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Robin Roberts Presents: I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story – Review
Robin Roberts Presents: I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Gloria fusses with her dress as her mother, Queenie Mae, makes alterations and fixes Gloria’s hair. Gloria is unsure if she wants to continue singing. The club owners pursue her, the smoke hurts her vocal cords, and the audience laughs through her performance. Queenie Mae says it’s God’s design to have Gloria sing. Queenie Mae leaves the room while Gloria gabs with her sister Irma. Then they hear a horrible thud. Their mother is dead.
Months later, Gloria performs through the emotional pain as Irma cheers for Gloria. After the show, Music Manager Michael enters Gloria’s dressing room. He believes her voice is too good for the chitlins circuit. Michael wants to manage her career and make Gloria a household name, but first, she needs a band. He introduces Gloria to City Life, and they start making music. Soon, Michael’s promises come true. But her first album doesn’t include the band. They get production credit, but the record company didn’t feature them on the songs. Gloria vows to do better by City Life in the future.
Gloria goes on tour and gains two backup singers. She hangs out with them after a show and flips through a photobook. She sees a picture of a handsome man. It’s the singer’s brother, Officer Linwood. Gloria declares he will be her husband. She speaks it into existence. However, her connection to Linwood pushes her to her limits and away from God while she climbs the charts. Can Gloria find her way back to God while losing everything?
Gloria Gaynor’s story goes beyond one song or genre of music (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). And it continues to this day. She finds the typical pitfalls in music with poor management and contracts. Her story is unique because she always found strength through her faith during her darkest hours. God is integral in this film as he talks to and encourages Gloria. This subplot circles back to Gloria’s final career decision at the movie’s conclusion and links her to Queenie Mae and Irma. The film gives the audience a glimpse into Gloria’s personal and professional struggles but won’t garner new fans. However, it will solidify her current audience.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
Just take his strength as your own – Queenie
Excuse me, we’re praying – Irma
If it’s good enough for Ella Fitzgerald, its good enough for me – Gloria
It’s just negotiations. They know what you’re worth – Michael
I’ve known Gloria all my life – Linwood
You are not alone – Stephanie
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Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery – Review
Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery – Hallmark Mystery – 2 hours and 0 minutes
The Cookie Jar bakery is abuzz. A cooking show star, Connie Mac, will use Hannah’s bakery to film on location. Hannah, Hannah’s mother, Delores, and Hannah’s assistant, Lisa, love Connie’s show. The producer, Hunt, meets with Hannah before the crew arrives. He asks Hannah to help on the show. Connie doesn’t have time to make the food herself, so the crew assists while Connie presents. Hannah can’t contain her excitement about being on the show.
Detective Lonny and District Attorney Chad compare notes before Chad’s case at the Lake Eden Municipal Building. They caught a serial burglar who hit 13 homes. Chad will litigate the case against him, and Lonny will be the first witness. Chad wants to ensure he prepares and asks Hannah to watch him in court. He believes she is a great measuring stick of what the jury thinks. Hannah delights in seeing this side of the justice system.
Hannah arrives at her bakery, and Hunt introduces Hannah to the team. Costume designer Louise gives Hannah a branded apron. Food stylist Evan hands Hannah a list of the recipes. They will make No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Mashed Potato Cake, and Red Velvet Cake. Hannah voices her opinion to Evan and Hunt because she notices recipe issues. They listen and fix the mistake. Minutes before they air, Connie enters and briefly waves at Hannah. Hannah is in awe until she discovers Connie’s secret: Connie can’t cook. She pulls Hunt aside, and he agrees to discuss the matter with her later.
Hunt explains that his mentor, Buddy, created the show. Buddy believed a female host would appeal more to a female audience, so Buddy chose Connie to host the show instead of Hunt. Buddy made Hunt the producer to reward his loyalty. Hunt wants to elaborate, but Hannah has plans. She gives Hunt a key to the bakery so he can set up before the crew arrives.
Hannah arrives at her shop, and the crew is waiting outside. She doesn’t know why Hunt didn’t let them in because he had a key. Hannah opens the door and finds Hunt dead on the ground. She tells the crew to stay back while she investigates the scene and calls the police. The police shut down the show and the bakery because now it’s a crime scene. Hannah resigns to cooking at home until the police clear the case. However, she’s shocked when the medical examiner wants to declare Hunt’s death due to natural cases. Hunt was a healthy, active young man. Then, Hannah remembers an article about the burglaries on Hunt’s computer at the scene. Lonny believes Hannah is correct. Chad tells Lonny to investigate Hunt’s death as a murder until Lonny proves otherwise. Can they discover who killed Hunt and why?
Based on the novel Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke, this movie is top-notch sleuthing with humorous quips and excellent character growth (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Delores shines because the whole world is a stage. She and Norm become willing and integral parts of the investigation. Chad doesn’t resist Hannah’s expertise but stays away from her cookies. And Lonny’s confidence shines in each episode. The plot offers several suspects but doesn’t lead you to the killer. It allows the final reveal to be a surprise. And all the plot points will converge on one scene. This film is one of the best in the Hannah Swensen series. It’s comical, romantic, and compelling.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
I have a couple of scripts to pitch later, too – Delores
Who is Connie Mac – Norman
You’re starting to sound a lot like Chad. – Lonny
Yeah, it’s in the 6th amendment – Chad
Thank you for telling me how to do my own show – Connie
I could have used a little heads-up about how everything works – Hannah
Never meet your heroes – Hunt
I’m always on time – Evan
She just has a good energy about here – Michelle
Unless you did – Louise
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Murder in Nashville – Review
Murder in Nashville – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Eden enters Callahan Legacy Records and meets Lily Callahan. Lily handles the company’s executive administrative tasks. Lily introduces Eden to her father, CEO Burt, and brother, President Jax. Eden will handle the label’s philanthropic efforts and connect their artist to different charities. Jax takes Eden out for lunch to help Eden get comfortable.
Later, Eden and Jax bond over music and their families. Jax drives Eden to the company’s house. She finds a gift box with a phone, keys, and credit card inside. Jax calls and tells Eden that he pre-programmed his number into her new phone. They can’t deny their attraction to each other.
Eden meets with a singer, Savannah, and asks her to help a woman’s charity get more recognition. Jax calls Eden, and she excuses herself. Jax makes another date with Eden, and she accepts. Eden returns to Savannah, but Savannah turns down the offer. Later, Savannah calls Eden while Eden is with the Callahans. Savannah begs Eden to come to her home and tell no one.
Eden arrives at Savannah’s home and finds the door open. Eden cautiously enters and finds Savannah bleeding on the ground. Savannah warns Eden that Eden’s in danger. Eden looks at a mirror and sees a masked person standing behind her. The person attacks Eden, and Eden fights back. Eden stabs the attacker, and the attacker runs away. Later, Eden learns that Savannah died. Police deduce it was a robbery gone wrong. The Callahans worry that Eden isn’t safe alone and asks her to stay with them. Eden, falling for Jax, thinks she’s safe. She’s wrong. The Callahan’s legacy goes beyond music, and it’s deadly.
This film will drive Lifetimers up the wall. The script allows Eden to ignore blaring signs of the Callahans’s misgivings. The wardrobe is immaculate, but the make-up is distracting. The last commercial break makes the storyline confusing and disjointed. The police show up and arrest the family. So, the viewer assumes it’s over. However, the film has seven more minutes left. It puts the final nail in the Callahans’s coffin, but this break leads you to believe the Callahans won. If you can handle Eden’s horrible judgment, then watch this film. Otherwise, it’s Lifetime rage bait.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
I ain’t afraid to get dirty – Jax
Perks of Capitalism – Eden
What isn’t – Lily
Welcome to the Callahan family – Burt
You’re in danger – Savannah
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An Unexpected Valentine – Review
An Unexpected Valentine – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Hannah introduces a new line of Valentine’s products, and her boss, Annalisa, loves them. She wants Hannah to attend a company party today at 9 p.m. to show the products to investors and the press. Hannah wanted to relax at home for Valentine’s Day. However, she agrees to attend the company party. Hannah calls a rideshare, and the driver, photographer Finn, picks her up. She mistakenly got the pool option. Gabby is in the passenger seat, lovebirds Nadine and Nate are in the middle, so Hannah sits in the back.
Hannah feels nauseous during the ride and switches seats with Gabby. Finn drops off the couple and Gabby first. Hannah gets to her destination but realizes she doesn’t have her phone. She and Finn look through the car. Hannah discovers her cell phone and an engagement ring. Hannah assumes the ring must belong to one of the other passengers. Since tonight is Valentine’s Day, they may want to propose this evening. Hannah wants to find the owner and return the ring so they can have a romantic story. However, Finn wants to call the rideshare’s lost and found number. He has a gallery showing later that evening and can’t be late. The rideshare’s help desk doesn’t answer Finn’s calls. Hannah believes they can find the passengers and fulfill their obligations to the gallery and company party. Love cynic Finn relents and allows romance-hopeful Hannah to come along. These two will have an unexpected Valentine’s Day to remember.
Hannah and Finn have several first dates in a few hours. They attend a cooking class, dance, draw, and find people in different stages of love. They are genuinely kind and loving towards each other throughout the film. The plot doesn’t feel forced or fake when the characters come to their foreseeable conclusion. They have actual obstacles, connections, and discussions. The script allows Hannah and Finn to learn about each other and grow. You will root for them to become a couple at the end. The writers made a funny meet-cute for them to find each other and profess their love. This movie will be a favorite all year long.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
You really pack them in – Hannah
Yes. A thousand times yes – Finn
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Categories: Alison Sweeney, An Unexpected Valentine, Barbara Niven, Corbin Timbrook, Ellen B. Williams, hallmark, Hallmark Mystery, Joaquina Kalukango, Kate Dailey, lacey chabert, Lance Gross, lifetime, Loveuary, Made for TV, movie, Murder in Nashville, Nick Puya, Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, review, Robert Buckley, Robin Roberts: I Will Survive: The Gloria Gayner Story, Sarah Zanotti, Signature Mystery, Sleuthers, The Gloria Gaynor Story, tv review, Victor Webster, Voices of a Lifetime
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