Take 3: Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker Review

On October 9, 2025October 11, 2025 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Last year, I reviewed Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker. At the time, I knew there would be people interested in the film, as Great American Family has found its audience over the past few years. But I was shocked by how popular that review became. In a year’s time, my review of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker has garnered over 6,000 views and counting! When I learned a sequel was on the horizon, I immediately made plans to write about it. Now that review has come to fruition, as I have recently seen Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker! In my review of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, I said it looked like this series had the potential to tell many more stories. From exploring another artisan avenue to progressing Ainsley and Jake’s relationship, the sequel proved my statement right. But how does it compare to its predecessor? Keep reading my review to solve this mystery!

*Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker* poster created by Candy Rock Entertainment, Happy Accidents, Syrup Studios, and Great American Family

Things I liked about the film:

The chemistry among the cast: If you’re creating a book, tv, or movie series, it’s important to maintain chemistry among the characters. If this chemistry is believable, interactions and relationships between characters become more enjoyable to watch unfold. A lot of the same cast members from Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker returned in the sequel. That worked in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker’s favor! The chemistry among the cast was so strong, it not only made every situation between the characters feel realistic, it also made their connections seem genuine! One of the best examples is the friendship of Jake and Ryan. Ainsley’s brother, Ryan, carries a serious, “business comes first” attitude due to being a police officer. Meanwhile, Jake’s personality is laid-back and a bit sillier. These characters’ differences allowed their friendship to be complimentary, especially when it came to Jake and Ryan’s comedic timing. This friendship was, honestly, one of the best parts of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker!

Inclusion of humor: As I watched Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker, I took note of how the film’s creative team improved upon the flaws of the previous movie. One of those improvements was the inclusion of humor. Sprinkled throughout the story, humor was woven into the dialogue. How this humor was written and delivered prevented the story from becoming too dark. One great example is when Gladys, one of the members of the “book club”, is being questioned by the police. Because Gladys knew Ellie Mitchum (the murder victim), she is considered a potential suspect. During her interrogation, the police ask Gladys if she was aware of any allergies Ellie might have had, as allergies are ruled as a likely cause of death. In a sassy yet matter-of-fact way, Gladys tells the police, “She was allergic to being a nice person”. To me, this was one of the funniest lines in the movie, as it was a great comeback to the question!

Ellie Mitchum’s house: Ellie Mitchum is a successful businesswoman who visits her former school in Sweet River, Texas. But, unfortunately, she becomes the murder victim in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker. Ellie’s funeral reception takes place at her house, where Ainsley, Jake, and Ryan attend. While not much of the house’s exterior is shown, it did contain an impressive stone porte-cochère (covered entryway). That entryway made the house look like a castle. One of the interior spaces presented in the movie was the foyer. This space was circular, featuring intricately designed stained-glass windows, stone railings with carved designs, and a deep cherry-stained wood floor under an ornate rug. Even the house’s deck, though only shown in one scene, had a stone arch framing a beautiful view of the luscious green backyard and what appeared to be a lake. I wish more scenes had taken place at Ellie Mitchum’s house, as it was so gorgeous.

Heart of yarn image create by macrovector at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Learning very little about the protagonist: In the second movie of a film series, the project’s creative team can present more information to help the audience learn more about the protagonist. Whether in the form of dialogue or flashbacks, this information can expand the protagonist’s backstory, give them extra motivation to solve a problem, or provide an overarching component of a story. But in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker, very little new information was revealed about Ainsley McGregor herself. While her reason for leaving Chicago was given, Ainsley didn’t share this until almost an hour into the movie. That means the audience had to wait a long time to learn anything new about the titular character. Had more information been provided about Ainsley, the story would have become a bit more enriched.

Not enough George: When I reviewed Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, I talked about how much I liked Ainsley’s dog, George. He played a larger role in the first movie, giving that film a more unique identity. While watching the sequel, Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker, I noticed George’s screen-time was reduced. Though I recognize how difficult it can be to incorporate an animal into a film production, I was disappointed by this creative decision. In my opinion, George steals every scene he’s in. Plus, times when Ainsley talks with George give the audience light-hearted moments that take a break from the heaviness of the murder mystery. Without George, the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series wouldn’t be the same.

Limited time spent with the “book club”: I mentioned in my Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker review how Ainsley’s book club turns into an investigation club. The dynamic shared between Ainsley and these members is what encourages her to solve the mystery in the first film. Even though the “book club” still holds their meetings in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker, Ainsley didn’t consult with them as much as she did in the first movie. In fact, there were only two scenes where a “book club” meeting was featured. In the sequel, Ainsley relied more on Ryan and Jake to help her solve the case. I hope Ainsley finds a balance between turning toward Jake and Ryan and discussing the mystery with the “book club” in future films, as each perspective makes a positive impact on the story.

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:

In some film series, the second chapter is better than the first one. Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker is a movie where that statement holds true! The sequel improved upon some of the flaws of its predecessor, such as including humor. Strong chemistry among the cast has become a consistent strength of this series, with Jake and Ryan’s friendship being one of the best parts of chapter two. While I won’t spoil the second film, I will say I liked how there were no obvious choices for the mystery’s culprit. That creative decision leaves the audience guessing whodunit. Though I liked Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker more than the first chapter, there is still room to grow. I wish the sequel gave the audience more information about Ainsley and showed George in a few more scenes. This film series is based on a book series, with one of those books titled A Case for the Toy Maker. Perhaps we could get a Christmas mystery movie from Great American Family?

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Have you seen Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker? Would you like to see Great American Family create a Christmas mystery movie? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker Review

On October 9, 2024October 9, 2024 By 18cinemalane10 Comments

Last year, I claimed in my year-end list The Abigail Mysteries was one of the top three worst movies I saw. For me, this was a shame because, at the time, I had never talked about or reviewed a Great American Family movie. To make up for that, I chose to write about the network’s newest mystery production, Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker. When Candace Cameron Bure starred in Hallmark’s films, I really enjoyed the Aurora Teagarden series. In fact, that series was one of the strongest series from Hallmark Mystery! So, after discovering Candace would be starring in a new mystery movie, I was intrigued about the project. However, this optimism was cautious due to how weak The Abigail Mysteries was. Did Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker learn from the mistakes of the 2023 film? The only way to solve this mystery is to read my review!

*Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker* poster created by Candy Rock Entertainment, Liquid Arts Media, Syrup Studios, and Great American Family

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: In a mystery film, the strength of the cast can add to the story’s intrigue. The facial expressions of the suspects can make the audience wonder if a particular suspect has something to hide, while the reactions of the protagonists will leave the audience wondering how they will save the day. Even though Candace was portraying a different character, her portrayal of Ainsley McGregor never missed a beat! Ainsley’s interactions with residents of Sweet River, Texas, came across as natural. Candace’s experience starring in the Aurora Teagarden series worked in her favor, as Aurora crossed paths with a variety of characters. It may be tempting to compare Ainsley to Aurora because of Candace’s performances. How Candace differentiated Ainsley from Aurora was adopting a more conservative approach to solving the mystery. In the Aurora Teagarden series, Aurora was eager to get involved with a case, even going so far as to bend a few rules. Because Ainsley is a former criminologist (which would give her a legitimate reason to work on any case), she tries to stay out of the police’s way and leaves some of the mystery solving to them.

As I just mentioned, the facial expressions of the suspects can make the audience wonder if a particular suspect has something to hide. The performances of the actors and actresses portraying suspects in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker proves this point. One of these performances that was a stand-out was Leanne Lapp’s portrayal of Rachel Dean! Rachel is the wife of the murder victim, giving her a reason to be seen as suspicious. During her questioning, Rachel is distraught over the accusations against her. Her eyes look both sad and confused, even overflowing with tears. This sadness can also be heard in her voice, as her tone reflects what’s in her heart. With Leanne’s strong performance, I wish Rachel appeared more in this movie.

The on-screen chemistry: When I discussed the acting performances in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, I talked about how I liked Candace’s portrayal of the titular character. Another reason why I liked this portrayal is how Candace and Aaron Ashmore displayed good on-screen chemistry! I remember when Aaron starred on Warehouse 13 as Steve Jinks. Since Steve didn’t have a love interest on that show, I didn’t know what to expect from Aaron’s portrayal of Jake, a character who develops a relationship with Ainsley. However, I ended up liking his performance in this film! What helped Candace and Aaron was how their characters already knew each other prior to the story’s events. This avoided that awkward introductory stage most protagonists experience at the start of a mystery series. Throughout the story, Ainsley and Jake consistently interact with one another. Their warm, friendly demeanors felt naturally genuine, successfully selling the idea these two characters could fall in love. The chemistry between Jake and Ainsley made Sweet River, Texas, a little bit brighter!

Ainsley’s dog, George: The protagonist of a mystery series will typically have at least one friend. This friend may serve as the story’s comic relief and sometimes receive their own subplot. But in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, Ainsley’s friend brought something different to the table. At various moments in the story, Ainsley talks to her dog named George. These moments are more light-hearted, giving viewers a break from the heaviness of the murder mystery. George sometimes joins Ainsley at Bless Your Arts, the marketplace Ainsley created. His presence brings joy and smiles to those who work alongside Ainsley. A mystery series’ protagonist having a pet is not a new concept. But in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, George plays a larger role in the story, giving this film a more unique identity! It also helps that George is adorable!

Vineyard on a sunny day image created by Jcstudio at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/green”>Green photo created by jcstudio – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A slow, drawn-out story: A made for TV mystery movie will usually feature at least one subplot along with the story’s main plot. This subplot adds intrigue to the overall script while sometimes giving viewers a break from the mystery. The main plot in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker was the story’s only plot. It also doesn’t help how Ainsley wasn’t consistently involved in solving the case. These creative decisions led to a movie that felt slower and was drawn-out.

Constant reminders of story’s Texas setting: One story-telling technique that is sometimes incorporated into film-making is “show, don’t tell”. This technique can work in a movie’s favor because film is a visual medium. However, relying on showing can cause repetition. This is what happened in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker. I mentioned earlier in this review how the movie takes place in Sweet River, Texas. Even though I knew this fact after reading the film’s synopsis, I was constantly reminded of this fact as I watched the movie. Several scenes featured at least one Texas flag in the background. A cactus was placed on the counter at Sweet River’s police department. Jake and Ainsley even go on a date to a Tex Mex restaurant. It’s important to establish the story’s setting. But this can be done in one or two scenes toward the beginning of the movie, not throughout the program.

Ainsley’s limited involvement in the story’s case: While discussing Candace’s portrayal of Ainsley McGregor, I brought up how Ainsley adopts a more conservative approach to solving mysteries due to being a former criminologist. This creative decision allowed Candace to differentiate Ainsley from Aurora Teagarden. It also takes away the fun of watching the protagonist solve the mystery and save the day. In the first half of the movie, Ainsley was hesitant to get involved in the case. Her choice was about allowing Sweet River’s police to do their jobs. It isn’t until approximately the story’s half-way point that Ainsley is finally encouraged (by members of her book club) to investigate the mystery. Ainsley’s hesitation is another reason why Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker had a slower, drawn-out story.

My overall impression:

When talking about The Abigail Mysteries in my list of the worst films I saw in 2023, I said Great American Family’s efforts needed to be better than The Abigail Mysteries if they were serious about creating more mystery projects. After watching Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, it looks like the network took my advice! Though the movie has its flaws, the 2024 production improved upon what didn’t work for the 2023 film. One of these improvements was the on-screen chemistry between Candace Cameron Bure and Aaron Ashmore. Another good decision was prioritizing the mystery and keeping that as the main plot. It would be easy to claim Ainsley McGregor Mysteries is trying to become the next Aurora Teagarden series. This claim could be made because Ainsley’s book club turns into an investigation club and the story takes place in a small town. Personally, I believe Great American Family’s movie and Hallmark’s series just happen to share similar ideas. Unlike a lot of Hallmark’s newer mystery movies, Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker will receive a sequel! During this movie’s broadcast, a commercial announced Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarnmaker is coming in 2025. Based on that commercial, it looks like this series has the potential to tell many more stories!

Overall score: 6.1-6.2 out of 10

Have you seen Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker? Are you excited for the upcoming sequel? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Days of Heaven Review

On July 27, 2023 By 18cinemalane6 Comments

Have you ever stumbled upon a film that was “new to you” and think, “I’ve never even heard of this”? That was my experience discovering the 1978 movie, Days of Heaven. Prior to the Legends of Western Cinema Week Blogathon, I had never heard anyone talk about the aforementioned Western. With the blogathon fast approaching, Days of Heaven crossed my path at the right time! This is my fourth year participating in the Legends of Western Cinema Week. Looking back on the programs I reviewed for the event, I realized the stories fell into one of two categories: cowboys seeking justice or some aspect of farming. While Days of Heaven belongs in the latter category, the primary perspective focuses on the actual farming. This is different from a movie like O Pioneers!, where the story’s priority was the relationships between the characters. How does Days of Heaven rank among the films I reviewed for the Legends of Western Cinema Week? Before traveling on those “happy trails”, let’s read my review!

*Days of Heaven* poster created by Paramount Pictures

Things I liked about the film:

The scenery: The majority of Days of Heaven takes place in the wheat fields of Texas. Despite how monotonous that type of location may sound, the wheat fields offered up many glimpses of natural beauty! My favorite shot in the movie was when a storm cloud approached the story’s wheat fields. Large, gray clouds dominated the sky, appearing larger than life on screen. The presence of these clouds provided a small window into the blue sky above the fields. The golden yellow of the wheat was a pop of bright hue against the sky’s blue and gray palette. This shot was so beautifully captured, it, honestly, looked like a painting!

The historical accuracy: Days of Heaven is set in the 1910s. Like any historical period film, it’s important for the story to feel immersive due to its historical accuracy. Based on what the movie presented, the creative team behind Days of Heaven paid attention to how historically accurate their project looked! The finer details visually prove that point! In a scene where the story’s protagonists, Bill, Abby, and Linda, go swimming, their swimsuits are reflective of the clothing styles of the early 1900s. While Bill wore what would be described as a short-sleeved unitard, Linda and Abby wore swimming dresses, complete with stockings. When it came to transportation, the trains and tractors appeared to be coal powered. Even their exterior designs looked industrial, considered antique be the standards of today. The historical accuracy paired with the aforementioned scenery made Days of Heaven an appealing film to look at!

Richard Gere and Brooke Adams’ on-screen chemistry: As I mentioned in my previous point about the movie’s historical accuracy, Bill and Abby are two of the protagonists in Days of Heaven. Portrayed by Richard Gere and Brooke Adams, these characters are in a romantic relationship. When Abby and Bill are together in a romantic context, the on-screen chemistry between Brooke and Richard was sweet. It felt like the on-screen couple truly got along with one another. During their interactions, there was a gentleness shared and understood between them. Whether walking in the water or cuddling on top of a train, Abby and Bill’s relationship was pleasant to watch because of Brooke and Richard’s acting abilities. Without spoiling Days of Heaven, I will say Bill and Abby’s relationship was not consistent throughout the story. This is a shame, as I liked seeing these characters together.

Legends of Western Cinema Week 2023 banner created by Olivia from Meanwhile, in Rivendell, Heidi from Along the Brandywine, and Hamlette from Hamlette’s Soliloquy

What I didn’t like about the film:

An unclear motive: According to the film’s synopsis, Bill, his younger sister, Linda, and his girlfriend, Abby, plan to con a farmer out of his money and wheat fields. Throughout the movie, however, their motive for conning The Farmer (what Sam Shepard’s character is referred to) is not made clear. I understand Bill, Abby, and Linda don’t like working under someone’s thumb. But the man who they try to con doesn’t seem to deserve a comeuppance. In fact, The Farmer, more often than not, is respectful toward Abby, even going so far as to allow Bill and Linda to live in his house, in order to keep Abby’s “family” together. In a series of voice-overs, Linda claims The Farmer is dying of an unnamed illness. Later in the film, though, she states how The Farmer’s health is staying the same, neither improving or regressing. Yet again, it is never made clear if The Farmer’s health issues are the reason for the con. I wonder why I was supposed to care about Bill, Linda, and Abby’s conning scheme when I don’t even know why The Farmer was being conned in the first place?

A drawn-out story: Days of Heaven has a run-time of about an hour and thirty minutes. Yet the story itself was drawn-out longer than necessary. This issue was caused by establishing shots littered throughout the movie, which served as the production’s padding. I know establishing shots are meant to set up a given scene. But if the creative team of Days of Heaven had cut some of the film’s establishing shots, the run-time would have been trimmed down to about an hour and ten to twenty minutes.

Distance from characters: Through a combination of acting talent, screenwriting, and direction, a movie’s audience can not only be introduced to a character, they can also get to know that character as the story progresses. In Days of Heaven, however, it feels like the characters are kept at a distance from the audience. Sure, the characters share pieces of information about themselves. But this information only allows the audience to become familiar with them. Because of the aforementioned distance, the audience is prevented from connecting with the characters. That disconnection also prevents emotional investment in the story.

My overall impression:

The first movie I reviewed for a blogathon this year was Black Narcissus. In my review of the 1947 movie, I said that while Black Narcissus was a competently made film, it was one of the most confusing movies I’d ever seen, due to the story providing little to no explanations. I feel similarly about Days of Heaven. The film itself is very photogenic, from the scenery to the presentation of the story’s historical accuracy. But the story was confusing. No motive for why Bill, Abby, and Linda are conning The Farmer is made clear in the script. Emphasis on style over substance affected any connection the audience could have had with the characters. Throughout the movie, several questions arose that weren’t really answered, such as how The Farmer knew a group of circus performers who came to visit his home. This added to the story’s confusion. As a film, I thought it was just ok. But as a Western, it provides a perspective that is different from the typical cowboy or cattle farmer.

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen Days of Heaven? Which Westerns would you like to see me review? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun in Texas!

Sally Silverscreen

Buzzwordathon 2023: Review of ‘The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore’ by Joan Lowery Nixon

On February 10, 2023 By 18cinemalane2 Comments

February’s theme for Buzzwordathon is ‘verbs’. Because the act of taking something is a verb, I chose to read The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore by Joan Lowery Nixon. When creating a mystery story, it’s important to make the characters distinct from one another. This way, the reader will be able to keep track of who is who. How Joan achieves this goal is by describing the characters, from what they look like to their personalities. When talking about her friend, Lorna, the protagonist, Christina, says “Lorna is what they call “outgoing” and always seems to know the right things to say”. Meanwhile, Christina describes herself as someone who tends “to keep things all bottled up inside me”. Making these two characters opposites of each other is one way Joan helps the reader remember the story’s characters.

*The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore* book cover found on Goodreads

Throughout the book, Christina makes several contradictions that could make a reader frustrated with her. Toward the beginning of the story, while visiting Lorna at her house, Christina contemplates on what should be important in her life. Even though she turns to her friend for advice, Christina is unsure which direction will lead her to an answer. A chapter later, shortly after she’s been kidnapped, Christina asks “Will my children someday have any idea of what I’m like inside”? This quote implies she already knows what is important to her: having a family in the future. If she already found what’s important to her, why would Christina bother to question what is important in the first place? As the story continues, Christina contradicts herself again, by discovering the most important thing, to her, is herself. Didn’t she already figure out what was important back in chapter three?

In all honesty, I can’t recommend The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore. This is because of how weak the story is. It is possible to tell a “coming of age” story while also giving the characters a mystery to solve. Instead of evenly balancing these two concepts, Joan prioritizes Christina’s “coming of age” story over the mystery itself. That decision led to a book where suspense is far and few between, as well as a novel that lacks urgency. What also doesn’t help was how the kidnappers’ identities were revealed earlier in the story. There is an overarching mystery about an unknown kidnapper in Christina’s case. But the aforementioned reveal took away some of the book’s intrigue.

Overall score: 2.1 out of 5 stars

Have fun during Buzzwordathon!

Sally Silverscreen

Disclaimer: Because this story includes a kidnapping, some readers may be sensitive to this book. Other subjects that may be offensive to some readers are:

— Some occasions where characters swear

— Christina refers to her father as a “bigot” due his religious beliefs

— Christina, a high school junior, develops a crush on a college sophomore

— Some occasions of violence

— The subject of teen pregnancy is briefly referenced

Take 3: The Legend of Billie Jean Review (80s-tastic Mall-tacular Double Feature Part 2)

On October 17, 2022 By 18cinemalane3 Comments

Hello and welcome to the second part of the 80s-tastic Mall-tacular Double Feature! Before this review begins, I’d like to remind my readers there will be spoilers for The Legend of Billie Jean. If you’re interested, you can check out the double feature’s introduction and first part at these links:

The 80s-tastic Mall-tacular Double Feature Introduction!

Take 3: Night of the Comet Review (80s-tastic Mall-tacular Double Feature Part 1)

*The Legend of Billie Jean* poster created by Delphi III Productions, The Guber-Peters Company, and Tri-Star Pictures

1. How were you introduced to The Legend of Billie Jean?

Before I started watching Dan Bell’s Dead Mall series, I had heard of The Legend of Billie Jean. It wasn’t until I saw the video, ‘DEAD MALL SERIES : Tour of the SUNRISE MALL from THE LEGEND OF BILLIE JEAN (1985)’, that my interest in the film piqued. In this 2016 video, Dan uses clips from The Legend of Billie Jean to compare how Sunrise Mall looks in the 21^st century. He even discusses the history of the mall itself.

2. As of 2022, what is the state of the Sunrise Mall?

The portions of the mall that were featured in Dan’s video permanently closed in 2019. Only three tenants are still standing, which are connected to the mall’s exterior.

3. What role did the Sunrise Mall play in The Legend of Billie Jean?

In The Legend of Billie Jean, the Sunrise Mall was called ‘Ocean Park Mall’. It was the place Billie Jean agreed to meet the police in order to accept the money. Prior to this arrangement, Billie Jean’s brother, Binx, had his scooter destroyed. Billie Jean and her friends turn to the police with little success. She even tries to acquire the money to repair Binx’s scooter. One thing leads to another, causing Billie Jean, Binx, and her friends to run from the law. When Billie Jean arrives at Ocean Park Mall, she thinks she’ll finally get the money. But those plans don’t work out, with a chase scene ensuing.

4. Why do you think the Sunrise Mall was in the film for a short amount of time?

The Legend of Billie Jean is an expansive narrative, similar to Night of the Comet. As I said in answer number three, Billie Jean, Binx, and her friends go on the run. Because of this, the characters are not going to stay in the same place for an extended period of time. Around the filming and release of The Legend of Billie Jean, the Sunrise Mall was a business that relied on daily revenue and foot traffic. Therefore, the mall could only allow filming to take place within a certain time period.

5. Besides including a mall and focusing on teenage characters, do The Legend of Billie Jean and Night of the Comet share a common theme, idea, or message?

Like I mentioned in answer number three, the film’s conflict started because Binx’s scooter was destroyed. After the scooter was stolen by a neighborhood bully named Hubie, Binx’s attempt to retrieve it resulted in him getting beaten up by Hubie and his friends. This is when Billie Jean decided more needed to be done to help her brother. Billie Jean and Binx reminded me of Regina and Samantha from Night of the Comet. Both pairs of siblings are prominently featured in their respective story, with each pair trying to make the best of a complicated situation. Throughout each film, both sibling pairs appear to get along well with each other, displaying a good sense of camaraderie.

Money image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/bills-and-coins-in-isometric-design_1065328.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/business”>Business vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

6. Is there anything about The Legend of Billie Jean you liked or didn’t like?

A pleasant surprise while watching The Legend of Billie Jean was the discovery of mixed media! Throughout the film, voice-overs from a radio station were heard. A newspaper would appear in the story from time to time. Video footage of Billie Jean also made an appearance in the story. The inclusion of mixed media led to creative and interesting ways it was used in the movie. Radio station voice-overs featured calls from listeners, sharing their support for Billie Jean and her cause. Newspaper articles shared details to progress the story forward, from the health status of Hubie’s father to the identity of Lloyd. In an effort to clear her name, Billie Jean, Binx, and her friends create a video and give copies to the police and various tv stations. Mixed media allowed the movie to receive a unique and memorable identity!

The majority of this story focused on the conflict of how Billie Jean, Binx, and her friends would obtain the money to repair Binx’s scooter. Billie Jean received the most character development, as she is the titular character. While I thought the story was interesting and while I liked Billie Jean as a character, I wish some of the other characters had received more character development. Toward the beginning of the film, one of Billie Jean’s friends, Putter, is watching a female wrestling match on tv. When she learns of Billie Jean’s plan to report Binx’s stolen scooter, Putter eagerly looks forward to this excursion to the police station. As I was watching the movie, I was curious about Putter’s interest in going to the police station and watching wrestling on television. Unfortunately, these parts of the story were not explained.

7. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

While I didn’t develop any questions, I did notice some interesting coincidences. During my viewing of The Legend of Billie Jean, I learned the movie was a “modern” Joan of Arc story. After Billie Jean, Binx, and her friends break into Lloyd’s house, Lloyd introduces them to the story of Joan of Arc. Billie Jean is so inspired by what Lloyd told her, she decides to cut her hair short to reflect Joan’s appearance. There’s even a parallel between Joan of Arc getting burned at the stake and a statue of Billie Jean getting burned in a fire toward the end of the movie. Now here’s where the interesting coincidences come in. Last year, I reviewed the Touched by an Angel episode, “The Spirit of Liberty Moon”. That episode was not only a “modern” Joan of Arc story, Bai Ling’s character was named Jean. Yes, I know the name, Jean, is Billie’s middle name. But according to Jean’s friend in “The Spirit of Liberty Moon”, Jean is the French version of Joan. Plus, I reviewed both the Touched by an Angel episode and The Legend of Billie Jean in October.

8. In your double feature for Rich Kids and Over the Edge, you discussed certain events from the ‘70s that likely influenced the creation of those films. Is there anything from the ‘80s that you think either affected The Legend of Billie Jean or teenagers from that time?

Imagine, once again, you’re a teenager in the 1980s. You have so much to be thankful for, from a family that loves and supports you to that new set of wheels you just got as a gift. But, sometimes, you think life can be a little unfair. On your way home from school, you see a homeless person on a street corner, asking for money or even a sandwich. A flyer appears in your family’s mailbox from time to time, asking for food bank donations. No matter how respectful you are to the homeless person on the street corner or how many donations you take to the food bank, you wonder if your efforts are enough to truly make a long-lasting impact. Then, you hear about an event called Hands Across America. Everyone is talking about it, from your next-door neighbor to the cashier at your local grocery store. There’s even an assembly at your school about the event. The more you think about Hands Across America, the more you realize there are other people that have the same thought as you do: try to make the world a better place than how you found it.

Hands Across America was not mentioned in The Legend of Billie Jean. In fact, the event took place a year after the film was released. But there was one scene that reminded me of this piece of ‘80s history. While Billie Jean, Binx, and her friends are on the run, a group of children ask for Billie Jean’s help. They lead her to a house where one of their friends is being physically abused by his father. The small group grows larger as Billie Jean makes her way to the house. Binx and Billie Jean’s friends eventually join the group, adding their support for Billie Jean’s mission. Now you’re probably wondering, “What does this scene have to do with Hands Across America”? Well, it’s the idea of people from all walks of life coming together to support a common goal. In the case of The Legend of Billie Jean, those children, plus Billie Jean, Binx, and her friends, shared the same idea: save the young boy from his abusive dad. Before Billie Jean succeeded in her rescue effort, the large group of children circled around the boy’s house, intimidating the boy’s father. The film itself, as well as Hands Across America, showed teenagers at that time there were other teens who shared their same goals and dreams.

9. A lot has changed since the release of The Legend of Billie Jean. Have you come across any recent pieces of media that prominently feature a mall?

After breaking into Lloyd’s house, Billie Jean discovers a room upstairs. In this room, there are Halloween masks, security monitors, even video equipment. The room itself could make any Halloween costume store jealous, with dim lighting, candles, and cobwebs adding to the room’s eerie atmosphere. Even the build-up to the room’s discovery was straight out of a horror movie, as a costumed Lloyd follows Billie Jean. Later in the film, it is discovered Lloyd is a member of his school’s drama club, explaining why the aforementioned room contained so many costumes.

The scene I just described reminded me of a Hallmark film titled hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween. In this animated film, the protagonists, Hoops and Yoyo, along with their friend, Piddles, go Halloween costume shopping at their local mall. During their trip, they become locked inside the mall after hours. I’ve only seen pieces of this 2012 movie. But based on what I have seen, the film is more spooky than scary. However, I do think it’s an interesting coincidence how both hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween and The Legend of Billie Jean feature a mall in their respective story.

10. After watching this movie, is there anything you can take away from your movie viewing experience?

Calling The Legend of Billie Jean a “mall movie” is, in my opinion, a bit of a stretch. Similar to Night of the Comet, the Sunrise Mall was featured in only a few scenes. If anything, The Legend of Billie Jean is a “coming of age” story, as Billie Jean, Binx, and her friends experience personal growth over the course of the film. I liked The Legend of Billie Jean more than Night of the Comet. The story in the 1985 movie was pretty straight forward, making the film easier to follow. It was also interesting how mixed media was incorporated into the story. The Legend of Billie Jean is a fine, competently made film, complete with its own merits and flaws. The film’s message of how “fair is fair” is just as relevant now as it was in 1985, allowing the movie to be a more timeless title.

Have fun at the mall!

Sally Silverscreen

The Top 10 Worst Movies I saw in 2019

On December 30, 2019December 24, 2020 By 18cinemalane17 Comments

Another year, another annual Top 10 article! In 2018, I published my list of The Top 10 Best Movies I Saw in 2018 first. This time around, I’ll be publishing my worst of the year list instead! For me, 2019 has been a better year for movies, as I saw far more good films than bad. But that doesn’t mean that I didn’t see any movies I wasn’t a fan of. Similar to last year’s post, this list will be based on movies that I personally saw, as well as my own opinion. Also, this list is not meant to be mean-spirited or negative toward anyone’s opinions/cinematic preferences. Now, let’s begin by bringing up the Dishonorable Mentions!

Our Christmas Love Song, My One and Only, Over the Moon in Love, Hart to Hart: Secrets of the Heart, A Very Country Wedding, Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows, Nightmare Best Friend, Last Vermont Christmas, Always and Forever Christmas (I only watched half of it before turning it off), and Christmas in Louisiana (I ended up watching less than half of it before changing the channel)

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10. After the Storm

Sadly, we start this list with an UP Network release. I was hoping any movie from this network didn’t have to end up on my list. But this movie is placed lower on the list than last year’s entry, Christmas on Holly Lane. So, I guess that’s a step in the right direction! Now, back to talking about After the Storm. What made me want to watch this movie is the discussion of natural disasters and their aftermath. In family-friendly, made-for-TV movies, this specific topic is rarely featured in the story. Unfortunately, this film’s narrative placed more emphasis on the romance than the titular storm and its aftermath. Another major issue I had with this movie was the questionable decisions the male and female protagonist make within the film. While these decisions were not necessarily bad, they were also given questionable explanations. I wasn’t able to stay invested in the protagonists and their relationship because of this creative decision.

9. A Feeling of Home

Texas is one of the states that isn’t always featured in a Hallmark movie. This part of the film made me want to give this project a chance. But, similar to After the Storm, the story placed more focus on the romance than in the conflict. There were some editing errors within this film that were painfully obvious. It also doesn’t help that the weakest acting performance came from the lead actress. Watching the female protagonist desperately trying to win over her father’s attention was, actually, quite sad. This made her appear weaker than the majority of female protagonists from Hallmark Channel. I have to ask: who greenlit this script when they knew it was this weak?

8. Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays

In 2018, I saw and really liked Christmas at Graceland. While I thought Wedding at Graceland was ok, it’s the third film in this trilogy that I find to be the worst out of the three. There were a number of plot points in this movie that didn’t make any sense. Why would the female protagonist give her nieces only one small snowglobe but the male protagonist’s children an elaborate and large advent calendar? Also, for a movie set in Graceland, the famous location ends up being a glorified extra by having less than three appearances on screen. Because of this, it makes the story feel like it didn’t need to take place in Graceland. The movie made me wish Christmas at Graceland had never received any sequels.

7. Christmas Scavenger Hunt

The idea of a Christmas themed scavenger hunt is something that had never been shown in a Hallmark production prior to 2019. So, I was somewhat optimistic about this particular movie. Sadly, the potential this film had was wasted on a poorly written script. All of the scavenger hunt clues were way too easy to solve. There was no sense of urgency throughout the film, as well as two separate moments where the male and female protagonist came across as selfish. Not only was the lead actress’s performance weak, but so was the on-screen chemistry between the lead actor and actress. Like other films on this list, questions arose within the story that distracted me from enjoying the movie. One of these questions was why the female protagonist didn’t make her boyfriend take off his expensive tie before baking. All of these missteps added up to a movie that was less entertaining that it could have been.

6. Christmas Camp

When I first heard of this movie, I was excited to see a Christmas themed camp brought to life for the first time in a Hallmark film. I had reviewed this movie for Drew’s Movie Review’s Christmas in July Blogathon. Upon my first and only viewing of the film, I learned that the camp itself was nothing more than an afterthought. What this movie excels at is having a pointless plot and tradition shaming characters whose Christmas doesn’t look or sound “traditional”. Despite the fact this is a Hallmark film, these things don’t make it feel like a Hallmark film. If anything, it makes me wonder why the network would greenlight this movie at all? Hallmark has been known for creating a variety of Christmas products to celebrate a multitude of Christmas traditions. With Christmas Camp, it makes the network seem inconsistent with their message.

Basic RGB — Group of unhappy image created by Rawpixel.com at freepik.com. https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by rawpixel.com – http://www.freepik.com. Image found at freepik.com.

5. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Back in October, I gave this film a second chance for The Second Spencer Tracy & Katharine Hepburn Blogathon. Looking back on it, I realize that was probably a mistake. Unfunny humor is the movie’s biggest flaw. Yes, I know that comedy is a very subjective thing. But if a comedic film barely makes me laugh, then it hasn’t done its job well. Other problems in this movie include the run-time and a weak story. There were elements that could have enhanced the project, such as commentary about greed and the power of money. But these things were swept under the rug for the sake of hosting a popularity contest instead of a movie production.

4. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

This was the first movie I saw in 2019 and boy was it a disappointment. All of the humor was so forced, that I found myself not laughing at any of the jokes. The film’s plot was tedious, which made the movie itself feel longer than its run-time. I also found a few plot-holes within this film. One of them was so large and obvious, that it made me question the existence of the movie’s narrative. While I liked the acting performances and the special effects (both practical and CGI), there were more negatives to the film than positives. This could have been something quirky and fun. Unfortunately, the movie was missing those two important ingredients.

3. A Cheerful Christmas

This is not only the worst Christmas movie I saw in 2019, it’s also the worst Hallmark movie I saw in 2019. It doesn’t help when the lead actress ends up over-acting or when at least one of the actors clearly can’t carry a British accent. But it also doesn’t help when the story is poorly written. This movie made me ask more questions than I had planned to. One question was about the female protagonist’s ability to keep her job after all the business-related blunders she makes. I know that fictional stories require their audience to suspend a certain amount of disbelief. But this movie tried to make me suspend all my disbelief, making me feel uncheerful. While I appreciate the movie’s attempt to avoid a large number of “royal movie” clichés, it wasn’t enough to save the project. In my opinion, it felt like the film’s creative team put so much emphasis on making a pointless, family-friendly, Christmas remake of Pretty Woman, that they forgot how to make a good movie.

2. Ace of Hearts

I’m all for helping smaller, family-friendly films get the “standing ovation” they might deserve. However, for a movie to achieve a “standing ovation”, it needs to be good. Ace of Hearts, unfortunately, fails to meet that criteria. The majority of the acting performances are poor and the pacing is very slow. But the worst offense this movie commits is bad writing. This story had so many plot-holes and inconsistencies, that it was exhausting instead of enjoyable. When the protagonist’s daughter convinces her friend that the reason why her family’s dog is trying to get home is to get back at the film’s villain because it’s his “unfinished business” (she comes to this conclusion after seeing the title of a video game), that’s when you know you’ve come across a bad script. As if that weren’t bad enough, this movie is, apparently, based on a true story. If my true story were handled this poorly, I would be offended and embarrassed.

1. A Page of Madness

A Page of Madness is a silent film from Japan, for those of you who are not familiar with this title. I appreciate the director’s efforts to preserve this movie, especially since, according to Ben Mankiewicz from Turner Classic Movies, the majority of Japanese films created before 1945 are either partially or completely lost. I also understand what the director was trying to do with the project. But just because I’m a grateful and understanding movie blogger, that doesn’t mean I liked the final product. This movie has a plethora of problems that would make this list longer than it already is. So, I’ll share two reasons why A Page of Madness is the worst film I saw in 2019. The first is how it has no plot, narrative, or story. It just contains a premise that goes nowhere. The second is how, in reality, this movie is an artistic experiment masquerading as a film. Personally, I found this to be dishonest and manipulative. At two separate moments, I wanted to fall asleep and turn the movie off. This is one of those times where I wish I would have listened to my instincts.

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World poster — *It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World* poster created by Casey Productions and United Artists. Image found at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:It%27s_a_Mad,_Mad,_Mad,_Mad_World_(1963)_theatrical_poster.jpg

What are your thoughts on my list? Which is your worst film of 2019? Leave your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Newton Boys Review + 20 Follower Thank You

On September 9, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In late August, I achieved the accomplishment of receiving 20 followers on my blog! Because some of my recent posts have taken me longer to write and publish than expected, I apologize for the delay in releasing this post. I put a lot of thought into which film I would review for this blog follower dedication post. After looking at and thinking about all of my available options, I decided to go back to the well of talking about a movie that is based on a true story; The Newton Boys. When I started creating these blog follower dedication posts, the movie I reviewed when I received 5 followers was Saving Mr. Banks, a film that is based on the true story of how the Mary Poppins film came into existence. For The Newton Boys, however, this movie is not heart-felt like the aforementioned movie. It explores the relationship of the Newton brothers and how they turned to a life of crime. Before choosing this movie for my 20 follower dedication post, I had never heard of The Newton Boys or the true story behind it. Because this movie seems to be overshadowed by other movies from 1998, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to give The Newton Boys the “standing ovation” it deserves. So, as I start this review of The Newton Boys, I’d like to take a moment to thank each and every one of my 20 followers on 18 Cinema Lane! I would not have been able to reach this milestone without you!

The Newton Boys poster — *The Newton Boys* poster created by 20th Century Fox. Image found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Newtonboysposter.jpg

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The cast of The Newton Boys was superb! Every actor that portrayed a character with an accent pulled it off very well, adding believability to their characters! Before watching The Newton Boys, I had seen a few of Matthew McConaughey’s films, including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Fool’s Gold. However, The Newton Boys is the film that made me appreciate Matthew’s acting abilities, impressed by how he can, successfully, pull off a performance in both light-hearted romantic-comedies and dramatic historical/period films. I was also impressed with Julianna Margulies’ portrayal of Louise Brown! Julianna packed so much versatility and emotion into her performance, that it truly made her on-screen presence very memorable!

The atmosphere: This film takes place between 1919 and 1924. The world that this particular film created was immersive, with every aspect of this film looking and feeling like that time period. The level of detail the creative team behind this movie took in order to make The Newton Boys look and feel authentic was great! From the music to an old-fashioned calculator, even to the beginning introduction of the film itself, everything about this movie adds to the believability of this story!

The on-screen camaraderie: As I mentioned in the introduction for my review of The Newton Boys, this movie is about the Newton brothers and how they turned to a life of crime. All of the actors portraying the brothers (Matthew McConaughey, Skeet Ulrich, Ethan Hawke, and Vincent D’Onofrio) displayed an on-screen camaraderie that made their characters appear like they truly got along with one another. The bond between these brothers came across in this movie very believably, making this bond feel genuine. In this movie, the relationship between these brothers adds to the overall story.

115101-OP45RF-205 — Railway Train image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-train-retro-background_1112415.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Backgroundvector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about this film:

The dialect: Because the Newton brothers were from Texas, most of the characters in this movie spoken with a Southern/Texan dialect. Since I’m not used to hearing characters speak with this particular dialect, it was difficult, at times, to understand what the characters were saying. For me, hearing this dialect did take some getting used to. However, the dialogue in The Newton Boys can be understood.

The sound editing: Throughout this movie, the music and background sounds were louder than the dialogue. This means that every time a character spoke, I found myself turning the volume up on my television. Whenever there was background sounds or music playing, I turned the volume on my TV down.

The run-time: The Newton Boys is a 2 hour and 2-minute film. While watching this movie, I noticed there were scenes in this film that felt like they were incorporated in the movie for the sake of filling in this run-time. Because there are about less than 10 robberies featured in this movie, I think The Newton Boys could have been a 1 hour to 40 or 50-minute film.

101994-OM0XMB-226 — Money image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/bills-and-coins-in-isometric-design_1065328.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/business”>Business vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Like I said in the introduction, I was not aware of the Newton brothers’ story or this film before I decided to write this blog follower dedication post. Now that I have seen The Newton Boys, I can honestly say that I was not only entertained by this movie, I was also educated by it as well! This movie made me feel like I was engaging in a history lesson without having to worry about homework or passing an exam. To me, this was two hours well spent! If you are a fan of movies that are based on true stories or historical/period films, I would definitely recommend The Newton Boys, as I feel this movie did this story justice! Once again, thank you to my followers and readers on 18 Cinema Lane. I look forward to seeing what other movies I’ll review as I keep dedicating these reviews to you.

Overall score: 7.5 out of 10

What is your favorite movie from 1998? What movies based on a true story do you like? Leave your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Evenings At The Shore: Fairytales are here to stay

On August 29, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

For several years now, Hallmark has gained a reputation for providing light-hearted entertainment to their audience. They have created a place where joy is shared, laughter is found, and happily ever afters are common. If you think about it, Hallmark movies and television shows, to a certain extent, are modern day fairytales. Whenever our favorite characters face a conflict or difficult situation, it usually gets solved within a relatively short amount of time. Like most fairytales, Hallmark movies and shows almost always has a happy ending. This is especially the case for Chesapeake Shores. Keep reading to learn more about what happens in this episode from Season 3!

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of Chesapeake Shores, there may be spoilers within this re-cap.

Season: 3

Episode: 4

Name: Once Upon Ever After

Trace’s story: Trace returns to his band for the continuation of their tour. While in Dallas, Abby joins him to cheer him on from backstage and provide moral support. Despite having a busy schedule, Trace still finds a way to spend quality time with Abby, such as organizing an after-hours dinner date at an art gallery. Shortly after a meet-and-greet, Trace hangs out with Donovan. Donovan not only shares a part of his past with Trace, he also warns Trace about fame interfering with Trace’s relationship. During one of Trace’s breaks, he and Abby meet a fan who wants to take a picture with him. This same fan also asks Abby if she wants to be included in the picture. Both Abby and Trace are caught off guard by this fan’s knowledge of who Abby is. When Trace asks this fan how she knows Abby, the fan shows him and Abby an article on her phone that mentioned both of them and Abby’s daughters. Before heading onstage, Trace and Abby have a brief discussion about the article. Trace tells Abby that the article came from a small website that isn’t a trustworthy source. Abby, however, is still worried that the attention from the paparazzi could negatively affect her family. Trace reassures Abby that everything will be fine. Before Abby leaves for Chesapeake Shores, Trace continues to reassure Abby that everything will work out for the better. While Abby gets into a taxi, paparazzi take pictures of Trace and Abby without either of them realizing it.

Abby’s story: While Carrie and Caitlyn spend a week with their father, Abby uses this opportunity to travel to Dallas to watch Trace perform with his band. Whenever Trace is busy, Abby takes advantage of that time to either make business calls or call her daughters. But, Abby and Trace do find a way to spend quality time together, such as going on an after-hours dinner date to an art gallery. While Abby and Trace are taking a walk around Dallas, they meet a fan who wants to take a picture with Trace. When this fan asks Abby if she wants to have her picture taken, Abby becomes concerned about how this fan knows who she is. When Trace asks this fan how she knows who Abby is, the fan shows them an article on her phone that features a photo of Trace, Abby, and Abby’s daughters. Before one of Trace’s concerts, Abby and Trace talk about the article. Abby learns from Trace that the article was published on a small website that was not from a trusted source. Abby is concerned about the well-being of her family, but Trace reassures her that everything will be fine. Toward the end of the episode, Abby leaves Dallas to return home. Before she leaves, Abby is, once again, reassured by Trace that everything will work out.

Mick’s story: Toward the beginning of the episode, Megan comes to Mick and asks if he could build an archway for Thomas and Robin’s vow renewal ceremony. At first, he tries to refuse, but after hearing that Megan is using this opportunity to give Robin the wedding ceremony of her dreams, Mick agrees to build the archway. Mick also helps set up the lights for the ceremony. While unpacking the lights at The Bridge, he talks with Connor about a time when Mick stood up for his brother in high school. Mick tells Connor this story as a way to encourage Connor to make up with Kevin. The day before the vow renewal ceremony, Thomas meets up with Mick at his boat. While they reflect on their past, Thomas gives Mick a coin that used to belong to their father’s boat. This memory brings the brothers closer together and Mick invites Thomas to be a member of his boat crew. Throughout this episode, Mick and Megan look back on their wedding and how things turned out.

Megan’s story: Megan volunteers to coordinate Robin and Thomas’ vow renewal ceremony. She approaches Mick and asks him to build an archway for the ceremony. After he refuses, Megan explains that she wasn’t able to take part in Robin and Thomas’ wedding due to being on bed-rest with Bree. She tells Mick that this is her second chance to participate in the wedding-themed festivities. This explanation persuades Mick to build the archway. One day, while she and Robin pick up flowers for the ceremony, Megan expresses how grateful she is to assist Robin in planning the ceremony. Toward the end of and throughout the episode, Megan and Mick reflect on their wedding and how everything turned out.

114885-OOYJTA-978 — Princess tiara image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/ornamental-princess-crowns_1109199.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/gold”>Gold vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Kevin’s story: Nell forces Kevin and Connor to work out their differences while setting up the lights for the vow renewal ceremony. Unfortunately, Nell’s good intentions lead to no results. Kevin tries to talk to Connor, but Connor refuses to talk to Kevin. This causes the brothers to work separately. During the preparation for the ceremony, Kevin teams up with Thomas to set up the lights. Thomas shares with Kevin that he has always wanted to be like Mick. Thomas tells Kevin this to remind him how being an older brother is a very important role. Later in the episode, Kevin is surprised when Connor meets up with him at Sally’s Café. Connor tells Kevin about when, years ago, he took Kevin’s toy soldiers without his permission. Kevin then receives a brand-new box of toy soldiers from Connor as well as an apology. After this heartfelt moment, the brothers forgive one another and continue to get along.

Bree’s story: Bree is still in Maine, spending her days at the Peck residence with Jess. During her time there, Bree tries to convince Jess that David’s parents are not on Jess’ side. But, Bree is still met with Jess’ optimism. Bree also becomes friends with Alexandra and learns more about David’s family. What Alexandra tells Bree makes Bree’s suspicions about David’s parents grow even more. After Bree and Jess are given dresses by David’s mother, Bree and Jess consult one another about Jess’ future with David. As Jess contemplates her possibilities, Bree provides moral support to her sister. Later in the episode, Alexandra gives Bree a folder of personal files relating to Jess. When Bree discovers that David’s parents were compiling a background search on Jess, her suspicions end up coming true. Bree tells Jess about the folder, which causes Jess to be upset. Bree then helps Jess in her plan to leave the Peck residence. She packs both her and Jess’ bags and waits for Jess’ at the front of the house. On their way to the taxi, Bree reveals to Jess that she didn’t tell David that they were leaving.

Jess’ story: Jess is still in Maine, spending her time at the Peck residence with Bree. Even though David is busy working on family business related projects, Jess still finds a way to spend time with David. This includes dancing together before a fancy event and having a heartfelt conversation outdoors. Jess also spends time with David’s mother. During their conversation, David’s mother reveals the possibility of Jess moving to Maine and starting a B&B away from Chesapeake Shores. When Jess tells David’s mother that she’ll think about this newly presented option, David’s mother gives Jess and her sister two beautiful dresses to wear to an upcoming event. Later in the episode, Jess tells Bree what David’s mother told Jess. While Jess considers a future with David, Bree provides Jess with moral support. The next day, Bree reveals to Jess that David’s parents have been secretly compiling a background search on Jess. Because of how upset this makes her, Jess decides to leave the Peck residence as soon as possible. While Bree packs her and Jess’ bags, Jess finds David’s parents and confronts them about their attitudes and opinions toward Jess. Jess honestly expresses her feelings for David and about how proud she is of herself and her family. After this situation, Jess quickly leaves the Peck residence with Bree. On their way to the taxi, Jess asks Bree if she told David they were leaving. Bree tells Jess that she didn’t tell David where they were going. As their taxi drives away, David, unsuccessfully, tries to chase after the taxi. He ends up finding one of Jess’ shoes as he wonders where Jess went.

Connor’s story: Because Kevin and Connor still aren’t getting along, Nell decides to force Kevin and Connor to work through the differences as they help prepare for the vow renewal ceremony. While setting up the lights, Kevin and Connor continue to argue. This causes the brothers to work separately. Connor and Mick help each other out by untangling the string lights at The Bridge. During this task, Connor hears about Mick standing up for his brother in high school. Mick tells Connor this story as a way to warn him about how grudges never solve problems. Later in the episode, Connor approaches Kevin at Sally’s Café. Connor reveals that, years ago, he took Kevin’s toy soldiers without his permission in order to make a video. Connor not only gives Kevin an apology, he also gives Kevin a box of brand-new toy soldiers. The brothers forgive one another and continue to get along.

38972-O1TRK7 — Fairytale castle image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/fairy-tale-castle_837803.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/design”>Design vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

Ever since last week’s episode, I feel like the screenwriters for Chesapeake Shores have tried to include as many pop cultural references as possible within Season 3. So far, the movies that have been referenced are Sixteen Candles, Dirty Dancing, Romeo and Juliet, and Cinderella. When Jess and Bree leave the Peck residence, even the taxi was orange, just like Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage. I wonder what other pop cultural references will be made this season?

For the first three episodes, Connor (my favorite character on this show) has become somewhat unlikable. In this episode, when Kevin calls Connor out on his immaturity, I felt like Kevin was being the voice of reason on Chesapeake Shores. In fact, Kevin has slowly but surely become one of my new favorite characters this season!

Starry night landscape with reeds — Evening view from the shore image created by 0melapics at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/landscape-in-a-swamp-at-night_1042860.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by 0melapics – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What did you think about this episode? Which pop cultural references would you wish were mentioned on Chesapeake Shores? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Chesapeake Shores!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Season for Love Review (Year of the Dog Double Feature Part 2)

On August 26, 2018 By 18cinemalane1 Comment

For the second part of my Year of the Dog Double Feature for Often Off Topic’s Dog Day Blogathon, I chose to review a movie that was released in 2018, the Year of the Dog! Because Hallmark was premiering a brand-new movie this past weekend, I decided to include Season for Love in this Double Feature. When I first heard about this movie, I will admit that it was not one of my most anticipated movies out of these five summer themed films. To me, the plot sounded a lot like other stories that have been seen on the Hallmark Channel. However, BBQ cooking has never been featured in a Hallmark movie before and Texas has rarely been the primary location for any Hallmark production. So, like I do with every movie I review, I watched it with low expectations and an open mind. Want to find out my opinion of Season for Love? Square dance your way to my review to find out!

Season for Love poster — *Season for Love* 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=Season+for+Love

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: I thought the acting in Season for Love was good! Marc Blucas and Autumn Reeser really shined in this movie with performances that appeared genuine and versatile! Not only did the lead actors give a memorable performance, the supporting actors did as well. Shelley Thompson was a stand-out performer in this movie, her portrayal of Jo Dawson was so pleasant to watch on-screen! Even Lola Flanery gave a very believable performance, especially for being the only young actor within the main cast!

The on-screen chemistry: Though this was Marc and Autumn’s first time starring in a Hallmark movie together, their on-screen chemistry came across as very believable! I think what helped was that Marc’s and Autumn’s acting talents complimented one another. Marc and Autumn’s characters appeared as if they truly got along, like their relationship on-screen was genuine. I’m hoping that Marc and Autumn are cast in another Hallmark movie together in the near future!

The incorporation of BBQ cooking: Season for Love is not the first Hallmark movie that features cooking within the main plot. However, this is the first Hallmark movie that showcases BBQ cooking. I liked the way the BBQ competition was filmed, as the process of preparing a BBQ meal was shown enough to satisfy the interest of the audience. I also liked learning about the different ingredients that can go into BBQ because it felt informative while being entertaining.

2018 Dog Day Blogathon Banner — Offical Dog Day Blogathon banner created by Allie from Often Off Topic. Image found at https://oftenofftopic.wordpress.com/2018/08/08/announcing-the-dog-day-blogathon/

What I didn’t like about the film:

Predictability: Most of Hallmark’s movies have a certain amount of predictability to them. But for a film that showcased new ideas (like BBQ cooking and a location in Texas), I was hoping Season for Love’s plot would contain more originality. A lot of story-points that were written into this movie were ones that I’ve seen in several other Hallmark movies. Because of this, it made this movie feel very predictable.

Situations happening too quickly: In Season for Love, there were about three situations that happened too quickly. One example is when Autumn’s character, Tyler, tells Corey, Marc’s character, that revisiting their relationship might not be a good idea. That same night, after she sees one of her daughter’s drawings, Tyler visits Corey to apologize for doubting their relationship. Moments like these seemed to interrupt the overall flow within the film.

Something was missing: Season for Love made me feel the same way Love at First Dance did: all of the pieces for this to be good movie were there, but something special felt like it was missing. Because of this, I wasn’t able to connect with this movie like I had wanted to.

216395-P0VNUU-640 — Year of the Dog image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/red-golden-chinese-new-year-banners_1611242.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/banner”>Banner vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Season for Love was a decent movie. Though I did enjoy watching this movie, I still like Pearl in Paradise more. Since Season for Love was the last movie in the “Summer Nights” line-up, I can now give my complete and honest opinion about the line-up as a whole. As a “Summer Nights” line-up, the overall quality felt about the same as last year’s. As a line-up in general, this was a little stronger than the other line-ups on Hallmark Channel so far. There’s one more line-up left before the Christmas movies start premiering: Fall Harvest. I’m hoping these movies and the line-up as a whole end Hallmark’s seasonal movie collections on a positive note, especially since Hallmark has plenty more stories to tell. Thank you to everyone who read my Year of the Dog Double Feature and a special thank you to Allie from Often Off Topic for letting me join the Dog Day Blogathon. This definitely encouraged me to seek out other blogathons and let my creativity go as far as it will let me.

Overall score: 7.4 out of 10

What did you think of Hallmark Channel’s “Summer Nights” line-up this year? What was your favorite 2018 “Summer Nights” movie? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen