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Reviews
A Biltmore Christmas (2023)
Bethany Joy Lenz
I see Bethany Joy Lenz, I watch. She has such an endearing, quirky charm with a hint of vulnerability to her that seeps into, then permeates, each comedy-romance TV movie she makes. And even if it's not exactly a comedy, like 2014's "A Christmas Secret", she still managed to portray all the love, warmth, decency, anxiety, frustration, and hope, and resolve, a down-on-her-luck but good mother of two in a strange town would have. She has the highest consistent viewer's responses to Hallmark-style TV movies among her One Tree Hill co-alumnae. Heck, she may even have the highest average viewer rating among top-billed actresses in TV movie-land in this genre. And in this, her latest, she may have the highest ever. The reason becomes obvious after you watch it.
Her co-star and romantic interest (in Hallmark-style TV movies the male lead is always the romantic interest) Kristoffer Polaha is an ideal pairing for her. His easygoing manner and way of talking that always come across as sincere contrasts with Bethany's energy, and this contrast elevates every scene they're in. Their banter, their tension, their attraction.
The production values are so much better than average. The supporting cast, on point. The tone, not sappy. The plot and script taken together is not that original, but among Hallmark's seasonal and holiday offerings, it is.
I heartily Recommend this-do watch. 👍🏻
10 Truths About Love (2022)
Camilla Belle
I watched the movie and didn't catch much of it because I was so engrossed with Camilla Belle. I could not get enough of her. I could name other actresses who are just as gorgeous, but she is singularly adorable. From all angles. Sometimes from the side with her head canted slightly downwards she could be Anne Hathaway's prettier little sister. At certain moments, a more beautiful mature sibling. At all times, she's a fairy tale princess, living up to her name.
As romance movies go, I'm sure it's formulaic, derivative, and loaded with much of the usual tropes. But I don't care. Because Camilla Belle's in it, it's a perfect 10.
3 Thumbs Up!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Take Me Back for Christmas (2023)
Surprising
Vanessa Lengies has come a long way from the beauteous but spoiled airhead Joanne Charis character she inconsistently played in 2006's Stick It (with an intimidating Jeff Bridges as co-star). She has matured gracefully both physically and professionally in her acting skills. This is highlighted in this most recent starring turn in a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. It is shown in the onscreen chemistry she has with her romantic co-star and director, Corey Sevier. It is most apparent in her surprisingly sensitive and earnestly sympathetic portrayal of a character that might have been given an over-the-top simpering touch by other actresses in Hallmark's roster.
The movie itself is derivative with the usual tropes and cliches but Sevier kept the pace and balance evenly to focus on the movie's characters (thankfully no caricatures) and themes. Every year Hallmark has at least 1 home run of a movie. I haven't seen all of Hallmark Channel's 2022's Christmas offerings and this one's for 2023 but I think it may be a top contender. I'm giving it a solid 8.
PS.
I think Vanessa Lengies might be Alan Rickman's daughter.
Dream Wedding (2023)
Goodness Gracious Me!
Everything, from the individual parts to the finished whole, is utter dreck. I'm astounded at how the two leads got roped into this mess. Each character is a one-dimensional caricature, none more so than the absolute grima that's the younger sister. She's a caricature of a caricature playing a caricature. Both sisters would give ditzy blondes a thousand-level boost in reputation. The gunk that passes for the plot is putrid to begin with, essentially caging the two sisters as unsympathetic, annoyingly entitled, shallow, opportunistic airheads. That the producer and director went with this and even pushed it further speaks not just volumes but an entire library. One that uses the Library of Congress system. What were they thinking? To even consider this a parody would be criminal. If this were a porn movie it would make a bit of sense, but it's supposed to be family fare. I'm actually giving this a double-digit negative score. 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻
A Gift of Miracles (2015)
Yes, This Is A Good Hallmark Movie-And Rita Moreno Made It Great.
I read the review made by krocheav and I believe the reviewer was describing an 8/10 movie. Indeed, its unique elements of: (1) a loved one, a mother in this case, from the afterlife looking out for her baby girl; (2) by putting in motion a series of extraordinary events and circumstances that would drive a statistician crazy; (3) one of which is for the daughter to complete a list her mother made before she died in an accident; and (4) that all come neatly together for closure, catharsis, fulfillment and love, make for something new in Hallmark's library of often recycled, rehashed and derivative scripts.
The two leads and the supporting cast were fine. Sure, there's the usual trope of a single woman always being set up by a zealous friend and/or relative, and the clichéd "perfect" ending, but this movie's assured, unhurried pace, the way it was shot, enabled it to rise above Hallmark's seasonal average.
And then there's Rita Moreno. Her turn here could have been maudlin. Or worse, laid on thick. But no. She was restrained, a portrait of a mother who had grieved over the loss of her only son, but did not let her grief take over and destroy her life, and who, over the years had come to terms with it. I watched that revelation scene several times and each time I'm reaffirmed in my sincere belief that I was watching a superior actress work her magic. Rita Moreno deserves a movie worthy of her talents.
Rita Moreno lifts A Gift of Miracles and makes it great.
Heart of the Country (2013)
A Solid 8+
First of all, I'm a fan of Jana Kramer. In this movie she had to portray a range of emotions that she never had the opportunity to do before, or perhaps, since. She can act if given the right vehicle. This is one of those, focusing on Christian values of spousal and filial love, family, marriage and 2 others that many reviewers here failed to grasp, owning up and being responsible for, one's wrong actions, and forgiveness. That Faith (Kramer) loved, and still loves, her husband, is a given; yet she cannot seem to come to terms with the fact that he had been lying to her as to the source of their income. Her father, Calvin (McRaney), knew this. With Faith he was patient and kind and forgiving. And he wanted someone with a strong moral compass to be the man for his daughter. So he went out of his way to see the husband, Luke (Wayne), and talk sense into him. The terms of the plea bargain Luke voluntarily entered into were clear; he admitted to a felony charge-although he was adamant that he had no part in his firm's criminal activities, he knew of it and turned a blind eye- and at the same time would be a witness for the prosecution and thus in return was given leniency, but not immunity. That is an important aspect of the US criminal justice system. Luke loved Faith. He was loyal and faithful to her. And because of love, Faith forgave him. That's what family, and a husband and a wife do. Forgive each other.
Many reviewers seemed to find Luke morally deficient, but the doctor-friend Lee (Sipos), upright in that regard. How could you be when you start to make a move on a still-married woman whose marriage is in trouble and who you know is at that moment very vulnerable-in Calvin's words, "on thin ice."? Yet because Faith and Luke reunited they find the script somehow faulty, where simple common sense would tell you that having Faith be with the doctor at that point would actually be infidelity. Such views are lamentable but not really surprising, given the shallow, salacious, scandal and celebrity gossip-fueled, and often banal fare available on TV.
This movie still manages to convey its points and messages, considering its obvious constraints, primarily of budget and time. This is a labor of love for Gerald McRaney, and a scrutiny of the talents of Jana Kramer. The supporting cast is also good, especially Faith's sister Olivia (Hawthorne). It was pleasantly surprising to see Sydney Penny (the girl Megan in Eastwood's Pale Rider and here a co-producer) in a cameo. As it is, I give it a solid 8+.
Next Stop, Christmas (2021)
The best Hallmark Christmas movie thus far (November 6, 2021)
Writing is sharp, not lazy. Pace is brisk, not uneven. No loud, overbearing music masking dialogue. Direction is competent. Everyone in the cast is on point, no hammy supporting actors. Old hands Lloyd and Thompson are a delight to watch. Best of all is the female lead, Lyndsy Fonseca. This is the first time I've seen her yet her face, her mannerisms, are just so very familiar. Three-quarters into the movie it hit me. She is an amalgam of Zooey Deschanel and Bethany Joy Lenz. No wonder she's so likeable.
As one reviewer says, if care and thought-and yes, creativity-are put by Hallmark into their new Christmas movies like the Hallmark movies of old, then the result is magical.
Save the Wedding (2021)
Scraping the Bottom
Probably the most insipid, inane and imbecilic tv movie Hallmark has ever produced.
The script sounds as if it were written by a bunch of 13-year old girls at a sleepover. And they agreed to direct it themselves by consensus.