Movie #3052 ........................."A Picture of Her" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3052 "A Picture of Her" (Hallmark)  Well, I watched this because it was supposed to be about photography, and one of my favorite actors was in it, Tyler Hynes.  This ended up to be just meh --- the conflict was stretched out too much, and he actually told her the truth, and then changed it because he noticed how it hurt her feelings --- so what's the big deal about??? She never seems to grow in the film, so the weight of the acting is on the photographer --- the script doesn't fill in blanks as to where he is at and where he needs to go.... he felt he should have told her he took her picture, and he feels the same way afterwards.  She is just all lovey dovey when he is around and naive --- she isn't fleshed out enough of a character.  I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 -- pretty scenery.  

" A PICTURE OF HER"    2023   1 hour and 24 mins

Beth becomes the subject of an award-winning magazine's cover and goes on a quest to find the photographer who snapped her photo.

Director Michael Robinson

Writers:  Donald Davenport, Jeff Wood

Actor:  Tyler Hynes, Rhiannon Fish, Samantha Ferris

Movie #3051 ........................."Raise a Glass to Love"" (Hallmark)

Movie #3051 "Raise a Glass to Love" (Hallmark)  I always like the wine Hallmark films, and this was a good one.  That's because it focussed on the sommelier, which is what the girl in the film wants to be.  And it's tough to be a female one, so she keeps studying through the whole film -- that's her stage business.  His is taking care of her family's vineyard.  This film strongly supports the theme that whomever you pick for a partner, he/she needs to be supportive of  you --- and that's what wins in this film.  Laura Osnes (a broadway person) is usually good/believable, and although I didn't like the guy at first, he grew on me with his sincerity.  I'd give this a 4 out of 5.

"RAISE A GLASS TO LOVE"     2021    1 hour and 24 mins

Director:  David Weaver

Writers:  Emily Schmitt, Laura Rohrman

Actors:  Laura Osnes, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Matthew James Dowden

Movie #3050 ........................."A Dash of Love" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3050 "A Dash of Love" (Hallmark) In this film, I learned about what it takes to open up a pop up business , and how chefs can steal recipes from the not so famous, up and coming chefs and pass them off as their own.  This show was a great supporter of integrity, which is good for us to watch in this day and aage, and it also had a cute couple.  This actress is always really nice, and he's usually full of angst, but they work well together in this one --- and the stage business is cooking, but with creativity!  There was a difference there!  I'd give it a 4 out of 5.

"A DASH OF LOVE"       2017      1 hour and 25 mins

When an aspiring chef lands a dream job at her idol's restaurant, she befriends the handsome executive chef.  After they are both wrongly fired from there,  the duo decides to open their own eatery to prove their food is better.

Director:  Christie Will Wolf

Writers:  Sandra Berg, Judith Berg, Sib Ventress

Actors:  Jen Lilley, Brendan Penny, Peri Gilpin

Movie #3049 ........................."Love At First Glance" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3049 "Love At First Glance" (Hallmark) If you watch this film, and make it through to the end, the title becomes ironic --- Love is so much more than a glance.  A glance whets her appetite (and ours, watching )  but she learns so much about the guy  by interviewing all the people in his phone address book.... but this is a weird and unbelievable growth in any relationship, because we are expected to believe she falls in love with him by interviewing others (never meeting him until the end) and he learns about her through texting?  right.  You should have capable actors here, but they aren't showing it, maybe because the script demands too much.... 2 out of 5

"LOVE AT FIRST GLANCE"      2017    1 hour and 22 mins

After being dumped by her fiancé for being unadventurous, a woman sets out to prove him wrong by tracking down the handsome stranger whose cellphone she found on the subway.

Director:  Kevin Connor

Writer:  Kathy Kloves

Across;  Amy Smart, Adrian Grenier 

Movie #3048 ........................."A Ring by Spring' (Hallmark)

Movie #3048 "A Ring By Spring" (HALLMARK)  this was a bit different  --- usually in these Hallmark films you witness a relationship grow and blossom by the end of the film.  In this one, you watch one deteriorate, while the real one remains in the wings.... And by some streak of karma, the ending works out --- It's hard to believe in parts.  Esp, the way it  is set up, it almost suggests everyone has to be married. hmmmm.  Good theme, though:  You have to love yourself before loving others.  I'd give this 3.8 out of 5.

"RING BY SPRING"    2014    1 hour and 28 mins.

Always cynical of marriage, a confident business consultant finally gets a wake-up call when a fortuneteller predicts she will have a ring by spring or never marry and scrambles to avoid a destiny of a lifetime alone before it's too late.  

Director:   Kristoffer Tabori

Writer:  J. B. White, Jean Abounded

Actors:  Rachel Boston, Kirby Morrow, Ali Liebert

Movie #3047 ........................."Are you there, God? It's Me, Margaret" (in theaters)

 Movie #3047 "Are you there , God.  It's Me, Margaret" (in theaters)  Well, when I saw this was coming out, I quickly got the book to read (able to do that in one afternoon --- YA book) , and then saw the movie the next day.  I was not familiar with Judy Blume books, but if I had a child, I would try to get him/her to read this because I think it is terribly universal, but then I am not the demographic group this is directed at. I just like film, and I like good stories with strong themes that can help us move in a positive direction to have better lives.  And this film does that.  Both the book and the film appear to be about growing up,  menstruation,  a kid's relationship with god and her family, and it does cover all  those areas, but I think it's about a lot more.  And I think it speaks to us now --because some of us are so set in our ways and refuse to relish in the diversity and individuality of each and every person we know, that we make it impossible for others to grow and be themselves.  This theme hits us very much in the divisive society we live in today --- if we don't be careful, we will stifle the next generation -- we will stunt their growth because we prevent them from thinking and being themselves.  Yes, we need to lean on each other, (the mother daughter and mother granddaughter relationships show that so well in this book/movie), and look to a god for some answers (the prayers she says whenever she wants a wish to come true)  but she learns by watching her family members that religion must include and not exclude, because by doing that it can tear a family, or in a more universal way, a society apart. Of course, since I read the book and saw the movie in a matter of two days, the big question is:  which did you like better?  I liked the movie better (Judy Blume, I think, would agree with me) because the high point (bringing in Kathy Bates to the gathering ) helped the blow up scene much more.  And the denouement in the film is glorious --- I had tears in my eyes when she finally steps on the ladder to becoming a woman --- the two actresses elevated that scene and reminded me just how important that moment is.  Also, the constant praying/ the title of the book became annoying while reading it, but in the movie, the transitions into those times was much better.  I'd give this a 4.5 out of 5 --- and recommend  it for not just female tweens, but male, as well.  And everyone, really --- we all went through growing up, and peer pressure, and dealing with families, etc..... if you go see it, look for yourself and I bet you find you in it!

"ARE YOU THERE, GOD?  IT'S ME, MARGARET"   2023  PG-13 1 hour and 46 mins

When her family moves from the city to the suburbs, 11 -year-old Margaret navigates new friends, feelings and the beginning of adolescence.

Director:  Kelly Freeman Craig

Writers:  Kelly Freeman Craig, Judy Blume

Actors:  Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates   

Movie #3046 ........................."Joyride" (Hulu)

Movie #3046 "Joyride" (Hulu)  I saw this in passing and wrote it down to come back to it because I thought it looked interesting and had Olivia Coleman, one of my favorites, in it.  And it was an interesting watch.  This movie ended up to a nice variation on a road trip film.  This time a 12 year old kid (grieving for his dead mom) rums away from his abusive father, and with the street smarts he has, he steals a cab and drives it away, not knowing a mother and her new baby are in the backseat.  The two, of courses grow to like each other (there's one weird scene where because the boy has had to take care of his little brothers and sisters, he has the knowledge of breast-feeding that this mother does not --- so he shows her how to do it --- odd scene but it worked)  Mom has all kind of baggage --- not planning on keeping the baby through most of the film, so you can see the conflicts that arise from this ride to "who knows where" for both of them.  It really becomes an excellent piece on what post partum  mothers go through, and it has a nice emotional ending.  I'd give it  a 4.  It's tough in parts, though.

"JOYRIDE"  2022    1 HOUR AND 34 MINS

A headstrong solicitor's plan to offload her new born baby to her sister, is derailed when a vulnerable but opinionated teenager steals their taxi.

Director:  Emer Reynolds

Writer:  Alibi Keogen

Actors:  Olivia Coleman, Charlie Reid, Lochlann O'Mearain