Movie #2023 ........................."Tick, Tick, Boom" (netflix)

 Movie #2023 "Tick, Tick...Boom!" (Netflix) This was a very creative film to watch, and we found it quite enjoyable -- the story isn't clearly told, with lots of time changes and swift scheme changes without clear transitions but the music ticks it forward.  Andrew Garfield is amazing! and should get an Oscar nod for his work here.  He, mingled with the spirit of Jonathan Larson  and his driving music, is the glue  that holds this piece together.  Some favorite moments from the film:  "Sunday" is an homage to Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George"  and celebrates a diner  using Broadway legends for the customers.  Another moment is the song between Hudgens (playing Susan)  and Garfield (playing Jon)  which serves as their big fight leading  to their break up.  Wow!  So well done!   Each song is full of energy, each line of dialogue demands to be listened to and thought about --- it's a shame the show wasn't seen much at all until after he died.  But what Lin- Manuel has done with it makes it even better!  I just thought the story could have been clearer, that  it was a tad shorter (two slow songs at the end) and had more of an ending to match the show stopping opening!  I'd give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.  

"TICK,TICK...BOOM!"    netflix             PG-13          1 hour and 55 minutes    2021

On the cusp of his 30th birthday a promising young theater composer navigates love, friendship, and the pressures of life as an artist in NYC.  (while the clock ticks away due to  the aids epidemic hitting many of his friends)

Director:  Lin-Manuel Miranda

Writers:  Steven Levenson (screenplay)  Jonathan Larson (based on his musical)

Stars:  Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesus

Movie #2022 ........................."Sex Education " (netflix) Season 3

 Movie #2022 "Sex Education" (netflix)  Season 3 --- we love this show, and we esp. liked this season because what we and the rest of the audience has been waiting for is for Otis and Maeve to finally reveal to each other that they are soulmates, and that's what happens here ----- for a kiss!   But, of course, for the show to continue, conflicts will get in the way, but the show is really sweet when it focuses on those two ---- and also when it follows the male and female gay relationships of their friends.  This season Eric goes to visits relatives in Nigeria,  and his boyfriend back at school deals with his divorcing parents by training his pet dog to become a show dog.   Otis' mom Jean is pregnant with possibly Jacob's child?  and the school goes through a new head Mistress who takes the reigns rather strictly --- she has to do something because of how loose the school was run before, but the kids hate all the rules all of a sudden and the uniforms and the favoritism the head mistress has for a small number of kids.  She's after the rest with a vengeance.  This show offers some very funny moments mixed with some very serious ones --- it deals strongly with diversity and focuses on high school kids.  If you are interested in these topics, check it out.  This was definitely a 4.3 out of 5 season and can't wait for the next one!

"SEX EDUCTAION   - Season 3 ----- 2021       8 episodes, about 45 minutes each

A teenage boy with a sex therapist mother teams up with a high school classmate to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school.

Creator:  Laurie Nunn

Stars:  Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Emma Mackey       

Movie #2021 ....................."Red Notice" (netflix)

Movie #$2021 "Red Notice" (netflix)  This was a great find --- as much as I dislike Duhwayne (the rock?) Johnson (he's awful!), I put up with him in this excellent film --- it's excellent in everything else, esp. Ryan  Reynolds and wonder woman (her name is below).  The plot is busy, busy, busy ---- just watch the opening sequence, and if you don't like that, you won't like the action in the rest of the movie --- which is non-stop.  I usually don't seek out action films, but with Ryan Reynolds in it, I know there will be humor --- yes, there are a lot of action scenes (lots of shooting guns and fighting, which I don't prefer, but the humor outweighs the action scenes in this one, I felt.  It is more a comedy film with action --- check it out!  I'd give it 4.5 out of 5 and hope it starts a new franchise.  Even if it doesn't, it has started a new genre, I think.  

"RED NOTICE"      1 hour and 58 minutes     netflix     2021    PG-13

an interpol agent tracks the world's most wanted art thief.

Director:  Rawson Marshall Thurber

Writer:  Rawson Marshall Thurber

Stars:  Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot 

Movie #2020 ........................."A Christmas Together With You" (Hallmark)

Movie #2020 "A Christmas Together With You" (Hallmark)  - this one has a story that is a bit farfetched, but most of  it deals with a search for Harry Lennix's first love --- It concerns actually two possible couplings so it goes back and forth, rather seamlessly.   The female lead is pretty stiff --- rolls her eyes a lot, awkward when talking to others, besides Harry Lennix --- he's terrific, and so is the male lead.  But what makes this film stand out from others is that it gives the characters time to think out their own decisions.  Things don't happen that manipulate the decision making, like so many other Hallmark films.  As a result, it was a bit frustrating to watch (waiting for them to decide) but more believable.  I'd give this 3.8 out of 5.

"A CHRISTMAS TOGETHER WITH YOU"                          Hallmark     2021    1 hour and 23 mins

During the Christmas season, Megan and her father-figure Frank head out on a road trip to find his long-lost love.  Will Megan find the love of her life along the way?

Director:  Kevin Fair

Writers:  Don Locke, Graham Locke

Stars:  Niall Matter, Laura Vandervoort, Harry Lennix

Movie #2019 ........................." 5 More Minutes" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2019 " Five More Minutes" (Hallmark)  The title refers to the amount of time she wishes she could spend with her grandfather one more time --- it's a hint to the rest of the story.  Enough said.  I guess all the surprises in this film before they happened, but I still appreciated it quite a bit --- wonderful in the right amount of emotion without getting sappy.  The stage business deals with a search for her grandpa's first love.  No snowball fights!  Hooray!   And it has, most importantly, a strong theme:  first love opens your heart for the rest of your life.  I'd give this a 4 out of 5. Thanks, Margene, for recommending it to me!  

"FIVE MORE MINUTES " Hallmark             1 hour and 23 minutes             2021

Follows the story of Clara, who wishes she had more time with her late grandfather at Christmas.  Her holiday wish seems to come true as she comes across his journal and looks back on her time with him.

Director:  Linda-Lisa Hayter

Writers:  Scotty McCreery (Inspired by "Five More Minutes" song, Andy Sandberg , Jamie Pachino

Stars:  Nikki Deloach, David Haydn-Jones, Sherry Miller

Movie #2018 ........................."Debbie Macomber's A Mrs. Miracle Christmas " (Hallmark)

 Movie #2018 "Debbie Macomber's A Mrs. Miracle Christmas"  (Hallmark)  I have to admit, I usually don't enjoy the Macomber stories (and dislike that her name has to be in the titles of the films), and I only watched this one to see what the new lead (it used to be the beloved Doris Roberts who died) would do with the hard-to-believe role (A miracle worker, who might be an angel?) ugh!  She was likable but  pretty static (Doris was more interesting, to me, in the role)  But what I liked about this one was the old lady this Mrs. Miracle is supposed to be helping ----  she was a curmudgeon and I was laughing at her comments and rolling of her eyes.  The lead couple was  good, too, and their story about fostering a child for 18 months and then having  that baby taken away by the original mom was a good insight into how self-sacrificing foster parents are.  Anyway, this was a 3 out of 5 -- you might like it.

"DEBBIE MACOMBER'S A MRS. MIRACLE CHRISTMAS"   2021      1 hour and 24 mins

When a family faces loneliness and loss of faith, Mrs. Miracle swoops in to renew their Christmas Spirit, and they experience a holiday of heavenly proportions.

Director:  Janet D. Munro

Writers:  Nina Wewinman (teleplay), Debbie Macomber (novel)

Stars:  Caroline Rhea, Kaitlin Doubleday, Steve Lund

Movie #2017 ........................."My Christmas Family Tree" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2017 "My Christmas Family Tree" (Hallmark) My favorite actor male lead is in this one (Andrew), and even thought the love story takes a less important position in comparison to the family love shown, the  ease in acting of the leads makes it work.  A woman with no family to speak of gets a paternal match  from a DNA company right before the Christmas season , a father she didn't know she had and someone she had never met.  He has a family already but invites her to spend the holidays with him and his family.  There is a turn that the trailer tells us will happen, unfortunately, but there's still another one , and that one I don't think worked as well.  Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this film, esp. in that it takes time for her to work on a relationship with each one of the new family members, and that stuff is fun to watch, even though it involves the  ubiquitous snowball fights, decorating trees, etc.    I'd give it 4 out of 5 for being mostly different, along with being  believable.  And the leads are good!

MY CHRISTMAS FAMILY TREE"       Hallmark    2021     1 hour and 24 mins

When Vanessa receives the results from her Family Tree DNA test, she discovers a family she didn't know existed and travels to their home for Christmas.  

Director:  Jason Bourque

Writer:  Mark Hefti

Stars:  Aimee Teegarden, Andrew W. Walker, James Tupper

Movie #2016 ........................."Open By Christmas" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2016 "Open By Christmas" (Hallmark) So far, this one is my favorite for a number of reasons.  The story made a lot of sense; it had a great double ending (dealing with two stories), and the people were real and believable.  But what I really liked most about it is that it was a bit of an original idea -----that is, it concerned life after high school.  That was a neat idea to me, being a retired high school teacher.   This one deals with thinking your h.s. self was so bad you don't even want to think back to it at all --- don't want to meet up with anyone who was in your class, don't want to think back to that time, except only with regret.  That is a sad thought to me, and I liked watching how these two people worked it out.  I'd give it a 5.    P.S. I forgot to mention that this is all embroiled in somewhat of a mystery (and it  surprised me just a little, with the last turn) 

"OPEN BY CHRISTMAS"  Hallmark   2021           1 hour and 24 mins

When Nicky finds an unopened Christmas card from a high school secret admirer, she and her best friend Simone search to find and thank the anonymous author.

Director:  David Weaver

Writers:   Amyn Kaderall, Christine Conrad

Stars:  Alison Sweeney, Erica Durance, Brennan Elliott

Movie #2015 ........................."One December Night" (Hallmark)

Movie #2015 "One December Night" (Hallmark) -- there is so much more to this film than the one I blogged above ---  this one has a nice, meaty story with one of my favorite female leads --- she tends to make every conversation very believable because she has an authentic style about her.  As a result, the conflicts seem real, and another plus is that this film gives insight into the music business.  Gallagher is always good -- and his singing of the title song becomes an important key to the film and its resolution.  I liked this one a lot --- 4.5 out of 5.

"ONE DECEMBER NIGHT"   Hallmark     2021     1 hour and 24 minutes

Two music managers must put their history aside to oversee the televised reunion performances of their rock star fathers with a fractured past.

Director:  Clare Niederpruem

Writers:  Eric Brooks (teleplay) Sib Ventress (story) 

Stars:  Peter Gallagher, Bruce Campbell, Eloise Mumford 

Movie # 2014 ........................." A Christmas Treasure "(Hallmark)

 Movie #2014 " A Christmas Treasure " (Hallmark)  this was a flat story --- flat leads, flat storyline that dealt with a time capsule (not new, at all), and the love story seems to be in the background of the film.  Not much to say here ---- 2.5 out of 5 --- I don't recommend it.

"A CHRISTMAS TREASURE"    HALLMARK             2021      1 hour and 24 minutes

Lou and Kyle met in the Pine Grove; they both have doubts about their future, but the magic of the holiday season and the connection they have, helps each of their journeys.  

Director:  Michael Robison

Writers:  Judith Berg, Sandra Berg  - teleplay, Jennifer notas Shapiro - story 

Stars:  Jordin Sparks Thomas, Michael Xavier, Lossen Chambers

Movie #2013 ........................."Resident Alien" (FX series)

 Movie #2013 "Resident Alien (FX series)  Now for something completely different........contrary to what we normally stay away from (Zombies or aliens), we really, really enjoyed this series, and we think is it Alan Tudyk.  He makes the show for us ---- the sense of humor is very dry ---- sometimes silly, but since it is based on an alien who crash-lands on our planet and learns to be human from watching "Law and Order," what would you expect, right?  I love the diversity of the show (there's a good representation of native americans in prominent roles), but what really sells the show is the writing and how Alan Tudyk is able to make us believe he is, indeed, an alien --- so we get invested in his story and start to care about him.  There is only one human in the town who sees him in his alien form, and it is this little kid who points and screams at him whenever he sees him ---- a great relationship develops between the two.  We highly recommend this show --- but you have to give it a healthy chance --- watch the first two, at least, until you get used the characters in the town and him.   What a like most of all about this is I try to guess where the story is going, and it always surprises me.  For that (and other things stated above), I give this a 5 out of 5.

"RESIDENT ALIEN"    series on FX       

Movie #2012 .........................The Christmas Promise" (Hallmark)

Movie #2012 "The Christmas Promise" (Hallmark)  I enjoyed the genuineness of this one --- very believable and sad premise, but turns out inspirational by the end.  It is nice and quiet and takes its time to have her go through the grief and start to move on after a year.  Ironically, it's the carpenter that is hired to fix the house she was supposed to live in with her fiancé who helps her move on.  I give this 4.5 out of 5 --- I was emotionally pulled into  this story.

"THE CHRISTMAS PROMISE"  Hallmark       1 hours and 24 mins     2021

A woman whose fiancé is killed during the Christmas season gets to know the carpenter she hired to finish their new home so she can sell it.  Meanwhile, a text she sent to her fisncer's old number pouring out her grief is answered.

Director:  Fred Gerber

Writer:  Kathy Kloves

Stars:  Torrey DeVitto,Dylan Bruce, Patrick Duffy

Movie #2011 ........................."Next Stop, Christmas" (Hallmark)

Movie #2011 "Next Stop, Christmas" (Hallmark)  Hold on to your hat because this one goes pretty fast, dialogue-wise --- it's like back to the future and deals with time travel --- In fact, Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) is the magical element here --- I usually don't like magic in films, but I do enjoy time travel so this one was fun and different to watch.  Maybe it was just me, but it was a bit tough to understand in parts due to pacing and the time travel gimmick --- and she has a choice of two guys.  I might have missed the opening set up --- but to me, it was the best premise for a film so far.  I'd give it 4.5 out of 5 and recommend it.  A fun "ride" through Christmas time. 

"NEXT STOP, CHRISTMAS"    HALLMARK    2021      1 hour and 24 minutes (the time is probably mandated)

Angie is determined to spend Christmas alone but her usual commuter ride turns into a Christmas train that drops her off in her home town in 2011.

Director:  Dustin Rikert

Writers:  Samantha DiPippo, Andrew Gerhard and Christy O'Connor  (concept)

Stars:  Lyndsy Fonseca, Chandler Massey, Erika Slezak

Movie #2010 ........................." The Santa Stakeout" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2010 " The Santa Stakeout" (Hallmark) Are you tired of the same old Hallmark Christmas movie?  Well, here's something different --- the stage business is that these are two cops who are quite different who have to stake out the house next door because houses in the neighborhood are being robbed.  Of course, they are two very different kind of cops --- one (the guy) is more lackadaisical,  and the girl has  more  an Alpha + personality so she's Christmas decorating and forcing him to sing Christmas carols, etc.  They latch on to a neighborhood group who thinks they are married, and Joe Pantoliano (from "Memento" and tons of other movies  -- we call him Joey Pants in our family) is the guy next door .  The girl is a bit big for her part, but the guy here is always one of my favorites, and he is always funny to me.  And he helps her come acrosss more real throughout the film.  I'd give it a 4 out of 5 --- it's cute and different.

"SANTA STAKEOUT"             HALLMARK      2021       1 hour and 24 minutes 

Tanya is a police detective who is partnered with fellow detective Ryan to solve a recent string of heists.  They go undercover as newlyweds, moving into the vacant house next to Mr. Miller , the prime suspect in the case.

Director:  Peter Benson

Writers:  Gregg Rossen, Brian Sawyer

Stars:  Paul Campbell, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Joe Pantoliano

Movie #2209 ........................."Christmas Sail" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2209 "Christmas Sail" (Hallmark) I liked that the two leads were best friends growing up, and when she comes back after being married and having a child , to visit her dad when he is deciding to sell his home and boat, she meets up again with this childhood friend --- that seemed believable to me, and the little kid and the guy are well cast.  The main girl lead grew on me --- it took a while.  Terry  O'Quinn (from "Lost") was able to do well with the grieving father part and he pulled the film together.  I especially liked that the film was on sailing because it made the film different from others.  I'd give it a 4 out of 5.

"CHRISTMAS SAIL" (HALLMARK)    1 hour and 24 minutes    2021

Liz receives a call for help from her father to return home for Christmas, and she wants to create a whimsical Christmas celebration.  

Directors:  Stacey Brodie, Stacey N. Harding

Writer:  Robin Gadsby

Stars:  Katee Sackhoff, Patrick Sabongui, Terry O'Quinn

Movie #2208 ........................."Coyote Creek Christmas" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2208 "Coyote Creek Christmas " (Hallmark)  I never really got all into this one,; the saving grace is the little boy because he kept me watching -- One piece of dialogue stuck out to me:  "It's not that simple"  I thought it could have been ,so the story seemed forced.  The dilemma seemed manufactured.  Parents were phony, and the lovers didn't have a lot of chemistry.  I'd give this one a 3 out of 5.

"COYOTE CREEK CHRISTMAS" (Hallmark)  2021    1 hour and 24 minutes

The fate of the Coyote Creek Inn and Paige's relationships are both left to the magic of the holiday season to decide.  (dumb summary --- the parents are trying to sell the inn to a real estate developer without telling their daughter, not knowing she wants to run it --- the love interest is the developer --- duh!)

Director:  David Strasser

Writer:  Alexa Garster

Stars:  Janel Parrish, Ryan Paevey

Movie # 2207 ........................."You, Me and the Christmas Trees" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2207 "You, Me and the Christmas Trees" (Hallmark)  This one I liked because it had a winning couple, and you can see the growth in their relationship and feel the chemistry.  Some people would say this was a bit sappy (excuse the pun), but I'll "leaf" that up to others because I thought it was quite an informative movie on trees, and I appreciated that.  I'd give this a 4 out of 5 --- If  "Wonder Years" Winnie is in a Hallmark film, that usually means a winner to me!

"YOU, ME AND THE CHRISTMAS TREES" (hallmark)   2021         1 hour and 24 minutes

An arborist falls in love with a farmer as she tries to save his trees before the town tree lighting.

Director:  David Winning (are you kidding? that wasn't a planned pun)

Writer:  Julie Sherman Wolfe

Stars :  Danica McKeller, Benjamin Ayres, Zara Bacic

Movie #2206 ........................."Christmas in my Heart" (Hallmark MM)

 Movie #2206 "Christmas in my Heart" (Hallmark MM) -- Well, right off the bat, I disliked this film, but because I like the male actor Luke McFarlane (from a long ago t.v. show "Brothers & Sisters"), I stuck with it.  Ugh!  When both main actors approach their parts with flatness and awkwardness, the film is full of starts and stops and trivial dialogue.  I went away from it for a while, and when I came back to it, nothing seemed to have changed.  One thing I did like was the violin playing, so there's some talent in the female lead, and possibly the little girl played some?  and that kept my interest a  bit, but this is a don't- bother- one from the list of 41 new Hallmark movies for 2021.  I'd give this a 2.5 out of 5.

"CHRISTMAS IN MY HEART"  (HALLMARK MM)   2021     1 HOUR AND 24 MINS

Violinist Beth returns home after the recent death of her mother and tutors the daughter of a reclusive country music star to prepare her for the upcoming holiday concert.

Director:  Pat Kiely

Writers:  Jamie Pachin o, Shari Sharpe, Liz Storm 

Stars:  Luke Macfarland, Heather Hemmens, Maria Nash

Movie #2205 ........................."The French Dispatch" (movie theatre)

 Movie #2205 "The French Dispatch" (movie theatre)  Wes Anderson films are an acquired taste like beer or whiskey.  His movies are usually "out of the box" and very, very deadpan in the humor.  That being said, I have enjoyed most of his work in the past, whether it was good entertainment or a successful think piece.  This, to me, though, is   not his best ("Budapest Hotel") but it isn't his worst, either.  I rather enjoyed watching it --- trying to put all the pieces together, kind of like a puzzle.     While  the dialogue doesn't always pull  us in, the photographs and still shots in here are amazing.  Most creative is the style of the entire film --- you can't fault it for trying to keep our interest, but I think you can fault it for not being clear in the storytelling.  Still, there's something to like here --- the bravery in the effort to always push the envelope to show audiences something new --- the quality  of the multi-star cast to pull it off ---- the information it ends up giving about the French Dispatch and its place in history.  My head is still reeling from watching this film, and it goes by so fast --- even the jokes --- maybe too fast.  We were lucky enough to see it in a theatre that used close captioning, and we still thought it went by fast.  For John Q Public, I would give it a 3, but for Wes Anderson fans who appreciate his style,  (perhaps New Yorker readers?) I'd give it a 4.  This is way out of the box type of thinking and not to everyone's liking.

"FRENCH DISPATCH"  (movie theatre)    2021    R     1 hour, 47 minutes 

A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional twentieth century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in "The French Dispatch Magazine."

Director:  Wes Anderson

Writers:  Wes Anderson (screenplay) . Roman Copola and Hugo Guiness (story)

Stars:  `Benecio Del Torro, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Timothy Chálame, Owen Wilson,  and all the other West Anderson regulars .

• • Wes Anderson
• Writers
  • Wes Anderson(screenplay by)
  • Roman Coppola(story by)
  • Hugo Guinness(story by)
• Stars
  • Benicio Del Toro
  • Adrien Brody
  • Tilda Swint