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Reviews
The Mistletoe Inn (2017)
Another Alicia Witt Winner
As an earlier reviewer noted, Alicia Witt is the Queen of Hallmark Christmas movies.
She plays to her strengths here creating a witty, warm character. She has great chemistry with her new best friend (Lucie Guest) and prospective love interest (David Alpay).
The best scene in the film is her (Witt) complaining about his (Alpay) typing on a typewriter as he complains about her "whale sounds" white noise generator late one night. The dialogue is funny banter, the actors play well off each and it is beautifully shot and directed (Thank you director Alex Wright).
The whole film is like that, a nice classy romantic comedy.
The novelist Richard Paul Evans has a cameo in the film. Next time, let's promote him to the supporting role of Dad.
Stolen from the Suburbs (2015)
Two steps above normal Lifetime woman-in-jeopardy film
Another Sunday.
Another Lifetime woman-in-jeopardy film.
But this one is two steps above your average Lifetime thriller.
The hot button subject matter is sex trafficking but writer/director Alex Wright tells a compelling story without falling into exploitation on one side and preaching on the other side.
The primarily female cast is good. Sydney Sweeney, a grizzled veteran ingénue, is compelling as the daughter. Brooke Nevin is suitably driven as the investigator.
Cynthia Watros has done light comedy well (Drew Carey Show), performed melodrama (Lost) as well as any actor could follow that plot, and can now add thriller lead to her list of actress skills. Her character was intense and fearless as the mother.
Olivia d'Abo having sparred with Inspector Goren on many an episode of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" gives a different, more chilling, level of evil as the bad guy. As close to full-blown Alan Rickman as you are going to get in a Lifetime thriller.
Give us more like this.
Runaway (2014)
Good solid thriller
"Runaway" is several notches above your normal Saturday night, Lifetime, woman-in-jeopardy thriller.
First notch, Sherry Stringfield is excellent. She faded into the woodwork when part of the ER ensemble and multiple plot lines. She is front and center here as the lead with one story, her story, and you totally believe her performance.
Second notch, Alex Wright is a very good thriller director. He tells the story, without trying to show off. It is clean, it is crisp.
Third notch, the film looks good. Good visuals, good locations, I did not recognize anything from a thousand other Lifetime films. It is all believable and relatable for the story.
Only quibble (no spoilers), the high school women's tennis team shown in the background of several scenes should have been a lot better.
Christmas Belle (2013)
A delightful Christmas romantic comedy
"Christmas Belle" rises above the normal pack of Christmas romantic comedy films on Lifetime, Hallmark and Ion.
Appraiser/real estate saleswoman Haylie Duff is in a Yuletide romantic triangle with winery inheritor Nicholas Gonzalez and childhood friend Mark Famiglietti. The story has some nice and unexpected twists and turns.
Duff gives a very good performance and the guys are good too.
The director Alex Wright has a background in thrillers, telenovelas and horror films. This is apparently his first romantic comedy. He should do more. He draws out good performances, again from Duff, and the film looks gorgeous. You want to live at the vineyards in that grand house and have C. Thomas Howell's real estate office as your office. Howell is good as Duff's dad.
Also, no spoiler, but watch for every scene with roses.