Reviews
Invitación a un asesinato (2023)
Bad acting, bad story
I think the script was written by middle schoolers. The dialogue is terrible. Stupid clues that make no sense eg. The yoga instructor eating with his left hand meant he never went to India. Yes, someone who vacationed in India is taking on all their customs. Plot points and revelations are utterly predictable too. Some had me rolling my eyes. The acting is ridiculously bad-particularly the "actor" that played the detective and the victims sister. He's straight out of some community play and she simpers and clings to her love interest like he's isn't creepy and gross with bad makeup and hair. The female protagonist is okay but has no personality. Don't waste your time.
Un asunto privado (2022)
Ridiculously bad
I can't believe I sat through this whole mess. Maybe if had been half as long it would have been salvageable. The story is basic, the heroine tiresome, and the action scenes ludicrous. How many times can one woman be almost strangled to death? How many times can she run in high heels or stockings after grown men and actually catch them and then fight off knife attacks and blows from men twice her size. She falls off cliffs, gets into accidents, is attacked constantly and barely a scratch. And is constantly left alone by four different men who are supposed to be protecting her at different points. Hint: They do a terrible job. I'm all for empowered women and heroines but it all is so improbably stupid and just never stops. By episode five I was rolling my eyes every time she waved around a gun or ran off all alone on some harebrained tangent. The worse part is the actors are actually decent as well as the costumes and cinematography but the script is irredeemably terrible.
Behind Her Eyes (2021)
Predictable and disappointing ending
Well the "shocking twist" was a dud because everyone should have figured it out at least by episode three. As soon as "magic" appeared the suspense disappeared. It started out being a reasonably well acted mystery and then just devolved into a boring soap opera. The actors were believable so they sort of made their nonsensical actions work. Unfortunately this mess ended up having to rely on a supernatural twist that gave it a predictable horror ending that was lazy and unsatisfying. What a waste of time. I could have been watching The Office for the 12th time instead. Gave it a 2 only because I did like the actors. They should have been given a better script.
Love in Translation (2021)
This is a terrible movie
I've seen a lot of cheesy romantic movies and this one is bottom of the barrel. The ludicrous overacting by the female lead is distracting. I would have guessed she jumped straight from her high school stage onto this movie set, except that I've seen high schoolers who can act massively better than her. Add in cheap costumes and sets and you get an altogether worthless movie.
Crime (2021)
Started good, became ridiculous
This started out pretty good and then just went off the rails. The main characters battle with his demons was ridiculously overacted. I was rolling my eyes when he had these almost comical mental scream episodes. And then just when you think it's over it goes on for TWO more episodes. The second to the last was completely unnecessary as nothing of significance happened. The villain becoming this all knowing Hannibal Lecter character out of no where was ridiculous. What a stupid show.
Christmas in the Highlands (2019)
Three for the male lead. 0 for the rest
This could have been so much better if the female lead could act at all. It had potential but she destroyed it. And her American accent is one of the worst I've ever heard. The male lead deserved so much better. He's a very good actor and extremely charming. Even the veteran British actors in this couldn't elevate it.
Holly's Holiday (2011)
Better than the typical Hallmark
I've watched a hundred of these Hallmark type moves and this one was by far one of the best ones. The lead actress is a very good actress so that gives it a big leg up. But the casting of Jeff Ward as the nerdy guy pining for her really made the movie. With his giant puppy dog eyes and sweet smile, he's just extremely appealing and he makes the "perfect" boyfriend (Ryan McPartlin) look even more wooden and boring than they probably intended when they cast McPartlin-who IS perfect as the mannequin come to life. The ending wasn't cookie cutter Hallmark either which made it even better.
Accidental Engagement (2016)
TERRIBLE TACKY wardrobe
The story was fine. Actors fine. Too bad all the females looked like they were being strangled by giant necklaces. Worst costuming I've ever seen for one of these made for TV romances. The huge clunky home party jewelry paired with ill fitting tacky clothes was massively distracting. Young women in their early 20s do not dress like 45 year divorcees on a cruise. I don't care about high fashion or trendy clothing at all so for me to notice how incredibly bad it was is saying something. It would have looked better if the costumer got everything at Target.
My Christmas Love (2016)
By far the best Hallmark Christmas movie
This movie breaks the mold by rejecting the standard Hallmark formula (city girl with big job awkwardly meets cute country guy and sees error of her ways) and instead has the romantic couple know each other as friends first. It makes the story MUCH more believable and allows the characters to have massively more chemistry with each other. They are really adorable together. The lead actress is charming and natural and actually can act. The romantic male lead is my favorite of all the Hallmark leading men. He actually has some appeal as opposed to the neutered, bland men that populate these movies. More like this one Hallmark!