Dead Over Diamonds

Hallmaek....Stop posting those AGGRIVATING, IRRITATING AWFUL promos on the bottom of our screens throughout the movies!!! 20% of the screen is taken up with these 2 logos on every movie. Total disrespect to your viewers.

While typically I cannot watch a Carlos PenaVega movie (as nice as he is, his acting can be way over the top), this was much better from him. He often in my opinion has acted over the top, and in this movie it started out that way, but his cop character is actually a good fit for him and he settled down after the first couple of scenes. When he is being serious in a role he does a good job. I also can appreciate Alexa more here than in some of her other movies.

I don't know if this is the case, but it seems like they would bring their kid/teen Nickelodeon personas to their movies in the past. Maybe the challenge has been how to transition out of that. This movie however is more toned down for them and I was really able to enjoy it so much more.

Allie, Noah, Maya, Sam and Nick are all back in the second episode in the Picture Perfect Mystery series. Mystery is afoot in Willow Haven.

Allie is photographing a gallery show, put on by Noah's mom, Camille. It was a who's who of the elite in town. During the art owner's speech, the lights go out and a very valuable diamond necklace is stolen. This could ruin Noah's mom's reputation...so he enlists Allie to help him find the necklace and figure out what happened.

"We're trying to catch a thief."-Allie

Uncle Luis, Sam's chess partner, has been called in from his island retirement to help with the renovation. Uncle Luis is played by none other that Chips star Erik Estrada.

A fair bit of comedy is added in to this episode, like with the three card Monty chase scene.

"Well, I married well and divorced better."-Mr. Baxter

Enter a pushy reporter for the Gazette named James...maybe a romantic rival for Sam?

"She has this infuriating habit of just showing up at crime scenes. It's like she can't just leave well enough alone. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was actively seeking out trouble."-Sam

Allie and Sam go on their first coffee date...or do they?

"Luis! Get off that couch! Get out of the house!"-Luis (channeling his diseased wife)

The mystery was complex and well put together, the show is still being built and it is not up to par yet with my three Hallmark favorites...Hannah Swensen's Murder She Baked, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries and Mysteries 101...but I have hope for this sweet couple!

Husband and wife team of Carlos and Alexa Penavega star in another Hallmak mystery. She happens to be covering a gallery opening when a valuable necklace is stolen.

Mysterious millionaire Milo Shandel is having his collection of all kinds of art and other valuables exhibited at a gallery and with the theft he threatens wrack and ruin to the gallery owner.

It turns into a murder when later one of the rich guests is found murdered in his home. Still Carlos the cop and Alexa the photographer keep looking jointly and separately as it always is with Hallmark mysteries.

Erik Estrada is also in the cast as Carlos Penavega's uncle and a former cop. He really doesn't do much but be a kibitzer for his nephew.

As for the crooks it's a gang from all strata of society and they really are pros at their work.

This is one to check out.

The real mystery here is not who killed who, or who stole what. The mystery is how anyone in their right mind would cast Carlos in a movie. He is absolutely void of talent.