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

[bijoux]

11 hours ago, Koalagirl said:

Four new movies have been announced for this summer:

https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a20952388/hallmark-channel-summer-nights-movies-2018/?src=socialflowFBRBK

I like that the the guy is the romance novelist in one. It feels like Hallmark would traditionally make her the romance writer, and him a nature photographer.

[JasmineFlower]

8 hours ago, mikeb said:

It's interesting they all were filmed on location overseas, instead of in Canada.  I wonder if their budgets are higher than normal.

Not the first movies shot on location. In the last year or so, they seem to be more open to choosing a locale that matches the film, like Destination Wedding from last year, which was shot in Mexico.  Their budgets are likely slightly higher, but they might have a tighter shooting schedule to control costs as well. But in general, Hallmark is printing money at this point, so they can afford all of it.

 

3 hours ago, bijoux said:

I like that the the guy is the romance novelist in one. It feels like Hallmark would traditionally make her the romance writer, and him a nature photographer.

Understandable that you would think that about Hallmark, but actually, this isn't the first time they've done this. Dylan Bruce starred in a Hallmark movie from maybe 3-4 years ago as a romance novelist. 

[twoods]

Yes, wasn’t that the one called A Novel Romance with Amy Acker? Her character was absolutely terrible and Dylan’s was so nice, that it was hard to believe that he would continue to deal with her crap. The only Hallmark movie where I liked Amy’s character was Dear Santa.

Not so sure about the summer movies. I may watch the Safari one just for the scenery, and ignore Lacy’s likely annoying character. 

[Crs97]

There was one in which the guy is a romance writer who writes under his female agent’s name.  Heroine (maybe a wedding planner or florist?) thinks they are together because she is over all the time and he is secretive as to why she is there.  Does that sound familiar to anyone?

[Nidratime]

None of those new summer ones sound very appealing to me. I don't know if they were officially Hallmark movies, but the two that I've always liked were "Straight from the Heart" and "Undercover Christmas." Oddly enough, they were both released in 2003.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340380/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_26

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372004/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Edited May 30, 2018 by Nidratime

[carolibra]

Straight From the Heart is one of my all-time favorites! The acting is far above the run-of-the-mill Hallmark movie.

Now, when can we get another Paul Campbell movie? Pretty please?

[Irlandesa]

20 hours ago, JasmineFlower said:

Understandable that you would think that about Hallmark, but actually, this isn't the first time they've done this. Dylan Bruce starred in a Hallmark movie from maybe 3-4 years ago as a romance novelist. 

 

12 hours ago, Crs97 said:

There was one in which the guy is a romance writer who writes under his female agent’s name.

I don't remember the last one, although I can believe it exists, but there was also The Mistletoe Inn this past holiday season with Alicia Witt and David Alpay where he's revealed to be a famous romance writer writing under a nom de plume.  I remember it seemed like half the people at the romance writers convention were men. 

On 5/29/2018 at 5:38 PM, mikeb said:

It's interesting they all were filmed on location overseas, instead of in Canada.  I wonder if their budgets are higher than normal.

Possibly a little or maybe they realized travel porn is a good way to kick things up a notch. 

[Nidratime]

6 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

I remember it seemed like half the people at the romance writers convention were men. 

Which couldn't be further from the truth. Romance conventions I've gone to certainly had male attendees but no way was it anywhere near half.

[dcinmb]

On 5/30/2018 at 8:53 AM, Crs97 said:

There was one in which the guy is a romance writer who writes under his female agent’s name.  Heroine (maybe a wedding planner or florist?) thinks they are together because she is over all the time and he is secretive as to why she is there.  Does that sound familiar to anyone?

Flower Girl

Edited June 1, 2018 by dcinmb

[JAYJAY1979]

So a friend of mine lives in Calfornia and is a writer.  He's thinking of trying to submit a screenplay for the 2019 Hallmark Channel Christmas movie development cycle.. and he got a list of dos and donts... and he admitted to me that it's very very limiting.. but is up to the challenge.

 

It doesn't sound like these movies are appealing, but sometimes things play out better then they appear on paper.

[MissyPoo]

I am super curious to see what's on that list of dos and don'ts. I imagine it being like those old medieval movies where the town cryer unfolds a scroll that unravels at his feet and across the ground.

I notice Hallmark was being 'extra' for the royal weekend. I guess they coincided with the release of the Daters' Handbook movie with the book release. Not gonna lie, I want a copy cause I love the movie and I'm curious to see how they wrote some of my fave scenes. The recipe theme for the book is mini Elderflower and Lemon bundt cakes, the same flavor as the royal wedding cake. (ISWYDT Hallmark). Which is weird because it has nothing to do with the movie itself, only Meghan.

Oh! And just in case anyone was wondering about A Novel Romance and Flower Girl for rewatches (or first watches), they are currently On Demand rotation for some carriers. I know for sure they're on Sling and ATT for the past few months and this month.

 

On 5/29/2018 at 7:34 PM, In2You said:

Of joy another movie about white people in Africa 

 

I'm giving this movie the biggest side-eye...

I like Lacey and usually follow her movies buuutt...this one looks like a hard pass from me.

[Crs97]

I would love to see that list!

Years ago I read the list of Do’s and Don’ts for the Christian section of Harlequin romance novels (I don’t even know if this series still exists, but their current “clean” line is not nearly so strict).  Years ago the hero and heroine could never spend the night alone in a house under any circumstances, absolutely no drinking or smoking by the saved people, there had to be an explicit discussion and happy resolution to a crisis of faith, if someone had a child that person had to have been married or make it clear the child was born before the parent was saved, etc.  Two of the many don’ts that stunned me back then were the church could not be named for a saint and no one could be called “Father” except by his own child.  Gotta keep those Catholics out of those Christian storylines, but I guess they figured they couldn’t just come out and say no Catholics without getting in trouble.

Other than banning drinking and requiring explicit faith discussions, I think Hallmark may follow a similar playbook.

[KLovestoShop]

Just don’t get the allure of the Mr Darcy movies.  Cindy Busby, who plays Elizabeth, is a bad actress who’s dialogue is so forced and fake that’s painful to watch.  Even her gestures are so contrived and silly.  

[Pickles]

I don't mind Cindy Busby. I don't like the actor who plays Mr. Darcy. No appeal whatsoever and no chemistry with her or anyone.

[In2You]

52 minutes ago, KLovestoShop said:

Just don’t get the allure of the Mr Darcy movies.  Cindy Busby, who plays Elizabeth, is a bad actress who’s dialogue is so forced and fake that’s painful to watch.  Even her gestures are so contrived and silly.  

Both she and Ryan Paevey are such bad actors I don't know how people liked the first one. Cindy legit gets on my nerves with how forced she sounds. I don't know how she keeps getting cast as a lead.  Ryan Paevey is a walking Ken doll and the epitome of bland Hallmark leading male. It was painful listening to him stumble through the bad dialogue of the first film. 

[JAYJAY1979]

1 hour ago, In2You said:

Both she and Ryan Paevey are such bad actors I don't know how people liked the first one. Cindy legit gets on my nerves with how forced she sounds. I don't know how she keeps getting cast as a lead.  Ryan Paevey is a walking Ken doll and the epitome of bland Hallmark leading male. It was painful listening to him stumble through the bad dialogue of the first film. 

Because they're both surface beauty with little acting talent nor personality.  

And brace yourself because I think this Cindy Busby will be in a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie later this year as well so prepared to get a cavity just by viewing her.

Edited June 3, 2018 by JAYJAY1979

[scenicbyway]

Don't waste your time on Marrying Mr Darcy.  I didn't like the first one but I thought I'd give this one a try.

 Poor Lizzie, marrying a rich international businessman who can give them the wedding and honeymoon of their dreams.  Her mother owns a bridal shop but only carries non designer gowns, but that's ok because she wants the plainest dress in the shop and is a sulky brat when she's also gifted a beautiful designer gown!  To add to her misery her fiancé has to work late one night another time he gets stuck in traffic on the way to the cake tasting and he later dares to take a phone call while they are picking out tablecloths!  She's so neglected!  It makes total since she considers breaking up with him because the luxury wedding might have 200 guests instead of 150.

In the spirit of lifelong happiness the compromise is that she gets what she wants, a small wedding where he can only have a few family members but she can invite the local coffee shop owners who give her free pastries?  But she goes through with the other wedding as well.

I also found it troubling that she was out of a job again at the beginning and has just been tutoring but was also encouraging Donovan to quit his job?  She's determined to be a teacher when she could have a greater impact on the foundation board.

[Happywatcher]

On 6/2/2018 at 8:02 AM, Crs97 said:

I would love to see that list!

Years ago I read the list of Do’s and Don’ts for the Christian section of Harlequin romance novels (I don’t even know if this series still exists, but their current “clean” line is not nearly so strict).  Years ago the hero and heroine could never spend the night alone in a house under any circumstances, absolutely no drinking or smoking by the saved people, there had to be an explicit discussion and happy resolution to a crisis of faith, if someone had a child that person had to have been married or make it clear the child was born before the parent was saved, etc.  Two of the many don’ts that stunned me back then were the church could not be named for a saint and no one could be called “Father” except by his own child.  Gotta keep those Catholics out of those Christian storylines, but I guess they figured they couldn’t just come out and say no Catholics without getting in trouble.

Other than banning drinking and requiring explicit faith discussions, I think Hallmark may follow a similar playbook.

Years and years ago I had a client who was a clean Black romance author for Harlequin. She had a bunch of guidelines, and there were very few authors who could write works in that genre that people want to read.

For those that don't know: Harlequin has "imprints" (categories), some are millionaire romances, some are vampires, solving mysteries, spies, Christian drama romances...  But they also have a special imprint for Black readers. 

At the time, there was a big fight about residual rights. Turns out most of the pre1990 romances can't be re-released because the initial sexual act was involuntary, so the newer books became much more valuable.

[Koalagirl]

The only reason I even watched this movie was for the dogs.  My brother recently rescued a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and I fell in love with him.  I even reminded my brother and his significant other to watch and I’m feeling a little badly about subjecting them to this.  I think they dvr’d it so I hope they just fast forward to only the scenes with the dogs. Lol

Edited June 3, 2018 by Koalagirl

[sistersledge]

Mr Darcy was super-hot but I could not figure out what he saw in Elizabeth. They had zero chemistry. Walk into a room and greet each other oddly. No hug, kiss or peck on the cheek even? So strange. I didn’t even finish the movie and I usually watch everything to the end, even when I hate it! It reminded me of that Lacey C one with the Inn where she got mad at her fiancé for working in the city for a week. 

Edited June 4, 2018 by sistersledge

[Nidratime]

There are some really good romance novels out there by writers who are really popular and notable in their genre. Hallmark should look into them instead of either producing the same plots over and over or producing movies based on romance books by authors I've never heard of.

[Kemper]

I must admit that of all the "Mystery Movies" that the network produces, the Haley Dean episodes are probably the best written and acted.  The Courtney-Thorn-Smith and Jewel ones are an embarrassment...bad acting, bad writing, trite, etc.  I don't like the Aurora Teagarden ones (allergic to Candace Cameron Bure) but they are a cut above the Smith and Jewel ones.  I really liked the Gourmet Detective but for some reason, it didn't last.  I like the antique shop moves; the lead actress (cannot remember her name..Lorie something?) is good; husband is the usual bland; but I like the mysteries.

That being said, and maybe because I am a senior citizen, but I wish Hallmark would try a little harder with the quality issues.  I admit that I don't watch many of the Christmas movies or the wedding movies, or the prince movies or the vineyard movies or the businesswoman coming to the small town/hometown, finding the meaning if life and giving up the big-city career.  I think that a good many of these movies give young, impressionable women/girls an unrealistic portrait of romance and marriage.  But.  I completely understand the appeal and enthusiasm for the cookie-cutter stories; who doesn't want romance and a happy ending?  With the way things are in the world, it's nice to just tune it out and watch a movie that has nice, pretty people and an ending a good many of us wish happened more often.  And I like the reruns of Matlock, Murder She Wrote, Perry Mason movies, Monk, etc.  Different strokes; I am sure many are bored by these.  Who would want a world where we all liked the same things.

I respect Hallmark for creating their own niche and making movies that bring some happy to so many; they are really popular, across the spectrum.  I just wish the network would try harder; still have the happy ending/wedding, etc.  I would love to see stronger male leads (probably the biggest problem with these movies) - for the most part they are basically Ken dolls.  By and large, the female leads are better.  Just me?  

[GaT]

6 hours ago, Kemper said:

I must admit that of all the "Mystery Movies" that the network produces, the Haley Dean episodes are probably the best written and acted.  The Courtney-Thorn-Smith and Jewel ones are an embarrassment...bad acting, bad writing, trite, etc.  I don't like the Aurora Teagarden ones (allergic to Candace Cameron Bure) but they are a cut above the Smith and Jewel ones.  I really liked the Gourmet Detective but for some reason, it didn't last.  I like the antique shop moves; the lead actress (cannot remember her name..Lorie something?) is good; husband is the usual bland; but I like the mysteries.

I watched the latest Hailey Dean movie last night, & was completely distracted by how horrible Kelly Martin's makeup was. They must have used an entire container of powder on her face, because she looked incredibly chalky & I couldn't stop looking at it. Also, I hate that Nancy Grace has to have a cameo in each of these movies.

Lori Loughlin is the lead actress in the "Garage Sale Mysteries", those are my favorite. I agree about the Courtney Thorne-Smith (Emma Fielding Mysteries) & Jewel (Fixer Upper Mysteries), & I think the Brooke Shields (Flower Shop Mysteries) is pretty bad too.

[Pickles]

I thought Kelly Martin's makeup looked bad too. Really caked on. She is only 42, but she looked a lot older. 

[Starscream]

7 hours ago, GaT said:

I watched the latest Hailey Dean movie last night, & was completely distracted by how horrible Kelly Martin's makeup was. They must have used an entire container of powder on her face, because she looked incredibly chalky & I couldn't stop looking at it. Also, I hate that Nancy Grace has to have a cameo in each of these movies.

Lori Loughlin is the lead actress in the "Garage Sale Mysteries", those are my favorite. I agree about the Courtney Thorne-Smith (Emma Fielding Mysteries) & Jewel (Fixer Upper Mysteries), & I think the Brooke Shields (Flower Shop Mysteries) is pretty bad too.

I thought Nancy Grace was better in this latest one since they had her hosting a TV program and that's something in her wheelhouse.  Having her try to act a normal part is terrible.  I don't know why Hallmark is doing this Stan Lee-style cameo crap.  I hate his cameos in those movies and these are just as stupid.  Al Roker's bit in Morning Show Mystery is so nonsensical that I almost enjoy it because of how bizarre it is.  Charlaine Harris had one tasteful cameo in Aurora Teagarden and it was Aurora showing her a collection of mystery novels in the library.

[Irlandesa]

The latest Hailey Dean movie was decent but it did kind of ruin my speculation half way through when they advertised the next movie and Chad Lowe was still in it so clearly he wasn't the murderer.  So what do we think?  Will he be the big bad in the third movie of this series?

[catrice2]

 it will probably be the ols he was always the one in love with her but she rejected him so he was going to have her killed and they killed her fiance instead of her by mistake.   Nancy Grace was horrible in that one where she was a receptionist or something and I too don't understand why they're going the cameo route with her

Edited June 5, 2018 by catrice2

[Aliconehead]

probably in her contract since she wrote the books. 

I too am picking Chad to be behind the murder of Haileys fiancee

[methodwriter85]

I gotta hand it to Netflix that they're really gunning for Hallmark now. LOL.

A Christmas Prince really was almost virtually indistinguishable from a real Hallmark movie. Except maybe the gay bff- that's just too edgy for them.

I kind of wonder if they'll get an actual budget for this sequel given that the name is a proven draw.

Edited June 5, 2018 by methodwriter85

[Irlandesa]

1 hour ago, methodwriter85 said:

I gotta hand it to Netflix that they're really gunning for Hallmark now.

And Lifetime too.  And Nikelodean.  They are going all out with romcoms.  There's the Hallmark version.  There's the teen version.  This Friday will be the gay teen version.  And next week looks to be a bit more adultish. 

[ShelleySue]

I finally watched the Mr. Darcy movie.  I agree with everyone -- zero chemistry.  I also call Aunt Violet on her lie.  She was a manipulative woman and in the end she supposedly respected Lizzy because Lizzy finally stood up for herself.  Yeah right.  I've known people like Aunt Violet.  They want to manipulate others and don't respect anyone but themselves.  It was just another example of Hallmark scraping around trying to a happy ending with total regard for reality.  And yet I continue watching it.

I tend to hate movie wedding dresses.  They are always either generic or too froo-frooey.  But I absolutely loved the designer dress (the one wore to the society wedding).

[JAYJAY1979]

On 6/2/2018 at 7:02 AM, Crs97 said:

I would love to see that list!

Years ago I read the list of Do’s and Don’ts for the Christian section of Harlequin romance novels (I don’t even know if this series still exists, but their current “clean” line is not nearly so strict).  Years ago the hero and heroine could never spend the night alone in a house under any circumstances, absolutely no drinking or smoking by the saved people, there had to be an explicit discussion and happy resolution to a crisis of faith, if someone had a child that person had to have been married or make it clear the child was born before the parent was saved, etc.  Two of the many don’ts that stunned me back then were the church could not be named for a saint and no one could be called “Father” except by his own child.  Gotta keep those Catholics out of those Christian storylines, but I guess they figured they couldn’t just come out and say no Catholics without getting in trouble.

Other than banning drinking and requiring explicit faith discussions, I think Hallmark may follow a similar playbook.

I asked my screen writing friend for some examples of the dos and don'ts for the hallmark channel movies.. and here is what he said..

 

A lot of the 'dos' are more structural... like both main characters have to be introduced by a certain page, where commercial breaks need to be... and for the Christmas movies... they want specific Christmas things in as many scenes as possible (hence why it always looks like Christmas threw up in every scene lol).

The don'ts involve no sex scenes, heavy themes (like no one is murdered or dies.. unless it's a backstory.. and an older person is sick.. but it's more touching than tragic)... and he said the weirdest don't rule is No Karaoke lol   I asked if there was a mandate that big city characters travel to a small town.. fall in love with the small town and guy than ditch the big city for the small town.  My friend said no, but it's a formula Hallmark channel loves... but said they would accept if it's a reversal.  And said for the Christmas movies, they love the professions to be bakers, candy store owners, christmas shop owners, toy makers, etc.

He is currently submitting a script for Lifetime.. and the biggest don't for Lifetime is that they don't want the characters to be singers/models/actors.. they want the characters to have 'regular jobs'.

[In2You]

I don't know why Hallmark is stuck on people(especially the women) having "cutesy" occupations.

[Kaiju Ballet]

On 6/3/2018 at 12:14 AM, scenicbyway said:

Don't waste your time on Marrying Mr Darcy.  I didn't like the first one but I thought I'd give this one a try.

 Poor Lizzie, marrying a rich international businessman who can give them the wedding and honeymoon of their dreams.  Her mother owns a bridal shop but only carries non designer gowns, but that's ok because she wants the plainest dress in the shop and is a sulky brat when she's also gifted a beautiful designer gown!  To add to her misery her fiancé has to work late one night another time he gets stuck in traffic on the way to the cake tasting and he later dares to take a phone call while they are picking out tablecloths!  She's so neglected!  It makes total since she considers breaking up with him because the luxury wedding might have 200 guests instead of 150.

In the spirit of lifelong happiness the compromise is that she gets what she wants, a small wedding where he can only have a few family members but she can invite the local coffee shop owners who give her free pastries?  But she goes through with the other wedding as well.

I also found it troubling that she was out of a job again at the beginning and has just been tutoring but was also encouraging Donovan to quit his job?  She's determined to be a teacher when she could have a greater impact on the foundation board.

Yes to all of this. ALL of this! I did like the first one, because of the homage to P+P. I'm a sucker for different "takes" on Austen. Ryan Paevey's stiff delivery worked as a character based on the original recipe Darcy. It was closer to the Matthew MacFadyn version rather than Colin Firth, but it was still recognizable Darcy. Plus the dude is hot. Lizzie Not-Bennett in the first movie also worked. But here? she was totally shrill, unlikeable and ugh, so entitled. She was worse than the female "villain" in the first movie. The one who in retrospect really was better suited for Darcy.

I had to keep telling myself that offscreen Donovan Darcy was brainwashed into believing he was in love with this awful, spoiled brat. And his conditioning was reinforced every time they "danced" --poor Frances Fisher had to look at them as if they were a couple in love each time, and not that they were picking the oddest times to go sway together with no music playing.

I get that she was pretty much ambushed into being at the Board Meeting, but she's also in the middle of job interviews. You'd expect her to be able to switch into interview/sounding intelligent mode. She should have been able to handle it with a lot more poise than giving her best Jim Carrey impression. It was a rushed script, but the actress wasn't all that great either. With someone like Rachel Boston or Autumn Reeser we might have gotten glimmers as to why Darcy was so in love with her. With this actress all we got was pouting, whining or making an ass of herself.

Which is a problem with many of the movies featuring the "girl-next-door" among the very wealthy/royalty in the Post- Crown for Christmas Hallmark era. The movie where the chick sleeps through dinner? I was already cringing when she first stepped out of the car and bowed or curtsied to the butler. I've been scrubbing the movie from my memory--there were many cringe-inducing moments like that. It only makes the prince/love interest who looks on her exaggerated gaucheness with heart emoji eyes seem like he's either taken ecstasy or otherwise lost his mind. I might not have even finished that particular one.

I did watch Marrying Mr. Darcy to the bitter end, though, because I was genuinely curious how they were going to solve this "dilemma" (we should all have such dilemmas!) and the dafuq?-edness of the ending did not disappoint.

On a positive note, I caught The Good Witch's Charm or something like that and liked it a lot. It had many different subplots going on, some really deft writing and dialogue, and almost everyone had some sort of issue that led them to evolving in some way.

[Cherpumple]

8 hours ago, JAYJAY1979 said:

the weirdest don't rule is No Karaoke lol

That is indeed weird and hilarious. A few months ago I read the novel that Dashing Through the Snow was based on, and there was a karaoke scene in the book that never made it to the movie. Now I know why!

Edited June 8, 2018 by Cherpumple

[Crs97]

Marrying Mr. Darcy also loses something when your teenaged boys wander into the room, plop down to join you, and then start asking, “What’s the deal with these two?  Why is she calling off the wedding?  Why is he blowing her off?” so that it becomes a morality tale in how to handle relationships.

 

I had a little (emphasis on little) more sympathy for her than y’all did.  He told her he put her on the board as they were heading to the meeting where she was put on the spot to declare what exactly she wanted to be involved in.  She should have answered better (anyone could have), but she didn’t have much time to plan.  Then his aunt pulls her aside to tell her she offended everyone in the room.  When Darcy decided to surprise her, even his best friend told him it was a bad idea.

I thought Lizzy was annoying about so much of the wedding.  If he needs to invite that many people, you invite them.  But when she showed up to his office clearly upset and he blew her off for work?  Not cool, Darcy.

They had no chemistry.  The few times they showed them just silently smiling at each other, it looked to me like someone forgot a line and they didn’t know what to do so just kept smiling.  He was so stiff as an actor that it became sort of endearing.  Like he was being interviewed remotely where you have the transmission pause between question and answer.  Cute to look at, though.

[VartanFan]

I agree with everyone on Marrying Darcy.  I actually kind of liked the first one but this one was about 1.5 hours too long.  

I just also felt like the first movie was very much about the dogs and him being a judge.  I think this would have been better if they kept the dog show stuff, he’s still doing some judging, and there was an interloper there.  But, in all seriousness, none of these sequels on Hallmark have any business being made.  

[scenicbyway]

I thought the Perfect Bride 2 was sweet.  Although I can't figure out why Hallmark doesn't just set their movies in Vancouver when it's clearly Vancouver.  I spent part of last summer there and walked by those locations every day!

Kavan and Pascale have probably the best chemistry of any Hallmark "couple" since they are also a couple on a series together. The drama seemed fitting and not contrived like last week with the Darcy movie.

 

I did prefer her other choice dress over the one she ended up wearing.

[Irlandesa]

I stopped watching after ten minutes.  Maybe I'll try it again later but I really need to be into the main couple for me to consider watching two hours of their wedding related drama. And it has been a long time since Hallmark has produced one of those. 

And I really hate that three of the June Wedding movies are going to be sequels.  And the fourth one is going to be one of those "engaged to one person while falling in love with another" stories I hate.  I find it hilarious that Hallmark doesn't want karaoke or anything too edgy but rampant infidelity is a-okay...just as long as no one is having sex.   The only sequel that might be okay is The Wedding March 4 because I liked the first and the third. 

Edited June 10, 2018 by Irlandesa

[bijoux]

The karaoke thing might be because they don't want to pay for music rights. 

[Pickles]

I really like Kavan and Pascale, but I thought Perfect Bride 2 was kind of draggy. I lost interest after awhile. 

[Happywatcher]

Watching the Garage Sale Mystery marathon right now, The costar's haircut was starting to grate on me. Looked it up, Sarah Strange is 10 years younger than Lori, so that makes sense. I don't dislike the plots as much as some here, but I can see why the writing would tend to annoy some people.

 

Kind of surprised the father character doesn't put his foot down on some of her risky adventures. Not only is she his wife, but the son still needs a lot of supervising and mentoring to get him to grow up.

[GaT]

24 minutes ago, Happywatcher said:

Kind of surprised the father character doesn't put his foot down on some of her risky adventures. Not only is she his wife, but the son still needs a lot of supervising and mentoring to get him to grow up.

I'm going to put this in spoiler tags just in case 

Spoiler

By the latest movie, the husband (& everyone else including the police) is just pretty much "well, you keep attracting dead bodies, might as well solve the murders". It's a little weird.

[catrice2]

The actor kavan looks like a imitation Ted McGinley in his younger years.  I have yet to see him in anything that I like

[In2You]

UP TV aired a bridal movie called Bridal Bootcamp(it's been on VOD since last year) and it was better than the recent Hallmark bridal movies I've watched recently. Plus the adults actually acted like regular adults and it was as strictly sanitized as a Hallmark movie.

[EyewatchTV211]

4 minutes ago, In2You said:

UP TV aired a bridal movie called Bridal Bootcamp(it's been on VOD since last year) and it was better than the recent Hallmark bridal movies I've watched recently. Plus the adults actually acted like regular adults and it was as strictly sanitized as a Hallmark movie.

I saw that one. It was okay, but another one where she's engaged when she meets someone else. I wish there weren't so many of those. The good thing was the guy was actually upset when she broke it off. It otherwise had some of the same drawbacks, though.

I just started watching another UP TV movie, Betting on the Bride. So far, it's almost the exact same movie as A Bride for Christmas without the Christmas aspect. Very, very similar, though. Almost a copy. I'm curious how the rest of the movie will go...

[twoods]

I also get squeamish when the couples fall for one another while there is a significant other involved. Hallmark doesn’t want any kissing until the last second, but is perfectly okay with infidelity. All the movies I watch over and over again have both of the leads single- I don’t remember the last movie I watched and enjoyed that had the lead have a boyfriend (I take that back- a Very Merry Mixup was decent but I ffed through the couple and his family). 

[GaT]

I just watched the 2nd (Of the trilogy) Hailey Dean movies, & I can't really see any other reason for Clyde other than he had something to do with Will's death. He isn't in that many scenes & none of them are that important, it's like he's a placeholder. I guess we'll find out next week. Whatever happens, I hope it's the last we have to hear about Will, because I am tired of seeing everyone make that sad face every time his name is mentioned.

[In2You]

7 hours ago, VMepicgrl said:

I saw that one. It was okay, but another one where she's engaged when she meets someone else. I wish there weren't so many of those. The good thing was the guy was actually upset when she broke it off. It otherwise had some of the same drawbacks, though.

I just started watching another UP TV movie, Betting on the Bride. So far, it's almost the exact same movie as A Bride for Christmas without the Christmas aspect. Very, very similar, though. Almost a copy. I'm curious how the rest of the movie will go...

Her friend at least called her out on her infidelity. 

[EyewatchTV211]

2 hours ago, In2You said:

Her friend at least called her out on her infidelity. 

True. 

I finished Betting on the Bride, and holy crap. Either the script writer got away with submitting nearly identical scripts to both Hallmark and UP TV with minor detail changes or one script writer copied the writer of A Bride for Christmas, changed some details, and submitted it to a different network. No way it was an accident. The plot was EXACTLY the same, down to all of the different twists and turns of the relationship. I am kind of shocked. This one just didn't have the benefit of Andrew Walker and Arielle Krebel. 

 

ETA: Just wanted to also clarify - this is not the usual similar storylines that all of these movies have since the channels allow for little creativity. This is identical. So spoiler alert if you watched A Bride for Christmas, you now know exactly how Betting on the Bride goes. 

Edited June 11, 2018 by VMepicgrl