Movie #3493 ........................"The Studio" (Apple)Season 1

 Moie #3493 "The Studio" (Apple) Season 1:    This shows truly the hectic way (that I think is somewhat true) that shows and movies are put together in the entertainment industry.... lots of fast talking, screaming (like the "Bear" for long periods of time).  It took a while to get used to the rapid patter of interrupting dialogue this show offers, but there were a few really really good , funny comic moments --- but I'm not sure I would recommend it --- pretty foulmouth, mean-spiritedness abounds.  (the two episodes that were esp good to me were the casting (episode 7)  of the kool aid kid  and the golden globe show (episode 8).  I think this show is an acquired taste --- if you are willing to put up  with some industry shenanigans  and narcissistic characters, you might like it.  For me?  not sure if I need to see a second season.  (warning:  last two episodes are way over-the-top to me)  3.5 out of 5

"THE STUDIO"     2025      tv season 1       1 hour, 9 minutes each episode, 11 episodes

Follows a legacy Hollywood movie studio striving to survive in a world where it is increasingly difficult for art and business to live together.

Creators:  Evan Goldberg, Alex Gregory, Peter Huyck

Actors:  Seth Rogen, Catherine O'Hara, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, Kathryn Hahn

Movie #3492........................"Freakier Friday" (theatre)

 Movie #3492 "Freakier Friday" (theatre)  I saw this a while ago and  thought I had written a blog, but I can't seem to find it, so here goes.  We really enjoyed this sequel, even though the first one wasn't memorable really to us at all.  I think I liked it because it is funnier than the first one (from what I recall).  There was a lot more subterfuge because 4 people exchanged characters --- the daughter becomes the mom and the mom becomes the daughter --- so that's fun to watch (as it was in the first one) the actors mimic their counterpart --- and this can get pretty mean because we are dealing with an older mom now with her young daughter in high school --- and we know how that can be in those h.s. years.  Both Lindsay Lohan and the young girl from "American Housewife" (Julia Butters)  are excellent in those roles.  But then you have Jamie Lee Curtis, always fun to watch, play a young teenager - her granddaughter's soon -to-be- stepsister , and that girl playing the  grandmother.....confused?  well,  watching it gets confusing.  I had to constantly remind myself who was talking to whom, according to what they were saying (not their looks!)  Dave washed his hands of it and said it was too difficult to follow --- so many of you might react the same way --- this film you really need to concentrate somewhat on what is going on --- esp. when it goes fast, which is does many times.  However, it was cool to see the two soon-to-be- stepsisters who have hated each other in the school bond (in different bodies --- and it ended up  to be Lindsay Lohan (as the daughter) and Jamie Lee Curtis (as the step sister ) --- together again, (like in the first movie) and that's when it gets good because those two work so well together --- I'm sure the movie set up that particular swap on purpose so we'd see them together again.  The only complaint is the switch back to normal --- missed what was happening..... some hocus hocus about "two hearts become one" which meant two hearts of mom and daughter, I guess.... and voila, they change --- dumb! however the denouement worked out really well --- nice closure.   Good movie -- I needed to see something like this to laugh at and enjoy  while we are experiencing so much nastiness to human beings we share the planet with during these times!     I'd give this a 4.5 out of 5 and highly recommend it for fun and silliness.  And lots of female leads in this one --- a mother/daughter, friend/friend story, for sure!

"FREAKIER FRIDAY"     2025     PG     1 hour and 50 mins       theatre

22 years after Tess and Anna endured an identity crisis, Anna now has a daughter and a soon-to-be stepdaughter.  As they navigate the challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might strike twice.

Director:  Nisha Ganatra

Writers:  Jordan Weiss, Elyse Hollander, Mary Rodgers

Actors:  James Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Julia Butters

Movie #3491 ........................."The Man with the Golden Arm" (TCM)

Movie #3491 "The Man with the Golden Arm" (TCM) I have wanted to watch this for a long time -- heard a lot about this Frank Sinatra/Otto Preminger film, and I'm glad I watched it.  The obviously manufactured set and drops used to set the story in a busy city with lots of drug stuff around, dates the movie, but boy it gets down and dirty when it comes to show the effects of "using."  In fact, the Hayes Production would not clear this film when it first came out, so Preminger sent it out any way, with no Production okay (Hays went out of business shortly after)  Sinatra was nominated for an Oscar for this (eventually won one for "From Here to Eternity"), and I thought he was pretty good (esp. in the scenes toward the end, but I felt the two women were even better --- Kim Novak and nice dance hall woman he is friends with, and Eleanor Parker, his wheel-chair bound wife (the story reveals he feels guilty and stays with her to care for her because he put her in there - car accident?)  Film is brutal, clunky in parts, good acting, and great music (another Oscar nod) and very raw on the subject of drugs and drug dealing.  Eye opening.  I'd give it a 4 out of 5.

"THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM"     1955      1 hour and 59 mins  (on prime video, TCM(

A junkie must face his true self to kick his drug addiction.

Director:  Otto Premiunger

Writers:  Walter Newman, Lewis Meltzer, Nelson Algren

Actors:  Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak, Eleanor Parker

 

Movie #3490 ........................."The Lost Valentine" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3490 "The Lost Valentine" (Hallmark)  This is a Jennifer Love Hewitt production  with Betty White at her best, I think.  This is a great story, a tearjerker , coming out of WWII.  Hewitt plays a journalist searching for a story and think she finds one in this grandma, who visits a train terminal every Valentine's Day since her husband was labelled "missing" in the war --- she waits for him to come home.  This truly is a 66 year-old love story long waiting to be told.  It brought me to tears at the end.  I give it 4.5 out of 5.

"THE LOST VALENTINE"         2011     1 hour and 27 mins   Hallmark

Lucan Thomas's grandmother Caroline returns every Valentine's Day to the station where, at their first wedding anniversary, she waved off to the Pacific Theater of War in 1944 her husband Neill, a US navy pilot who is still officially missing in action.  Lucas, a former baseball star and reputable physiotherapist about to publish, tells the story to a station manager who assigns the item to Susan Allison.  She gets involved and befriends Caroline, but resists her crush on Lucas on account of an already soulless engagement with international reporter Andrew Hawthorne.   Caroline's mild cardiac crisis seems to run everything.

Director:  Darnell Martin

Writers:  James Michael Pratt, Maryann Ridini Spencer, Barton Taney

Actors:  Jennifer Love Hewitt, Betty White, Sean Faris 

Movie# 3489 ........................."The Real West" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3489 "The Real West" (Hallmark) Kim, one of my favorite Hallmark women, did a great job with this one because I wouldn't have stuck with it, otherwise.  Besides Kim, this one seemed a bit different for Hallmark, because it all took place on a ranch, and it made it feel like the audience was being introduced to a stay there (I wouldn't want to do all the stage business they did, but they made it look like fun!)  And the guy running the activities was from "Desperate Housewives" and was good to look at (James Denton).

"THE REAL WEST"      Hallmark   2024    1 hour and 24 mins.  

A family vacation to a working ranch introduces Professor Rebecca to Jake West.  Rebecca is a widow chasing tenure and Jake is a handsome cowboy who never settled down.

Director:  Terry Ingram

Writer:  Lara Olsen

Actors:  Kimberley Sustad, Lucas Bryant Marlie Collins 

Movie #3488 ........................."The Last Rifleman" (Prime Video/tubi)

Movie #3488 "The Last Rifleman" (Prime Video/tubi)  Pierce  Brosnan, one of my favorite actors, is very very quiet in this one -- he doesn't say much, and what he comes out is stilted (due to age he is playing?)  There was some war violence involved in his back story so that made this a tough story to watch.  I'd give it 3.8 out of 5 --- a quiet (for the most part) war story (with PTSD).

" THE LAST RIFLEMAN"         prime video/tubi    PG-13   1 hour 35 mins     2023 

A WWII veteran escapes his care home in Northern Ireland and embarks on an arduous but inspirational journey to France to attend the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, finding the courage to face the ghosts of his past.

Director:  Terry Loane

Writer:  Kevin Fitzpatrick

Actors:  Pierce Brosnan, Clemence Poesy, JohnAmos  

Movie #3487 ........................."A wish Come True" (Hallmark)

Movie #3487 "A wish come True" (Hallmark)   Cute couple, nice storyline with interesting stage business --- not your usual.  Of course, the story is in the subgenera of Love could be in your own backyard (or your best friend), but there's some fantasy involved here that gives it a twisty turn of events.  I'd give it 4.5 out of 5.

"A WISH COME TRUE"      Hallmark     2015   1 hour and 25 mins

On the night of her 30th birthday, Lindsay Corwin, an unlucky environmentalist with a string of bad relationships, decides to make the ultimate wish:  for all 0of her birthday wishes to come true.  

Director:  Mark Rosman

Writer:  Mark Rosman

Actors:  Megan Park, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Anthony Lemke

Movie #3486 ........................".Finding Love in Mountain View" (Innamorarsi a Mountain View" ) (Hallmark)

Movie #3486  "Finding Love in Mountain View: (Hallmark) acting was weak in this one, but story was good.  The kids had to be extra strong in this one, and they were.  They lost their folks and the movie is about bonding with their cousin (whom they didn't know).  I'd give it 3.8 out of 8 -- I have seen this story line before, so it was just okay --- and the woman was really standoffish, so the audience could understand how the kids wouldn't warm up to her right away.  (The movie "Raising Helen" was soooo much better" and basically the same subject).

"FINDING LOVE ON MOUNTAIN VIEW"   Hallmark     1 hour and 29 mins     2020

After she learns that she's been entrusted to take care 0of her deceased cousin's children, an architect is torn between focusing on her career and honoring her cousin's wish. 

Director:  Sandra L. Martin

Writers:  D.F.W. Buckingham, Miralee Ferrell

Actors:  Danielle C. Ryan, Mike Olivier, John-Paul Lavoisier

 

Movie #3485 .........................I Do, I Do, I Do (Hallmark).

 Movie #485 "I Do, I Do, I Do"  (Hallmark)  No, this is not a favorite at all.  And I was surprised because Autumn Reese is one of my favorite Hallmark women, but this was boring and silly.  Once again, it used the groundhog day gimmick -- where she relives her wedding day until she finds it enjoyable.  It was a stupid setup for stage business because she and the her fiancé's brother keep taking walks together.  So how does the relationship grow?  She is reliving it, but what about him?  He never keeps what he learns from one day until the next --- how do they build the relationship?  I'd give it a 2 out of 5.

"I DO, I DO, I DO "     Hallmark     2015    1 hour and 27 minw

An architect relives her disastrous wedding day over and over until she discovers what she really wants in life.

Director:  Ron Oliver

Writer:  Nancey Silvers

Actors:  Autumn Reeder, Ali Liebert, Shawn Roberts

Movie #3484 ........................."The Magic of Ordinary Days" (Hallmark)

Movie #3484 "The Magic of Ordinary Days"  (Hallmark)  nice, slow-moving love story that starts with a fixed marriage.  It is basically dealing with the question:  how can you fall in love on an ordinary day.  This woman faces a lot of them in the 1940s.  

"THE MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS"    1 hour and 38mins      2005

Pregnant out of wedlock, an educated young woman is pressured by her father into an arranged marriage with a lonely farmer in this drama set during WWII.

Director:  Brent Shields

Writers:  Ann Howard Creel, Camille Thomasson

Actors:  Keri Russell, Skeet Ulrich, Mare Winningham 

Movie #3483 .........................""Baker's Son" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3483 "Baker's Son" (Hallmark)  even though this movie had a Huzzah moment when she suddenly realizes she is in love with said title guy which was dumb, it still won me over.  Elaine is always believable and good, she adds any depth in the film.  The guy is shallow and conceited most of the time, except when he is baking/falling in love with her.  The film is goofy but it tried to be different and the female star is sooo good, so I'd give it 4 out of 5.  There's definitely more focus on her than him in this movie.

"BAKER'S SON"        Hallmark                   1 hour 27 mins            2021

Matt's passion transforms his bread from bland to brilliant.  But when his bread loses its magic, the island locals turn to Annie - Matt's childhood friend and true love for help.

Director Mark Jean

Writers:   Steven Peterman, Gary Dontzig

Actors:  Eloise Mumford, Brant Daugherty, Maude Green

Movie #3482 ........................."Maybe It's You" (Bravo)

 Movie @3482 "Maybe It's You" (Bravo) Not a terribly unique idea (in fact, it was covered very well in "When Harry Met Sally") is that best friends get together, but this seems a bit different from the overdone idea because the two actor are more than capable.  Yes,  these two finish each other's sentences and enjoy each other even when they disagree --- which should be a basis for friendship turning in to more than that, but they fight it so hard and for most of movie won't consider it.  That was a tad intriguing --- that the fight was against coming together...... i thought the jokes and situations were either really smart or very silly, but either way, they kept me watching and I would give this a 5.

"MAYBE IT'S YOU"      2 HOURS          2023                   BRAVO

Best friends Peter and Lexa decide to try the one ting they've never tried:  dating each other.  

Director:  Cameron Fay

Writer:  Sono Patel

Actors:  Brett Dier, Veronica St. Clair, Molly McCook 

Movie #3481 ........................."Son of a Critch" (Netflix)Season 1

Movie #3481 "Son of a Critch" (Netflix)   Season 1      Did you enjoy the show "Wonder Years" --- well, then you might like this one because it reminded me of the popular series cent3red around young Kevin Arnold.  The one big difference, is that this takes place in Newfoundland --- rather different than a city in the U.S.  with different customs, different food, etc.  But kids are kids.... only this one is not a universal type of kids just trying to fit in......more a very intelligent, nerdy, nonathletic guy trying to fit in --- and he's the product of a very quirky family, all with their own baggage.  This show is a bit more demonstrative, histrionic in its approach to the storytelling, but we still found it enjoyable --  But get used to he accents and get past the first episode or two --- it grows on you.  We finished Season 1 and are well into Season 2 and still find it funny.  Many people will, I'm thinking since it is based around a family with kids.

" SON OF A CRITCH"       Netflix                2022    30 min episodes,    52 episodes, so far

Look through a heartfelt window into the life of a child, much older inside than his 11 years, sing comedy and self-deprecation to win friends and connect with the small collection of people in his limited world.

Creators:  Mark Critch, Tim McAuliffe

Actor:  Mark Critch, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Claire Rankin, Malcolm McDowell

Movie #3480 ........................."Bridal Wave" (hallmark)

 Movie #3480 "Bridal Wave" (Hallmark) I really enjoyed this one -- could be because one of my favorite Hallmark men is Andrew Walker , and this is one of his better ones --- allowed to do more humor, than usual. Even though the stage business was , of course, wedding stuff, it was a bit creative, because Andrew was NOT the one she is supposed to marry --- so everything is off kilter.  A good hallmark movie needs to do a lot of that , and this one cooperates with that theme.  I'd recommend it.

"BRIDAL WAVE"          2015        1 hour and 28 minutes      Hallmark

A woman goes to a resort to get married.  While she waits for her fiancé to show up, she meets another man.

Director:  Michael M. Scott

Writers:  Neal H. Dobrofsky, Tippi Dobrofsky

Actor:  Arielle Kebbel, Andrew W. Walker