Crowning at the Prom – Review

Crowning at the Prom – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Kat is running for homecoming queen, is an active member of the rowing team, is applying to Ivy League schools, is maintaining a perfect grade point average, and is the most popular girl in school. Her best friend, Hannah, wonders if Kat will go to Penn or Yale with her boyfriend, Travis. Kat assures Hannah that Yale is the only place for her. Kat’s mom, Abigail, is happy that Kat will continue her relationship with Travis because he comes from a successful family.

Kat and Hannah arrive at school, and Hannah sees Kat’s ex-boyfriend, Simon, by Kat’s locker. Hannah makes herself scarce while Kat approaches her locker, looking over her shoulder for Travis. Kat wants Simon to keep his distance because they broke up 3 months ago. Simon doesn’t believe she’s happy in her new relationship. He thinks she’s only dating Travis to please Abigail. Kat walks away.

Kat goes to the gym to work out. Her coach weighs the team members. To Kat’s surprise, she’s 3 pounds overweight. Her coach isn’t stressed because she has 65 days to burn it off. Until then, Kat will double her workouts and eat less.

Days later, Kat and Hannah attend Travis’s senior BBQ. Simon makes himself comfortable and removes an eyelash from Kat’s face. When Travis sees Simon touch Kat, he rushes over to her. Kat stands between them as the two argue until she faints. Kat wakes up in the hospital, and her doctor has startling news. Kat is 6 months pregnant. Kat doesn’t understand how this could be because she’s thin. The doctor checked her lab results and concluded that Kat has anorexia athletica. Before the doctor gets into specifics, Kat wants to know if the doctor will tell Abigail. Because Kat is 18, the doctor doesn’t have to report it. Kat breaths a sigh of relief. She plans to go to prom, lose weight, row, become prom queen, find a family for the baby, and go to Yale without anyone knowing about the pregnancy. Kat swears she has everything under control, but her need for perfection could kill her and her baby.

This film shines a light on an obscure eating disorder while using teen pregnancy to hook you into the plot. The film even adds the twist of unveiling the baby’s father while Kat hides her pregnancy from everyone but Hannah. Abigail’s plot takes a back seat to Kat’s. However, Abigail’s subplot shows the audience that mother and daughter keep secrets from each other. The backing track helps viewers understand Kat’s obsession with working out and dieting. Everything else, including her baby, gets put on the back burner. Viewers will become frustrated that Kat never goes to a doctor’s appointment or tells her mother. You must remember that Kat is a scared, ill-informed, and self-centered teen. These Lifetime heroines never disappoint and pull off an outstanding performance. The audience will be fully engrossed in the movie. While the film has some shortcomings, it makes its point while entertaining you. This film can be a teaching tool for parents.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars

Best friend trumps conflict of interest – Kat

God, I love when you get flustered – Travis

You just ghosted – Simon

Takes one to know one – Abigail

Yes, you are. You’re lying – Hannah

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My Daughter’s Trapped in a Throuple – Review

My Daughter’s Trapped in a Throuple – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Lori reviews her case when Detective Ben enters her office with good news. The defendant, Frank, decided to plead guilty to embezzlement. Lori knows this information could have been in an email. Ben laughs because he wanted to ask her out. She admits she has plans with her daughter, Mia, so she asks for a rain check.

Lori waits for Mia at a café and sees her kissing a man through the window. She questions Mia about him, but Mia says the relationship is too new. They finish catching up, and Lori tells her best friend, Dana, about Mia’s new beau. Days later, Lori returns to the café and sees him kissing another woman. Lori exits and tries to text Mia, but can’t do it. Dana tells Lori to relax, but she can’t.

Lori arrives at Mia’s apartment, and the mystery woman, Bree, from the café answers the door. Bree invites Lori inside. Bree tells them they work together. Before Lori can tell Mia about her boyfriend, he enters. He introduces himself as Ethan. Ethan reveals that they are in a throuple. Lori can’t wipe the shocked look off her face as Mia assures her mom she’s happy. Lori believes this is a bad situation. However, Dana tells her to keep an open mind. Will things change when Lori finds a dead body in Mia’s apartment?

This movie thrives on steady pacing and well-written characters. The new relationship dynamics of throuples hook viewers into the plot. The writer didn’t demonize them but took little time to explain them. It gives one pro and one con about the relationship. The twist starts with a phone call begging for help. Then, Lori finds a dead body and goes into lawyer mode. Next, she’s working to save herself and everyone she loves. While the body count is low, viewers need to watch it from the beginning to understand the motive. While the film’s pacing is solid, the tension isn’t believable. Ethan is a known creep but not a true threat. It makes the culprit and their action obvious. This movie keeps you watching, but not guessing.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars

Okay. It didn’t look like nothing to me – Lori

Sometimes interfering is the worst thing you can do – Dana

Mom, stop hovering – Mia

Three people together only means 3 times the love – Ethan

You should be afraid of him – Bree

You are, Lori – Ben

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Disney’s Descendants Wicked Wonderland – Review

Disney’s Descendants Wicked Wonderland – Disney Channel – 1 hour and 45 minutes

Chloe and Red return to their time with safe and loving mothers. They decided to lock Maddox’s pocket watch into the Wonderland Royal Vault. Now, no one can use it to change the past. They return to their respective castles. However, their world has changed. Chloe’s mother, Cinderella, no longer believes in shades of gray. She can only see right and wrong while keeping a watchful eye on her daughter at all times. Red has a little sister, Pink, who smiles as big as her mother, the Queen of Hearts. Also, Red isn’t considered a villain kid but a hero like Chloe. Everyone expects them to be perfect princesses. They vow to remain friends and see each other through their changes.

Chloe, Red, and Pink arrive at Auradon Prep. Luis Madrigal and Robbie Hood warmly greet them but warn them to beware of the evil VKs in the school. Hazel Hook roams the halls with Felix Facilier, Squirmy Smee, Squeaky Smee, and Max Hatter. Red can’t believe the son of her tutor, Maddox Hatter, is a villain. Maddox swears someone stole his pocket watch and went back in time. He went crazy looking for it. The Queen of Hearts sent Maddox to the Isle of the Lost, Max’s birthplace (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Chloe and Red know Maddox saw them, but they keep their mouths shut.

In Wonderland, the Queen congratulates her subjects on a job well done. Then, they all fall asleep. Maddox enters her royal room and demands to know the watch’s location. The Queen can’t believe she gave him a second chance. Before she can reprimand him, Maddox hits her with sleeping gas. She sends a card to Red, begging for help.

Red receives the card at school. She wants to save her mom but doesn’t know where to start. Chloe knows her mom will help. So, they run to Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). But they say no. They believe Wonderland is too dangerous, and they should follow protocols. Chloe can’t comprehend her mother’s demeanor. They decide to save the Queen together. However, Pink, Robby, and Luis won’t let them go alone.

Max overhears their plan and pulls Hazel aside. He’s tired of people comparing him to his father. He doesn’t want to live up to the villain moniker. He thinks that helping Red and Chloe save the Queen will force people to see him as an individual. Hazel grabs the Smees and Felix to travel with them. They meet Red and her crew at the rabbit hole. While Chloe doesn’t want them, Red still feels a villainous connection to the VKs. She invites them along to save her mom. Can they save the Queen without revealing how they changed the past?

Now, this movie is leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor. It tells a complete story with several messages for teens and tweens. The choreography is clean, the costumes are stunning, and it includes new fairy tales. The set designer reinvigorated Wonderland and added details from the classic story. Wonderland is bright and full of exotic creatures and wildlife. The antagonist has a compelling origin story. It makes viewers sympathize with his plight, while the protagonist has a journey of self-discovery between hero and villain. The songs are catchy, funny, and thought-provoking. Moms will resonate with the Cinderella/Queen of Hearts duet. While kids will clamor towards ‘Did You Hear About Them.’ It won’t be long before you see Halloween costumes, dolls, and dance lessons. This film is for the newer generation because it includes Encanto and recently revitalized tales. Original descendants fans will spend too much time comparing the old to the new. However, this film doesn’t forget about Carlos. Viewers can skip Descendants 4 because the narrator summarizes it within the first minute. This film is for the next generation to enjoy and sing along.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars

Revenge is a dish best served blue – Chessy

You’re still such an HK – Red

Hey, it’s hard being the daughter of a hero – Chloe

Evil is as evil does – Maddox

First rescue’s free – Luis

Maddox, I gave you a 2nd chance – Queen of Hearts

Mom’s been captured – Pink

Absolutely not – Cinderella

Maddox is not to be trifled with – Fairy Godmother

I’m tied to him – Max

Truth be told, Tinker Bell can grow her wings back – Hazel

She went in alone – King Charming

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Deadly Sign-In – Review

Deadly Sign-In – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Kate puts up flyers around town to promote her private tastings. She had a restaurant fail before. Now, she will have a soft opening and invite people to her home, where she will cook a meal for them. She wants to promote community and good food. She convinces friends from both inside and outside of work to sign up. After work, she leaves to cook her first dinner. Sadly, someone’s destroyed her flyers.

Before dinner, she invites everyone to sign in to her speaker and add a song to the playlist. She believes music, like food, is a good way to get to know people. While they chat, a disturbing track plays on the speaker. It’s a woman crying and begging for her life. Kate unplugs it, and her guests blame her. She points the finger at them. They finish the meal without music.

After work, Kate finds more flyers ripped from the wall. She goes upstairs to find police blocking a floor. She questions the officer, but the officer blows her off and tells Kate to leave. Kate uses the stairwell to sneak to the floor. When the officer spots her again, she informs Kate that someone murdered a woman. She asks to speak to a detective and tells him about the strange occurrence during her party. He grabs their digital expert, Daniel, and asks him to help her. He offers to scan her systems for malware, Trojans, and worms.

Daniel scans Kate’s equipment but can’t find anything on the surface. He will do a deep dive later. Until then, he warns her not to use guest sign-in on her speaker. He believes the intrusions will keep happening until she locks down her system. Kate doesn’t want to do that because it’s a barrier for her attendees. When the hacking affects her business, Kate has two options: find the stalker or go offline. Can she figure out who is stalking her?

This film crawls like a snail to an obvious suspect. And the motive is pathetic. Unlike most thrillers, this film isn’t just slow at the beginning. It continues until the last 3 minutes. Viewers will just stop caring and change the channel. The backing track doesn’t garner excitement, and the acting is uninspired. Everyone went through the motions for this picture. The plot judges technology and wi-fi more than the culprit’s motive. Viewers should save their time and skip this film.

I give it 1.5 out of 5 stars

Forgive me. I really don’t get out much – Daniel

Just another day in the restaurant business – Kate

You are not going to be bullied – Julia

Maybe they’re scared of people – Keith

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O Little Christmas Market – Review

O Little Christmas Market – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Olivia works at her mother’s bed and breakfast while running her late father’s Christmas market. Her mother, Lenore, believes Olivia spreads herself too thin. She wishes Olivia would spend more time making miniatures. Olivia believes the creations are just a hobby, not work. She heads to the market and hears distressing news from merchants. The lot’s owner, Archie, wants to sell the property to a developer. Olivia’s best friend, Zoey, confirms the rumors. Olivia swears she will convince Archie to keep the lot because Archie was her father’s best friend.

Grayson enters his father’s office with several plans for their new complex. His father, Bill, sifts through the designs. He likes all of them but one. Bill considers that design to be too modern. He wants Grayson to stick to the plans that work, keeping their design firm in business. Bill wants Grayson to design and close one final deal before the holidays. With this agreement, Bill can give the employees their Christmas bonuses. Grayson agrees to finish the deal.

Olivia and Grayson stand in a terminal waiting for their train. The attendant tells Olivia her train is delayed, so they sit and wait together. They make up wild stories about the train’s delay and Frosty the Snowman (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). They see a single bare Christmas tree in the station and decorate it together. Grayson leaves to take a phone call from Bill, while Olivia admires their handiwork. The attendant tells Olivia that her train is boarding now, but it’s at the other end of the station. So she must run fast to catch it. She leaves her card on Grayson’s briefcase, grabs her bag, drops a miniature tree, and runs for her train. Grayson returns to see Olivia’s gone. He picks up the tree, knocking off the business card before he can see it.

Months later, Olivia dreams about the train station guy who never called her. She even added him to her miniatures. Zoey warns Olivia that Archie is finalizing the decision today with the developer. Olivia runs to Archie’s office to beg for more time. Christmas is the time when most of their merchants earn money. Without it, their businesses will fail. As Olivia pleads her case, Grayson enters. He’s there to buy Archie’s land and develop it for rental spaces. Olivia asks Grayson to wait until Christmas to complete the deal. It will give her time to create an alternative. Grayson agrees but knows Bill won’t accept anything different. He wants to expand Bill’s business while helping the woman he’s falling in love with. Can they save the Christmas Market?

This Hallmark Christmas movie has snow, fudge, and beautiful holiday crafts. This plot doesn’t rely on ‘holiday magic’ to save the market but on pure love and town spirit. Viewers do get the classic clichés of meet-cutes, montages, and near kisses, but the town pride aspect makes it fun. Olivia and Grayson are creative people who feel stifled in their current roles. Their characters differ because the town encourages Olivia to expand, while Bill wants Grayson to stay in place. During the film, they motivate each other to be brave. That spark convinces the audience that their love can be real. The film does have a last-minute twist, but Hallmarkies know it’s not a problem for this holiday couple. While it shouldn’t hold a spot on your DVR, it’s worth two hours and a hot cocoa.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars

You will be perfect – Olivia

Just something I can’t get off my mind – Grayson

Is this train station guy – Zoe

I think that being too busy makes it easy to miss possibility – Lenore

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