Movie #3260 ........................."The Fall Guy" (movie theater)

Movie #3260 "The Fall Guy" (movie theatre)  What a fun movie --- pure fluff but a great homage to the stunt men and women we take so much for granted!  The chemistry between Blunt and Gosling was there along with their good acting, then add to the mix Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham 's funny character actor addition to the film plus humor and lots and lots (perhaps too many?)  fights and stunts!  This is a great summer flick, and we highly recommend it.  I'd give it a 4.3  

"THE FALLL GUY"      2024    PG-13     2 hours and 6 minutes

A down-and-out stuntman must find the missing star of his ex-girlfriend's blockbuster film.

Director:  David Leitch

Writers:  Glen A Larson Drew Pearce

Actors:  Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson  

Movie #3259 ........................."Apples Never Fall" (Peacock)

 Movie #3259 "Apples Never Fall" (Peacock)  I read this book and really liked it --- I am a big fan of the author ("Big Little Lies" etc)  so when I saw this series was made on the book and that it had Annette Bening in the starring role, I decided to watch it.  I am glad I did because the film had even more action than the film, which I remember was more a slow burn  --- waiting around to find out what happened to mom with evidence pointing to all the possibilities.  The series changed the birth order of the kids and added a couple more pieces of baggage for each one, but those weren't major differences.  The stranger, Savanah, had a do-over to her character a bit, to make the action come more alive, so I enjoyed that as well.  And the ending was better to me than the book because it seemed more real and authentic.  Was it worth watching 7 episodes at about an hour each? not sure.  I liked the story and it didn't seem that long to me, but maybe not for others?  I'd give it a 4 out of 5. I felt the mystery worked in both book and t.v. series.

"APPLES NEVER FALL"           7 EPISODES       PEACOCK   50 mins each    2024

The Delaney family seems happy but Joy disappears, forcing her husband and four adult children to reassess their family history.

Creator:  Melanie Marnich

Actors:  Annette Bening, Sam Neill, Jake Lacy     

   

Movie #3258 ........................."Jim Henson: Idea Man" (Disney+)

Movie #3258 "Jim Henson:  Idea Man" (Disney+)  Very enjoyable documentary on Jim Henson which focuses a lot on his relationship with his wife and with the other puppeteers, who speak a lot of time in this film --- what I like about it is that it flows smoothly through the transitions from one topic to the next and edits really well --- he himself didn't speak much on the subjects presented here, so his friends do that, but Ron Howard (esteemed director) shows a lot of him "doing" which speaks for itself.  Lots of variety on how to get across a lot of information in a short amount of time.  Well done!  I'd give it 4.5, just could be a bit clearer on some parts of his life, like relationship with his kids... etc.

"JIM HENSON:  IDEA MAN"      documentary   Disney +     1 hr and 51 mins,       2024

This Documentary will feature interviews of fans of Jim Henson's work, interspersed with footage from Jim Henson's works, including Wilkins and Wontkins commercials that were previously lost.

Director:  Ron Howard

Writer:  Mark Monroe

Actors:  Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Alex Rockwell

 

Movie #3257 ........................."Hacks - Season 3" (Max)

Movie #3257 "Hacks - Season 3" (Max)  We love this show and the two women in it!  This year was strong, but not as strong as the others because it has some "out there" moments (maybe they go too far to be believable, at times?)  But there is a lot of bonding with the two man women, in the love/hate relationship, such as the golf episodes, hiking episode.... there's less joke telling and more bonding this season, and what a great twist at the end!  I'd give it a 4 out of 5, with an attitude to bring on more!

"HACKS - SEAONS 3"    Max    10 episodes, 30 mins each

Further explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled, 25-year-old outcast.

Creators:  Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky

Actors:  Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins 

Movie #3254 ........................."A Time to Dance" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3254 "A Time to Dance" (Hallmark)  I liked this one a lot, but I have to admit it goes very slowly and takes its time --- the subject matter is different for Hallmark because it is about two people who were in love as teenagers and got married and raised two kids, and now they are on two different life paths and seeking divorce --- but it's seems to be a wrong time to tell their loved ones because everyone is preparing for the daughter's wedding.  How can these two people repair their marriage enough to see a future together?  Good actors here help this one out -- 4 out of 5

"A TIME TO DANCE"          Hallmark      2016      1 hour and 25 mins

This follows the bittersweet story of longtime couple John and Abby, whose separation is postponed when they find out their daughter is getting married.  Determined not to spoil their daughter's big moment, they secretly put their plans on hold only to have the wedding planning process draw them back together. (popular story-line, usually of comedies)  

Director:  Mike  Rohl

Writers:  Karen Kingsbury, John Wierick

Actors:  Jennie Garth, Dan Payne, Chanelle Harquail-Ivsak

Movie #3256 ........................."Smooch" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3256 "Smooch" (Hallmark)  This one started out really badly, but I continued to watch it because it was so "out there" in its opening --- and because Kellie Martin was in it (one of my faves from watching her in t.v. show "Family" when she was younger. Anyway, it got much better as it went on, and the "prince" who was acting as a common man got much better, less narcissistic --- the little girl was wonderful throughout.  It was almost as if the director changed midstream.... just a bit too much goofiness in the opening would help this film.  It ended up to be a 4 for me.

"SMOOCH"       Hallmark   2011         1 hour and 42 mins

Smooch is a modern retelling of the classic Frog Prince tale with a romantic comedy twist.  A rakishly handsome "English Royal" comes to America for an arranged marriage, and ends up being mugged in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and left with amnesia.  (oops, missed amnesia --- I guess whenever you don't understand why actors are acting differently in a hallmark film midstream, blame it on amnesia -- I just thought he was badly acting)  A precocious 11 -year-old girl finds him under a frog and thinks he's the prince she and her mom have been waiting for --- she passes him off as a nanny, and mom accepts it (really?)  

.Director:  Ron Oliver

Writers:  Howard Burkons, Terry Spencer Hesser

Actors:  Kellie Martin, Simon Kassianides, Nick Ullett

Movie #3255 ........................."As Luck Would Have It" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3255 "As Luck Would  Have It" (Hallmark)  Not another festival one, right?  I only watched this one because a Downton Abbey guy (the Irish hubby of Sybil) was the male lead.  It didn't help the story much --- he wasn't given much to do --- very laid back, trying to convince her to stay and buy into the idea of trying to keep a historical building as is, instead of siding with her boss to buy it and turn it into a resort;   I usually dodge that kind of story.  Stage business was just prepping for the festival but it took place in a small village in Ireland, and Ireland was gorgeous!  3 out of 5.

"AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT"       Hallmark     2021     1 hour and 26 mins

Lindsey travels to Ireland to acquire land for a resort.  She decides to enter the town's matchmaking festival to prove her investment in the community  and win over a handsome local. *

Director:  Clare Niederpruem

Writers:  Christine Conrad, Audrey Shulman

Actors:  JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Allen Leech, Niall Buggy

* in IMDB it says that this was filmed at Howth Castle which in real life is being bought by an American company and being turned into a hotel as proposed in this film.  It is reported as being one of the "longest continuously-inhabited private homes in Europe."  The castle's Gate Tower and Keep are from the 15th century, and the estate also includes much of the Howth Cliff Walks.  Well, that piece of info makes the film more interesting....

Movie #3253 ........................."Falling for Vermont" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3253 "Falling for Vermont" (Hallmark)  Nice chemistry between the two, a slow moving, yet effective love built between them --- nice mystery on who she actually is  (I esp. liked that she is a writer and the little girl's favorite author)--- believable ending.  The topic has been done several times though so I'd give it 4 out of 5  because  it's one of the better amnesia films Hallmark has done.  

"FALLING FOR VERMONT"      Hallmark      2017      1 hour and 24 mins

A best-selling author who got amnesia as a result of a car accident finds refuge with the local doctor of an idyllic small town in Vermont.

Director:  David Winning

Writers:  Jay Baxter, Shaun Zaken, Michael G. Larkin 

Actors:  Julie Gonzalo, Benjamin Ayres, Lauren McNamara

Movie #3252 ........................."Kite Festival of Love" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3252 "Kite Festival of Love" (Hallmark)  This one I was hesitant to watch because the two leads I don't usually prefer to watch in the Hallmark world, but the opening caught my eye because it was about kite flying, and I never really thought about the intricacies that go along with that sport, so I watched it.  And I'm glad I did because I learned a few basics about kite flying.... there didn't seem to be much to it, but the stage business of making them, choosing materials for making them, the history of the designs, etc. filled up the movie, along with a secondary story about the lead woman teaching the lead man's daughter how to hones her musical skills for imposing songs, etc.  Oh, and there was a dog to train for the little girl, as well.  So the film kept the watcher pleasantly busy.  I'd give it a 3.5, i.e.  better than average Hallmark non Christmas flick.  

"KITE FESTIVAL OF LOVE"       Hallmark 2021     1 hr and 30 mins

A woman finds romance during a kite festival.  

Director:  Christie Will Wolf

Writer:  Christie Will Wolf

Actors:  Jessica Lowndes, Christopher Russell, Amelie Wolf (oh, I just got this --- it appears mother wrote and directed this film so her daughter could be in it?  hmmm)

Movie #3251 ........................." My Grown- Up Christmas List" (Hallmark)

Movie #3251 "My Grown-Up Christmas List" (Hallmark) I saw this eons  ago, but I still remember it --- it must have been good!  There wasn't a lot of action in the film, but there was a lot of heart, and it had one of the greatest openings in a Hallmark film I have ever seen --- Left a lasting impression on me.  I'd give this 4.5 out of 5.

"MY GROWN-UP CHRISTMAS LIST"     HALLMARK    2022    1 hr and 25 mins.

Taylor and Luke have a 

Director:  Andrew Cymek

Writers:  Bryar Freed, Shawn Riopelle

Actors:  Kayla Wallace, Kevin McGarry, Lindsay Merrithew