7/10 - exactly what you would expect from a Hailey Dean mystery - Kellie Martin at her best and a great time
Hailey Dean Mystery (TV Series)
Hailey Dean Mystery: 2 + 2 = Murder (2018)
User Reviews
Review this title6 Reviews
I wish it were better
SDSurfDude10 June 2018
Pretty good mystery but annoying script and acting
ronalamont-9147227 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2= Murder is yet another with the Hallmark formula of 'gifted amateur detective solves all the crimes while putting herself in danger and the police detectives need her help to do their jobs'.
At least in this one she's not actually dating the lead detective but is dating the coroner instead.
When the teacher in charge of Hailey's niece's school fundraiser goes missing, she immediately starts to investigate.
After the teacher is found dead alongside the body of her ex-boyfriend, the mystery of whodunnit unfolds well and I think the reveal is unexpected.
However, Hailey's character is not particularly likable or believable. She's overbearing and bossy, treats her new "wooden" boyfriend disrespectfully, has an almost "savant" ability to read people yet seems scarcely believable in her role as a therapist. We never see her with any patients and I feel for them as she seems to put her sleuthing first and neither she nor her colleague seem to have a clue how to handle their own problems.
I have always enjoyed Kellie Martin's acting but not in this. And the premise is all wrong. I love "Mystery Woman" where she does her own investigation and we just assume the cops are dumb and hopeless but it's another thing to be consulting with the police and to show them to be dumb and hopeless! She also seems to rush her way through her dialogue and with very little expression. It may be she's trying to portray a damaged and unhappy person because her fiancé was killed but if that's the case, I think she's taken it too far. Her scenes with Fincher are some of the most engaging as they have great chemistry and it's the only time she lightens up a bit. I nearly gave up when the writing got really bad but glad I stuck with it to the end as I hadn't figured out who the killer was. I actually didn't care too much by the time the lead detective had ingratiated himself to her too many times and her boyfriend had solved all her problems and insecurities as if HE were the therapist. It was embarrassing to watch both detectives ask her opinion or act surprised when she pointed out something totally obvious. This overworked formula of 'amateur and detective' collaboration where the female amateur detective solves all the police department's homicides is getting very old and it really lacks credibility in this movie. I'm still going to watch all three in the series and see what develops. The addition of obviously 'love-sick for her' Clyde, her fiance's best friend from college, looks interesting and promising.
I have always enjoyed Kellie Martin's acting but not in this. And the premise is all wrong. I love "Mystery Woman" where she does her own investigation and we just assume the cops are dumb and hopeless but it's another thing to be consulting with the police and to show them to be dumb and hopeless! She also seems to rush her way through her dialogue and with very little expression. It may be she's trying to portray a damaged and unhappy person because her fiancé was killed but if that's the case, I think she's taken it too far. Her scenes with Fincher are some of the most engaging as they have great chemistry and it's the only time she lightens up a bit. I nearly gave up when the writing got really bad but glad I stuck with it to the end as I hadn't figured out who the killer was. I actually didn't care too much by the time the lead detective had ingratiated himself to her too many times and her boyfriend had solved all her problems and insecurities as if HE were the therapist. It was embarrassing to watch both detectives ask her opinion or act surprised when she pointed out something totally obvious. This overworked formula of 'amateur and detective' collaboration where the female amateur detective solves all the police department's homicides is getting very old and it really lacks credibility in this movie. I'm still going to watch all three in the series and see what develops. The addition of obviously 'love-sick for her' Clyde, her fiance's best friend from college, looks interesting and promising.
Hailey Dean Mystery: 2 + 2 = Murder
Prismark102 March 2020
Hailey Dean investigates the case of a missing teacher in her niece's school.
Naomi Sacks the missing teacher was raising money to for a building maintenance project and she discovered something that she wanted to talk to Hailey about.
Hailey is perturbed that some people are not too bothered that Naomi is missing. Initial suspicion falls on Naomi's ex boyfriend.
This Hallmark mystery is pleasantly watchable with several suspects. It is certainly not too tense or exciting enough. The main reason being that as it is a Hallmark movie with a trademarked cookie cutter approach.
Naomi Sacks the missing teacher was raising money to for a building maintenance project and she discovered something that she wanted to talk to Hailey about.
Hailey is perturbed that some people are not too bothered that Naomi is missing. Initial suspicion falls on Naomi's ex boyfriend.
This Hallmark mystery is pleasantly watchable with several suspects. It is certainly not too tense or exciting enough. The main reason being that as it is a Hallmark movie with a trademarked cookie cutter approach.
Kellie looks terrible
teebear81722 March 2022
I've never seen Kellie Martin look this bad. Not sure if she was sick during filming. Maybe she had the flu. Watery eyes, raggy looking, deeper voice. She looked miserable. Looked old and wrinkled. She was always attractive. Kind of sad to see her like this. Maybe that's why she retired. She is losing her battle with age.
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