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

[twoods]

Why was Victor not paired up with Kate’s friend? What a missed opportunity, but the community center woman was nice as well. Loved his character, and liked the movie as well. Definitely the best of the bunch by a mile. Bethany seems to have a knack for these romantic movies.

Edited March 25, 2018 by twoods

[TVFan17]

Bethany Joy hasn't done a Hallmark movie in 4 years, and the last one she did was a touching Christmas drama.  But she suddenly swooped in with Royal Matchmaker and did a great job with romantic comedy!   She is a breath of fresh air.   She is a natural with snappy banter.  And while I do like a lot of Hallmark's regular actresses and their movies, some of them struggle with that kind of quick repartee and comedic timing.  Bethany does not struggle with it.   She makes it look like it comes easy to her -- her delivery of the lines, her body language, her expressions and all of it.

 

There are at least two more Hallmark royal movies to go, folks!  We've already zipped through Royal Hearts last month and Royal Matchmaker this month.  In April we have Once Upon a Prince, (with Megan Park and Jonathan Keltz), which is the final official Spring Fever movie.  And then, coming up sometime soon (not sure which month, but I am guessing it will be May or possibly August), we have Royally Ever After (starring Fiona Gubelmann and Torrance Coombs), which is filming in Ireland right now.

At this rate, I would not be shocked if Hallmark works in another royal Christmas movie of some sort too.  They haven't premiered an actual royal Christmas movie since Danica's Crown for Christmas back in 2015.

This is not only the year of royal movies, but it's the year of sequels, with Marrying Father Christmas, Marrying Mr. Darcy, All of My Heart 3, The Perfect Bride 2, The Wedding March 4, the sequel to Debbie Gibson's Summer of Dreams movie from 2016, and possibly Wedding in the Vineyard,  all coming along soon.
 

Oh, and about the 34 Hallmark holiday movies coming this year --  Entertainment Weekly is saying that's a record for Hallmark when it's actually not.  Hallmark put out 36 total holiday movies last year, and 34 of them aired during the holiday season, from late October to late December, with the other 2 airing in July.   (EW keeps saying there were 33, but they can't count because there were actually 34 during the season, including Royal New Year's Eve and the When Calls the Heart movie.)   So now there are 34 movies again this holiday season.  That's not new.  And apparently Hallmark does not have plans for any new July Christmas movies (which could change), according to EW.    I don't know why EW is trying to say that this is some sort of new record.

Edited March 25, 2018 by TVFan17

[Happywatcher]

On 3/22/2018 at 11:41 PM, In2You said:

Thats a script issue not a diversity issue.

True, but she had no chemistry, love or even friendship type, with anyone, and we didn't care about the station or the restaurant. Those are director, casting agent, and editor issues.

I wonder if they thought "We have Holly, get some mild mannered straight to video actors and let's get this puppy take one and done. Can't miss"

Watching the Wedding Planner Mystery right now, an older one from 2014 I have never seen before. 

The star is very nice to and with everyone, but the 3 cute guys they have her with don't click at all.

The way they have her roped into the mystery is she supplied the food and alcohol at a prewedding event she was running, and a bridesmaid dies. Somehow that means she is in legal trouble even though she arranged for catering the legal way, and gets her involved with a hot detective, hot newspaper reporter, and hot lawyer.

Are the laws different in Canada? Because this makes no sense. As long as she arranged for alcohol from a licensed seller she wouldn't be in criminal trouble, and both her business liability policy and the alcohol seller's dram shop policy should take care of any liability issues.

Plus I knew who the bad guys were 30 minutes in, they do everything but text each other confessions

Update: The heroine just snuck into a guarded building wearing cat makeup and found a knocked unconscious older woman who she cured by calling 911 and stating her real age instead of "39". The whole time they played some sort of comic mystery upbeat music. This movie is awesome.

[JenMD]

I thought Royal Matchmaker was ok, but not great.  I really enjoyed Joy Lenz (looks like she's dropped the Bethany) and the supporting cast was fine.  Will Kemp did nothing for me and I didn't think the writing did enough to convince me of their romance.  I did get a kick out of the coming together of two of my favorite royal Christmas movies, with the king being played by the butler from A Royal Christmas (nice job on the promotion, dude!)  and the castle being the location from A Crown for Christmas.  The outdoor shots of the castle were gorgeous and they really made great use of the interiors (with the exception of the jubilee).

I rolled my eyes at the jubilee scenes.  The screenwriter's ambitions were way above what the production could afford, unfortunately.  It seemed particularly threadbare for such a grand occasion (or else, that is one tiny country).  I realize they're on a budget, but if you can't afford to throw a big party, then get creative with some script changes.

I do have a question about the butterfly pin - did Joy's character buy it for the fiance and tell her it was from the prince?  Or did the prince buy it and give it to Joy to give to the fiance?  I confess I might have dozed for a moment and couldn't figure out the origin. 

[Happywatcher]

1 hour ago, JenMD said:

I thought Royal Matchmaker was ok, but not great.  I really enjoyed Joy Lenz (looks like she's dropped the Bethany) and the supporting cast was fine.  

I rolled my eyes at the jubilee scenes.  The screenwriter's ambitions were way above what the production could afford, unfortunately.  It seemed particularly threadbare for such a grand occasion (or else, that is one tiny country).  I realize they're on a budget, but if you can't afford to throw a big party, then get creative with some script changes.

I do have a question about the butterfly pin - did Joy's character buy it for the fiance and tell her it was from the prince?  Or did the prince buy it and give it to Joy to give to the fiance?  I confess I might have dozed for a moment and couldn't figure out the origin. 

Just watched it on DVR. All of the above. I have no idea about the pin. 

I kind of wanted the blonde glasses to end up with the prince and the heroine to end up with the palace butler. Just me.

[scenicbyway]

I loved Royal Matchmaker, by far the best hallmark movie this year...so far.  I did think the leads needed more time together, the speech and the community center moments we're fine, but they should've had dinner together in the pub or something.  I think they didn't put the assistant with the valet because it would've been awkward with their "stations."

[twoods]

The next two movies on Hallmark look awful and low budget. I will look to you guys to see whether they are worth my time.

There must have been a scene missing with Kate (and maybe the prince?) shopping and finding that pin with the butterflies. I felt it was necessary to see him seeing Petra wearing that pin instead of Kate. 

[catrice2]

On 3/24/2018 at 9:38 AM, KLovestoShop said:

Maybe it's  just me, but I'm not liking a lot of the male actors that Hallmark employs recently.  Like right now, Elevator Girl, the male lead looks like he hasn't shaved yet----he looks 14 years old.  And so many of the guys are so skinny and metrosexual looking.  I like a guy with a man's body, a guy like Don Diamont from Bold and Beautiful.  He's super masculine looking, and not one of those guys who seem to be so popular now---guys who look like they're barely out of puberty. 

And where the heck are the Hispanic, Black or Asian leads on Hallmark?   I'm tired of the lily whiteness of this network.  What is it, the 1960's where actors of color are relegated to sidekick status?  

I don't know  you, but I love you!  Don Diamont has been my celebrity crush since I was in junior high...and that man looks better every year.  I tape B&B every few months just to see how he's looking..and he is looking great!!!

I don't know if it is natural or not, but you would think others in the industry would get a referral to his doctor....stat! 

9 hours ago, Happywatcher said:

Watching the Wedding Planner Mystery right now, an older one from 2014 I have never seen before. 

The star is very nice to and with everyone, but the 3 cute guys they have her with don't click at all.

The way they have her roped into the mystery is she supplied the food and alcohol at a prewedding event she was running, and a bridesmaid dies. Somehow that means she is in legal trouble even though she arranged for catering the legal way, and gets her involved with a hot detective, hot newspaper reporter, and hot lawyer.

Are the laws different in Canada? Because this makes no sense. As long as she arranged for alcohol from a licensed seller she wouldn't be in criminal trouble, and both her business liability policy and the alcohol seller's dram shop policy should take care of any liability issues.

Plus I knew who the bad guys were 30 minutes in, they do everything but text each other confessions

I didn't see this one until or three years after...but I could not figure out why they only made one when it is no worse than the other series that had multiple movies.  I liked her relationship with the older guy who worked for her.

[catrice2]

On 3/24/2018 at 9:38 AM, KLovestoShop said:

Maybe it's  just me, but I'm not liking a lot of the male actors that Hallmark employs recently.  Like right now, Elevator Girl, the male lead looks like he hasn't shaved yet----he looks 14 years old.  And so many of the guys are so skinny and metrosexual looking.  I like a guy with a man's body, a guy like Don Diamont from Bold and Beautiful.  He's super masculine looking, and not one of those guys who seem to be so popular now---guys who look like they're barely out of puberty. 

And where the heck are the Hispanic, Black or Asian leads on Hallmark?   I'm tired of the lily whiteness of this network.  What is it, the 1960's where actors of color are relegated to sidekick status?  

Probably have a focus group that says that "demographic" is not their viewers.  It never occurs to them that maybe some of them don't watch because they do not see themselves reflected.  Hallmark and Lifetime use the same 3 black women and 3 black men to play whatever role is required in these movies.  Now that I think about it, the Wedding Planner co worker/friend is the same one that plays the the black Real Murder's club member.  I realize that they recycle the same actors for all the other movies, but when you have so few minorities the recycling becomes just more obvious.   They are always the faithful friend, the one to get killed, or the strict boss or sassy co worker.  There cannot be that few minority actors in Canada...if some, some of those in the U.S. should migrate to work on these Hallmark/Lifetime movies! 

[catrice2]

Uh huh, just happened by one of the Murder she baked ones and the deputy bringing Mike something is the same guy that plays Kelli Martin's faithful old investigator from the D.A.'s office....and yes, he is one of the three. 

[MerBearHou]

On 3/24/2018 at 10:06 PM, GaT said:

Does this mean no more "Murder She Baked" mysteries?

I am glad Allison Sweeney is doing another series and I’ll seek it out for sure.  I really, really like her (haven’t seen her in any other shows before).  But I’m sorry to hear there are no more “Murder She Baked” movies (if that indeed is the case).  That series is my favorite among the murder movies on HMM and I think Allison and Cameron have the best chemistry of any of the couples on these movies.  

[BooBear]

14 hours ago, JenMD said:

I thought Royal Matchmaker was ok, but not great. 

Same. Frustrated that everything was so rushed. I don't see why this couldn't have taken place over a longer time period. Who meets and marries someone after 2 or 3 days (talking about her plan to have him marry one of the girls she chose for him).  Having a long time period would have allowed her to get to know the Prince more believably and for him to more believably been in danger of marrying one of her picks.  Also irked by the assistant being so obviously a great pick for someone but not having anything happen. What was with the matchmaker having a cup of tea in her hand for almost every scene?  I did, however, like that after the Prince was rude he apologized on his own for being standoffish to her.  Joy Lenz did seem like a bit of fresh air but sometimes her acting was over the top.  Would have cut the entire community center plot as I don't believe royalty knows how to fix a heater and it seemed rude of the matchmaker to be bringing him projects. 

[VartanFan]

On 3/25/2018 at 7:11 PM, twoods said:

There must have been a scene missing with Kate (and maybe the prince?) shopping and finding that pin with the butterflies. I felt it was necessary to see him seeing Petra wearing that pin instead of Kate. 

They had the ongoing conversation about feeling butterflies when you meet the one/are with the one you love.  So, then they used that ugly pin as a symbol.  

[Chippings]

49 minutes ago, VartanFan said:

They had the ongoing conversation about feeling butterflies when you meet the one/are with the one you love.  So, then they used that ugly pin as a symbol.  

OOOOhh !! Thank you for that !   That makes sense, but it's interesting that a bunch of interested viewers (who care enough to post about it) didn't make the connection.  It would have helped to have a scene where Whoever bought the pin bought it - as said, maybe there was and it ended up on the cutting room floor.

The Prince actor (named Will Kemp, I think) looked pretty bland and didn't let himself be that animated often (an acting decision) - But looking at some other photos of him, when he doesn't have that entirely geeky haircut, he's quite cute.  There is a video of him talking (as himself) about living in L.A. &c and when he's animated, he's very appealing.  (Check a short video of him dancing, like a sort of a madman actually, in a 2002 Gap commercial.  Shows his range as a performer, for sure.)

[twoods]

I remembered the butterfly conversation, but I don’t get how she had a butterfly pin with her. Was she expecting to wear it or was it always meant for the person she matched him with? Was it something she found when she fell in love with the prince? It didn’t make sense. Why am I overthinking this damn movie?

Edited March 28, 2018 by twoods

[JenMD]

I made the butterfly connection as well, but was unsure if he really proposed with a pin that quite possibly the second fiance to get it bought for the first fiance to get it.  I just wasn't sure if I missed an explanation for where it came from, guess I didn't.

[susannot]

I really liked "A Dash of Love."  I'm down for almost any show with a "chef" theme.  I liked Jen Lilley in this better than in Harvest Love.  Partly the script was better and partly Brendan something something is a better actor than Ryan Paevey, though less gorgeous.  Poor Peri Gilpin.  I'm old enough to remember when she was hot-as-a-firecracker Roz on Frazier.

[twoods]

3 hours ago, susannot said:

I really liked "A Dash of Love."  I'm down for almost any show with a "chef" theme.  I liked Jen Lilley in this better than in Harvest Love.  Partly the script was better and partly Brendan something something is a better actor than Ryan Paevey, though less gorgeous.  Poor Peri Gilpin.  I'm old enough to remember when she was hot-as-a-firecracker Roz on Frazier.

I agree with all of this. It is definitely one of the better ones in the past few years and I’ve watched it three times. I’ve tended to like the lead actor Brendan’s movies- he has such an easy chemistry with his co-stars.

[bijoux]

I really liked Joy Lenz in The Royal Matchmaker and the first part of the film in which she follows him around and gets to know him really worked for me. But then it moved to I’m in love with him bit, which left me perplexed since I didn’t feel anything like that coming from her. She came off as professional and friendly prior to it, which I appreciated, don’t get me wrong. But it felt like a part of the movie was missing, namely the one in which their feelings start to deepen.

[VartanFan]

I’m about halfway through Home for Spring and I like the leads ok....but that might be because they haven’t been in 36 movies before this one (I get Hallmark actor fatigue.)

 

I just find that that I get very uncomfortable when the leads lie about who they are. 

[Irlandesa]

I had such a weird reaction to Home For Spring.  I had no interest in watching it so I put it on when I was tired. If I fell asleep?  No biggie.  But somehow, I ended up getting into it more than I thought I would. 

It had your typical "there's no place like home" and "small towns are perfect" theme.  And that was annoying.  Another annoying thing was that the future-father-in-law was upset when he learned that the party planner was Loretta.  I can see him thinking it was weird but not the big deal, for him, that he made of it.  I get the groom's pique but even with him, it's not like he hired her to be a party planner yet.  He had basically hired her to be a travel agent.  And once again, we have to have a musical performance because they hired a country star.

Yet that side story with the groom trying to win the approval of his fiancee's father was the something more that made this movie more watchable. And the kiss had more oomph to it than these movies usually have which makes me wonder if it wasn't originally a Hallmark movie.

[VartanFan]

Quote

And the kiss had more oomph to it than these movies usually have which makes me wonder if it wasn't originally a Hallmark movie.

I noticed that!  And the fact that the lead actress had short-ish hair that didn't have voluminous waves in it...and lack of shoveled-on makeup. 

I solve the 'musical guest' problem by fast forwarding through the performances.  Sorry, Kix Brooks. 

Edited April 2, 2018 by VartanFan

[sacrebleu]

Quote

I thought Royal Matchmaker was ok, but not great.

It may sound waaaay too nit-picky, but they lost a few points when the main character got into bed, opened a book and said, "where did I leave off..." then read the FIRST SENTENCE of Pride and Prejudice.  I mean, I know it's a famous first sentence-- so the audience would know what book she's reading without saying what book she's reading, but also, it's a famous first sentence and the "where did I leave off" implies she's been reading it. 

So either she's been reading it (in which case, why is she still on the first sentence?) or she just started reading it (in which case, why preface it with 'where did I leave off)

[TVFan17]

19 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

I had such a weird reaction to Home For Spring.  I had no interest in watching it so I put it on when I was tired. If I fell asleep?  No biggie.  But somehow, I ended up getting into it more than I thought I would. 

It had your typical "there's no place like home" and "small towns are perfect" theme.  And that was annoying.  Another annoying thing was that the future-father-in-law was upset when he learned that the party planner was Loretta.  I can see him thinking it was weird but not the big deal, for him, that he made of it.  I get the groom's pique but even with him, it's not like he hired her to be a party planner yet.  He had basically hired her to be a travel agent.  And once again, we have to have a musical performance because they hired a country star.

Yet that side story with the groom trying to win the approval of his fiancee's father was the something more that made this movie more watchable. And the kiss had more oomph to it than these movies usually have which makes me wonder if it wasn't originally a Hallmark movie.

It was developed  for Hallmark by Kix Brooks and his team.  The original title was supposed to be Gone Country, and I think the story was slightly different.   He pitched the idea to Hallmark and they were OK with it, but I think they needed him/the writers to make some changes to the story to fit the Hallmark formula.  Kix said that his team had previously been able to make at least one movie for not a lot of money, and Hallmark liked that.     The title was later changed to Home Sweet Home (as recently as this past January), and then it turned into Home by Spring.

 

I think that Hallmark is trying to slowly inch into the country music fandom and rope them in as viewers.    It might actually be a smart strategy, as country music fans are very loyal and passionate about their stars.   

Last year, Hallmark premiered a movie starring Jana Kramer, who has done some country music.  Now, they've worked with Kix Brooks.   During the upcoming holidays, they are premiering a Christmas movie starring LeAnn Rimes (called It's Christmas, Eve).   Last year, they were supposed to do a Christmas movie that would have featured Jennifer Nettles in a supporting role, and possibly other country stars in cameos.   They also sent some Hallmark representatives  to a country music festival last year, to set up some kiosks.   They've got Kimberly Williams-Paisley in the Hallmark family now -- and she obviously has a big "in" with the country community, through her husband.  And... Hallmark is developing a project with Kellie Pickler.

[Myrrhine]

I liked Royal Matchmaker. I enjoy the actress; her performance was a bit more varied and lively than some of the leads. I did find it a bit ridiculous that they were talking about her being in love with the prince. It would have made so much more sense if she had just said she thought she was falling for him, and she didn’t want to lose the chance to find out what could happen between them. Or something. 

 

Also what happened to the bride having to be of noble birth or whatever? 

 

I thought the  butterfly was something the match maker bought / brought to give to the woman who won the prince’s heart. Either because she always does that butterflies bit with her clients or just for the prince’s betrothed. 

 

Currently watching home by spring. I like both leads, but the premise is absurd. Oh well you haven’t been home in 2 years no way anyone there will recognize you or refer to you by your actual name. And eventually your clients are going to find out who you actually are. OBVIOUSLY they will think you are an utter weirdo. 

 

I do like that the boyfriend is a break from the buttoned up stockbroker type and that his influence helps to justify her making such a stupid decision. 

 

And so so far her true love seems like a jerk. So the fiancé wants to try to enjoy some of the things his father-in-law likes without totally embarrassing himself. So what? And you agreed to this charade, so undermining your ex at every turn is pretty pathetic. 

[LegallyRed2]

The best part of Home By Spring was when the boyfriend whipped out the fish oil and threw an advert for Nature's Made right in the middle of the movie. "You better take your fish oil when you go back to Louisiana!" WHAT THE ?!?!???!! Amazing.

[Luckylyn]

16 hours ago, LegallyRed2 said:

The best part of Home By Spring was when the boyfriend whipped out the fish oil and threw an advert for Nature's Made right in the middle of the movie. "You better take your fish oil when you go back to Louisiana!" WHAT THE ?!?!???!! Amazing.

That product placement made me laugh.  It was so jarring but still doesn’t top the characters on Days of Our Lives Midol product placement.  I don’t mind product placement if it’s smoothly done.  I get that these movies are a business and that advertisers are trying to find ways to get products seen when people are fast forwarding through commercials or using commercial free streaming.  They just need to find a way to organically show the product like I remember in Nine Lives of Christmas  the characters were drinking a certain brand of coffee.  The scene was shot so viewers could clearly see the brand name but the characters weren’t clusmily trying to sell it.

I started Home by Spring but got bored.  I haven’t finished it yet.  It’s just sitting on the dvr right now.

[catrice2]

Anyone have any info about the Crossword Mystery?  Is this a series and is it based on a book? 

[GaT]

3 hours ago, catrice2 said:

Anyone have any info about the Crossword Mystery?  Is this a series and is it based on a book? 

Looks like it's set to air in June, I would guess it's (loosely) based on these books.

[BooBear]

Wait did no one comment on Once Upon a Prince. I am watching it now. It has my favorite actor from Reign... Leith.  What did you think?

[Irlandesa]

I've been kind of sick so I half watched while dozing.  I thought the casting was fine but I didn't really get into it. 

[Chippings]

I was waiting too for someone to comment on it.  I haven't watched these movies for more than a few months, but have seen a few 'Prince' ones, and it seemed to me as if they just took a dozen of the basic Prince bits from the other movies, shook them up, and made this one.  (Snooty royal lady friend, loyal valet / assistant,  walking over nearly the same bridge with scalloped railings, disapproving mother or father (usually) -- and Why in every case is the Prince about to be crowned when he has a perfectly good parent ruling their country, who is really too young to retire ?)  In most cases, as in this one, the prince proposes after knowing the girl a matter of weeks (if that).      The James Brolin one managed to avoid most of those cliches and had a nice, different, quality to it.  

I read that this movie was taken from a (non-Hallmark) novel, but even so it fit the cliches really well. 

 Beautiful settings, though.  I read it was all done around Victoria, B.C.?  

[Nessie]

15 hours ago, Chippings said:

I was waiting too for someone to comment on it.  I haven't watched these movies for more than a few months, but have seen a few 'Prince' ones, and it seemed to me as if they just took a dozen of the basic Prince bits from the other movies, shook them up, and made this one.  (Snooty royal lady friend, loyal valet / assistant,  walking over nearly the same bridge with scalloped railings, disapproving mother or father (usually) -- and Why in every case is the Prince about to be crowned when he has a perfectly good parent ruling their country, who is really too young to retire ?)  In most cases, as in this one, the prince proposes after knowing the girl a matter of weeks (if that).      The James Brolin one managed to avoid most of those cliches and had a nice, different, quality to it.  

I read that this movie was taken from a (non-Hallmark) novel, but even so it fit the cliches really well. 

 Beautiful settings, though.  I read it was all done around Victoria, B.C.?  

I would assume it's because as in reality, it's the actual monarch who has died and the next in line is being crowned.  The consort (the spouse) is not of the bloodline and so cannot rule.

Speaking of bits in every other "Prince" movie, don't forget the ever-popular "girl overhears/sees something completely innocent and misinterprets it and so leaves the castle just as the prince is about to declare his love for her" that seems to happen in so many of these.

I have to say, though, I was impressed with the prince's accent.  I was surprised to find out the actor was actually from New York.

I agree about the settings.  Just gorgeous.

[EyewatchTV211]

3 hours ago, Nessie said:

I would assume it's because as in reality, it's the actual monarch who has died and the next in line is being crowned.  The consort (the spouse) is not of the bloodline and so cannot rule.

Speaking of bits in every other "Prince" movie, don't forget the ever-popular "girl overhears/sees something completely innocent and misinterprets it and so leaves the castle just as the prince is about to declare his love for her" that seems to happen in so many of these.

I have to say, though, I was impressed with the prince's accent.  I was surprised to find out the actor was actually from New York.

I agree about the settings.  Just gorgeous.

Agree. I looked him up afterwards and was also surprised that he was from NY. Also agree about the beautiful settings.

With this movie and the other recent royal movie, Royal Matchmaker, there was a lot that I really enjoyed. They both had the potential to be favorites if they didn't squeeze in some of the common Hallmark tropes, including many already mentioned. One biggie that I wish they would address is allowing for longer timelines for these couples to get to know each other. There's plenty of ways to show time passing and hinting at people getting to know each other. Like in one of their older movies with Hallmark staple Lacey Chabert - Elevator Girl - where she and the lead dated like a real couple. It was even worse in this one since Susannah had JUST broken up with the boyfriend she was expecting to marry. Yet I found both movies to be watchable and will probably rewatch now that I've moved and have a mostly empty DVR. :-( I'm missing some of my actual movie favorites.

[Happywatcher]

Rewatched the Gourmet Detective series during the marathon session this weekend. Surprised how much I enjoyed it in one shot. Brooke's character did get a little overly bitchy the first two, and then Dylan's baby fit over his mom's death and his father showing up was a bit much.

Former Military Police here: Brooke' s and the script writers' complete lack of any knowledge of being the police sucked.

However, overall these were fun murders.

[redpencil]

There have been like a million prince movies at this point. Have they ever done a princess one where it's an ordinary guy instead of an ordinary girl? Seems like lost opportunity.

[twoods]

47 minutes ago, redpencil said:

There have been like a million prince movies at this point. Have they ever done a princess one where it's an ordinary guy instead of an ordinary girl? Seems like lost opportunity.

Yes. Once upon a Holiday with Paul Campbell had a princess with a contractor. She wasn’t in a castle but wandering around New York when they met. 

[redpencil]

I forgot about that one. Still, that's only 1. Some more would be nice for a change!

[JAYJAY1979]

Hallmark Channel and new twists on an old formula don't go well together.  However, if viewers of the channel actually demanded variety, quality, and new types of ideas.. then I'm sure Hallmark would actually do it.

However, the channel seems incapable of varying the roles of their regular panel of actors.  CCB, Danica, Kellie Martin, etc.. are always the lead girl that gets the guy... I'd love it if a future movie would show them as the girlfriend that loses the guy to the main lead actress, etc.  I even recall an interview with the actress that plays the sheriff in the Aurora Teagarden movies being asked if she'd ever want to play the good girl that gets the guy in the end and she said in the interview that if viewers wanted to see that, then they needed to reach out to Hallmark Channel and let them know.

[In2You]

People demand variety often or at least they did when I used to go on Hallmark's facebook and read articles in the media about Hallmark but they really don't want to change their formula because it gets them views. 

[JAYJAY1979]

1 hour ago, In2You said:

People demand variety often or at least they did when I used to go on Hallmark's facebook and read articles in the media about Hallmark but they really don't want to change their formula because it gets them views. 

That's why if ratings went down, then Hallmark would change.  Ratings talk... not facebook messages nor articles in the media.

[tvchick]

Dylan Neal's Instagram shows that they're in production on his new Hallmark rom-com, based on "Truly, Madly, Sweetly."  It will air in the fall and co-stars Nikki Deloach.

[catrice2]

Of course I thought the movie started at 7:00 and missed the beginning. I see that Candace Cameron tweeted that Yannick Bisson decided not to return to the series.  Why not just recast Martin?  They recast the entire family on the Garage Sale Mysteries and since the Murder She Baked series love interest was revamped, they can easily decide to either not kill Martin, or at least not put her back with the boring Robin.  

I actually do not blame him.  He was not given enough to do and just made to look ineffective next to the librarian when was supposedly a former government operative. 

[Happywatcher]

Almost an hour in.

The former love interest was underused, but I am concerned they are trying to hook up the lead and the club member with the 80s hair...Of course, why not have a 40s actress with a 20s actor--it is the 10s now...

Didn't think I would miss the dynamic of Miranda Frigon's snide hard cop against the detective's nice guy act, but him trying to be both is jarring.

[JAYJAY1979]

While I'm glad Sally is back in this latest Aurora Teagarden, oddly the absence of the snarky hard nosed cop was noticeable. 

Why does Aurora need to have a love interest?  Why not have her be single and solving crimes without the love interest element?  

[mikeb]

Here's an interview with Miranda Frigon from January where she mentions she will miss next Aurora Teagarden movie as well due to having a baby in real life.

http://mydevotionalthoughts.net/2018/01/interview-with-actress-singer-miranda-frigon-aurora-teagarden.html

 

Also, strange that they reintroduced the character of Jason Dell, who had only been in 1 previous movie, but re-cast him with new actor.  They could have just as easily invented another cousin for Perry Dell.

[GaT]

Sally seemed to have a new personality to me, she didn't act like a reporter at all.

[mikeb]

16 hours ago, GaT said:

Sally seemed to have a new personality to me, she didn't act like a reporter at all.

I agree that Sally did not act like a reporter at all in the latest movie, but even in the earlier ones, I always felt she was not too believable as a reporter.   I think the character works best just as Aurora's friend and helper.  I enjoy the actress so was glad to see the absence of Martin allowed for more screen time for her.

 

The re-use of actors from other Hallmark movies and shows continues in full force.  I recognized the actors playing Poppy, Nicole, Lizzy, Nick, and even Nick's lawyer (who was just in one scene) from other movies and shows.  Also turns out the actress who played Lizzy is married to the actor who plays the detective Arthur, so wouldn't be surprised to see her show up in future movies.

[hilaryvm]

So the Aurora Teagarden movies were never my favorite of the mystery series, this one really just sealed the deal for me.  It was all just too ridiculous.  I fast-forwarded through parts of it just to get to the end.  I mean, I get that these types of movies are taken from the premise that the heroine (or sometimes hero) who is not a cop is able to solve the case when the cops couldn't, or before the cops, or when the cops had the wrong person.  Often, the cops aren't made out to be idiots, but in this movie, it seemed like the cop could do nothing if it weren't for Aurora.  Plus, she just went around doing all this digging, meanwhile expecting everyone just to think she's so darn cute and smart.  I don't know, I don't mind Candice Cameron Bure, but this movie just annoyed me on so many levels.  I definitely won't be watching any more from this series.

Most of the characters are annoying, I don't know why but I irrationally hate that everyone calls her 'Ro, and the stepmother was horrible and the dad didn't seem that broken up about his dead daughter...

[In2You]

Hallmark is releasing both of Meghan's movies on DVD as a Royal Wedding Boxset alongside Royal Hearts