Alex & Me – Review

Alex & Me – Nickelodeon – 1 hour and 30 minutes

Reagan just moved to a new town and wants to join the championship girl soccer team.  When the coach is watching, she gives a less than stellar performance.   Reagan tries to reason with the coach by mentioning that she is in the same position as her favorite player, Alex Morgan, was in at her age.  The coach sees this as a “dog and pony” show that all newcomers try to use.  He dismisses Reagan and she leaves her with crushed dreams.  She goes home and rips all the posters and memorabilia off her walls.  As she tries to take down her Alex Morgan poster, she slips and bumps her head.  She is awakened by Alex.  Reagan believes she has lost her mind due to the fall and calls her mother.  Alex tells Reagan is very real and here to help her.  Of course, no one else can see Alex.  But Alex gives Reagan the confidence to try out for another team, train harder, and try new techniques.  With a guiding force by her side, Reagan will be unstoppable.

For the kids and soccer fans alike, this is a fun and wholesome movie about true perseverance and strength.  When everyone is doubting Reagan, she uses her “guardian angel” to be her guiding force.  While her inspiration is magic, her skill development is not.  She trains harder, more often, and increase her skill set every day.  She even keeps track with a goal chart, which inspires her brother, Logan.   An interesting dynamic is the family relationship.  Her parents are so focused on Logan’s scholarship, that they ignore Reagan.  It’s an overheard conversation with Amy that makes them see that Reagan and Logan need their attention.  This is a good movie for the whole family.

For Kids: I give it 4 out of 5 stars

Everyone else: I give it 3 out of 5 stars

Are you really doing all this stuff – Logan

Sometimes I wish my dad would pay more attention to me – Reagan

Do I know you – Alex

Find, shop for, and watch Nickelodeon movies on Amazon (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)

Top of this Post

The Wrong Friend – Review

The Wrong Friend – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Riley confronts her boyfriend Matt with evidence of cheating.  When he doesn’t take responsibility, she shows him the door and goes back to the pool party.  Again she meets Chris.  New-to-town Chris asked Riley and her best friend Kim to put the word out about his pool party.  He gives Riley a drink and it’s not long before Kim notices she is drunk.  Kim tries to convince Riley to leave but she wants to stay with Chris.  The next morning Riley wakes up in bed with no memory of what happened.  She goes to school to find a furious Matt.  Someone sent him pictures of she and Chris together.  Riley can’t believe it and goes to Chris for answers.  Chris laughs at her threats and goes on the warpath.  Riley doesn’t know that Chris is a man on a revenge mission and she is just a pawn in his game.

Riley doesn’t take long to realize who is harassing her and she doesn’t point blame at anyone else.  But this movie isn’t a cautionary tale about date rape but more about slut shaming.  When they delve into Chris’s past they see he left a trail of bullying behind him that lead to a girls death.  Chris isn’t just insane, he is also manipulative and charming.  It doesn’t take time for that charm to melt away because he has the wildest crazy eyes ever on Lifetime.  As he takes a scene from A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, he turns up the nutty with an evil villain laugh (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  So if you enjoy your evil villains with a smile, this is the movie for you.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars

Could you lower your voice just a tad, please? People are staring. You don’t want to make a spectacle out of yourself – Chris

It’s a promise – Matt

Its messed up he can do this to us – Kim

I hope I never see him again – Riley

I thought I told you to run – Jaclyn

Find, shop for, and watch Lifetime movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information

Top of this Post

The Bad Seed – Review

The Bad Seed – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Emma confidently waits to hear her name called for the Citizens award.  She has been working hard all year to earn that medallion.  It would look great next to all her other awards.  Until Milo’s name is called.  She is floored to hear he beat her but she keeps a calm, cool, and collected look on her face.  She believes his medallion is hers and she gets it back.  And Milo is found dead in a river at the bottom of a cliff.  Emma can’t understand why people are so sad about Milo dying because everyone dies.  Emma is happy to have her medallion but now she has to deal with a new babysitter Chloe.  Emma knows Chloe is sneaking pills and Chloe knows Emma is a killer.  Even though Chloe keeps her secret, she constantly taunts Emma about her teacher Ms. Ellis, her dad Mr. Grossman, jail, a little pink electric chair.  Emma must gain control of everyone around her before she loses the love of her dad.

A remake of 1965’s classic The Bad Seed, which was based upon the book by William March, this movie lives up to the hype (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  While it does modernize itself, gone are the sweet angelic face of a little girl.  Instead, you get a devilish grin that practices being kind and sweet in the mirror.   You will be taken back each time this girl switches from kind to manipulative to pure evil.   As her father slowly sees signs of his daughter’s dark nature, he is left with a heartbreaking decision that separates this movie from the original.  And fans of the classic movie, keep your eyes open for Patty McCormack: the original Bad Seed.  She and Emma share a joke only they will understand.  Watch this movie with the lights on and know where your kids are.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars

Emma is very focused. She’s a normal girl but she can be very focused – Mr. Grossman

We should go back now – Milo

You little bitch – Chloe

Bring me a couple of cookies while you’re at it – Emma

Emma I’m gonna tell you a secret, I did the exact same things as you when I was your age – Dr. March

Find, shop for, and watch Lifetime movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)

Top of this Post

Wedding of Dreams – Review

Wedding of Dreams – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Debbie Taylor is a former teen sensation turned music teacher.  She released a new song a year ago but fans want more.  Her manager Ray is trying his best to get her to do more music but he wants her to start with a remote interview first.  During the interview, Debbie’s student’s interrupted her with questions.  While answering them, she accidentally accepts a guest appearance on a TV show.  She starts to worry because her boyfriend Noah just proposed.  Even though they wanted the wedding in July, it had to be moved to June so they can get the room they wanted for the reception.   So in one week, Debbie has a guest appearance, a TV guest appearance, and a wedding.  Noah offers to help with all the planning but have both took on too much? And how will obligations affect their future?

Adding another movie to the “Of Dreams” series, the characters grow and have a real conflict.  While both are making a sacrifice, they have reservations.  This couples biggest issue is communication.  They are trying so hard to keep the peace, they don’t talk.  This leads to an embarrassing moment on live TV.  It’s not the best movie Hallmark has produced, it does feature original songs by Debbie Gibson and a funny Tiffany joke.  DVR and watch on a rainy day.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars

I’ll take that as a compliment – Debbie

I’m not sure what those are but I am sure they won’t travel – Noah

Find, shop for, and watch Hallmark movies on Amazon (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)

Top of this Post