V.C. Andrews' Landry Family (TV Series) V.C. Andrews' All That Glitters (2021) User Reviews

gets bonkers

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 26 September 2021]

This is the third movie in the series following Ruby and Pearl in the Mist. Paul proposes to Ruby in order to raise Pearl as his own. Gisselle told her that Beau had left for Paris with another girl. After getting attacked, she runs to Paul and accepts his proposal despite their secret. With the death of her stepmother, she goes back for the funeral only to find Gisselle and Beau together.

As long as one can ignore the yuckiness inherent in V. C. stories, this has good trashy melodrama. I like that this one simplifies the story into the four characters. I also like the cross currents of these relationships. The plot does go bonkers which is sinfully fun. I don't know how they think that scheme would work in the long run. In a way, I don't care. The plot is crazy. The scheme is ridiculous. I actually like it going bonkers.

The Delicious Melodrama rolls on

[skpn123 · 10/10 · 16 May 2021]

Hogwash, tripe and guff continue to enthrall. Absolutely wonderful escapism which was exactly what I was looking for.

Dive in and enjoy but don't take any of it too seriously. It is a fun and overly dramatic ride with kick butt female character who are never at the mercy of the bullies and narrow-minded groups or individuals. Rather they walk all over them in their sweet (and not so sweet) way.

It is an inspiring and over the top reminder to be ourselves and find our calling.

IF you don't expect the books, it's an above average Lifetime flick

[CranberriAppl · 3 April 2021]

And that sounds like damning with faint praise, but it's true. It's been years since I read the books, but I've seen all the VC Andrews movies and I knew to keep my expectations low for a true adaptation. They don't really grasp the overall mood of her (well Neiderman's) books: gothic, mysterious, angsty, soapy drama. The only one I feel did capture that vibe was My Sweet Audrina.

The twins are good and Ruby pretending to be Giselle really nails how creepy but fascinating it is when twins swap places. I think Ruby's actress has good chemistry with both Beau and Paul so the angst there was believable. She carried the movie pretty well. Giselle as a character was pretty one note, but that twin played her with the proper amount of vanity, selfishness, and meanness that was required. Loved seeing Kristian Alfonso and she gives this movie a good dose of soapy gravitas. Marilu Henner and Lauralee Bell did the same for Pearl in the Mist.

The main problem with this movie, and all the VC Andrews movies, is they just go from scene to scene. Plot point to plot point, so for example, everything is fine...then someone is dead...or everything is fine and then there's the whiplash of another secret. And that's on top of them not really covering the books in the first place. So this robs the movies of any sort of depth.

Nevertheless, as much as I hoped the Casteel series (my favorite) would be great, it was a letdown. I am enjoying Ruby a lot more. I found myself laughing at certain points so the script had some clever bits. Baby Pearl is adorable. The lack of Louisiana accents is a letdown as is the general lack of a New Orleans feel. That would have definitely added some character and I took a star away for this reason. I see that Ruby and Giselle are Australians, so if they didn't want to attempt a Louisiana accent on top of the American one they used, Lifetime should have used a few of the supports for that. Kristian A, Marilu, Lauralee, and Gil are all seasoned enough that I'm sure they could have made the attempt.

It's not a bad movie for a Friday night with pizza and vino. It's miles ahead of nearly all of Lifetime's "thrillers."

Acting sux

[kkxsdghsm · 1/10 · 3 May 2022]

I'm gagging at how cringy this is, with the music too? Was it necessary? No. The actors have potential, but sometimes not everyone's acting style can fit together and blend well. Anyways.

Ruby is a lot more naughty in Part 3

[greg_hull · 8/10 · 24 December 2021]

Good girl Ruby has taken a sabbatical. She wants what she wants. Nothing is going to get in her way, including her sister, Giselle. We get to see Ruby's lustful and selfish side. What a naughty vixen.