Movie #1989 ........................."Bottled with Love" (Hallmark)

 Movie #1989 "Bottled with Love" (Hallmark) Saw this with one of  my favorite Hallmark actors and watched it and glad I did.  Well done.  The girl I don't always find convincing because there's a hard edge side to this actress, but mixed with this guy, it was somewhat believable .  It's of course based on happenstance:  what are the chances he will find the exact bottle she threw into the water, but once you buy that, it gets much better.  Oh, and that they are forced to work together on a project!  That was another one you would have to believe in --- okay, but once you get past both those biggies, it is smooth sailing...........well, maybe not.  But the one thing I liked about this story was how complex both the characters were, esp. the guy --- He goes out of his way to "do the right thing" which you don't see in a lot of these modern day romances  --- the guy gets the short shrift sometimes --- anyway, that's what I liked about this one.  Oh, and as far as the two biggie coincidences?  need I mention "Sleepless in Seattle"?  or "You've Got Mail"?  Of course, this isn't as good as both of those, but you get my point.  I'd give it a 4 --- they both worked really hard to come together in this one.

"BOTTLED WITH LOVE"   1 hour 24 minutes       2019       

Abbey (Lenz) is a career-focused executive from Boston who decides in a moment of impulsiveness, to pour her feelings out and admit her desire to find love, in an anonymous letter she seals in a bottle and tosses into Boston Harbor. Months later, the bottle washes ashore in Maine and is discovered by Nick (Walker), son of the CEO of Everett Valley Farms - the company where Abbey works and is about to secure the biggest deal of her career. When Nick is called home to help with his father's company, he decides to contact the mystery woman with the only information he has - an email. Without knowing each other's identity, Abbey and Nick begin an online relationship which becomes a budding romance, while at the same time, they are being forced to work together on a project where they are not getting along.

Director:

 David Weaver

Writer:

 Kelly Bowe

Stars:

 Bethany Joy Lenz, Andrew W. Walker, Kate Isaac 

Movie #1988 ........................."Frozen in Love" (Hallmark Channel)

Movie #1988  "Frozen in Love" (hallmark Channel) Well, when I saw Rachel Leigh Cook was in it, I decided to watch it -- I think one of hers on this channel is a step up ("She's all that" and the t.v. show "Perception").  The guy was kind of dull and pretty narcissistic , at first, so he had a long way to go to convince me he was as good as she was.  But then, she was presented as a know-it-all who only lived for her bookshop and her books.  Anyway, that's the only complaint here  --- might be hard to believe that these two change their minds and beliefs in 1 hour and 24 minutes  --- and with not much chemistry through most of the film.  But because he is a hockey player, I enjoyed learning a little about it and to appreciate it a bit more  --  the fun came in when they both had such different beliefs about  good sportsmanship.  I definitely got into the book talks, and it was nice to see her have such a literary effect on him.  Cute movie, and I'd give it 4 out of 5.

"FROZEN IN LOVE" 1 hour and 24 mins, Hallmark   2018,  I rate it 4 out of 5

Bad boy hockey player Adam and struggling book-store owner Mary must work together to help rehabilitate each other's image. Their mutual animosity, and attraction, sees them struggle to achieve their goal.

Director:

 Scott Smith

Writers:

 Rick Garman (teleplay), Rachael Leigh Cook (story)  |1 more credit »

Stars:

 Rachael Leigh Cook, Niall Matter, Sandy Sidhu

Movie #1987 ........................."William & Mary" Seasons 2 & 3,12 episodes - streaming

 Movie #1987 "William& Mary" Seasons 2 & 3, Amazon prime streaming

We finished this wonderful series (see blog on Season 1, if you missed it (I reprinted it below) and miss the characters already.  We left them getting married in the last season, but something got in the way of the actual ceremony, and now those somethings continue to offer the conflict in Seasons 2 and 3.  All this while they make 2 house moves, one of the family members deals with a medical issue,  the undertaking business gets sold, they start up another undertaking business,  one of the boys gets his life in danger, and Mary quits her hospital job for a while and does freelance midwifery.  The bottom line?  A LOT comes their way, but it is in 12 episodes.  What holds the whole thing together is the love and support of the family members, showing that they are willing to do anything to hold them all together, and they feel the need to do community service and serve people coming into life and out of life --- apart but supporting each other's jobs together.  A nice theme, I would say.  There's some heartbreak here of a woman having to deliver a stillborn baby juxtaposed with a rather strange but funnily creative funeral for another.  But that's what this show is all about, and we really enjoyed it and think you will, too.  These two seasons were even better than Season 1, so I'd rate it 4.5.  (only complaints:  the woman is put in position of being angry a lot on a minute's notice, which makes Martin Clunes(Doc Martin?  oh no)  all the more kind and lovable!  and the story doesn't follow the youngest daughter much at all, which was too bad)

"WILLIAM & MARY"  seasons 2 and 3, 12episodes, about 45 minutes each  2004-5

Sunday, September 13, 2020   ---- original BLOG on Season 1

Movie #1975 ........................."William & Mary" (Amazon Prime streaming)Season 1, 6 episodes

Movie #1975  "William & Mary (Amazon Prime  streaming) Season 1:    Well, we found another tv series we are enjoying.  He (Martin Clunes, whom we know as Doc Martin) is wonderfully kind; she is full of energy, intensity and hotheadedness.  He has two daughters and a dead wife; she has two sons, a troublesome  ex husband and an equally meddlesome mother.  He is an undertaker, and she is a midwife.  As they see it, they make a full circle of caring for others into and  out of life.  And they are in love, and isn't that all they need? Check it out.  It is a British/Scottish show that covers a lot in the 48 minutes for each episode --- the grief and poignant moments of death are juxtaposed to the excitement and wonderfulness of birth and then throw in problems in raising kids and dealing with other needy people in your lives and you have this dramedy.  I am learning a lot about what the two jobs entail, as well.  I recommend it as a balance to some of the violent offerings that seem to overpower other streaming offerings.  And give it 4 out of 5 so far.  

"WILLIAM AND MARY"     2003, season 1: 6 episodes, 48 mins each      Total:  3 seasons, 18 eps

The lives of William (an undertaker) and Mary (a midwife) cross. They become romantically involved, but what happens for the rest of the series is far less predictable.

Stars:

 Martin Clunes, Julie Graham, Cheryl Campbell

Movie #1986........................."Winter Love Story" (Hallmark )

 Movie #1986 "Winter Love Story" (Hallmark)  Okay, I'm a sucker for movies about writers -- I have to admit that!  And when I saw this was about two waters, well I was thee!  The girl took a long time to get used to, but she is meant to be a Carrie Bradshaw type writer (dating life based on her own experiences).  He was easy to identify right away -- as a good looking heart throb who writes a dragon series that all the woman pretend  to like and swoon over.  However, there is much more to him and her.  Her mom is a famous writer, and after living all her life so far in her shadow, she finds work to be about the same?  And he doesn't think he has the third book in him and he's crushed from a divorce 1 year behind.  They are forced to be travel buddies (you're kidding?) and they find they can help each other (so it isn't all lust in these hallmark films?)  I DO like that they start with the premise of liking each other's minds and creative imaginations!!!! That's actually why I like Hallmark films --- they aren't in bed right from the start --- in fact, following the evident  Hallmark mandate  of 2019, the first kiss doesn't happen until the last couple of minutes of the film.  I liked it, just not the girl too much --- but she grew on me (evidently on him, too!)  I'd give it 4.5.

"Winter Love Story"    1 hour, 24 mins          2019         I'd give it 4.5

Cassie has just published her first book, a romcom on her divorce experience. To help a new writer along, the publisher pairs her with the established "dragon writer" Elliot on a week long book tour. Will they remain singles?

Director:

 T.W. Peacocke (as TW Peacocke) 

Writers:

 MacKenzie Austin, Carrie Freedle

Stars:

 Jen Lilley, Kevin McGarry, Mary-Margaret Humes

Movie #1985 ........................."Dreamgirls" (dvd/tv)

 Movie #1985 "Dreamgirls" (dvd/t.v.)  Oh how I love this film.....forgot a lot of the moments since I haven't seen it for almost 15 years, and I usually don't re-watch a lot of films, but this one bears repeating.......it's that good!!  It was on t.v. the other morning, and since we are retired and quarantining anyway, we decided to sit down and re-watch it.  What a cast!  What sets, lit by the fabulous Broadway team of  Jules Fisher/ Peggy Eisenhower, great  music, music, music...........I could go on and on.  The music they added that's not in the musical, I even  liked --- watching Beyonce, Anika noni Rose (Mama Khutski on "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" and Broadway showstopper), Jennifer Hudson, Danny Glover, Hinton Battle, Ken Paige and Loretta Devine --- all Broadway people.  And the best, I think of Eddie Murphy!  The story runs swiftly and energetically  as it goes  though the rise (and some falls) in the music industry (50s-70s) pumping music through almost every frame.  It is an effortless movie musical to me --- that is, the cast just starts singing in the dialogue and seamlessly takes the audience along.  If all musicals could be like this!   And Jennifer Hudson's rendition of "And I'm Telling You" is still AMAZING -- but it reminds me  of my  mistake in not paying (what I thought was too high a price) to see "Dreamgirls" with Jennifer Holliday singing that song live( night after night)  on Broadway!  Because of that experience, we have always tried to see what we think would be the tony-winning show and cast ---- anyway, it is so great they took this show and put it on film and used the techniques in film to make it different and so good!  (I can't say better because.....well, see above!  my mistake!)  I'd give this a 5 out of 5.  Highly recommend.  And it's a cheap dvd to buy (in $5 bins at Walmart!)

"DREAMGIRLS"     2006          2 hrs. 10 mins

A trio of black female soul singers cross over to the pop charts in the early 1960s, facing their own personal struggles along the way.

Director:

 Bill Condon

Writers:

 Tom Eyen (based on the original broadway production book by), Bill Condon(screenplay) 

Stars:

 Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Anika Noni Rose, Danny Glover, Loretta Devine (who played a dreamgirl on Broadway), Hinton Battle (Miss Saigon), Ken Paige (The Wiz) 

Movie #1984 ........................."Serenity" (cable station on t.v.)

 Movie #1984 "Serenity" (cable station on t.v.)  ironic that this sci fi film is # 1984 on my list of films that I have blogged --- Anyway, this is the film that followed the very popular "Firefly" Josh Whedon series with, as I understand, the same cast, director, etc.  More ironies --- we were told over and over to watch this series because we are great fans of Castle and many of these people showed up on our much-loved Castle , evidently wanting to work with Nathon Fillion again.  So we tried to watch the series and pick out all those people and that was fun, and the humor was fun --- and Fillion is obviously playing a different character (they all are), and it was fun to see Baldwin again (the Castle series used him so well as a mercenary cop) --- but we just stopped watching it when it had so much fighting.  And we felt the same way here -- the last battle must have taken 25 minutes of film time, so I have to admit, I followed this film, the continuation of the series, but didn't really sit down and WATCH it.  I loved the humor and sought that out, and I loved the suspense and the great sets and read about them  on line while watching, but as far as the intricacies of the plot?  Didn't follow so well.  I'd give this a 3.  And I can't compare it to the t.v. series because I am not an expert on that show, either. So maybe you fans out there can help me with this blog by telling me and others what you got out of it.  Me personally?  I would mildly recommend it.  P.S.  the cast is great!  Besides ones mentioned above, Chiwetel Ejiofor as a bad guy?  splendid.  And the woman who is love interest of Hitchcock is a Hallmark lady --- saw her in the grieving film the other night ("Same Time Next Week").  

"SERENITY"    2005      1 hour, 59 mins (a bit long)    PG-13

The crew of the ship Serenity try to evade an assassin sent to recapture one of their members who is telepathic.

Director:

 Joss Whedon

Writer:

 Joss Whedon

Stars:

 Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Chiwetel Ejiofor 

Movie #1983 ........................."The Last Bidesmaid" (hallmark channel)

 Movie #1983 "The Last Bridesmaid" (Hallmark Channel)  I had a couple reasons for watching this:  1) it dealt with a videographer of a wedding -- 2) Rachel Boston always seems authentic to me in these hallmark movies  3) it seemed like a take on "27 dresses" which I like  and 4) I have been seeking out these kinds of films to juxtaposition with the awful news of the day that has become a daily thing.  I liked it and if it is ever being shown again, I would recommend it mildly.  It was very predictable, and that's a given, but it really does show a very kind person who deserves more than all that she does for her friends who continually choose her as the maid of honor!  And on the other hand, even though there's less characterization of the guy in this film, it shows how much a videographer does to make a wedding special for people.  The film isn't any deeper than that, so I'll leave my critique at that.

"THE LAST BRIDESMAID"    2019     1 hour and 24 minutes  3.5 out of 5

Becca is always a bridesmaid, but at her cousin's wedding she bonds with Kyle, the videographer covering every stage of the planning. Perhaps she won't be the last woman standing for long.

Director:

 Mark Jean

Writer:

 Nina Weinman

Stars:

 Rachel Boston, Paul Campbell, Jeremy Guilbaut