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Mary J. Blige’s Real Love – Review
Mary J. Blige’s Real Love – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Kendra got a scholarship to attend Hammon College to the joy of her father. Kendra meets her roommates and relax on the campus lawn. During Lift Every Voice and Sing, a student, Ben, approaches Kendra and asks for her number. She doesn’t believe that he dares to interrupt this song. He explains that he has to do it because he is pledging a frat, and his big brother, Reggie, asked him to do it. Kendra laughs and confidently expresses her disinterest in Reggie. Ben chuckles in agreement.
Later, Kendra goes to the Bursar’s office to apply for a job and sees Ben registering for classes. She talks about her passion for photography while Ben consistently puts his foot in his mouth. After Kendra leaves, Ben signs up for Intro to Photography. Ben arrives late for class and captures Kendra’s attention. They make plans to see each other later. This choice will have a lasting impact on Kendra’s education, safety, and love life.
Inspired by Real Love by Mary J. Blige, this movie hits on several issues in two hours (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). It will make your head spin and heart race. Kendra is a strong person with a good work ethic, but she is immature about love and how to navigate it. At first, Ben seems like a good catch. But he is stunted by his parent’s expectations. Together, they learn that love is a journey with peaks and valleys. They discover about themselves while falling for each other. You will yell at the screen, cry, and cheer. Part two can’t come soon enough.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
Can I be honest? I’m a bit jealous of you – Ben
I was here first – Kendra
I would choose myself – Sasha
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Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New – Review
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New – HMM – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Aurora has a lot to juggle in the coming days. She must deliver her thesis topic, start a new job, and complete her bridesmaid duties. Aurora’s best friend, Sally, will get married to Matt. Matt and Sally have known each other for less than a year. However, they are ready to tie the knot. Matt drops Sally off at Aida’s home for Sally’s bridal shower. In the melee, Sally remembers she was supposed to tell Matt something. Aurora offers to inform him and chases after Matt. She misses Matt but sees a woman lurking outside.
Friends and family gather at a party for the future bride and groom. Aurora talks to Matt’s sister, Kara, while guests trickle into the door. Sally chats with Matt’s business partner, Carson, about their company’s lucrative buyout. Aurora checks on the guest when she hears a man yelling at Matt. Arthur escorts the man out, and they question Matt. Matt explains he doesn’t know the man, and Sally believes Matt. Aurora can sense something is wrong but ignores it. Aurora leaves and sees Carson chasing off the lurking woman. Carson explains that the woman is Matt’s ex-girlfriend, Dawn. She has been stalking Matt for months, but Matt refuses to file charges. Matt and Carson hope the marriage will drive Dawn away.
Sally frantically walks into the diner and begs for Aurora’s help. Sally hasn’t heard from or seen Matt all night. And he didn’t come home in the morning. Sally tried to get into Matt’s apartment. But he changes the code every month. And she didn’t get the code for this month’s combination. Sally knows Aurora is good at puzzles and pleads for Aurora to go to Matt’s home and look around. Arthur decides to go with Aurora for physical and legal backup.
Aurora and Arthur enter Matt’s apartment and find signs of a struggle. They follow blood drops to Matt’s balcony and see a man lying face down in the grass. They fear it’s Matt. Arthur calls the police chief to check on the body. After the crime scene investigator takes photos, the police flip the man over and discover it’s not Matt. It’s the man who interrupted their party. They look at the man’s ID and learn his name is Brody. No one knows him, and everyone believes Brody took a horrible tumble. As the police investigate, they uncover that someone murdered Brody. Since they can’t find Matt, he is the police’s number one suspect. Sally is adamant that Matt wouldn’t kill anyone and continues to plan the wedding with Kara. Aurora can’t stand to see Sally hurting and vows to find Matt and Brody’s killer.
This prequel to the Aurora Teagarden series has promise (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). It offers a complete mystery with established characters for new fans and gives loyal fans Easter eggs throughout the plot. Fans see Aida struggling with a new business, Aurora delving into research for the first time, and Arthur finding his footing in police work. Seeing each character on the first step of a promising journey with self-doubt is inspiring. It helps viewers hold onto their dreams because they will make it with perseverance. Fans of the series know this is not Aurora’s first body, but it is her first investigation. She uses her information science degree to break down the crime and the motive. The audience will witness Aurora coming into her love of true crime and investigating. This new take on an established series will win over long-time fans and fresh faces.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
I am so happy – Sally
I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before – Matt
Not my circus. Not my monkeys – Carson
Come on. Kick it in – Aurora
My conversation with Matt is none of your business – Dawn
Sally deserves better – Arthur
Better a bad announcement than a bad marriage – Aida
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Betrayed By My Bridesmaid – Review
Betrayed By My Bridesmaid – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Katie and her fiancé, Tom, will spend one night with his mom, Mrs. Lin, before staying at their hotel. They will get married in one week, and Katie is excited. Her maid of honor, Amanda, and Tom’s best man, Anton, are joyous for the happy couple. Mrs. Lin meets Katie and instantly dislikes her. Katie is not traditional enough and makes several faux pas. Mrs. Lin favors Amanda over Katie.
Katie and company go to the hotel and meet her other bridesmaids, Heather and Jamie. As they greet each other, Katie hears someone summon her from a distance. It’s her sister, Connie. Katie doesn’t believe it. She thought Connie was in rehab. In the past, Connie got drunk and slept with Katie’s boyfriend at Katie’s birthday party. Since then, Katie hasn’t spoken to Connie. Katie swallows her pride and accepts Connie into the wedding because Connie is the only family member Katie has left. Katie will regret her decision to trust Connie, get married, and have fun after a string of unfortunate incidences.
This film proves that everyone sucks. Katie is a disrespectful bride who makes everyone prove how much they love her. Connie is a succubus. Tom and Heather are cowards, and Amanda’s a jerk. If that isn’t enough, Mrs. Lin is the evil mother-in-law. You won’t sympathize with Katie and pray she gets the ‘Regina George’ treatment by the end. Katie isn’t a bridezilla. She’s an entitled brat, treating everyone like servants since they met. The wedding had nothing to do with it. And Tom, while a funny boyfriend, has his trying moments. He never stands up to his mom when she disrespects Katie. However, Katie doesn’t stand up for Connie when everyone puts Connie down. Also, the final fight scene is a laugh riot. If you watch this movie, be prepared for an annoying but funny ride.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
I greet Korean – Amanda
If she were here, it would turn into the Connie show – Katie
I am off the clock, but sure – Heather
I’m better now. I promise – Connie
Katie, I think you might have some trust issues – Heather
I shouldn’t quit my day job – Tom
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Danger Below Deck – Review
Danger Below Deck – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Melanie stands outside the club, hoping to get in, but the bouncer says they are at capacity. She pretends to have friends inside, but the bouncer ignores her. Melanie goes to the back of the club and sneaks inside. Melanie tries to blend in, but Jules spots her. Melanie shows Jules her stamp, and he laughs because the club doesn’t give stamps. However, Jules doesn’t rat her out because he likes her tenacity. Melanie meets Chloe and thinks Chloe is glamorous. Chloe is an influencer who promotes parties. Chloe sees a spark in Melanie, and they exchange numbers. While Chloe’s life looks aspirational, Melanie doesn’t recognize the trouble around Chloe. Soon, Chloe leaves the club after seeing a scary man watching her across the room.
Jules texts Chloe with a job offer, but she turns it down. She texts Melanie throughout the day and chats about her adventures. Chloe sees the same scary man outside her apartment and runs out the back door. However, he catches up to Chloe and demands she pay the $40,000 she owes. If she doesn’t, it will double. Chloe takes Jules’s job and contacts Melanie to work with her. Melanie sees this job as a godsend because Melanie’s boss fired her for texting during work. Melanie wants to help her father pay bills and her education. They will cruise and document themselves on social media with hashtags and location pins. The free trip is fast money for Chloe and Melanie. But all money isn’t good money.
Melanie’s once-in-a-lifetime adventure leads her into a torrid world of smuggling, drugs, and violence. She has no idea Chloe has an ulterior motive because the glitz and glam blind Melanie. This cautionary tale drags as the plot sets up the background characters as Chloe and Melanie dance, take pictures, and drink. As they meet random guys, you will yell at the screen. Viewers will predict the ending because it’s a Lifetime movie. But they will all be wrong. This conclusion saves the film because it’s dripping with honesty. One poor decision will change the course of your life forever.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
How many girls said no – Chloe
Entertain? Like magic – Melanie
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The Wedding Wish – Review
The Wedding Wish – UPtv – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Jenny tells her friend, Billy, that she found the perfect lighting for her wedding. She can’t wait to get married on her 35th birthday, as Madam Lotus predicted. So far, all of Madam Lotus’s predictions manifested. She became a children’s book illustrator and moved to Magic City. Today, Jenny counts down the three months until her birthday and wedding. Billy takes a deep breath and explains the flaw in Jenny’s plan. She’s single. Jenny refuses to believe she won’t be married in 3 months. She booked a caterer, bought a dress, and sent invitations to family and friends. Then she gets a call from Carmen, an event manager. The Spanish Monastery Jenny booked wants to meet her and her husband to cement the date. They refuse to go forward until they meet Jenny’s significant other. Jenny tells Carmen her husband is a deep sea diver, but he will meet when he returns. Carmen gives Jenny two days to visit with her husband, or she will offer the date to another couple.
Jenny sits at Billy’s receptionist desk while Billy talks to his boss, Clara. A man, Tyler, enters while talking on the phone about his next meeting. He doesn’t hold back his resentment for the illustrator Clara hired for his new book. He hangs up the phone and continues his rant to Jenny. Clara exits her office and introduces Tyler to his new illustrator Jenny. Tyler back peddles, but Jenny calls him out for his comments and assumption that she was a receptionist. Clara wants Tyler and Jenny to work together, but they dislike each other work. She thinks his books are silly and shallow, and he believes her illustrations aren’t kid friendly. Clara hopes they can elevate each other’s work. Tyler’s last book didn’t sell well, and Jenny’s art can advance his writing. Jenny leaves the meeting, and Tyler overhears her booking dilemma at the monastery. He offers to be her stand-in if she illustrates his next book. Tyler thinks Jenny’s preparation is wild but bends backward to help her, including finding her future husband. Will this stand-in bring Jenny a husband?
Ok, what is this? Jenny is 100% delusional, and her friends go along with it. This movie is a study of shared psychotic disorder. Her delusion becomes sad, pathetic, and annoying. To make things crazier, she wants to find a guy to propose and marry her in three months in a ready-made wedding. Any man willing to do that is being paid, crazy, abusive, or all three. If Lifetime aired this film, she would be an insane stalker, not a dreamer. The conclusion tries to redeem the movie with Jenny’s discovery of self-love, but it’s too little too late.
I give it 1 out of 5 stars
What’s it like living in your dark, cynical world – Jenny
I can wing it. Trust me – Tyler
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Wedding Season – Review
Wedding Season – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Trish is tired of being an executive assistant. Her boss, Helen, will allow Trish to write a feature article. Trish presents a few of her ideas to Helen, and Helen doesn’t like them. Helen remembers Trish has a 3-week vacation coming up. Trish reminds Helen that her three best friends are getting married on three consecutive weekends. And she will be a bridesmaid at all three. Helen says that’s Trish’s story.
Trish arrives in town to stay with her best friend, Sean. All the couples meet for dinner, and Trish asks if she can write about them. Laurel and Sean love the idea, and June and Peter say yes. But Michelle gives an emphatic no. After Trish promises the couples they can have final approval, Michelle and Rod say yes. Everyone worries that Trish doesn’t have a date for the weddings. So Sean suggests his brother, Ryan, be Trish’s wingman. Trish declines. During the party, Peter hands Trish a record to play at the reception (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). He asks Trish to guard the album with her life.
Trish prepares for a day of bridal showers when Ryan enters the room. He is a photojournalist that sees the beauty in weddings. However, Trish thinks they are too commercial. Ryan doesn’t understand how Trish will write about the nuptials if she doesn’t like weddings. Trish doesn’t have a choice. This article is her first and possibly, only chance to have a feature article. However, she stresses handling three weddings and the assignment. Since Ryan is between jobs, he offers to be her right hand man. His offer comes in time because Trish accidentally breaks Peter’s rare record. These two become ride-or-die but will their bond break when Ryan finds something better?
Based on the novel, The Wedding Season: An Enchanted Bridal Prequel by Samantha Chase, this film has four love stories in one plot. While the focal couple has the expected outcome, the others don’t. One couple is head over heels in love. However, the second couple’s fiancée is in tears because her betrothed left for work just days before the wedding. The third couple disagrees about everything. Writers typically drift into the idyllic ceremony with one argument between the couple. All other issues are with the dress, food, or in-laws for comedic reasons. In this movie, the couples have real-world problems, and some don’t have a solution in 5 minutes. This change makes viewers pay attention and care about the characters. So step back from the flowery puff and watch something authentic.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
Please stop before you kill again – Helen
Not a fan of the wedding industrial complex – Trish
This is not going to end pretty – Dani
Did my sensitivity ship go offline – Michelle
Did you just compare the happiest day of my life to a zombie movie – Peterson
You don’t really understand weddings, do you – Ryan
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Categories: Ajiona Alexus, Alex Trumble, Anthony Timpano, Armand Assante, Ashley Dakin, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New, Betrayed By My Bridesmaid, Casey Deidrick, Danger Below Deck, DaVinchi, Eric Bruneau, Evan Roderick, hallmark, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, HMM, Jasmine Sky Sarin, June Weddings, Kabby Borders, Katherine McNamara, Kayla Heller, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Love Sundays, Made for TV, Marilu Henner, Mary J. Blige's Real Love, movie, review, Shana Goodman, Signature Mystery, Skyler Samuels, Sleuthers, Stephanie Bennett, Steven He, The Wedding Wish, tv review, Unhappily Ever After, UPtv, Voices of a Lifetime, Wedding Season
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