Jill Wagner is looking great in this movie. She has a beguiling charm that draws your eyes right to hers.
Kristoffer Polaha from Life Unexpected does a fine job as the male lead.
12 Reviews
Even better than the first
bensonmum24 August 2021
Playing Dead is the third Hallmark mystery movie I've watched recently. In this one, Professor Amy Winslow (Jill Wagner) is helping the local theater group put on a play. During rehearsal, a prop gun is seemingly replaced with the real thing. Fortunately, no one was hit by the bullet, but the police suspect the lead actress may be in danger. However, while under police protection, the actress dies - from an apparent heart attack. Amy's not so sure and joins Detective Burke's (Kristoffer Polaha) investigation - whether he likes it or not.
If anything, I enjoyed Playing Dead a bit more than the first film in the series. Without the need to introduce the main characters, more time was available for the actual mystery. And that's a good thing because the mystery here is fun. With a seemingly random attack on Burke's partner, a toy monkey, secret love letters, and suspects everywhere you look, there's plenty here to unpack. Admittedly, I once again pretty much figured out who well before the culprit was unmasked. However, I still enjoyed learning the why and how. Overall, good stuff.
Once again, the acting in Playing Dead is a mixed bag. Some good, some less so. But there's no denying the ability of Wagner and Polaha. Both are great in their roles and have some wonderful onscreen chemistry.
One thing that has bugged me about these Hallmark films is the unrealistic nonsense the amateur sleuth is able to get away with. Here, for example, Amy is able to rummage through a house to find a key piece of evidence. There's absolutely no way it would have been admissible in court. But then again, I don't think anyone is watching a Hallmark mystery for a look inside a real life criminal investigation. Most just want to be entertained.
7/10.
If anything, I enjoyed Playing Dead a bit more than the first film in the series. Without the need to introduce the main characters, more time was available for the actual mystery. And that's a good thing because the mystery here is fun. With a seemingly random attack on Burke's partner, a toy monkey, secret love letters, and suspects everywhere you look, there's plenty here to unpack. Admittedly, I once again pretty much figured out who well before the culprit was unmasked. However, I still enjoyed learning the why and how. Overall, good stuff.
Once again, the acting in Playing Dead is a mixed bag. Some good, some less so. But there's no denying the ability of Wagner and Polaha. Both are great in their roles and have some wonderful onscreen chemistry.
One thing that has bugged me about these Hallmark films is the unrealistic nonsense the amateur sleuth is able to get away with. Here, for example, Amy is able to rummage through a house to find a key piece of evidence. There's absolutely no way it would have been admissible in court. But then again, I don't think anyone is watching a Hallmark mystery for a look inside a real life criminal investigation. Most just want to be entertained.
7/10.
Never heard of a dramaturge...
cgvsluis4 January 2021
This show is always teaching me something new, this time Dramaturge.
In this, the second entry in Hallmark's Mystery 101 series Amy,our professor turned crime solving consultant, is the dramaturge for a local theater's mystery play production. While consulting the main actress has several attempts taken on her life. Meanwhile there are break ins occurring in downtown Garrison, Washington, the latest of which is the local pharmacy where the thief used a toy monkey to distract a police officer that was the first on the scene.
Travis and Amy join forces to put together the clues to figure out who done it, when our actress turns up dead. Travis does give Amy a little lecture about taking unnecessary risks.
In this, the second entry in Hallmark's Mystery 101 series Amy,our professor turned crime solving consultant, is the dramaturge for a local theater's mystery play production. While consulting the main actress has several attempts taken on her life. Meanwhile there are break ins occurring in downtown Garrison, Washington, the latest of which is the local pharmacy where the thief used a toy monkey to distract a police officer that was the first on the scene.
Travis and Amy join forces to put together the clues to figure out who done it, when our actress turns up dead. Travis does give Amy a little lecture about taking unnecessary risks.
Mystery 101: Playing Dead
JoBloTheMovieCritic20 July 2019
Just as good, and maybe even better than the first one!
MIssM1924 June 2019
Amy is working on a play, when suddenly the main actress is in danger, so she and Detective Burke work together in order to discover who is responsable.
Can I first say this was AMAZING? Of all the things that crossed my mind while watching this, out of all possible scenarios and suspects, it ever ocured to me it would be like that. It was so unpredictable!
Second of all, Kris and Jill's chemistry is amazing. The flirty banter they share is adorable and I love it. So my congratulations to everyone who worked on this, but specially the writer.
I have rated Hallmark movies with 10 maybe three time tops? But this one deserves, let's hope they continue like this. Until September, everyone!
Can I first say this was AMAZING? Of all the things that crossed my mind while watching this, out of all possible scenarios and suspects, it ever ocured to me it would be like that. It was so unpredictable!
Second of all, Kris and Jill's chemistry is amazing. The flirty banter they share is adorable and I love it. So my congratulations to everyone who worked on this, but specially the writer.
I have rated Hallmark movies with 10 maybe three time tops? But this one deserves, let's hope they continue like this. Until September, everyone!
WOW! Best Mystery Series Ever!!!
agambre24 June 2019
Kudos to the casts' performance but specially to the writers! The plot was so unpredictable in a way that it's hard to guess what will come next. Like the first episode, I couldn't guess the bad guy until the very end. Jill and Kris did it again. The back and forth bantering between them was so much fun to watch.
But I'm glad that this episode has a little bit more rom-com between Amy/Travis and Claire/Bud as well. I hope such rom-com continue to all future episodes. It makes mysteries fun! Way to go Hallmark!!!
Playing Dead
coltras356 June 2023
Amy is working as the dramaturge on a play when lead actress Bella Brightman's life is threatened by two accidents that occur in the theatre. As Travis and Amy look into these incidents, Bella suddenly dies of a heart attack leading Amy to suspect foul play. When Amy and Travis investigate, they discover that a series of burglaries in Garrison, including one that resulted in Claire being injured, may be linked to Bella's death.
Another absorbing mystery with some fine suspects, neat twists, a toy monkey at a burgled shop which is linked to the murder of an actress, secret love letters, and a cracking chemistry between the leads. Their banter is catchy. A nice escapist mystery with a light touch.
Another absorbing mystery with some fine suspects, neat twists, a toy monkey at a burgled shop which is linked to the murder of an actress, secret love letters, and a cracking chemistry between the leads. Their banter is catchy. A nice escapist mystery with a light touch.
Really, really, really stupid cop
RobertNull25 June 2019
Opening scene, hours before dawn, abandoned downtown streets, a lone lady jogger comes across broken glass of a closed store, glances at her phone to check the time, and then ...
does what? Dial 911 on her phone? NOPE! She does something dumb. And she's a COP!!!
does what? Dial 911 on her phone? NOPE! She does something dumb. And she's a COP!!!
Hallmark complaint
teebear81723 January 2021
I am not complaining about this particular movie, it was okay ..its well acted. My complaint is the ongoing disrespect Hallmark has for its viewers. This is an ongoing problem. Halmark keeps putting these AGGRIVATING promos on the screen while viewers try to get lost in the movie. Every one of these things has a "Hallmark movies and Mysteries" logi on the lower right corner like a permanent tatto, and a HUGE logo saying "Martha Vineyard Mystery priemers Sunday". ,etc. It takes up 33% of the left side of the screen. Why do this to people? You cannot unsee these irritating distractions. Very annoying! Shame on you Hallmark for such disrespect to loyal viewers!!
sophomore swoon
SnoopyStyle28 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
College professor Amy Winslow (Jill Wagner) is supporting a community theater play with movie star Bella Brightman volunteering as the lead. Police detective Burke (Kristoffer Polaha) investigates when his partner Claire Tate gets knocked unconscious in the latest of a series of local break-ins.
There is a possible future for this pairing. The main issue is forcing these two together to take on these cases. They should stop the pretense and simply make them partners in solving major crimes. It's a college town. Make Burke in charge of crimes on campus which makes Winslow a great partner for those cases. The main advantage of this franchise is the fairly good combative chemistry between the two actors. They work well together. They need to be together as much as possible and as quickly as possible. This one fails that test. It takes too much for Burke's case to work its way to Winslow's play. Also Bella needs to be played by a better actress. She needs to project a movie star's charisma. This actress is missing that. I chalk this up to be a sophomore swoon and hopefully it gets better as class continues.
There is a possible future for this pairing. The main issue is forcing these two together to take on these cases. They should stop the pretense and simply make them partners in solving major crimes. It's a college town. Make Burke in charge of crimes on campus which makes Winslow a great partner for those cases. The main advantage of this franchise is the fairly good combative chemistry between the two actors. They work well together. They need to be together as much as possible and as quickly as possible. This one fails that test. It takes too much for Burke's case to work its way to Winslow's play. Also Bella needs to be played by a better actress. She needs to project a movie star's charisma. This actress is missing that. I chalk this up to be a sophomore swoon and hopefully it gets better as class continues.
A long standing score
bkoganbing6 February 2020
This film all starts out with an off duty detective spotting an open pharmacy door
while she's off duty and getting knocked on the noggin from behind. Little does
she or anyone else suspect that this is connected with the death of film star
Rebka Sharmas who is killed with poison after suffering an injury during a play
rehearsal.
Sharmas was in town as a guest speaker and to support the small town theater group she was going to do a play sponsored by professor Jill Wagner. The whole thing revolves around her complicated love and a pair of murderers who have a long standing score to settle.
I do like Jill Wagner in the lead for this Hallmark series. She's smart and not all that pushy and knows when to let her detective boyfriend Kristoffer Polaha take the lead. It is his job and case after all.
Sharmas was in town as a guest speaker and to support the small town theater group she was going to do a play sponsored by professor Jill Wagner. The whole thing revolves around her complicated love and a pair of murderers who have a long standing score to settle.
I do like Jill Wagner in the lead for this Hallmark series. She's smart and not all that pushy and knows when to let her detective boyfriend Kristoffer Polaha take the lead. It is his job and case after all.
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