the difference between these two titles are. Casey and her friends are law school students in True Justice: Family Ties. The only exception is Liam, as he has his own private investigation business. The overarching story in the Darrow & Darrow series primarily revolves around Claire Darrow and Miles Strasberg. As I mentioned in this review, the story of True Justice: Family Ties focuses on a group of characters instead of just the male and female protagonist. These creative differences allow the 2024 mystery film to adopt an identity that sets it apart from its predecessors and other current mystery titles!

Law school textbooks image created by Peter Skadberg at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/Peter Skadberg.”

What I didn’t like about the film:

Situations happening too quickly: Fans of the mystery series from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will know that solving a mystery is a process. This process involves multiple steps, with these steps broken down to allow the audience to solve the mystery alongside the protagonist(s). In True Justice: Family Ties, however, situations happened too quickly. From discovering suspects to finding clues, these steps were sped up, making the mystery solving less interactive. Even the reveal of the guilty party happened so fast within the film’s last ten minutes.

Weak on-screen chemistry: In most of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ mystery series, the main male and female protagonist will form a romantic relationship over the course of the series. Sometimes, the foundation of that relationship will be set up in a series’ first film. If True Justice: Family Ties becomes a series, it is assumed Eli and Casey will become the main romantic couple. But, in my opinion, Katherine McNamara and Markian Tarasiuk did not have strong on-screen chemistry. This is because their characters went back and forth between disliking each other and being friends. I recognize the screenwriters were attempting to incorporate the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope into the story. But in True Justice: Family Ties, that trope was not effective.

A random romance: Nikki Deloach and Benjamin Ayres star in True Justice: Family Ties as Professor Ambrose and D.A. Quinn. When returning to class to retrieve her notebook, Casey discovers Professor Ambrose and D.A. Quinn are sharing a romantic relationship. To me, this part of the story was random. That is because a) prior to that scene, there was no indication these characters even knew each other and b) these characters appeared in only a handful of scenes. Maybe if D.A. Quinn and Professor Ambrose had been given their own subplot where they built their relationship over time, their romance wouldn’t seem so sudden.

Magnifying fingerprints image created by Balintseby at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/glass”>Glass vector created by Balintseby – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/fingerprint-investigation_789253.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

As of the release of this review, two other mystery films are scheduled to premiere on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries; Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers and CrimeTime: Freefall. These movies, including True Justice: Family Ties, have potential to spark a multi-story series while boasting distinct identities. Even though it’s too early to determine what is in store for these titles, I can share my thoughts on True Justice: Family Ties! The first film to be released on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries this year was, in my opinion, just ok. The mystery wasn’t interactive enough for the audience because situations happened too quickly. Not only was D.A. Quinn and Professor Ambrose’s romance random, Katherine McNamara and Markian Tarasiuk’s on-screen chemistry was weak due to the screenwriting. However, the movie did have its strengths, such as the acting performances and how each character was able to utilize their skills and talents. It was also nice to see a story focus on a group of characters, providing a different type of story for Hallmark’s collection of mystery titles. At the end of the year, it’ll be interesting to see how True Justice: Family Ties compares to Hallmark’s other 2024 released movies!

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen True Justice: Family Ties? Are you excited for Hallmark’s other mystery movies? Please tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen