philsigler-62401 Reviews

Beyond Adversity (2021)

A Former Student

[9 August 2022]

Michelle Fitzpatrick was formerly my student at the College of Staten Island. She plays a therapist in this movie. She has been a police officer with NYPD and now I see her taking on a new challenge as an actress. She was a very charismatic individual in her student days and I'm not surprised at her cinematic presence.

The Taming of the Shrewd (II) (2022)

Polish Culture

[22 April 2022]

The Netflix/Hallmark template overlaid on 2022 Poland. If you wanted to get a feel of modern Polish Culture is this at all enlightening? Maybe a Post-Putin tour of the country would be more enlightening!

Marry Me (2022)

I Do

[21 February 2022]

First movie in theater since Pandemia . Knocked my socks off even though I wasn't wearing a pair. Going into the screening room I remarked that the movie theater is a dying art form. Not so fast my Alter Ego! This is engaging escapism.

Two mInor caveats! The Math Competition Final result was gratuitous. The Bus driver scene in Peoria was classic detrimental empathy. The driver would have gotten fired in real life.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

To Be or Not to Be

[18 February 2022]

Was Fred Rogers bisexual? I could understand why this film and the Tom Hanks portrayal might stoke the fires of speculation, especially among those seeking social acceptance of the LGBQT Community.

I once taught a course that featured Abraham Lincoln. One of the huge number of writers on Lincoln more than speculated on Lincoln being an active bisexual because of his afternoon visits to soldiers barracks. Really!

To be a kind and gentle male says nothing about sexual orientation. Tom Hanks played it straight, without Hanky Panky. Hanks is a cousin of both Rogers and Lincoln. What is in Hanks DNA? Doesn't DNA mean Do Not Assume!

Butlers in Love (2022 TV Movie)

All About Butling

[2 February 2022]

The femme lead is obsessively fixed on being a butler. She falls for a Son Of A Butler at school. Love or Butling! Can She manage both? The screenplay spends much of the action on Butling. Is it Be Careful of What You Wish For?

'Tis the Season to be Merry (2021 TV Movie)

Her Goose Was Almost Cooked

[22 January 2022]

Jennifer Leigh Cook as Merry is in deep doo doo early on. One of the better things about these Hallmarks is that you, inadvertently, can nap and not miss a beat. In Real Life, Cook divorces in the year this movie was made. Reel Life wins hands down over Real Life.

Accidentally Engaged (2016)

What' s In A Name

[17 January 2022]

Enjoyable escapism. Sometimes the poorest quality can be fun. To that end the femme stars are both first named Lexi in real life. The male lead should have changed his first name to Lex or better yet, Lexus. See how enjoyable is nonsense!

Grumpy Christmas (2021)

Grumpy Reviewers

[29 December 2021]

Why would you overly criticize escapist entertainment from enchanting Mexico! Of course the script is ragged. Of course the acting is from hunger. Of course there are way too many subplots to be clearly developed and resolved. Of course the music interferes with the dialogue. Try 24/7 News if you think this film was a waste or if you really are in a masochistic mood tune in to Don't Look Up. At least Meryl Streep isn't being eaten by a regenerated dinosaur.

Amazing Winter Romance (2020 TV Movie)

Ho Hum Drum

[27 December 2021]

I am sure that if you haven't seen a thousand of this genre it would be enjoyable. The leads are experienced doing this type of film and relate well together.

A Christmas Proposal (2021 TV Movie)

Medium Well Done

[13 December 2021]

Actors were well done. The script , however, was not breezy conversational. The plot called for breezy but the dialogue played a bit arch and stilted. That said it had a Happy Ending and who can overly criticize anything in these times that "proposes" such.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2008 TV Movie)

Ouch

[12 December 2021]

A very good 2008 Hallmark movie. My wife and I are in our 80's. We laughed uproariously when the male lead groaned, "I sat on a Nutcracker." Bit racy for Hallmark? I wonder if Hallmark would let this slip by their current Puritanical Moral Code.

Jingle Bell Princess (2021 TV Movie)

Not all the way-yet!

[8 December 2021]

It would appear that this was initially conceived to be Part 1 of The Jingle Bell Princess Franchise. It has merit. OOPs - Merritt Patterson, a charming lass, who has converted to being British, since she and some colleagues have jumped ship from Hallmark to GAC Family.

My Christmas Family Tree (2021 TV Movie)

Long In The Tooth

[21 November 2021]

A reviewer, Luvhallmark, alluded to the age difference between the romantic leads. The 10 years is even more obvious because of Aimee Teegarden being a young looking 32. To my wife and me it confirms a larger problem for Hallmark. Their staple of stars is aging through their 40's and the current Hallmark formula puts the leads in the early 30's at the oldest. Best Wishes to Hallmark in their need to reconcile this dilemma.

Maybe they should consult Voltaire's satire, Candide.

Reunited at Christmas (2018 TV Movie)

Nonverbal Communication

[11 November 2021]

NIkki DeLoach could be a Poster Child for effective nonverbal communication. My wife and I were especially impressed with her use of her eyebrows and eyes. The dilemmas being unfolded in this story of doubt and hope especially put her nonverbal skills to good use.

Christmas in Harmony (2021 TV Movie)

Black Culture

[1 November 2021]

Previously, the Hallmark Movies my wife and I watched pigeonholed the Black performers into a White behavior mode. This script gave the Black leads more Black colloquial dialogue, which made the characters more believable.