Garage Sale Mysteries: Murder Takes the Stage – Review

Garage Sale Mysteries: Murder Takes the Stage – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Jennifer arrives at Milton’s bed and breakfast, and everyone bombards her with questions about Lizzie Borden. Book club members are putting on a murder mystery about the Borden murders. Author and Borden historian Carol refuses to display her memorabilia if they portray Lizzie as the murderer. She feels that Lizzie was innocent. Carol grabs her 1st edition of The Fall River Tragedy, and threatens to leave (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Helen reminds Carol that she signed a contract to display her items and sign her book for audience members. Milton’s friend Isaac will play Andrew Borden, and Isaac’s stepdaughter, Sierra, will be Lizzie. Milton and Isaac believe Lizzie is guilty and want to show her committing the crime. Jennifer suggests they offer two endings and allow the audience to make up their mind. Everyone agrees. Carol puts the book in its rightful place, but grabs it again when Isaac tries to snatch it. Carol warns him never to touch her book. The author and the original detective signed it. Her book is one of a kind. Carol takes the book to her room when Eric arrives to check in. The group recognizes his last name. His great-grandfather was the original detective. Jennifer, playing Abby, takes her costume into a room to change. However, Helen worries because they don’t have anyone to play the detective. Jennifer thinks of Detective Frank and convinces him to join the show.

Later, Frank arrives, ready to play the part. Then, Carol descends the stairs in a fevered pitch. Her book is missing from her room. Frank and Jennifer split up to search the premises. Jennifer stumbles into Eric, messing with his sweater and acting nervously. Then, she enters Milton’s room. She sees a hand under the bed in the mirror’s reflection. Jennifer runs to the other side of the bed and sees Milton’s dead body. She spies a tipped teacup, a bruise on Milton’s wrist, a rip on his shirt, and blood pooling from his head. Jennifer calls for Frank, and he brings in a forensic team. They classify Milton’s death as a homicide, and everyone is a suspect. With Jennifer so close to the crime, she is in the killer’s crosshairs. However, she has a strange idea to catch the culprit: the show must go on. Can Jennifer uncover who killed Milton and why?

Based on Garage Sale Stalker by Suzi Weinert, this film is a triumphant return of a Hallmark classic series (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The setup introduces the audience to the characters, their motivation for performing, and their obsession with the Borden case. As Jennifer’s family and friends join the mystery, the pace keeps steady. Unlike other films, Frank doesn’t try to steer her away until she gets hurt. In fact, he encourages her actions and puts her plan in motion. Most of the suspects have strong motives except Helen. The writers could have spent more time developing her character and adding more intrigue. The clues around the body are all a part of the murder, and clues revealed during the plot give each character a motive. They included money, reputation, and control. The monologue ties everything together and leaves nothing unfinished. However, the standoff was a bit theatrical, but it strengthens Jason’s character.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars

Can you wear that to dinner – Jason

Hmm, no – Milton and Isaac

Who will be here eventually – Jennifer

Here we go again – Frank

Murder mystery people are a different breed – Dani

You know no such thing – Carol

Is this necessary – Eric

Just like the real Lizzie – Helen

Thanks, I’m trying – Sierra

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Family Through the Fire – Review

Family Through the Fire – Lifetime – 2 hours and – minutes

Bill disappoints his family again after failing to pick up his children from school. His wife, Susan, picks up the children, and he comes home with flowers. She grabs the flower food packet and drops it with the others. She exhales and forgives him. Susan is an active member at her church and drops off food to an elderly church member in the morning. During the visit, Susan gets an alert on her phone. A wildfire is near, and they want people to go to a designated evacuation center. Susan runs home while her family packs. Bill, Susan, and their children, Andrew and Gracie, are ready. However, Annie spends the night with a friend. Bill tells Susan to take their kids to the center,  and he will take Annie in his truck. Susan agrees and drives to the center. Bill runs to Annie’s friend’s home, but Annie isn’t there. He panics. Bill sprints home and finds Annie at a family meeting point. He’s proud Annie remembered, but they must leave. Bill grabs Annie, but someone stole his truck. He finds another vehicle with keys inside. They drive down the road. However, fire surrounds them. Can they make it out alive and back to their family?

This film has a disconnected dad and scared daughter in the middle of a blazing inferno to hook you into the plot. However, they are not the focus of the movie. The plot centers around Susan at the evacuation center. The writers created the stereotype of a people-pleaser who never gets angry, always says ‘I’m sorry,’ and never complains. She picks up the slack at church, home, and at the center. While this is a Lifetime movie, it would be better on UP TV. This film centers around religion and the power of belief. The script turns Susan from a doormat to a strong woman while the world crumbles around her. Her transformation is remarkable. However, during Susan’s moments, the script falls flat because Bill’s story is more compelling. While the plot is briefly entertaining, it’s on the wrong network.

I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars

Would you rather I be rude? – Susan

You don’t have to apologize during hell – Joyce

I love you – Bill

He always promises, Mom – Andrew

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Falling into Place – Review

Falling into Place – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Kaia returns to her hometown, Maplecrest, for her high school reunion. While she’s off work, Kaia’s grandmother, Gigi, notices Kaia’s phone keeps buzzing. Her boss, Yasmine, entered Kaia’s name for a promotion, so she’s working diligently. However, she wishes she could work with smaller clients instead of corporations. As Kaia and Gigi eat Cinnamon Maple rolls, Kaia notices Gigi’s immaculate landscaping. Gigi confesses that James tends to her yard. Kaia isn’t surprised. James and Kaia were friends in high school. Later, he took over his parents’ landscaping company. Then, Gigi recalls the past and returns to the kitchen with a box. Inside the box is Kaia and James’s Fall Bucket List. They wrote the list in high school and attempted to check every item. Three items remain on the list. Gigi encourages Kaia to get out of the house, spend time with James, and complete the list. Kaia laughs off the suggestion and attends the football game with her friend Parker.

Before the game, Parker and Kaia order food at the concession stand. Kaia turns and smashes into James, leaving toasted marshmallow on his shirt. James’s friend, Ben, and Parker leave so the two can have time alone. Kaia talks about their time together while mentioning the list. James likes the ideas and thinks they should try to complete it. The three things are to make Mr. Winters smile, get the secret Apple Cider Donut recipe, and win Festival King and Queen. As they check the boxes, love becomes an item on the list. Will they cross that off too?

This seasonal love story drops you in the center of a fall wonderland. The leaves, colors, and cozy outfits prepare the audience for fall. You can smell the pumpkin spice latte. The season isn’t a background character but an integral part of the storyline. Now, the plot has clichés including a meet-cute, working together for a contest, and high school sweethearts falling in love again. These flow naturally with the script and don’t feel forced. The actors’ chemistry is believable because everyone can see it but them. An interesting aspect is that they are living each other’s lives. James wanted to move to the city, but Kaia desired to stay local. It leaves them unsatisfied. The twist isn’t them kissing; it’s how their relationship affects everyone in the town. It’s endearing to see everyone work together to match them. While the plot dulls occasionally, this film will get you into the fall season.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars

I am almost, nearly done – Kaia

I have a good eye for matchmaking – Ben

That’s one way to roll back into town – James

I miss seeing my toes – Parker

Just kidding, kind of – Gigi

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