| Table of Reviews |
|---|
Girl in the Garage: The Laura Cowan Story – Review
Girl in the Garage: The Laura Cowan Story – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Laura Cowan gathered the courage to leave Cleveland and move to Los Angeles. She calls her family and tells them about her apartment, job, and cost of living. After gaining a more lucrative position, Laura plans to find a new place to live. First, she will write everything down as a letter to God. Laura ventures around the area and stops to hear a man, Shabazz, preaching about helping the community. He stumbles when he looks at Laura and follows her when he stops speaking. He introduces himself, and they exchange numbers. Laura starts dating Shabazz after meeting him and learning about his hopes and dreams. Four months later, he takes Laura to a storefront. Shabazz purchased it and wants to start a life with her. He proposes, and she says yes.
Laura and Shabazz have two children, Ahmed and Maryum, nine years later, and a successful bookstore. She continues to write letters to God, informing him about her life. Laura notices strange men hanging around the store, but Shabazz insists they are businessmen. A few days later, ATF arrests Shabazz for gun trafficking. Afterward, Laura visits Shabazz and begs him to tell the truth. He admits that he looked the other way. It makes him just as guilty.
Laura loses the store and boxes books to return to the publishers. Then, Musa Muhammed enters the establishment. He is a friend of Shabazz’s and speaks to Shabazz regularly. Musa promised Shabazz he would help Laura in any capacity. Over the next few days, Musa assists Laura with packing the store. Laura is unsure what they will do for money or how to keep their home. Musa offers to let Laura stay with him and his family until she figures things out. Laura believes this is a godsend. However, Musa is the devil in disguise. She and her children will suffer years of abuse and torture before they escape. Luckily, the pen is mightier than the sword.
This movie is a hard pill to swallow. Laura thought she could trust Musa because he practiced the same religion as her husband and was caring. Her relationship with Shabazz grew quickly, and he was loving towards her. She assumed Musa’s friendship was the same. When she enters Musa’s home for the first time, she meets his wife, Marva, and several of their children. She questions their living conditions, but Musa answers her with rigid structuring. Laura doesn’t see Musa for who he is until he turns on her children. Viewers must remember this story happened decades ago. Survivors didn’t have an in-depth understanding of the different types of abuse. Laura outsmarted Musa by using the tools at her disposal. Her story is complex, but continue watching to see her shine and survive.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
Just pray that he hears our cries – Laura
Now, we are not strangers – Shabazz
There is joy to be found in giving without expecting anything in return – Musa
Find, shop for, and watch Lifetime movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information
The Lies We Bury – Review
The Lies We Bury – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Rylee walks to her new job and bumps into Scott. He makes a few jokes before leaving. Rylee meets her boss, Tucker, and he walks her to her office. It was an undeclared storage room for old case files. He offers to have his grandson, Scott, clean the room for her, but Rylee chooses to handle it. As Rylee goes through the files, she finds Stephanie’s case. Rylee remembers her name because Stephanie was Rylee’s mother’s best friend in high school. Now, Stephanie is serving a life sentence for killing her co-worker Linda in 1996. As Rylee reads through the files, she finds it strange that Stephanie declared her innocence and then pled guilty without a deal.
Rylee visits Stephanie in jail and goes over the case file. It reads that Stephanie shot Linda because Stephanie was jealous of the rumored raise Linda would receive. Stephanie’s accomplice, Peter, said Stephanie committed the murder. He served time but got out. Later, he became a habitual offender. A witness, Barbara, planned to testify on Stephanie’s behalf, but that ended when Stephanie confessed. Rylee believes someone else committed the crime and wants to prove Stephanie’s innocence. Stephanie rejects the offer until Rylee begs.
Rylee spends the evening with her mother, Patti. She asks Patti about Stephanie because they were friends years ago. However, Patti tries to change the subject. When that doesn’t work, Patti begs Rylee to leave the case alone. Rylee won’t let go. She believes an innocent woman is serving time for someone else’s crime. Rylee refuses to give up until she finds the person who killed Linda.
You must be 100% attentive while watching this film. It has several moving parts, including threats, tainted histories, and corruption. It briefly introduces characters, but everyone is integral to the story. Lifetimers will assume they know the story, but you are wrong. Each character in this movie has secrets, shady pasts, and an ulterior motive. Rylee has zero survival skills. She consistently puts herself in dangerous situations and amplifies the risk for others around her. Every scene has a purpose for this mystery, so you can’t look away. This film entertains but can be confusing.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
I don’t want anyone calling me mister except the judge – Tucker
Okay, I’ll tell you the truth – Patti
Well, I’m not in school anymore – Rylee
Who sent you here – Stephanie
Who sent you – Peter
That’s way too risky – Scott
Find, shop for, and watch LMN movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information
The Bear Lake Murders – Review
The Bear Lake Murders – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Detective Ally returns to work after catching serial killer Caden. She expects her captain to greet her with adulation. Instead, he gives her a forced leave of absence. Ally’s scored poorly on her last psych evaluation. The captain believes time away will allow the precinct therapist to recommend Ally stay on the force. He suggests Ally go to her family cabin in Bear Lake. Ally begrudgingly accepts. Later, Ally informs Lisa of her impending arrival. Then, Caden calls Ally from prison. He promises to see Ally soon because he has another lesson to teach her. Ally runs to Bear Lake and doesn’t tell anyone about Caden’s call. She goes to the Bear Lake diner, and a news report alarms her. Caden’s prison transport was in an accident, and Caden escaped. Ally bumps into her old friend, Deputy Brody, and begs him not to tell anyone she’s in town. Ally will remain vigilant in the cabin.
Rebecca teases her brother, Chief Roy, about running their father’s department. She mentions she can’t wait to leave their small town and travel the world like her favorite influencer, Sienna. Roy thinks Bear Lake is perfect and wishes she would stay.
Sienna arrives in Bear Lake after winning a contest to stay at their hotel. She berates a server at the diner, and townsperson Miles condemns Sienna. Sienna takes her coffee to go and exits. Rebecca bumps into Sienna and spills her coffee on her shirt. Rebecca stammers an apology and gushes over Sienna. Sienna tells Rebecca to stop because Rebecca could never do what she does. Then, Sienna walks to the park to make hiking content. Sienna breaks Rebecca’s heart, and Brody comes to her rescue. Brody takes Rebecca to the park and admits his feelings for her. They make plans to meet later, and Rebecca goes on a hike.
Roy views articles about old crimes at the lake. He hopes this year will be better. Brody tells him Ally’s back in town, and Roy visits her. During their chat, Roy gets a call. They found a body in the park. Ally reminds Roy that her jurisdiction extends to the mountains. She grabs her gun and joins him at the scene. The victim is Sienna. It seems like she fell, but they can’t find her phone. Roy thinks it was an accident, but Ally fears she is another Caden kill. Can she find Caden before he kills again?
This movie feels lost for the first 40 minutes. However, the plot methodically introduces the characters, their backstories, and their motives. It allows the viewer to consider everyone a suspect until Ally and Roy eliminate them from their list. The storyline gives viewers a few red herrings, but Lifetimers will have their eye on the culprit after the first hour. The final reveal isn’t unique, but it’s funny. This film is an eventful ride with a relaxed ending.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
We don’t have time for monologues – Ally
Goodbye and thank you. It was a wonderful game – Caden
So rude – Sienna
I want to do what you do – Rebecca
Welcome back to Bear Lake – Roy
Find, shop for, and watch Lifetime movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information
Polar Opposites – Review
Polar Opposites – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Court Illustrator Emma anxiously waits for her date while her best friend watches from the bar. Emma can’t believe her date stood her up. She logs into her dating app and rants. He blocks her. Her friend joins Emma at the table, but the conversation ends abruptly when her father, Ian, calls. The call is spotty, but Emma hears the word danger and panics. Ian does research in Antarctica. He often goes alone to watch his favorite penguin colony. Emma panics because Ian has had heart pains that he hasn’t disclosed to his co-workers. She knows getting to Antarctica won’t be easy, but she books a flight to catch a ship.
Emma arrives at the port for the SH Vega and approaches Captain Ingrid. Emma explains her situation, but Ingrid informs her that she can’t go to Antarctica without a cruise ticket, a research crew, or the proper paperwork. Emma slinks away and sees a research crew grabbing their stuff to board. She seizes one of their cases and blends in with them. Mechanical engineer Andy spots her. He is sure that he knows every team member and doesn’t remember her. Emma uses jargon she overheard to distract Andy. She boards the ship and hides in a closet. Emma looks up the trip online and discovers it will take 10 days to get to Antarctica. She doesn’t know how she will keep her presence a secret for that long.
Emma sneaks upstairs to get food. She tries to leave with her plate but runs into Andy. He grabs her food and takes it to their lab so Emma can meet the crew. He gives her an assignment, and Emma tries to do it. She makes an excuse to run out of the room. Andy follows. Emma tells Andy the truth, and his dread grows. He contemplates telling Ingrid but has compassion for Emma’s plight. He allows Emma to stay in his room, but she can’t leave. Emma tries to call Ian again but can’t reach him. She contacts his base. And Peg answers. Peg hasn’t heard from Ian, but that’s typical. Emma will lay low until they dock. Then, she will find Ian to ensure he’s safe. But will she uncover more?
This movie is worthwhile for the view alone. The coastline, penguins, and sky are breathtaking. Hallmarkies can rest assured that Emma’s time on the boat is one-half of the plot. The other half is her time in Antarctica. She and Ian had a hilarious miscommunication, but it’s for the best. Ian, Emma, and Andy work together to help someone in need while Emma re-evaluates her view on relationships. She goes from too many options to only one. The plot weaves in two more love stories, but your focus is on Emma and Andy’s work. They combine their skills to save a family and uncover Emma’s calling. This movie is sweet, genuine, and funny.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
I can’t be your co-conspirator on this – Andy
Oh, I can’t stay stuck in here – Emma
That’s my girl – Ian
Find, shop for, and watch Hallmark movies on Amazon (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Share this:
Categories: Brian Childers, Deadly Resolutions, Dee Wallace, Doug Noble, Girl in the Garage: The Laura Cowan Story, hallmark, Kyla Nova, lifetime, lifetime movie network, Lindsay Hartley, lmn, Made for TV, Markian Tarasiuk, Mercedes de la Zerda, movie, Paige Hurd, Polar Opposites, review, Rhiannon Fish, Ripped From The Headlines, Stephen Bishop, The Bear Lake Murders, The Lies We Bury, Tom Stevens, tv review, Winter Escape
thatdarngirlmovie.reviews 