Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You – Review

Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You – Lifetime – 2 hours and 3 minutes

Olivia left school early to compete in a singing competition. She dreamed of being a singer, even though her mother said singing wasn’t a career.  She won and got a single contract.  She wanted to perform an original song but the record company had her do a cover.  The first song flopped and she wasn’t given a new deal.  At a party, she meets Bruce.  Although her friend Pat warned her he was married, Olivia wanted a manager.  Within a year, the two were engaged, living together, and writing an album.  Bruce had an idea.  He wanted Olivia to harness the Nashville sound in London so she could corner the market.  His idea worked.  She was a crossover hit in the US, the UK, and Australia.  Her career was constantly on the rise while enduring changes in music, changes in image, and changes in venues.  Olivia Newton-John handled teen star to superstardom with ease and grace.

Olivia has the troubles of many successful women.  Some of the men in her life either wanted to control her career or can’t handle her success.  She had so much pain thrown at her but she came through the other side with a smile and a call to action.  She created charities and hospitals while creating albums.  She will leave a legacy of saving lives through song and treatment.  With Grease, Xanadu, and Let’s Get Physical, you will find new inspiration for living your best life no matter what it brings your way (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).

I give it 5 out of 5 stars

Two Aussie chicks for the price of one. How can they say no – Pat

You’re not my boss – Lee

Actually, I am – Olivia

Look at you. You even do cancer better than anyone else – Matt

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Love, Romance, and Chocolate – Review

Love, Romance, and Chocolate – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Emma arrives late for a lunch date with her boyfriend Todd.  She apologies but continues talking because she is excited about their upcoming trip to Bruges.  Emma loves to bake in her spare time and style food for a magazine for a living.  Midway into her rambling, Todd interrupts her.  He won’t be able to make the trip because he got a promotion 3 hours away.  He knows their relationship won’t make it and breaks up with Emma.  Hearing the news, Emma’s friend tells her she should go on the trip alone.  She arrives at a beautiful hotel with lots of events.  But Bruges is amidst with the Royal Chocolatier Competition and the Royal Valentine’s Day Wedding.   Prince Fredrick and his bride-to-be Annabelle will sample chocolate from the competitors.  The winning chocolate maker will attend the wedding, make the chocolates, and become the Royal Chocolatier, which guarantees more business.  Luc is a 3rd generation Chocolatier.  He needs to win the competition because business is slow and he could lose his family’s shop.  Since the town is focused on the wedding, most tourist traps are closed.  Emma decides to go into Luc’s shop.  After 2 encounters, she tries to impress him with her chocolate skills.  He is slightly impressed but isn’t convinced of her abilities to make chocolates.  When Luc’s assistant experiences contractions, Emma offers to take her place for an invite to the palace.  With Luc and Emma in the kitchen, chocolate isn’t the only thing being made.

Have chocolate nearby when watching this movie.  While you have a feeling how it will end, it’s nice to learn about the chocolate making processes.  You may find yourself taking time to savor the unique flavors, textures, and techniques.  The setup is typical but the villain Max is not.  This adds a unique layer to this movie that will make you pay attention.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars

Some of it is me. Actually, all of it is me. Shh – Marie

You’re the first cute guy I meet in Belgium and you have no idea what I am saying – Emma

The beauty of chocolate is its simplicity – Luc

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Kim Possible – Review

Kim Possible – Disney Channel – 1 hour and 35 minutes

Kim Possible is a high-energy, straight-A girl that fights crime after accidentally hearing a distress signal after finishing her homework.  Now, her biggest fight is the first day of Middleton High Schol.  Kim has done a virtual walkthrough, completed her summer reading, picked out a month of outfits, and started studying for her exams.  With her best friend Ron Stoppable by her side and Wade around her neck, Kim believes that high school will be a breeze.  However, after a disastrous first day, Kim learns that Shego helped Dr. Draken break out of jail.  And he has a new plan to bring Kim Possible down.  Good thing she has made a friend who can help.  Althea is a Kim Possible fan who could not make any friends on her first day of high school.  Hearing her cries, Kim gives her a makeover and invites her on a mission.  But when Althea, out Kim’s Kim, will Kim be able to handle being second best?

Based on the animated series Kim Possible, this is a new story for a new generation (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  It has the catchphrases, theme, and characters you know but they added some small twists.  First, Rufus isn’t at the start of the movie.  Second, Bonnie is in a different grade.  Third, the classic Kim Possible outfit has changed.  Don’t worry about Rufus old school fans, you will see him soon enough.  Next, in order to create a new story, some of the characters (i.e. Bonnie) would change.  Finally, the Kim Possible original outfit is expertly and humorously explained away.  This movie did get the villains right.  Shego is perfection.  And keep your eyes open for Christy Carlson Romano, the original Kim Possible voice actor, she makes a starlet appearance.  If this becomes a live action TV show, one can only hope that Will Friedle will make a guest appearance too.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

I am an escape pod enthusiast – Prof. Dementor

It’s just high school. How hard can it be – Kim

It’s a dolly and a toilet – Shego

So good to see you, too – Dr. Draken

Good call, Rufus. I’m on it – Wade

Kim, I could use a hand – Athena

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Killer Reputation – Review

Killer Reputation – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Adrian has started her own PR firm to work with the clients she chooses.  At her sister’s art showing, they listen to an update from TMI.  Garrett, an action star, is suspected of killing his estranged wife Carlie Nicks.  Adrian’s sister Emily is relieved that Adrian and Garrett are no longer a couple.  However one night, Adrian comes home to find Garrett in her backyard.  He has kept tabs on her and knows she started her own company.  He wants Adrian to create a new public image for him to convince everyone of his innocence.  Adrian asks him one question: Did you do it?  Garrett vehemently denies killing is Carlie but says she was seeing someone else.  Adrian takes a deep breath and accepts the job offer to clean up is image and get the public opinion on his side.  Soon, her life will be at risk.

Figuring out the killer in this movie is like play Where’s Waldo; if Waldo was the only person on the page.  The moment the killer is on the screen, you know that’s the one.  The mannerisms and dialogue do nothing to hide their intentions.  You will spend more time wondering how long it will take Adrian to see the killer for who they are.  Also, you will wonder if Emily will get killed (because best friends and sisters always get killed in Lifetime movies).  This one can be skipped.

I give it 1 out of 5 stars

No, sometimes they grow up to be idiots – Adrian

You know me, Adrian. And you know when I am telling the truth. I need you – Garrett

Adrian and Garrett sitting a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G – Emily

That’s only because I haven’t said boo yet – Nikki

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Emma Fielding Mysteries: More Bitter Than Death – Review

Emma Fielding Mysteries: More Bitter Than Death – HMM – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Althea, President of Association for the Study of American Archeology (ASAA) and Dean of the department, is ready to retire.  She wants to name a successor at the ASAA banquet and feels Emma is perfect for the job.  Emma, on the other hand, would rather be digging in the dirt than dealing with politics.  There are several candidates that want the job but none have her qualifications and poise.  During the ASAA banquet, Emma overhears Althea looking worried while saying ‘More Bitter Than Death’.  Emma asks Althea what she said but Althea brushes it off.  Althea stands at the podium to name her replacement and falls over.  Jim checks her and begrudgingly announce Althea’s death.  Joe, Emma’s ex-fiance, smells a poisonous odor coming from the glass and believes Althea was murdered.  Once the toxicology report is completed, it confirms Joe’s hunch.  With the looming presidential announcement, everyone in line for the job, including Emma, is a suspect.  It will take an underground passage, a secret society, and Ecclesiastes 7:26 to find the murder.

Based on the Emma Fielding Book Series, this movie is the closest to Indiana Jones than its processors (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  It provided an adventure with traps and code breaking.  It gives many unlikable suspects for the user to follow.  As more die, you cross off your list of suspects.  This movie did well at hiding the killer’s intentions until their final monologue.  With a great storyline, some of the action sequences just don’t grab your attention.  They are a bit too campy.  This is still a great story to watch.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

Yes I am – Emma

Well, that depends – Joe

Not on me – Jim

More bitter than death – Althea

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