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Desire: A Temptations Story – Review
Desire: A Temptations Story – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
TV host Kendra concludes today’s show and gets updates from her executive producer, best friend Natalie, and assistant, Emma, for tomorrow’s taping. She then leaves the studio to visit her mother, Meredith, in the hospital. Meredith encourages Kendra to be strong because her time is near. Then, Meredith dies. Kendra returns to the set a month later but needs time to process her grief. Natalie found a refreshing spiritual retreat, and Emma booked the excursions. Natalie reminds Kendra that she must take her bodyguard, Charlie, because it’s studio policy for international travel.
Kendra and Charlie arrive at the resort, and Charlie scans the room. Afterward, Kendra dismisses Charlie for the evening and sleeps. In the morning, Kendra goes to breakfast and spots Charlie across the restaurant. She asks the waitress to extend an invitation to Charlie, and he joins her. They share a laugh and food, but Kendra sees a handsome man sitting at another table. She recalls seeing him get out of a hot tub with a sexy physique.
Kendra and Charlie walk a trail. Charlie reads that people should go to Lookout Point alone if it’s their first time. He encourages Kendra to walk ahead of him to receive the spiritual experience. Kendra strolls forward, and the handsome man, Malcolm, stumbles out of the woods. They spark a conversation and walk to the point. Kendra learns that Malcolm is a widower and a doctor. He creates cancer drugs from plants. Within days, Malcolm and Kendra bond over grief, fall in love, get engaged, and marry. Charlie accepts their marriage to Kendra’s face but believes something is wrong. He asks his friend, Ricky, to investigate Malcolm, his business, and his financials. Ricky thinks Charlie’s fears stem from jealousy but moves forward with the investigation. Ricky returns with some harsh and frightening truths and alerts Charlie. Will Kendra believe Charlie, or will she choose Malcolm?
Before you get mad, listen to the opening sequence. Kendra admits she had a desperate desire for love. In addition, she was grieving the loss of her mother. This heartbreak allows Malcolm to enter her blind spot. This moment of clarity gives the viewer a look into Kendra’s redeeming quality. She takes accountability for her mistakes. The actors give a stellar performance with a mid-level script, and the sets are breathtaking. The audience will want Charlie to forget about Kendra after she excuses Malcolm’s red flags for the third time. This movie feels like a Tyler Perry film with a Lifetime budget. Viewers should follow the protective Charlie to enjoy this film. Otherwise, Kendra’s actions are infuriating.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
There’s giving up, and there’s knowing when the battle is lost – Meredith
Charlie, you better keep those stalkers away – Natalie
Fairy tales aren’t real. They’re tempting – Kendra
I was beginning to worry you had a stalker – Malcolm
I can’t help but feel something more – Charlie
I think she may be in danger – Ricky
Is she alive? – Emma
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Get Rich or Die Trying – Review
Get Rich or Die Trying – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Manager Keely worries that her business partner, best friend Nicole, hasn’t taken the time to grieve. Nicole doesn’t want to mourn because she doesn’t think her sister, Darcie, is missing. The police believe she left town and would return, and Nicole has faith in them. She was going stir-crazy at home. She needed to return to The Over Easy diner and cook to take her mind off her problems. Chef Nicole will prove it by cooking for a critic, Derrick, later that evening. Nicole cooks for Derrick, but he starts to choke. She left a bread tag inside his French toast. Nicole runs to the back and cries while Keely reasons with Derrick. She convinces him to return later and checks on her friend. Keely consoles Nicole and begs her to take a break.
Nicole visits Darcie’s home. She finds a notebook in a drawer, and a slip of paper falls. Darcie wrote a warning that her company, Sweet Co., kidnapped her. She feared the company and its leader, Melissa, after a top-ranking official disappeared. Nicole calls the police, but they aren’t concerned because Darcie paid her rent. Nicole calls the Sweet Co.’s number and registers for the weekend seminar.
Nicole drives to the location and pulls over to contact Keely. Keely wants to join, but Nicole says no. She wants Keely to run the diner and be her point of contact with the outside world. Keely reluctantly agrees. Nicole drives to the property, and the valet politely forces Nicole out of her vehicle. She enters the complex, and Candace greets her. Candace gives Nicole her tight schedule and stringent rules. Then, Nicole hears a commotion. The room becomes abuzz when everyone sees Melissa enter. Melissa welcomes her sweethearts before exiting.
Candace escorts Nicole to her room and reminds her to attend the first seminar. Once Candace leaves, Nicole calls and updates Keely. Keely cautions Nicole about falling for their tactics. If Darcy could fall for their scheme, anyone could. Nicole assures Keely that she will persevere through their mind control. However, the allure may be too much. Can Nicole find Darcie before losing everything to this evil MLM?
This film starts slow, but has a captivating leader. The film follows the BITE model of authoritarian control. Sweet Co. is similar to NXIVM and LuLaRoe. They pull you in with the promise of growth and sisterhood, but it becomes all-encompassing. While the concept is strong, the title doesn’t make sense unless you watch the movie from Melissa’s perspective. She is the only character who is doing everything to become rich. She disregards others’ relationships, controls people’s movements, and demands loyalty while encouraging her independent contractors to sell more. The film takes an hour for the craziness to start. Until then, you get uncomfortable laughter and mediocre acting. This movie is watchable, but don’t cancel plans.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
We can’t have anything go wrong today – Nicole
It’s a matter of time before you chop your own finger off – Keely
Hello, sweethearts – Melissa
Stay away from Melissa – Candace
Candace is very devoted to Melissa. – Fennel
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Sins of the Bride – Review
Sins of the Bride – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Cassie kisses her fiancé, Jack, before going to work and reminds him about events later that evening. He forgot and had made other plans. However, he tells Cassie to do whatever she likes, and he will go along with it. Cassie asks if he’s having cold feet because he shows little interest in their nuptials. He confirms that he’s ready.
Cassie goes to the church, and the best man, Greg, is there. He once lived with the couple but now works as a nurse at a local hospital. He stands in for the groom and gives Cassie a passionate hug. She asks Greg about Jack’s apprehensions, but Greg swears Jack loves her.
The wedding day is here, but Jack isn’t. The wedding party calls emergency services, but no one can find him. Cassie cries with humiliation because Jack stood her up. She calls off the wedding and hides in the church. Greg finds Cassie and professes his love for her. They have sex. In her afterglow, Cassie gets a phone call from a hospital several towns over. Jack is there because someone beat him and left him for dead.
Cassie rushes to the hospital and finds Jack bruised and broken. Greg offers to move in with the couple to help care for Jack. Cassie attempts to argue but agrees. Greg promises not to mention their rendezvous, and Cassie is relieved. However, Greg has darker intentions. Will Cassie and Jack uncover Greg’s desires before he exposes the bride’s sins?
This movie defines ‘the audacity’ while it makes you clutch your pearls. Viewers will notice Greg’s lingering hugs, but Cassie keeps him at bay while confiding in her best friend, Ariel. The actors play with the gray areas of the script with all-knowing looks, secret histories, and lasting touches. The backing track and Ariel’s observations will make the audience chuckle. This picture feels like the classic Lifetime drama, but Tubi adds a new level of crazy. You should watch this movie until the end for an extra dose of insanity (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
You know I know that, right? – Jack
If this was important to him, he would be here – Cassie
I’ll do it if you want – Greg
No one knows anything – Ariel
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Hearts Around the Table: Kiki’s Fourth Ingredient – Review
Hearts Around the Table: Kiki’s Fourth Ingredient – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Kiki drops off her chocolate zucchini muffins at a local store. She rushes out to meet her family for dinner and accidentally bumps into a man, Clay, behind her. He makes a quip to the cashier about Kiki’s speedy exit but can’t ignore the smell of her muffins. Clay buys a dozen.
Kiki meets the family for Sunday Supper and confirms she will cook for Jenna and Andrew’s wedding. Jenna’s concerned because Kiki hasn’t cooked for 100 people before. Kiki assures Jenna that it’s no different than her food truck (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). She tells Jenna she has everything under control. However, Kiki hides her fears.
Josh, Evan, and Andrew meet at a bar to discuss the stag party. Andrew doesn’t want the traditional festivities. So, Evan promises to throw a low-key celebration. Then, the best man, Clay, joins them. Andrew informs the guys that Clay owns the 7 Basil restaurant and other establishments. They know and love Clay’s food.
Kiki delivers several pizzas and almost drops one as Clay catches it. He introduces himself to her, and they laugh. Clay meets the family, and Kiki tells Shari about her run-in with Clay earlier. The family can see the connection between them, but Kiki ignores it. She’s surprised Clay isn’t cooking for his best friend’s wedding. He knows how much work it will take and wants to focus on Andrew and Jenna’s big day. Clay pulls Kiki aside and offers to help with the wedding. Kiki says she’s fine until Clay breaks down the logistics. She realizes she may need assistance. Clay offers to be a helping hand whenever she needs it. As they work together, they fall in love. But will Kiki’s stubborn ways end their professional and personal relationship?
This final installment of the series brings back all three couples with one goal: a wedding. Kiki remembers how cooking for Angie’s Hearts made her feel. So, she wants to replicate that bonding experience for Jenna and Andrew’s wedding. However, their love story doesn’t take center stage in the plot. The focal point becomes Jenna reconnecting with her birth father. The romance between Kiki and Clay feels like a byproduct of the wedding’s drama. Even the stag party has more interesting highs and lows than Kiki’s problems. This film presents as a second Jenna and Andrew story, not Kiki’s first. If Hallmark continues the Hearts franchise, hopefully, Kiki’s tale will get a second shot.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
She seems in a hurry – Clay
You’re my mom too, Angie – Jenna
I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be mad about. That take-out was pretty good – Shari
I wouldn’t have it any other way – Kiki
We all know, bro – Andrew
A happy Shari is a happy life for all of us – Josh
I’m quite resourceful, you know – Angie
I will chill out with the overplanning then – Evan
Is your tie bothering you? – Ella
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Categories: Adrian Holmes, Anissa Felix, Charlie N. Townsend, Chelsea Gilson, Cristiana Barbatelli, Desire: A Temptations Story, Donna Winfield, Get Rich or Die Trying, hallmark, Hearts Around the Table: Kiki's Fourth Ingredient, Home is Where the Harm Is, Jordyn Rolling, Kathryn Davis, Kyle Kankonde, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Made for TV, Mindy Cohn, movie, review, Simone Lewis, Sins of the Bride, Sophia Andrea Torres, Spring into Love, Tasha Smith, Titus Makin Jr., Torrance Coombs, Tubi, tv review
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