Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Prelude to a Wedding – Review

Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Prelude to a Wedding – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Griff’s friend, Ty, will marry Sunny in a few days. They lost their violinist, so Griff asks Gethsemane to be his plus-one and play an original song at the wedding. Gethsemane says yes but questions if this is a date. Griff informs her that he got two rooms. Griff and Gethsemane arrive at Moody Inn and greet Siobhan. She is the coordinator and also friends with the groom. Griff sees another friend in the distance and leaves Siobhan and Gethsemane alone. Then, Eamon appears, and Gethsemane haphazardly invites him to the wedding.

Griff and Gethsemane enter the inn and see Ty discussing payment with the inn’s proprietor, Daniel. The best man, Frankie, only paid the deposit. However, Ty gave him the money to cover the rooms. Ty pays with his credit card as Sunny and the maid of honor, Agnes, descend the stairs. They make a brief introduction before going to their room. Gethsemane meets with Siobhan before the rehearsal dinner because Siobhan is overwhelmed. Gethsemane praises the flower arrangements. Siobhan says the praise goes to florist Erin. Gethsemane assumes the man standing next to Erin is her husband. However, it’s another classmate, Sean. He’s had financial troubles lately, so Siobhan warns Gethsemane to steer clear. He lost a lot of money with bad investments and a terrible divorce. Gethsemane spies the empty spot in the seating arrangement. Siobhan explains it’s to honor their friend, Brayden. He was driving a car with Frankie and Ty inside and crashed. Brayden died in the crash their senior year.

During the dinner, Ty stands to give a speech, but a drunken Frankie barges into the room and disrupts him. Sunny defuses the situation by inviting everyone to the dance floor. Gethsemane can’t help but notice small, quiet squabbles happening on the dance floor. Griff ignores it and pays attention to her. Later, Gethsemane overhears Ty and Frankie arguing. Daniel tries to break it up, but Frankie elbows Daniel in the nose. Ty tells Frankie to leave. Frankie walks past Erin as she whispers something in his ear. On the front lawn, Sean begs Agnes to stay, but she refuses to talk to him.

Gethsemane sits at the lighthouse in the morning because she can’t get over her writer’s block. Eamon joins her and offers assistance. As they tour the grounds, they stumble upon Frankie’s dead body. Gethsemane spies a strange footprint and takes a picture. They see a man in the distance and try to get his attention. However, the man walks through Gethsemane. He is Colin, Daniel’s father and the inn’s previous owner. Colin states that someone killed Frankie. He didn’t see the culprit but heard Frankie’s last words: Pray. He wants to find the killer because he fears the police will blame Daniel. Years ago, Colin fell from the lighthouse because the rail rotted. The police tried to blame Daniel, but he wasn’t the owner, so it wasn’t his responsibility. Since Daniel owns the inn now, the police will make him the number one suspect. However, he knows Daniel didn’t do it because he hasn’t been to the lighthouse in years. Gethsemane calls Inspector O’Reilly for help. Can they find Frankie’s killer before the police put away the wrong man?

Based on the book series, this mystery has plenty of suspects, motives, and opportunities (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). With an extensive background between the friends, viewers must look to the past and the present to uncover the killer’s motive. Viewers also have to handle the ghost angle in these films. Gethsemane must discover why Colin is bound to the lighthouse and prove his son’s innocence. These added enigmas captivate the audience. Clues are everywhere in the plot, some during the arguments and others in the discussions. Then, Eamon, Gethsemane, and O’Reilly reveal clues during their investigation. All are important and weave into the larger plot. The writers gave every suspect a reason to want Frankie dead. He was a thief, a liar, and manipulative. Don’t forget the subplots of Gethsemane’s love triangle and Siobhan’s growing gift. The plot doesn’t have a twist, but it has a well-earned conclusion and a peek into Eamon’s future. This film is a marvelous addition to the franchise.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars

More like a dinner or 2 – Griff

When are we leaving? – Gethsemane

Are you trying to convince me or yourself? – Siobhan

I love weddings – Eamon

My bills have bills – Ty

We will be best friends forever, apart or together – Sunny

Did I mess this up? – Frankie

I’m fine, put the champagne down the wrong pipe – Agnes

We get a thing – Colin

I could really use a cup of coffee – O’Reilly

You’re good – Erin

I get it, but please listen to me – Sean

Enough – Daniel

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Clash of the Thundermans – Review

Clash of the Thundermans – Nickelodeon – 1 hour and 30 minutes

President Kickbutt’s ceremony for Hank Thunderman gets interrupted by the Replicator. The Thundermans assume it will be easy because it’s 7 against one, but the Replicator makes 6 copies. During the battle, Chloe starts to glow and emanates a burst of energy. The family works together to defeat the Replicator but worries about Chloe. The family returns home while Barb takes Chloe to the super doctor. 

Barb and Chloe come home with exciting news. Chloe has a new power. She can generate and manipulate energy, but she hasn’t gotten control over it yet. As the family talks, Chloe’s power goes off again and rips a hole in the house. President Kickbutt demands to see the Thundermans now. President Kickbutt heard about Chloe’s new power. It is extremely rare and dangerous. So, they decided to enroll Chloe in a special school for superheroes. Over the next 5 years, she will learn how to control her powers while living on campus. The family can visit Chloe once a quarter. Chloe will be under Headmaster Cognita’s advisement. Barb and Phoebe are against Chloe being away for 5 years. The family link hands and teleport out. 

The family divides over what to do for Chloe. Barb, Phoebe, and Billy think she should stay home, while Hank, Nora, and Max think she should go to school. President Kickbutt and Cognita arrive at the Thundermans’ home to bring Chloe to school. Cognita injects Chloe with a serum to hinder her powers. Phoebe and Barb pull Chloe behind them and ask Chloe what she wants. Chloe says she wants to stay, so Phoebe hits Hank, Nora, Max, President Kickbutt, and Cognita with her freeze breath before they run away. Half of the family is on the run as they try to teach Chloe how to control her powers. Can the Thundermans survive a family civil war?

This superhero film combines family drama with superpowers. The plot is similar to Captain America: Civil War but with physical and farce comedy. It also adds a layer about family dynamics and how they shape development. That bond displays beautifully on screen and balances the silliness. Your family may take sides too. The film’s action sequences are outlandish and fun. The fight scenes were appropriate for children and well-choreographed. However, the editing was lackluster. It was easy to spot the differences between the stunt doubles and the actors. The special effects were perfectly dramatic and paired well with the audience. The film has two twists. The first is predictable for older viewers, but the second leads to a new superhero. This movie is safe family fun with cool powers and love.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

Yeah, finish eating so we can do it again – Nora

Really. Then, I overpaid for that tour – Billy

Remember me, Thunderchump – Replicator

A superhero is like a cheese danish – Hank

Miss me, but I won’t miss you – Chloe

Rio will never forget these hips – Dr. Colosso

I take it back, you’re the worst – Max

Step aside, Phoebe – President Kickbut

I always am – Cognita

You know we don’t do a lot of stuff that’s just us. It’s nice – Barb

Max, look out – Phoebe

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Much About Love – Review

Much About Love – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Bea returns home to direct The Taming of the Shrew for her mother’s Summer Shakespeare Festival. Bea beams because she’s returning to her roots. She recruited TV actress Hannah to play the lead, Katherine, but hasn’t found someone to play Petruchio. As Bea prattles about possible actors, her mother, Toni, informs her that she found an actor. Then, Ben enters and hugs Toni. Ben and Bea dated when they played Romeo and Juliet. However, she abruptly ended the relationship without explanation before leaving for Los Angeles to direct. After pleasantries, Toni asks Ben to teach the acting workshop, but he says no. Bea grits her teeth and resigns to working with her ex-boyfriend. 

Later, Toni meets with Juan. He sits on the city board, and he’s come bearing unfortunate news. The city wants to sell the festival to an unknown entity. Toni can guess who they are because they bought another festival. They shrank the staff, reduced the hours, and removed some plays. Toni plans to retire, and the city doesn’t want it to continue without a successor. Bea interjects. She and Toni talked about her retirement earlier. Bea plans to take over when Toni steps down so the festival can remain independent. Juan says he will bring the changes to the board. However, they will watch this year’s festival closely. If Bea can’t bring in the ticket sales and good reviews, then they will sell the festival. 

Bea can’t hide her frustrations from Ben. He steps down as Petruchio to assist her and guide the actors. During rehearsals, Ben and Bea can see a spark between Hannah and the new leading man, Clay. They want to end the showmance before it ruins the play and the festival’s future. However, the cast sees the attraction between Ben and Bea and wants to make them fall in love again. Whose plan will work, and can they save the festival?

This romance movie is heavily guided by The Taming of the Shrew (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The leads’ chemistry is off the charts, but it’s the silent moment at the restaurant that makes you misty-eyed. Their dialogue plays with the changes in the script, describing what they are doing as an effective way to display romance. As they fall in love, they grow as individuals, personally and professionally. It’s refreshing. The well-placed comedy and subplots stop the film from dragging. In fact, the subplots aren’t placeholders, but meaningful moments in the character arcs. The conclusion is well-fought and entertaining. Also, Doug is the comedic standout. He says what the audience is feeling. This movie would make Shakespeare proud.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars

You both know I can’t resist a dramatic reveal – Toni

Don’t try to stop me – Bea

He’s funny – Hannah

Yeah, I’m not joking – Doug

Isn’t all love a risk though – Ben

Are we still talking about Petruchio? – Clay

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