jiaidc Reviews

Falling in Love in Niagara (2024 TV Movie)

Swing and Miss

[4/10 · 21 April 2024]

I dislike this movie. First, this is a retread of a previous Hallmark movie. This is "Two Tickets to Paradise" an Ashley Williams (2022) movie, except instead of Hawaii it is Niagara Falls. Is Hallmark so out of ideas that they need to copy a 2 year old movie.

The difference between the two is the end. The 2022 movie was more introspective about the reasons for getting married. This movie was just based on fear.

Ms. Hudon does something very horrible at the end of this movie. Instead of going to hear her love interest perform as she promised, she blows off the performance and takes a walk with her ex who shows up suddenly and she gets re-engaged.

When she hears that at the missed performance he had written her a song, she is not phased and waits in the lobby to run off with her ex-that is cold.

She finally realizes her ex is jerk and comes back. I don't think I could forgive a woman who would so easily blow me off like that. Her behavior comes off as being cruel and selfish.

In the end, I wasn't so excited about this pairing. A swing and a miss on this movie. Shame because I really like Jocelyn Hudson - just not in this movie.

Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001)

New Fighting Style

[5/10 · 30 January 2024]

Villains in "Walker: Texas Ranger" have a unique fighting style. It seems that all of the villains have made a group decision on how to win a fight against Walker.

The secret to victory that they all have determined is to not put up your hands to do "wax-on wax-off" and block Walkers kicks. They have all determined the best way to victory is to block all of his kicks and punches with their face.

I guess they have determined this will tire him out, assuming he tires before he beats them into unconsciousness.

I also felt so bad for them. I would scream at the TV, "put your hands up." They would never hear me and Walker would prevail every time. Oh, if only.

I guess that's why they are villains and not Texas rangers. They're not smart enough to not leave their hands at their side when they fight against Walker. It just breaks your heart. :-)

The Lost Kitchen (2021– )

Great Show

[9/10 · 19 October 2023]

I am astounded reading some of the bad reviews. Is this who we are now. It is a show about a woman who comes back to the small town in Maine where she grew up and opens a restaurant to celebrate the diversity of food in Maine.

One review questioned the low diversity on the show. A show is now unacceptable unless there is diversity - seriously. So a show in rural Maine must fail because the state is 95% white and there is no opportunity for diversity. That's insane.

There are many reviews saying her cooking is pompous and being critical of their efforts during Covid. This is everything bad about Social media, there are too many people that behave terribly because they don't have to say it to someone's face.

I enjoy it as a simple New England cooking show about preparing wholesome good food. When I used to live in New England I admired how everything they do: cooking, woodworking, etc is made with quality. This show celebrates that and I enjoy it for that.

Field Day (2023 TV Movie)

Hallmark Pablum

[5/10 · 15 October 2023]

There is no cohesive plot here. It looks like they were writing this movie as they were filming it. The story meanders and in the end there is no purpose for making this movie - it is just fluff.

I like Rachel Boston, but she keeps trying to make the same movie: Divorced mom with teen daughter wanting to hide from the world even though she suddenly has a great guy in her life that is crazy about her. Friends try to encourage her to start living again. Previous movies, Delaneys, had more direction and purpose.

They built the whole movie around planning Field Day at daughters school. War and Peace this is not.

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost (2023 TV Movie)

Very different Hallmark movie

[9/10 · 13 October 2023]

It was nice to watch a Hallmark movie that doesn't have all of same overworked bits. The actress that plays Ruby was wonderful and Julie Gonzalo was good. Chris McNally, to me, was the weakest part - he could be completely removed and the plot still works.

The story is sweet and not overly convoluted. Still, this being a Hallmark movie you still have to watch a romance develop and be blown up in the last half hour, so it can be fixed in the last five minutes and end with a kiss.

The dialogue from Ruby is great. Words I remember from my grandmother that are no longer used; jeepers, toots ... It made me remember how much I enjoyed spending time with my grandmother; a time that went away way too quickly.

I recommend this movie and there aren't that many Hallmark movies these days that I like.

Love Finds You in Valentine (2016 TV Movie)

Much Underrated Movie

[7/10 · 7 July 2023]

I don't understand the poor ratings this movie receives. It's a very well written movie. It speaks to the silly issues that tear families apart. I know too many families that have been ripped apart by prideful silliness. I guess it seems so absurd it happens to your family.

The acting is good with an interesting cast. I enjoyed this movie and it holds up over time. I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a simple movie with an engaging plot.

I like that the lead actress was unknown to me. It makes it easier to believe her in the part. In too many movies I've seen the actor in so many movies that all I see is an actor playing a part. The movie is much more engaging when you can believe the actor in her part.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Very Overrated Movie

[5/10 · 4 July 2023]

This is a low budget, piece-of-crap movie that was so awful that it resulted in people acting out their dislike in the movie theater which led to a ritual of movie theatre antics that make people look at this terrible movie with great fondness. It is not deserved.

There is an absurdity and weirdness to this movie that makes it downright insufferable.

During my college days in the early 80s, I used to attend this movie a lot with friends. I loved the spectacle of the movie, but never the movie. If I ever saw this movie alone in my living room, I would give up after the first song. Don't let the rating of this movie ever convince you that it is a good movie - because it isn't.

The Closer (2005–2012)

This show sneaks up on you

[9/10 · 23 June 2023]

In the beginning, this show looks like every other cop show. If you give it time to develop, it goes somewhere very different from what you are thinking. Kyra Sedgwick always seems to out perform my expectations in a sea of cantankerous male "good old boy" cops. Each time I watch this show I am always 30 seconds from changing the channel, but I never seem to actually change the channel. It's the damndest thing, I always get sucked in, but walk away assuming this is a one time situation-but it happens again .,. And again.

Very well done show. Yet with 90% of the same cast, I have never been a big fan of "Major Crimes" I guess that that tells you everything about this show.

All Summer Long (2019 TV Movie)

Wanted: Naval Seamanship

[6/10 · 27 May 2023]

I always enjoy Autumn Reeser movies.

Still, as a former Navy man, I am shocked at the poor directing of this movie.

Autumn is in the pilot house steering the boat and Christopher Russell just walks in and starts a flirty conversation with the captain. Does she say I'm a little busy now or you shouldn't be up here. She takes her hand off the wheel, turns her back to the water and proceeds to have a have a very long, social conversation.

The boat could be moving out of the channel, a craft may be cutting in front of the boat, there could be any measure of dangers and she isn't even looking. What kind of captain is this? How is she qualified to be captain?

Stop the Wedding (2016 TV Movie)

It's like the writers aren't even trying anymore

[6/10 · 26 April 2023]

If you are writing for a 2 hour movie, why do you have two weddings in the last five minutes?

Most of the movie involves a senior wedding and whether it is right to marry so impulsively. Finally, after the whole movie they stage a three minute wedding - this your reward for the last hour and 55 minutes. The wedding couldn't be stretched to a whole 5 minutes, because they added another wedding for the last two minutes.

If that isn't enough, Alan Thicke is a total load in this movie. He is patting himself on the back through this movie on how skilled an actor he is.

This movie plays like actors had some free time and just wanted to make a quick buck.

I really enjoy watching Rachel Boston, but this wasn't a good vehicle.

All of My Heart: Inn Love (2017 TV Movie)

Have they heard of a T1 line

[7/10 · 26 April 2023]

When I lived in New Hampshire, our neighbor did all the investing for a millionaire- one client.

He built a very small barn in his side yard and filled that barn with electronics.

Every weekday, he would kiss his wife and proceed to side yard to his home office. He spent the day being a stockbroker and at the end of the day his commute required him to cross the side lawn.

I think about them a lot during this movie, and the conflict of the movie seems so silly.

Still, I find the movie very sweet and endearing. Who doesn't like a movie with baby goats. Bucks county doesn't seem so special, but I have never been there, so pay me no mind on that one.

A Million Little Things (2018–2023)

The ideals of Progressive Democrats

[6/10 · 20 April 2023]

The first season of this show was truly excellent. It was a character drama with well developed characters.

Somehow it evolved into the bucket list of progressive democrats. Talking about racism, immigration, gay issues, woman's rights. Suddenly this shows is acting out CNN/MSNBC.

These issues are important to talk about, but the show is now so serious and I just want simple escapism. The show is now way too intense.

The first scene of the first show was so spectacular. Hell, the events of the first season were so interesting. I think the writers didn't know how to develop the show and just lost their way. I just wish they wouldn't takes them so seriously. The show still has some really great characters.

Love in Glacier National: A National Park Romance (2023 TV Movie)

Standard Hallmark Movie

[6/10 · 19 April 2023]

If you watch enough of these Hallmark movies, you see the pattern of all of their movies. I usually enjoy the first 90 minutes. It is feel good escape TV. Then at the 90 minute mark they have to wreck everything. They are careful to make sure the wreckage isn't severe.

Suddenly, my escape TV becomes way to real reminding me of so many great relationships that didn't go the distance and I feel depressed- lately I turn the channel for 20 minutes.

The have to wreck everything so they can put it back together in the last 10 minutes. This is supposed to leave you happy as the movie ends with s kiss. I am always curious about what happens after the kiss. Hallmark doesn't seem very interested in that.

When your movie follows a road map it makes the movie so uninteresting. Just once I would like to see a movie where they didn't wreck everything. If only.

The wreckage in this movie was so thin. It just detracted from the story and made it a worse movie. I was really enjoying this movie until "the conflict" happened. Shame because I thought this was a strong movie for Ashley Newbrough.

The Dog Lover's Guide to Dating (2023 TV Movie)

Does she own a dress?

[6/10 · 19 April 2023]

I feel very shallow talking about this, but it becomes glaringly obvious as you watch this movie. Rebecca Dalton does this entire movie in yoga pants. I don't know why that bothers me so much, but it does. It's almost like she wasn't even trying. As I rewatch other Hallmark movies I am seeing a lot of yoga pants, but it wasn't as glaring as in this movie. Call me shallow.

She does wear a dress toward the end of the movie-once and not for long.

This movie's plot is very thin-just putting dogs in a movie is not enough. I enjoyed Rebecca Dalton in this movie - I hope she does more movies. She brings this movie from a 5 to a 6. I just hope it is a better movie than this one. I want to like her - I just need Hallmark to help here.

Very, Very, Valentine (2018 TV Movie)

Screenplay Written by a Woman

[6/10 · 2 March 2023]

Viewing this movie from a male perspective there are some glaring problems.

First, it is VERY bad form for a woman to carry on with a man, at a social event, other than the man that brought you - it's very disrespectful.

It is even worse to share the play by play of your time with the other man with the man that brought you-that is just cruel

Further, it is absolute fiction that any man that has a crush on a woman would independently strive to find the other man - why would he do that? This is a feminine fantasy that the man loves her so much that he wants her to be happy even if it isn't with him.

He helps the other guy win the heart of the girl that he has had a crush on since college-he doesn't even fight for her. Then feels so sad that he takes a job in a different city.

It a seems like a device to get a happy ending. I never bought the premise that any guy would do something that would make him sad or that any woman would be so clueless - until that romantic finish.

The Wedding Veil Inspiration (2023 TV Movie)

Woman submits

[6/10 · 15 January 2023]

This movie was written to have so many specific explanations, but it in the end she yields her ambitions to the those of her husband. She abandons her city and her country to save her marriage and yield to the wishes of her husband.

She could have stayed in Chicago and just turned down the promotion and continued on as an art professor. She will have to get an extended work visa to stay and teach long term in Italy and she will have to put the Atlantic Ocean between her and her best friends.

To me this seems like a complete sellout. He yields nothing and she yields significantly. I really don't like the message of this movie.

If this doesn't work out, she loses a marriage and goes back to America with nothing. She is risking too much.

Next Stop, Christmas (2021 TV Movie)

I Love This Movie

[10/10 · 23 December 2022]

Lindsey Fonseca is wonderful in this movie. Her mannerisms and facial expressions make made me smile. The plot is silly, but I just so enjoyed this movie. I watch this movie every time it comes on TV and I enjoy it every time. It is not the standard Hallmark Christmas movie. I usually don't like Christopher Lloyd, but he works well here. If I have one problem with the movie it is the last 5-10 minutes - it just loses energy. Still, I would recommend this movie to anyone that just wants a good laugh. I just wish Lyndsey Fonseca would do more comedies-her comedic timing is truly great. She really dominates this movie and makes it work.

Ticket to Paradise (2022)

Plain Vanilla

[6/10 · 11 December 2022]

I guess Clooney and Roberts wanted the studio to pay for their vacation, so they printed out a template for a ROMCOM setup shop in Australia. For the summer.

There really wasn't anything here that I haven't seen in every ROMCOM. Granted this movie has George Clooney and Julia Roberts, but that just wasn't enough.

Further, doesn't seem that Julia Roberts is a good rendition of Julia Roberts in this movie.

Local Balanese culture was passed off as much of the plot in this movie. This allowed them to avoid silly things like an interesting or complex plot. The location looked great, but that alone doesn't make a movie.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told (2015 TV Movie)

Not polished or professional

[4/10 · 9 July 2021]

This movie flows like a sitcom where they are just trying to fill the allotted time with text. It was very hard to engage in the story because it was written in a very choppy and confusing style.

A Gift of Miracles (2015 TV Movie)

There is just something I like about Rachel Boston

[8/10 · 8 May 2021]

Most Hallmark movies follow this formula - feel good fun until 1.5 hours and then conflict until it ends with a kiss. This movie had its own formula that made it more interesting. Further, I always like Rachel Boston; she makes a 6 movie into an 8.