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The Last Thing She Said – Review
The Last Thing She Said – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Kate finished her college degree and now worries about paying her student loan. Her friend, Hayley, tells Kate to relax because there is an opening at her job. She asks Kate for her resume and promises to get her an interview.
Eric interviews Kate, but her lack of work experience bothers him. She convinces Eric that her tenacious work ethic will replace her minuscule work history. A few days later, Eric offers her the job. Kate starts work, and Eric gives her an important assignment. He warns her that the job will require late nights. Kate cuts him off and tells him she is a single woman without kids.
Kate works late, and the light turns off. She walks around the office to find a switch and runs into the janitor, Maria, and Maria’s son, Stephan. They have a cleaning business and care for the offices at night. Maria turned off the light because she assumed no one was there and didn’t want to waste electricity. Maria, Kate, and Stephan finish work simultaneously. So, Maria invites Kate to a night out, and Kate agrees.
Kate loves the small bar and has a great conversation with Maria. Maria sees an off-duty officer, Josh, and waves. Josh moonlights at some of the same buildings she cleans. Kate goes home and prepares for another day at the offices. A few days later, Stephan asks Kate out on a date, and she politely rejects him. Eric overhears their conversation and fires Stephan and Maria.
After a long work day, Eric offers to drive Kate home. He asks to use her bathroom when they arrive, and she agrees. Kate opens her door and discovers her ex-boyfriend, Matt, waiting for her. Matt and Eric exchange unpleasantries before Eric leaves. Matt explains that he isn’t over Kate, but she doesn’t want to date him.
Kate and Eric finish their project, and he wants to celebrate. Eric makes advances toward Kate, and she fights him off. Maria yells at Eric, and he backs off. Kate leaves with Maria. Maria offers to be a witness for Kate’s complaint, but Kate doesn’t want to file one. She chooses to forget everything that happened because she needs the job.
Hayley enters Eric’s office. Kate hasn’t been to work and isn’t home. Eric reports Kate to Josh as a missing person. Josh takes the information to his boss, Detective Ann. However, Josh vouches for Maria and Stephan because they are kind people. Ann won’t hear it. She wants Josh to treat everyone like a suspect and eliminate them through police work. Can they find Kate and her kidnapper?
If you don’t read the synopsis on other sites, this movie offers a mystery for 45 minutes. Kate has several unstable men in her life. Her ex-boyfriend, Matt, follows her and sneaks into her home. Her boss, Eric, sexually harassed her at work. And Stephan lacks confidence and can’t read social cues. The kidnapper is foreseeable if you read another site’s synopsis. However, the motive is disgusting but sadly believable. This movie doesn’t require your undivided attention but is mildly entertaining.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
People need to know their place – Eric
Now, go home. It will be better in the morning – Maria
He’s my boss, and I need this job – Kate
Do I look like I’m kidding – Det. Ann
That’s it. You lie for a living – Matt
I guess I forgot – Stephan
We go in with the team together – Josh
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Engaged By Christmas – Review
Engaged By Christmas – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Zoe finishes her final proposal for her boss, Penny, and is ready to start her company. Zoe wants to plan proposals, weddings, and birthdays while running a blog to help others. Her friend, co-worker Emma, praises Zoe for branching out. Then, Zoe picks up the newspaper to see if her favorite column, Ask Adora, picked her letter. To her surprise, the advice columnist responded. Zoe wants to get married to her boyfriend, Cary. She’s dropped hints for weeks, but he hasn’t responded. Adora tells Zoe to be direct, but she has to be willing to accept any answer. Zoe likes the advice and plans to use it at their dinner.
Zoe meets Cary at the restaurant. They speak simultaneously. She wants to get married, but he wants to break up. Zoe spirals. Previously, she planned the 12 blog posts. They would cover 12 dates a couple can do to rekindle or start a romance. And the posts would include pictures of her and Cary. Zoe can’t believe her plans are slowly going down the drain. Cary leaves.
Zoe tries to write the first post, but her breakup is fresh on her mind. She grabs the newspaper to get inspiration from Adora and sees an address. Zoe walks to Adora’s work to find Adora’s office. Zoe finds a man, Adam, at the desk with a picture of Adora on the wall. She asks if Adora is away for lunch, but Adam gives a deceptive answer. Then, Zoe deciphers the truth. Adam is Adora. Zoe can’t believe she took advice from a middle-aged man, not a sweet, older woman. Adam informs Zoe that he is a licensed marriage counselor who offers excellent advice. Then, Zoe gets an idea. Adam can be her pretend boyfriend in the posts. If he doesn’t, she will expose his secret. He agrees to help her, but will they get more?
Zoe and Cary are the perfect example of a couple on the same page but in a different book. They know their relationship must change. However, she dreams of marriage, and he fantasizes about breaking up. Cary says he knew she wanted marriage, but it wasn’t in the future for him. Adam hides behind the Adora persona and tries to help everyone. However, he’s failing himself. He answers readers’ letters online, on the phone, in counseling sessions, and in the newspaper. Adam piles work on his plate to avoid more pressing issues. Zoe’s drive pushes her to be perfect. She wants to have a flawless persona online to sell her services. However, she must learn that imperfection is wonderful and singlehood has its blessings. While the film has funny moments, you won’t feel a need to rewind to see missed scenes. The script becomes dull as Zoe and Adam arrive at their foreseeable conclusion.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
I am real – Adam
Am I single – Zoe
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North by North Pole: A Dial S Mystery – Review
North by North Pole: A Dial S Mystery – UPtv – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Zoey and Avery prepare to interview local Santas for the Christmas Festival. If they do well, the mayor will let them do the interior design for the new city building. While Zoey is excited, they have a problem. Someone keeps sending threats to end the festival. The letters don’t have a return address or postmark. So they don’t know who sent it or from where. Avery walks to the front to bring in the first batch of Santa’s but only finds one left. They interview and hire him.
Architect Dalton arrives late with coffee for his father’s assistant, Wilson. Dalton presents his green initiative for the new city building. Dalton’s father, Parker, likes the idea but not Dalton’s tardiness. He wants Dalton to prove himself. The town’s Christmas Festival will fund the new building. Its success depends on the festival making a profit. He wants Dalton to help the organizer. If he does well, then Parker will let Dalton design the building.
Zoey meets with the townspeople at the abandoned newspaper factory and asks them to volunteer. Gus, Alyx, and Mr. Amberson offer to volunteer their time and services. Dalton introduces himself and Wilson to Zoey. Zoey doesn’t want his help but accepts when she discovers Dalton will be the architect for the building she wants to decorate. Then, Zoey sees her rival, Heather, creeping around the building. Heather makes an excuse, but Zoey doesn’t trust Heather. Dalton asks to view their Christmas decorations, and Zoey takes him to the back room. She opens the door and sees a mess. Someone destroyed the decorations. Zoey and Avery explain that someone is attempting to sabotage the festival. Zoey and Dalton will work together to uncover the culprit so they can keep their jobs.
This standalone sequel doesn’t have the murder of a Hallmark Mystery but provides an intriguing enigma. Besides the mystery, viewers get three love stories. The leads are the first love story, like any holiday romance. Next is Avery and Wilson. Avery loves the holidays, but Wilson’s family didn’t put much effort into building traditions. Wilson is career-focused. So anytime Parker calls, Wilson drops everything, including Avery. She helps him see there is more to life than work. Finally, you have Avery’s mom, Phyllis, and her baking rival, Jim. She won the bake-off every year until the last one. Jim wants to work together because a big corporation bakery will enter this year’s contest for publicity. If they collaborate, they can outshine them. Otherwise, both of their businesses will suffer. Each love story slows down the mystery. That storyline separates this film from others this holiday season. Hopefully, the next installment will be fewer love stories and more Christmas mysteries.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
I go where I’m needed – Santa
Who’s side are you on – Phyllis
Trouble just entered that chat – Avery
Are you accusing me of something – Heather
I haven’t really – Zoey
Nothing says incognito like a Christmas llama – Wilson
You see anything suspicious yet – Dalton
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24-Karat Christmas – Review
24-Karat Christmas – OWN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Trish’s friend, Gia, sets Trish up on a blind date with Booker. When he’s late, Trish pulls out a pen and notepad to sketch jewelry designs. Booker comes up behind Trish and scares her, causing her to spill her drink. Booker picks up the sketchbook as they clean the spill and admires her designs. The date doesn’t go well. Trish lacks interest in his work, and he lacks respect for her time. Trish and Booker disagree about everything, even Christmas. Booker doesn’t care for it, but she loves it. After Booker makes an ill-timed joke at Trish’s expense, Trish leaves.
Trish finishes custom wedding rings for Bryce and Avery two days before Christmas Eve. Later that evening, the best man will pick them up for their Christmas Eve wedding. Trish boxes her orders when Gia enters the store. Trish handles the design, while Gia is all business. She found a highly influential investor. If Trish performs well with his order, he will invest, causing others to give money. Then, Trish can move to a larger store.
Gia mentions the Jingle Ball Benefit and wants Trish to attend. Trish wants to spend the holidays relaxing at home. Gia thinks Trish’s plans are sad and wants to set up Trisha on another blind date. Right now. Trish panics, and Gia shows Trish a few power poses. A man, Mason, enters and fumbles with Trish’s jewelry. She grabs the ring box and places it on her desk while talking to Mason. She tries a power pose and knocks the boxes off her desk. The carrier appears. Trish grabs the boxes on the floor and hands them to the carrier. She tells Mason this isn’t a good time to meet. Mason and Gia leave.
Trish closes the shop when she hears a knock at the door. It’s the groomsman, and he’s late. She opens the door to reveal Booker. Trish can’t believe he’s late again. She looks for the rings and can’t find them. Trish thinks the carrier mistakenly has the rings. She calls the mailing company, but no one picks up the phone. She is considering a rideshare. But Booker offers to drive her. She begrudgingly accepts. They arrive at the carrier, but it’s closed. Trish tells Booker she will return when they open and fix the situation. Since the package didn’t have a shipping label, they can’t ship it. So it must be in the warehouse.
Trish arrives in the morning, and Booker is there with coffee. He blames himself, so he will help Trish find the rings. Trish doesn’t like his carefree attitude, but it has results. Although, she doesn’t understand his aversion to the holiday. Booker thinks Trish can accomplish more if she relaxes. Can these opposites find the ring before the wedding without harming each other? Will they find more?
This film is everything you would expect from a holiday rom-com. Trish is a high-strung woman, and Booker is a relaxed man. She schedules everything while he lets things happen. His friends understand his carefree attitude, but Trish doesn’t. She has zero knowledge of his past. Without this understanding, the audience will view Booker as irresponsible and disrespectful. However, his attitude stems from pain. She needs to relax a little, but not to Booker’s level.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
The least I can do is help – Booker
No plan, no product – Trish
That sounds so boring – Gia
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Happy Howlidays – Review
Happy Howlidays – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Mia works at the Seattle Tourism Bureau for her friend, Isabel. Isabel catches Mia secretly hoarding cookies from the holiday exchange and stops her. She believes Mia is avoiding socializing with others. Isabel empathizes with Mia’s problems but believes Mia should move about the world again. Mia exhales and works. Mia walks home and finds a dog stuck in a fence. The dog follows her home, and she reluctantly lets the dog inside.
Mia wakes up to pee and goose feathers covering her living room. She takes the dog to Pup Town Rescue and sees the Rescue’s owner, Max, interrogating a potential dog owner. Mia offers to give the dog to the woman, but Max yells at Mia. He condemns Mia for trying to give the dog away and pushes her out of the Rescue. Max’s assistant, Penny, tells Max he was too harsh. Mia brings the dog to work, and Isabel convinces Mia to name the dog. Mia names the dog Russell after Russell Crowe. Isabel gives Mia a new assignment to get her moving around town and discovering new adventures for tourists and locals. Also, Isabel encourages Mia to include Russell.
Mia takes Russell to the dog park, and he starts playing with another dog, Jules. Mia records it, and a man yells at her for recording his dog without permission. The man is Max. He informs her that his dog park is his. She laughs because it’s a public facility. He gives her a list of other parks, and she happily resigns to go there. She posts the video to the website, and it goes viral. Commenters want to know more about Jules and the owner. Isabel demands that Mia find them and make new content.
Mia comes to the Rescue and explains the situation to Max. He says no until Penny reminds him that the Rescue is in financial trouble. They are behind on their rent and can’t get new donors. The fan base could generate a new source of donations. Mia offers to foster Russell until they find an owner, and Max says yes. He agrees. Can they fall in love as fast as their dogs?
If you own a dog, this movie will be off-putting. Max is rude and condescending to customers, and it’s no wonder his business is failing. He overreacts to the smallest detail and has an arrogant attitude. Mia has a sad backstory that will pull at some viewer’s heartstrings. It explains her depression. While the script doesn’t mention this issue, Mia has the markers. Her parents have a right to be concerned but improperly handle it. Hallmark wisely put this film at the end of their 2024 Countdown To Christmas slate.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
There is only room for one hot mess here, and I was here first – Mia
What a cruel twist of Christmas fate – Max
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Categories: 24-Karat Christmas, Abby Ross, Brittany Bristow, christmas, Countdown to Christmas, Curtis Hamilton, Engaged By Christmas, Ezra Moreland, hallmark, Happy Howlidays, holiday, Its A Wonderful Lifetime, Jessica Lowndes, Jill Teed, Joe Scarpellino, Kylee Bush, lifetime, Made for TV, Marcus Rosner, Most Uplifting Christmas Ever, movie, North by North Pole: A Dial S Mystery, OWN, OWN For The Holidays, review, Samantha Marie Ware, The Last Thing She Said, tv review, UPtv
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