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Reviews
The Christmas Cottage (2017)
Where was the Budget?
There are many Hallmark Christmas shows that seem brimming with holiday spirit, the sets filled with people, the holiday feeling practically dripping out of the TV. This isn't one of them.
This movie is, well, sparse. I usually notice this when Hallmark "tries out" a new lead actress, where they seem careful not to spend a lot of money on the production. This seemed like one of those productions. The background extras were practically non-existent, and many of the secondary characters, who figured into the story had so few lines, they were barely there.
This show just lacked pizzaz. There was very little chemistry between the leads, and good gracious, the bride's giggling, even at the altar during her wedding, was maddening.
There's a lot of airtime to fill in the two months of Countdown to Christmas. Some shows seemed to have the purpose of filling out two hours. This seemed like one of them.
The Peripheral (2022)
Good Start, Then It Ran Into Quicksand
I was looking forward to this show. I really enjoy the work of Chloe Grace Moretz, and was hoping this would be a strong vehicle for her. The show started out promising, and all the characters were pretty well defined. The whole storyline was mysterious, so it kept me engaged. The 3rd episode did me in. I could sense the cracks in the plot in episode 2, but it was intriguing enough that I continued on. Episode three introduced so many plot lines, that I honestly couldn't follow, or more directly, I just didn't care anymore.
Lots of scenes without Moretz didn't help the show. The line between the good guys and the bad guys got muddled, and it just became tedious to try to keep up with it all. Too may science fiction shows try to weave too many plots into a show, and this fell into that trap.
I tried to watch this twice. Once when it first was on, then once again. Episode 3 was the show killer each time.
I wanted to like it, I really did, but I just couldn't stick with it.
Big Trick Energy (2021)
A Loud Convoluted Mess
I tend to like magic shows of the magician on the street variety, but this is obnoxious. It's actually cringe worthy, because they act like adolescent boys. It's too loud, the tricks set ups are either too long or painfully complicated. The cell phone stunt wasn't even a trick, it seemed like blind luck. Honestly, this show is proof that networks are starving for content.
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window (2022)
Kristen Bell Holds It Together
This series won't go down in history as particularly memorable, but for an entertainment starved world, it offered a fun diversion. A likable lead actress, a bit of mystery, & attention keeping half hour episodes, were the key to making this work.
The plot, while all over the place, was quirky enough to cause us to binge this in one sitting. This was light, distracting fare.
They can't all be The Good Place....
Swept Up by Christmas (2019)
A Money Saving Film
I love Hallmark Christmas movies, but I find they fall into several categories. Some have relatively large casts with plenty of extras to provide atmosphere, while others are sparsely populated, with sparingly used music and extras. Usually, it has to do with the popularity of the main stars. While Lindy Booth has certainly been in her share of Hallmark films, this one sure was lacking in supporting cast members. A lot of time it was simply the two leads working by themselves in the house. Even at the party scene, the extras were all blurred, as there probably were very few. Unfortunately, this seemed to be a movie made on an extremely limited budget, even for Hallmark, and it didn't give off much warmth or holiday feel. I will skip future showings of this film.
A Perfect Christmas (2016)
Plainly Quiet Hallmark Offering
I've had this Hallmark Christmas movie on my DVR for ages. I finally got around to watching it. I always enjoy Susie Abromeit in her various roles, and her acting was great in this film. In fact, the cast of this film did a fine job. Erin Gray played a great foil for the daughter-in-laws.
Unfortunately, this film is one of those mediocre stories, where the film company seems to find any way to save money. Usually, that is a lack of background activity, meaning less set design and fewer extras. It makes for a "quiet" movie. And quiet Hallmark movies are often filled with mediocre music backgrounds, often during dialogue. It seems like a cheap way to add to the quietness of leaving out all the other extras. Heaven forbid the bell ringer gets a line when Susie puts money in his kettle.
This movie is pleasant, but plain. Compare this to "Snow Bride" or "A Very Merry Mix Up" and you can see where the money is saved on a film such as this. I keep a lot of Hallmark holiday movies on our DVR, but I'm afraid this one will go by the wayside to make room for something with more ummph...
Christmas Scavenger Hunt (2019)
It Just Went Through The Motions
Hallmark Christmas movies are my guilty pleasure. There are various levels of quality, often tied to who the actors are. Weaker plots/writing get less known actors. Also, these movies are sparse on casting. Often little or very few background actors, and very little background noise/music. This show fit every one of those qualifications. Chemistry between everyone was relatively non-existant. Tom Arnold obviously had the worst cold ever. Sad to say, this one seemed to be made to fill time between commercials.
Merry & Bright (2019)
A Soundless Movie
I enjoy most Hallmark Christmas movies. This one appeared to be made on a shoestring budget. Oddly, there was no background noise. It's as if they filmed it without sound, & dubbed in the dialogue later. They filled in the lack of ambient sound with cutesy musical notes. The leads had no chemistry, and poor Sharon Lawrence was used as a goofy comic foil, with that dog.
This seemed like a quickie shoot, destined for early season viewing, before the bigger budget films come along in December.
Ghost Nation (2019)
A Mess of Voice Over Narration
Honestly, I had hope, and it has been only one show. But oh my, lots of problems. These guys were fun and loose (well, Steve and Tango) on Ghost Hunters, they are strangely silent here. Most of the show revolves around recaps of what happened in the previous segment, and voice overs from mainly Jason. BTW, Steve, when they give you the voice over script, read it over before recording it. Way too stilted. Better yet, stop with all the voice overs. Just talk among yourselves while en route to whatever you are going to do. And stop with all the cuts of spooky filtered photo footage.
The wrap up just seemed to happen. There was no reviewing any possible evidence. But in reality, you didn't use anything much to review, like recorders.
Just humanize this show. What they have now is mostly recaps and discombobulated episodes.
Ghost Hunters (2004)
It's not the ghosts, it's the team.
I have to admit that I loved Ghost Hunters when it first premiered in 2004. My 2 cents is that when GH first began, they took some time to put some interpersonal relationship coverage between team members. The viewer got to know them. There was some drama that played out, and that helped you see these people as fairly earnest as far as what they were doing. And they disproved hauntings as well as finding some evidence. Eventually, the team bled members through being greedy and starting another show, and some actual drama between team members and the production company. Once they brought in ghost hunting dog, it was the beginning of the end.
I like Grant, but there is no chemistry with this new 2019 team. There is no banter, and they seem to be extremely interested in showing off their "new and improved" tech. There is also a lot more "what was that," where the viewer hears or sees nothing, but the team members mysteriously do. Ghost Hunters now seems to be channeling "Most Haunted." I don't see a long run with this incarnation of the show.