Jump to content

Type keyword(s) to search

Hallmark Movies: Small Town Royalty Magically Celebrating Rekindled Love! - General Discussion


  • Reply
  • Start Topic

Recommended Posts

I enjoyed His & Hers so much.  Lacey and Brendan are just perfection together.  The story was different and entertaining and I loved the little callbacks to their other movies together if you listened closely.  There was even a Will Kemp detail that was a fun wink.  I’ll happily watch this one again.  

  • Like 5
  • Applause 1

The previews for next week’s movie. Is the actress the one who was on Full House? Jodi Something. The poor thing …. her hair…what has Hallmark done to it? Ringlets. They are so distracting that I honestly don’t think I can watch the movie. Just me?

I would watch Brennan Elliott and Lacey Chabert in just about anything. 

  • Like 2
  • Applause 3
29 minutes ago, Kemper said:

The previews for next week’s movie. Is the actress the one who was on Full House? Jodi Something. The poor thing …. her hair…what has Hallmark done to it? Ringlets. They are so distracting that I honestly don’t think I can watch the movie. Just me?

I would watch Brennan Elliott and Lacey Chabert in just about anything. 

Seriously!  From the previews, Jodie Sweetin’s wig looks like something left over from Farrah Fawcett impersonators.  It is so bad, so unflattering, and so not current.  

  • Like 4

So glad to see comments on the Lawyers movie!  I missed the Will Kemp reference -- Whereabouts is it, for when I watch it again ?

Enjoyed this, really enjoyed their relationship.  Having worked for family lawyers for a lot of years, I did wince at the plot a few times.  What ??   You can't do that!!  I did  answer a call years ago from a potential client whose first question was "Do you go for the jugular?"   I hadn't anticipated the twist at the very end, so that was fun.  

But even more important - Will Kemp?   

18 hours ago, MerBearHou said:

he story was different and entertaining and I loved the little callbacks to their other movies together if you listened closely.  There was even a Will Kemp detail that was a fun wink.

 

12 hours ago, Chippings said:

I missed the Will Kemp reference -- Whereabouts is it, for when I watch it again ?

These are the callbacks that I caught:

1. When Dana (Lacey) and Mark (Brennan) were talking about different plans for the future he said he'd buy her a pet goat and she said she loved goats. - All of my Heart series (Lacey and Brennan)

2. Dana's was sitting at a desk working on a crossword puzzle. - Crossword Mysteries (Lacey and Brennan)

3. Dana's background check results show that she had been married previously and her husband's name is Will Kemp. - Numerous movies with Lacey and Will

What did I miss?

  • Like 4
  • Useful 1
  • Love 1
(edited)

I only half watched His & Hers because they were such a cute couple, I was afraid we'd get some version of misunderstanding / falling out / assume the absolute worst and leave town immediately storyline. So glad they didn't go that route!  I'll watch again (and keep an ear out for the Will Kemp name drop!)

I rarely am bothered by or even notice the actors hair, makeup, wardrobe, etc. but I was so distracted by Autumn Reeser's character's hair in Junebug.  I've watched it twice and that's all I see - which is a shame because I enjoyed the movie otherwise.  

Edited by GeorgiaRai
  • Like 2
1 hour ago, bankerchick said:

OK, was Will Kemp's name perhaps on the document?  Because I knew of the joke before watching the movie, which I really liked, and specifically listened for it, but don't recall hearing his name when they were discussing it.

Yep!  It was on the document for the annulment as her husband‘s name.

  • Like 2
(edited)

I too thought it was going to have a Christmas storyline mixed in somewhere ,nothing there at all . Maybe I've seen too many of the Hallmark movies, I could predict the scam from the get go, the two leads deserve better writing. I will give props to the two leads, they have tons of chemistry and I did like the ending having  them together ,in their own practice and the baby on the way.:).  I don't remember Will Kemp's name spoken, just that the name was seen on the document,and that Dana had never to Mark she had been married,lol although Dana had the marriage annulled the next day. Then Dana was asking Mark about his being in jail one time,lol which he told her it was for a couple of hours due to him being illegally parked,lol???   I could have sworn it was mentioned right before the movie started,  that the movie was part of the  Christmas in July movies. 

Edited by One4Sorrow2TooBad
(edited)
On 9/9/2024 at 4:35 AM, Kemper said:

The previews for next week’s movie. Is the actress the one who was on Full House? Jodi Something. The poor thing …. her hair…what has Hallmark done to it? Ringlets. They are so distracting that I honestly don’t think I can watch the movie. Just me?

 

It's a Brain Power Studio movie, they tend to be on the cheaper side, and yes, it's very cheap, with that wig, weird Wish-bought paper decorations everywhere in the farm, and a script that feels like a first draft.

I've got a soft spot for Jodie, but most of her HM-type movies are quite weak.

On another note, I didn't care much for the Lemon Drops movie. I'm all for the alternate realities gimmick à la It's a Wonderful Life, but this one just didn't work for me : the romance fell flat, the Lemon Drops gimmick was... weird, and something was just missing. Oh, well.

Edited by Kaoteek
  • Like 2
  • Useful 2
41 minutes ago, Kaoteek said:

On another note, I didn't care much for the Lemon Drops movie. I'm all for the alternate realities gimmick à la It's a Wonderful Life, but this one just didn't work for me : the romance fell flat, the Lemon Drops gimmick was... weird, and something just fell flat. Oh, well.

For me, what was flat was Ian Harding, the romantic lead actor.  I find him to be too robotic in his way of speaking and moving.  Lyndsy is always delightful -- natural and warm.  

  • Like 3
3 hours ago, MerBearHou said:

For me, what was flat was Ian Harding, the romantic lead actor.  I find him to be too robotic in his way of speaking and moving.

I'm not sure I'd say he was 'too robotic' but I was disappointed.  I loved, loved, loved him in Ghost of Christmas Always and didn't know why he wasn't used more often.  He did nothing for me in this movie (and looked like a totally different guy in some scenes - maybe that was the robot? 😉)  I think I'll watch Ghost of Christmas Always again today though.

  • Like 1
  • Love 1
(edited)
3 hours ago, bankerchick said:

I'm not sure I'd say he was 'too robotic' but I was disappointed.  I loved, loved, loved him in Ghost of Christmas Always and didn't know why he wasn't used more often.  He did nothing for me in this movie (and looked like a totally different guy in some scenes - maybe that was the robot? 😉)  I think I'll watch Ghost of Christmas Always again today though.

I forgot about Ghosts of Christmas Always -- I loved that movie too.  Kim Matula and the "sidekicks" were great.  It's funny -- I have zero memory of Ian at all in GOCA.  So I'll amend my comment to say that I thought he seemed too robotic just in the Lemon Drops movie.  I didn't see Pretty Little Liars but gather he was quite the crush in that show.  He is mighty cute, but just stiff.

Edited by MerBearHou
  • Like 2
16 hours ago, Kaoteek said:

On another note, I didn't care much for the Lemon Drops movie. I'm all for the alternate realities gimmick à la It's a Wonderful Life, but this one just didn't work for me : the romance fell flat, the Lemon Drops gimmick was... weird, and something was just missing. Oh, well.

As I posted here before, I thought it was ridiculous that the lemon drops - which were her mother’s  (!!!) - would still be edible after decades. 

  • LOL 3
On 9/8/2024 at 10:35 PM, Kemper said:

The previews for next week’s movie. Is the actress the one who was on Full House? Jodi Something. The poor thing …. her hair…what has Hallmark done to it? Ringlets. They are so distracting that I honestly don’t think I can watch the movie. Just me?

It is a very bad wig. Like, I'm positive Jodi could've found a better one on Temu, that's how bad it is. I would lay out my own money for a better wig cuz ain't no way you gonna film me in 4k in that hot mess express. 

I like Jodi too, so this is coming from a place of love but Jodi, gurl. HUNNI. Walk away from the surgeon's scalpel. Find a great dermatologist, invest in all the creams, and please just wash your face every night and moisturize to the gods. We don't expect you to still look Tanner young, I promise. I am begging you from my soul. 🙏🏽

  • Like 3
  • LOL 2
  • Love 1
(edited)
On 9/8/2024 at 11:09 PM, ECM1231 said:

You're absolutely right.... nothing Christmasy at all. Weird but I could have sworn that's what I heard.

They definitely mentioned it being a Christmas in July movie before the movie. My sister and I figured someone hit a wrong button somewhere as none of the previews had mentioned it, plus it not being July. :-)

re: Jodi Sweetin in tonight's movie - not exaggerating, I absolutely did not recognize her from the preview, just felt sorry for the new actress being subjected to such terrible, awful, no-good hair.  Between that and the makeup, she's unrecognizable.  New low bar has been set.

Edited by JenMD
  • Like 1
  • Useful 1
On 9/14/2024 at 11:14 AM, Badsamaritan said:

It is a very bad wig. Like, I'm positive Jodi could've found a better one on Temu, that's how bad it is. I would lay out my own money for a better wig cuz ain't no way you gonna film me in 4k in that hot mess express. 

I like Jodi too, so this is coming from a place of love but Jodi, gurl. HUNNI. Walk away from the surgeon's scalpel. Find a great dermatologist, invest in all the creams, and please just wash your face every night and moisturize to the gods. We don't expect you to still look Tanner young, I promise. I am begging you from my soul. 🙏🏽

I kept hoping the bad wig was part of the plot.... it would disappear because she couldn't go to her fancy hair dresser or something and had to get a new hair style from a Greenville location. But once it became clear, that wasn't happening, I just kept fixating on how bad it was. The clothing choices for the characters were only slightly less horrible than the wig was. 

And yes, Jodi needs to step away from the plastic surgeon. What ever she had done to her eyes has made her look almost crosseyed and somehow her nose looks larger? 

As for the movie it's self.... other than the fact it was a cross between that old Paris Hilton/Nicole Ritchey show and a bad pre teen novel, it wasn't aa bad as it could be, I guess. At least Jodi's character wasn't a total snotty pampered idiot, she did seem to try to make the best of the situation and help get herself a new life. The evil Dottie stuff got old fast, but it was a minor annoyance. Jodi and the male lead had decent chemistry and the whole cast were decent enough actors. Plus.... a pig! 

  • Like 2
(edited)

Yeah.  The movie last night was very Hallmark but veered towards the light-hearted, comforting kind of Hallmark over the annoying kind of Hallmark.  Still mostly background noise but enjoyable background noise.  But I've mostly like Jodie in these movies and find Corey Sevier to be pretty reliable as a lead. 

I even expected a twist to Evil Dottie too.

My only quibble is that for a woman that rich and not utterly stupid, her fortune wouldn't have been tied to crypto the way it was nor would she not know that her portfolio had Apple in it.  It still may have been unrealistic but it might have worked better for her to have been a victim of a Ponzi scheme and then they discover her aunt had the Apple portfolio.

 

Edited by Irlandesa
  • Like 2
(edited)
On 9/13/2024 at 12:20 AM, norcalgal said:

As I posted here before, I thought it was ridiculous that the lemon drops - which were her mother’s  (!!!) - would still be edible after decades. 

But magic lemon drops don't ever go stale! I'm pretty sure that what gave them  power also kept them super fresh & tasty!!😉

Edited by RedRockRosie
  • Wink 1
  • LOL 10

Lemon Drops has actually been my favorite of the recent releases.  It vaguely reminded me of a book that I love - The Midnight Library.  And yes, I assume magic lemon drops contains some kind of fairy dust that keeps them from going stale; seems a small thing compared to transporting you to various alternate realties. 

I skipped The Heiress and the Handyman last night based on the commercials.  I may give it a try now, considering the comments here.  I tried to watch another Jodie movie on GAC (Love's Second Act) but it was... not good.  I bailed during the first hour.

  • Like 1
16 hours ago, GeorgiaRai said:

Lemon Drops has actually been my favorite of the recent releases.  It vaguely reminded me of a book that I love - The Midnight Library.  And yes, I assume magic lemon drops contains some kind of fairy dust that keeps them from going stale; seems a small thing compared to transporting you to various alternate realties. 

I skipped The Heiress and the Handyman last night based on the commercials.  I may give it a try now, considering the comments here.  I tried to watch another Jodie movie on GAC (Love's Second Act) but it was... not good.  I bailed during the first hour.

Yes, Love’s Second Act was a bit boring, but Jodie’s hair looked so much better in this movie! I just couldn’t take that hair in The H and the H!

  • Like 1
(edited)
6 hours ago, Cheese said:

I see Corey Sevier and Rachel Skarsten have a movie together.  I think it’s their first time working together since Little Men.  I wonder if they reminisced about their time on that show.

Aaaawww, also a Sabrina the Teenage Witch reunion and When Calls the Heart reunion (Krakow/Lissing). 

Edited by norcalgal
  • Like 1
  • Applause 1

Sorry if anyone here loves the Kelce/Swift thing, but I’m getting so sick of the Kelce family showing up everywhere. Now I see that the mom, Donna Kelce, will be in two Hallmark Christmas movies, with one based in Kansas City and the other in Philadelphia.  Of course, these will be football movies.  What is it with the fascination with this family, and why has Hallmark thrown themselves into this whole overblown family?  

  • Like 6
  • Thanks 1
  • Applause 2
21 hours ago, voiceover said:

Yeah, I’m already ready.  Health ish has really dragged me down lately, and I could use the holiday cheer!

I am bummed about no Bethany or Autumn (or did I miss her when I looked through them?)

Looking through the 32 movies coming this Christmas season, I didn't see Bethany Joy Lenz listed in any of them. She was so amazing  (along with everyone else)  last season in A Biltmore Christmas !!!!  If anyone missed it, I'm sure it will play a number of times in the coming months ahead. 

  • Like 7

I watched Falling Together last night and holy hell was Ashley Williams A LOT. I'm an oversensitive introvert with anxiety issues and just watching her stressed me out. Yikes. People like her character are the reason people like me want to hide in the house and not interact with the world. The few moments when she actually toned it down were nice, but far too few. AW sounds like a nice person but I think I'll have to go back to not bothering with her movies. She's always a lot, but this movie was next level.

  • Like 7
  • Useful 1
  • Love 3
1 minute ago, Maelstrom said:

I watched Falling Together last night and holy hell was Ashley Williams A LOT. I'm an oversensitive introvert with anxiety issues and just watching her stressed me out. Yikes. People like her character are the reason people like me want to hide in the house and not interact with the world. The few moments when she actually toned it down were nice, but far too few. AW sounds like a nice person but I think I'll have to go back to not bothering with her movies. She's always a lot, but this movie was next level.

I watched it, too, and, after about 5 minutes of her pestering everyone in the building about decorations and potlucks and whatever else; I was ready for the tenants to come after her with pitchforks and torches.  Of course, Ashley Williams constantly has a huge grin on her face in every scene of every movie she's ever done, which doesn't help, either.  Her relentless insistence that everyone needed to be besties and socialize with one another all the time was exhausting.

When she spoke to her old neighbor, I was expecting him to tell her that, in honor of her finally moving away, they had decided not to have any group activities for the building residents for the rest of the year.

And 'leaf peeping'?  She wanted a bunch of her neighbors to go leaf peeping with her.  Yikes!

  • Like 7
  • Useful 1

Yes and Yes !  I have to admit not having watched all of Falling Together, largely because I have the same impression of Ashley Williams, having that large grin going on throughout all her movies.  I saw mostly the last half, so I appreciated your notes on the first part.

In addition to that, I didn't see any hint of chemistry between her and Paul Campbell (whom I usually do like and he's been great with a few different co-stars). It was all just a dumb premise, I thought, and nothing to recommend it. 

I have the greatest respect for Alzheimer's research and compassion for those afflicted and connected - but really it doesn't tie in that great with a Hallmark rom-com.  It sent my mind, at least, into a lot of related thoughts that pretty much broke the desired mood.  It even made me miss the sub-plots of saving the family pumpkin farm or cupcake shop.  

There has to have been a meeting where this concept was pitched, and they really should have given up on it then.  Sorry ..

  • Like 5
  • Useful 2
1 hour ago, Maelstrom said:

I watched Falling Together last night and holy hell was Ashley Williams A LOT. I'm an oversensitive introvert with anxiety issues and just watching her stressed me out

I turned it off after the first 10 minutes.  Her behavior while just arriving at the new building would have been more appropriate from a 19-20-year-old moving to her first place, rather than a mid-40’s woman. (Or was the character supposed to be much younger than the actress?)

  • Like 6
(edited)
25 minutes ago, Chippings said:

Yes and Yes !  I have to admit not having watched all of Falling Together, largely because I have the same impression of Ashley Williams, having that large grin going on throughout all her movies.  I saw mostly the last half, so I appreciated your notes on the first part.

In addition to that, I didn't see any hint of chemistry between her and Paul Campbell (whom I usually do like and he's been great with a few different co-stars). It was all just a dumb premise, I thought, and nothing to recommend it. 

I have the greatest respect for Alzheimer's research and compassion for those afflicted and connected - but really it doesn't tie in that great with a Hallmark rom-com.  It sent my mind, at least, into a lot of related thoughts that pretty much broke the desired mood.  It even made me miss the sub-plots of saving the family pumpkin farm or cupcake shop.  

There has to have been a meeting where this concept was pitched, and they really should have given up on it then.  Sorry ..

I didn't mind the Alzheimer's angle, if only because it gave us a break from the usual failing family business and it is a real charity, not some made for Hallmark TV thing. That being said, I think it could've been integrated better into the storyline; like Ashley or Paul's characters having a personal connection to someone with Alzheimers, making their commitment to the fundraiser more substantial.  It was no surprise at all when the woman who was organizing the walk turned out to be an Alzheimer's patient.

Ashley's behavior reminded me of the first days in the dorm at college where there were orientation assistants whose whole job was to get everybody together to participate in 'getting to know you' activities like ice cream socials and movie nights.  That kind of cheerleading is fine in college, but not in real life.

Edited by Notabug
  • Like 8
  • Useful 1

I don't mind Ashley Williams.  I watch October Kiss any time I catch it on.  But as an introvert, I'd consider her character a neighbor from hell.

But even knowing that, I was curious about what happened between the roommates who hated one another.  Did they ever say why they hated one another?  Did they ever resolve the story?  All I remember is her asking where they were and then saying they must have had their reasons for not coming.  I assumed that was possible to show growth about not needing everyone to be buddy. Or were they implying they were up to something else? 

I should NOT be obsessed with this, but I am.

  • Like 2
2 hours ago, Maelstrom said:

I watched Falling Together last night and holy hell was Ashley Williams A LOT. I'm an oversensitive introvert with anxiety issues and just watching her stressed me out. Yikes. People like her character are the reason people like me want to hide in the house and not interact with the world. The few moments when she actually toned it down were nice, but far too few. AW sounds like a nice person but I think I'll have to go back to not bothering with her movies. She's always a lot, but this movie was next level.

Yeah, she's definitely one of those people that when you see her coming, you turn off the lights and pretend not to be home.  Definitely A LOT, like staring-at-the-sun level A LOT.  Those are the kind of people that trigger my paranoia as in: "You can't really be that into this.  What do you really want from me?"

2 hours ago, Notabug said:

Of course, Ashley Williams constantly has a huge grin on her face in every scene of every movie she's ever done, which doesn't help, either.  Her relentless insistence that everyone needed to be besties and socialize with one another all the time was exhausting.

I was hoping they would delve into her pathological need for everyone to get along, they kinda did (in that Paul Campbell pointed it out), but not much.  I wouldn't have been surprised to see her character lock everyone in the basement and not let them out until they're all best friends.  Ashley Williams does seem to be a cool person IRL, and she has those big expressive eyes, but the grin makes her come off as more than a little maniacal.  I still remember when she played a villain on Warehouse 13 and she was perfect there.  General note to directors in future AW projects: have her tone it down!

  • Like 5
  • Applause 1
  • Useful 1
(edited)

Watching the movie, I already knew what the reactions would be here. :p

Seriously, though, I'm usually fine with Ashley Williams' usual energy and grin, but even I felt this one was a bit overwhelming. I get that the Alzheimer stuff was a personal thing for AW, and I did like the banter between her and Paul Campbell... but the writing just wasn't there, and I disliked most of the characters in the movie : everybody was unnecessarily intense, bordering on rude, AW was too nosy and manic, everything just got solved too easily, it just didn't work for me and felt like a first draft.

Oh, and the makup artist was really heavyhanded, too.

 

As for Sweetin's Love Second Act, yeah, it was what I expected :  a low-budget, low-energy indie production that ended up bought by GAF, with a Sweetin that looked much better than in the Heiress movie, a fun JP Manoux... and not much more. I ended up ffw through some parts of it.

Edited by Kaoteek
  • Like 2

When speaking of Paul Campbell, I refer to him as my Hallmark husband, so I will watch pretty much anything he is in (except Sun Sand and Romance, Tricia Helfer makes that a giant no) but yikes, this one was tough.  Ashley Williams is always a little too bright for me but holy hell, this character was crazy.  There were a couple of close-ups of her with that maniacal smile that almost seemed like in-jokes (yes, she really is crazy...) but I notice that Reddit says her husband was the executive producer, so I guess that's what he likes.  The TV was on for the whole movie but I pretty much tuned out when she berated Paul's character for refusing to stop what he was doing to listen to a college student do a spiel about a walkathon he wasn't interested in.

Question:  if I'm in a diner and another customer asks for napkins, is it my responsibility to deliver napkins to that table?

I think I'll rewatch Wedding Every Weekend this afternoon instead.

 

  • Like 6
  • Applause 1
  • Useful 1

Falling Together was a big no for me due to Ashley Williams and her mega-wattage -- I just cannot take her and even in non-screen moments that you see on FB or Instagram, she is always just ON.  So even though I love Paul Campbell, this one is a skip for me.  It's interesting -- the comments on the Hallmark FB page are mostly bot-like "loved it" and when anyone differs and says Ashley is too, too much for them, the FB group jumps on them like piranhas.  Over here on Primetimer, I'm so glad that this kind of free opinion-giving is welcomed. 

  • Like 6
  • Love 1

I thought Falling Together was okay.  Definitely not the best or worst movie of the year.   October Kiss is one of my top 5 favorite Hallmark movies, so I can take Ashley Williams sometimes.  But I definitely hear what all of you are saying.   If someone like her character moved into my building, I would avoid her at all costs.  

I'm a broken record on this, but I'm disappointed that Paul Campbell and Kimberley Sustad haven't been paired up in 4 years.   The 30 second cameos in each other's movies don't count.   I know some people get tired of the same people being paired repeatedly, but there's a way to appease both sides here.  Have them do 1 movie together each year and 1 movie with other actors.   They would be great in a legit Halloween-themed movie.   On a side note that probably belongs in the Mystery thread, I can't with the Cases of Mystery Lane movies.  Paul's character is too much there.  Way too silly.  I liked him better as a more low-key character in Falling Together. 

  • Like 3
(edited)
4 hours ago, bankerchick said:

Question:  if I'm in a diner and another customer asks for napkins, is it my responsibility to deliver napkins to that table?

According to Hallmark: Yes. And it's also your responsibility to move home to save your family cupcake farm when Big Cupcake threatens to move in and take over. Lots of life lessons to be learned from Hallmark 😉

ETA - A legit Halloween movie starring anyone would be awesome, but I agree Sustad and Campbell would be a fantastic choice.

Edited by Maelstrom
  • Like 6
  • LOL 2
6 hours ago, WhyAmIHere said:

On a side note that probably belongs in the Mystery thread, I can't with the Cases of Mystery Lane movies.  Paul's character is too much there.  Way too silly.  I liked him better as a more low-key character in Falling Together. 

I feel much the same.  With the exception of him as a salsa dancer in the tight jumpsuit, which was hilarious, he seems like he's mugging the rest of the time and I find his wife totally unbelievable.

  • Like 1

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...