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Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love – Review
Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Gangster Rapper Charlie Mega spends three months in Fulton Jail. During her time, she went viral and spent time in Peachtree City of Faith’s bible study. Charlie exits the jail and gets into an awaiting black SUV. Charlie approaches her front door. Before she can enter, her manager, Dean, rolls up on the property. Dean warns Charlie that she is behind for her next album, and she has to do community service. She can’t be late. If she misses any business meetings or her album flops, her label will drop her for being too problematic. Also, no other label will want her.
After a restless night, Charlie attends Peachtree City of Faith Church, and Pastor Kyrus captivates her. She arrives later for her community service, and Doris yells at her for being late. Charlie brushes it off, puts on a hairnet, and serves food. Doris gives her a package to deliver to the church, and Charlie bangs on the door. Pastor Kyrus asks if she’s lost, and Charlie laughs. She’s lost in more ways than one. She talks about seeing him at bible study and the impact it had on her. Something inside her has changed, but she’s afraid to follow it. Kyrus encourages her to keep going and attend church.
Later, the Pastor meets with Deacon Kevin and Sister Suzanne. Kyrus wants to move the church to a larger location because the lease on his current building will expire soon. However, he can’t collect enough donations from the current members. He is currently holding three sermons a day. Kyrus hopes a loan from the bank will secure funds, but his old boss, Paster McCabe, will stand in his way. McCabe wouldn’t let Kyrus lead a sermon, so he left. When he did, half of McCabe’s congregation went with Kyrus. McCabe still hasn’t forgiven him. Suzanne highlights another issue. People want a pastor with a wife. His single status is a problem for the church board. They want a sweet, church-going woman in the front row to be first lady. However, Kyrus can’t take his mind off of Charlie. When they connect, they reflect the best parts of each other. Can their love hold when everyone tries to tear it down?
This movie is the surprise hit you don’t see coming. While the world sees Kyrus and Charlie as opposites, they are the same. Both are hiding their true selves from the world by presenting who others want them to be. Charlie is a tough gangster rapper, but she’s tired of being angry, drunk, and a mess. Kyrus admits that he hates the suits and shoes the church forces him to wear. He would rather wear sneakers and pullovers. The writers use this inner conflict to express their connection, not lust. And that jumps off the film with faith and prayer. Eagle-eyed viewers will see their favorites from Greenleaf and Saints and Sinners (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The music is a ‘bop,’ and the fashion blends perfectly. This picture will be your favorite of Terry McMillan’s.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
Do you know who I am – Charlie
Listen up, little Miss Taco – Dean
The wound is where the light enters – Pastor Kyrus
I was just being protective – Suzanne
The two of you are from different worlds. They don’t even meet in the middle – Kevin
These aren’t rhymes. This is poetry – Money
I trained you – Pastor McCabe
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A Soldier for Christmas – Review
A Soldier for Christmas – UPtv – 2 hours and 0 minutes
After several failed dates, Hannah is tired of men on dating apps. Her friends and family encouraged her to date after losing her husband, Andrew, in battle. Sadly, her dates run when they discover she has a 5-year-old daughter, Carmen. Hannah expresses her frustrations with her brother, Joshua, during their daily check-in. Joshua is in the military and stationed overseas. He doesn’t want Hannah to give up on love. However, Hannah must focus on work. She has a campaign that needs a perfect all-American soldier. Joshua laughs and promises to keep his eyes open. Hannah volunteers at church, and a co-worker, Jackie, says her daughter mentioned a Christmas wish to the congregation. Hannah inquires about the wish, but Jackie won’t elaborate. Hannah leaves, and Jackie prays that Carmen’s wish comes true.
An RPG strikes near Joshua, but Ryan tackles him out of the way. Joshua wakes in a medical hospital with Ryan by his side. He asks Ryan for the time and grunts when he realizes he missed his daily check-in. He knows his sister will worry. He thanks Ryan for saving him and gets an idea. He calls Hannah and says he found the perfect soldier for her. She assumes it’s a date and says no. He reiterates and says it’s for her campaign. She agrees, and Joshua introduces Ryan. Hannah can’t contain her surprise but offers to interview him for the job later. Ryan will be a wish come true for Hannah, but can she accept it, or will her fears creep in?
Unlike other holiday films, you don’t have to wait for the end for the main characters to become a couple. Ryan and Hannah became a couple before Ryan returned to his tour. But that’s where their doubts start to creep into their thoughts. The writers skirted the line between making Hannah expressive and whiny. The director shot some scenes in a gym. Often, the background becomes louder when the actors aren’t speaking. The sound engineers expertly avoided this issue. It allowed the audience to stay within the scene. Because this is a holiday movie, the religious and magical elements go hand-in-hand. It doesn’t bombard or slow down the story. This film is a sweet, magical holiday story for the entire family.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
No one seems to measure up – Hannah
Sorry, I was busy being shot at – Joshua
Love me some integrity – Ryan
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Relative Danger – Review
Relative Danger – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Alice hides in the closet and calls her mother, Angie, on the phone. She is alone and heard footsteps in the house. Angie picks up the call, assuming Alice will question her whereabouts. Instead, Angie hears the panic in Alice’s voice. She tells Alice to be quiet and call the police. Then, Alice screams as her aunt, Sydney, opens the door and says boo. Alice sighs and admonishes Sydney for scaring her. Alice grabs the phone to ease Angie’s fears, but Angie doesn’t respond. In that moment, Angie was the victim of a hit-and-run driver.
Detective Marshall meets Alice and Sydney at the hospital. Angie is alive, but she has severe head trauma. The staff put her in a medically induced coma to give her brain time to heal. Marshall recounts what he believed happened in the parking lot, but something sounds off to Sydney. She can’t believe Angie that someone would hit her in a parking lot and run. Sydney thinks it was deliberate. Marshall asks if Angie had any enemies, but Sydney can’t recall. He gives Sydney his business card if she remembers.
Sydney stands in the room alone with Angie as Nurse Simon enters. He promises they will take good care of Angie because she is a nurse at the hospital. He can’t believe this happened on a night he took her shift. Sydney does a double-take. She thought Angie was working a double shift that night. Simon admits that Angie was going to meet with Alice’s dad. They reconnected because Angie felt guilty about keeping them apart. Sydney thought Alice’s father had died years ago. Simon says Alice’s father is alive and well, and his name is Jordan.
Sydney runs to her mother, Louise, for an explanation. First, Louise lies, but Sydney won’t back down. Louise tells Sydney that Jordan was a drunk and a criminal. She and Angie thought it would be better not to inform him about Alice and to tell Alice her father had died. Sydney states that Jordan was with Angie the night of the accident. Louise thinks Jordan is the number one suspect and alerts Marshall. Alice is in danger, but do they have the right suspect?
This movie will make you feel bad for the bratty teen. Poor Alice was born into a world of liars, killers, and manipulators. Viewers will understand her rage and resulting behavior. They hide their conniving ways under the guise of being ‘good for Alice.’ However, they only protect themselves. This film delivers a compelling mystery for the first hour as you peel back the layers of Angie’s life. That changes when Jordan’s family enters the script. The villain stands out like a sore thumb, but you won’t care. Their crazy ways will make you chuckle. It’s worth watching and will make you want more. The culprit saved this picture.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
Don’t take it out on me – Angie
You think someone tried to kill her – Louise
Don’t hate me for this – Simon
You can’t hide my daughter from me forever – Jordan
Alice’s father is dead – Sydney
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My Mother Looked Just Like You – Review
My Mother Looked Just Like You – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Tennis Camp Owner Sharon trains students and runs a thriving business. She checks over the equipment when Cara asks if her name is familiar. Sharon says they have the same maiden name, but she doesn’t know anyone named Cara. Cara asks if Sharaon knew her mother, Diane. Sharon freezes because Diane is her identical twin sister. They haven’t seen each other in 20 years. The last time she saw Diane was when Diane stole jewelry from their parents to feed her drug addiction. Cara somberly informs Sharon that Diane died. Cara has no other family. Sharon tells Cara that she must discuss this with her husband, Ben, first.
Sharon runs to Ben’s office and updates him. He worries that Cara is a con artist. However, Cara had Diane’s ID, birth certificate, and their mother’s wedding band. Ben agrees to let their children, Jaden and Noah, meet their cousin. However, he will keep a close eye on her. And, he wants Cara to get a blood test to prove her genealogy. Later, the family settles when the test proves Cara is their kin. But they shouldn’t ease into family barbecues too soon. Cara plans to destroy every member of their family. She wants to make Sharon pay.
This film feels like the typical long-lost-family-gone-crazy story, but the plot adds one more twist. This surprise closes all the gaps in the story along the way. The family is kind and loving, with everyday squabbles. Sharon pushes tennis on her children and expects them to be perfect. She acknowledges the problem because her mother was the same way with her and her twin. However, Sharon doesn’t correct it. She uses a kinder tone. Ben is an intelligent and attentive Lifetime dad. He is Captain Obvious of the script. The audience will praise his common sense and logical thinking. He is the dreamboat of this film. You shouldn’t cancel plans to watch this film, but give it a chance if you have two hours to kill.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
I practice enough – Noah
Can I hug you – Sharon
She’s dead – Cara
Did she want anything – Ben
You have no idea – Jaden
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A Newport Christmas – Review
A Newport Christmas – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Sadie runs around the estate looking for Arthur’s daughter, Ella. Tonight is their family’s first annual Christmas Eve ball. Her father has something pressing to tell Ella, but she is nowhere to be found on the property. Ella burst through the door with grand ideas. She wants to use her wedding dowry to create a charity for underprivileged families in Newport. Ella understands that not everyone is as wealthy, but she doesn’t believe children shouldn’t suffer because of it. Sadie loves Ella’s idea, but doubts Arthur will agree. She tells Ella to go to Arthur’s study.
Ella tells Arthur about her idea, and he scoffs at it. He has plans for the ball. He will announce her engagement to Everett Thornton. He comes from a good family and will secure her future. Ella sneaks away, jumps on her boat, and floats to the middle of the sea. She sees a comet in the sky and makes a wish. Ella wishes for a different life, to fall in love, and to have someone fall in love with the real her. She sighs, turns, and finds Nick sitting in her boat. They scream. Nick has no idea how this strange woman got into his boat. She demands that he take her to shore and disembark her boat immediately. She will alert the authorities when they get there. Nick is comfortable taking her back, but she has no claim to his vessel.
They arrive at Newport, but nothing is the same for Ella. She introduces herself to Nick, and he assumes she is an Ella cosplayer. Ella informs Nick that she set sail on December 18th, 1905. Nick says it’s December 18th, but 2025. The changes overwhelm Ella, and she faints. Nick waits for her to regain her senses. When she does, Ella demands to go home. Nick tells her that her family home is a museum. They go to the museum and meet the manager, Christine, and the tour guide, Francis. Ella is delighted to see a lady boss. Ella takes charge of the next tour group and gives them a premium tour. Christine can’t believe her ears. After the last group leaves, Ella’s ready for bed. But she can’t sleep at the museum. So they give her a room at the bed and breakfast. With each passing day, they notice that Ella’s history is slowly disappearing. She must return to her time to make her impact on the world. There is only one problem. Nick is falling in love with her, knowing she will marry another man in her timeline. Can Nick let her go, or will he tear a fabric in time?
This beautifully written movie is funny and whimsical. Ella was a woman ahead of her time. She dreams of helping others but fears marriage will slow her down. Nick tells Ella that she had the best of both worlds. A loving husband who believed in her dreams and a blossoming charity. However, their world knows little of her husband, Rex. The audience will dream of a world of Ella and Nick while they fall in love. Also, you will delight in Ella’s wonderment. She admires pants on women but detests modern ornaments. The writers made Back to the Future jokes and offered a subplot romance (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). They also found a way to praise both eras without diminishing the other. The vanity and set departments wove both eras together with ease and grace. It is a pleasure to witness their work. This film will make you wish for time travel and unending love.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
I don’t know Sir Nordstrom Rack. Can you introduce me to him – Ella
Give her some air. Give me some air. Let’s give everybody some air – Nick
I prefer sci-fi buff – Francis
Just let it play out, Ella – Christine
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The Great Christmas Snow-In – Review
The Great Christmas Snow-In – UPtv – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Novelist Jane opens the cabin door and finds songwriter Justin inside. This moment is uncomfortable because Jane’s cousin, songwriter Addy, left Justin at the altar for their manager, Alejandro. This cabin was their honeymoon destination. Justin wanted to use this time away to see if he could write without Addy by his side. Jane states that she saw the cabin listed online and wanted to use the time to write her next novel. Justin can’t believe Addy canceled the reservation. He lets Jane inside while she looks for a hotel in the area. Then, they hear the news report. A snowstorm caused closures throughout the region. Jane is stuck. Justin doesn’t mind and makes her feel welcome. He asks to read one of her novels. She shyly agrees.
Jane and Justin spend time together. He teaches her about songwriting and boasts about her novels. He imagined himself as the heroine’s love interest. He wants to read her unpublished manuscript before anyone else. Jane often puts her writing down. So, hearing his kind words boosts her confidence. She asks to listen to his song. Justin admits it’s hard to write without Addy by his side. She added flair to his words. They look longingly at each other until the door opens. It’s Addy and Alejandro. She assumed the cabin would be empty. They barely made it up the hill, so they know they can’t leave. Jane and Justin feel surprisingly uncomfortable with their new guests, and Addy can see the spark between them. And she doesn’t like it. She wants to put a wedge in between them. A wedge Jane knows all too well. What relationship will survive the great snow-in?
This movie contains all the holiday clichés, but mentions them out loud. Jane even rolls her eyes at how absurd it all is. When she decides to be the heroine of her story, she takes control of her life and demands clarity. The writers only focused on four characters. It allows each to have an introduction, a backstory, some growth, and understanding. Yes, even Abby has a soft spot. She’s not the typical scandalous, seductive, villainous ex-fiancée. There is a deeper psychological issue with her competitive nature with Jane. The lead’s fans will get to hear his singing abilities again, and they weave perfectly with the story. This film is shockingly funny, with a humorous trust game and an uncomfortable Christmas quiz. Although it follows the Christmas romance format, this picture captures your attention and is worth our two hours.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
I’m not sure a real writer would consider it real writing – Jane
What’s wrong with you? – Justin
It’s just one night – Addie
Be careful if a naked man offers you a shirt – Alejandro
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Christmas on Duty – Review
Christmas on Duty – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Josh and Blair stand on the starting line to compete in their final race at TBS. During the race, Josh discusses his future with Blair. She will go into artillery, and he into infantry. Then, they will meet later and train recruits. Blair wins the race and confesses the truth. She signed up for the infantry because she scored high marks. She didn’t believe she could make it, but she’s at the top of her class. Josh can’t believe he fell for her tricks. His dad, Cliff, warned him that her family goes for ambition over friendship. She screams that her father, Richard, told her his family was stubborn. They swear to avoid each other and never speak again.
Six years later, Captain Blair wants the few company commander positions at Quantico. She corners Colonel Clarkin about the job, but he stops her because they are at his last military Christmas party. Clarkin will retire after the holidays, and Colonel Grant will take over. Blair walks away and sits with her best friend, Zoe. Clarkin greets the attendees and introduces them to the newest commander, Josh. Josh jumps on stage and winks at Blair before dancing with his sister, Amanda. Blair cuts in and demands to speak. She thought they agreed to stay apart. He applied for the job because it was a great opportunity. They chose to settle their argument the way they did in the past: a race. They line up, take a step, bump into the cake, and spill frosting on Colonel Grant and his wife. Clarkin demands that they report to standing duty in the morning for a 24-hour standing duty.
It’s Christmas Eve, and Josh decorates their office. Blair thinks it is ridiculous because he will have to take it down tomorrow. Then, Josh gets a call from Amanda. The snowstorm won’t allow the trucks to deliver presents. His nephew, Tate, wanted a train that reminded him of his father, who is on tour. Josh learns that everyone in the neighborhood has the same woes. Blair and Josh were military brats. Today, they know how important the holidays are. So, they run to Clarkin with a plan. They will find out the most coveted toy for each child on the base, drive to the store, and deliver the presents. Clarkin agrees. However, they must provide the toys before the children wake up and return within 24 hours. Blair and Josh must cooperate to save Christmas. Nevertheless, they will rescue a romance and a friendship.
This holiday movie has a dash of Romeo and Juliet (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The conflict between Blair and Josh stems from their fathers. Although they fell in love once, they gave in to generational squabbles. The writers allowed Josh and Blair to have fun and throw in their military training to turn every task into an obstacle course. The camera angles and editing did a good job of hiding the body doubles. The director allowed the lead actress’s singing ability to shine and flow with the script. However, the USAA promotions become redundant and forced (speaking as a member). This romantic military comedy relies on jokes but not at the expense of Christmas, and with beautiful life lessons.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
Tis the season to crush you – Blair
Enjoy coming in fa la la la last – Josh
I will start calling Zoe when you stop calling me ‘Sergeant Major’ – Richard
I immediately regret that – Zoe
I thought Rich and I were friends, too – Cliff
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Categories: A Newport Christmas, A Soldier for Christmas, Amanda Fuller, Avery Joy Davis, B Simone, Cameron Arnett, Christmas on Duty, Countdown to Christmas, Da Brat, Debra Hale, Dennis Andres, Ginna Claire Mason, hallmark, Hateful and Grateful, Janel Parrish, Jenny Heaton, Joe Barra, Joey Lawrence, Karrueche Tran, Kirsten Comerford, Laura Provenzano, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Made for TV, Mark J.P. Hood, Melina Alves, Most Uplifting Christmas Ever, movie, My Mother Looked Just Like You, Parker Young, Reginae Carter, Relative Danger, Renay Rayes, review, Ricardo Chavez, Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love, The Great Christmas Snow-In, Tobias Truvillion, tv review, UPtv, Wes Brown
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