jpyshny Reviews

Blind Date Book Club (2024 TV Movie)

Great chemistry

[8/10 · 12 April 2024]

Meg and Graham have a great chemistry.

Very interesting concept a " blind date, book club."

Purchase a book without knowing what the book is, and then show up in person at a later date to discuss your perceptions of the book.

In addition, participate in some theme of the book. For instance, a book concerning wine tasting would include wine tasting during the discussion, or a book concerning Flower arranging, would include Flower arranging during the discussion of the book.

The owner of the bookstore, the aunt of the main character, needs to liquidate her ownership of the bookstore. This puts the leading character in a quandary. Does she purchase her aunts bookstore, or does she go back to selling real estate?

The parallel plot is the male lead who has successfully written seven young adult books, and must produce an eighth on a specific timeline, but wants to write in a different genre. His new product is under a pseudonym, and is not being well accepted.

Very cute dialogue great acting good directing great writing..

Guiding Emily (2023 TV Movie)

Great Movie

[9/10 · 7 April 2024]

Love movies where the dogs can talk!

If this one doesn't have you crying halfway through, you have no heart.

Garth, the dog, and Emily are meant to be together. But first he must go through rigorous training and be tested.

Emily lost her eyesight and she is being tested too. Her friend and her lover leave her because of her accident (that he caused) she wants to quit her job. She wants to quit life.

But her friends from work, her neighbors, and her friends, friends help her through a horrible transition.

Very well written, and well acted story. Worth your time. Specially, if you like dogs.

The More Love Grows (2023 TV Movie)

Not bad, not great

[6/10 · 22 March 2024]

This is not a bad movie, and it's different in a way because it shows separation and divorce. I've never seen this area of life explored in a hallmark movie before.

If you like dogs, it's a good picture for you. Lead actress does a good job, as she normally does in one of her movies. A little dog also does a great job, he is very believable.

It moves along, rather slowly, as most Hallmark movies do. Wife is totally surprised by husband's request for separation and divorce.

Husband does not appear to be a jerk, however, everything he's doing shows he is is a Butthead. But that's a part of the plot.

Of course, she meets a handsome veterinarian, who is in the middle of his second career. She's not in the profession she wants to be, but it's what was easy and convenient to raise a child at home.

The subplot is her daughter going way to college, and winding up with a roommate that wants to do nothing but party. All she wants to do is study.

Very strong message of motherly love.

Elmer, the dog, hates conflict, and when there is conflict, he runs away.

This is not a movie about fixing a marriage, it's about doing what makes you feel good.

Hudson & Rex (2019– )

Cute premise

[5/10 · 15 March 2024]

Very interesting idea two have a dog as a partner. This could've been very good as a 30 minute show, but trying to stretch it to an hour is too much.

Interesting ideas but they are dragging out the show.

I've tried three episodes now, and they're all the same in that they dragged a 30 minute story out into an hour.

I really want to like it, but I'm erasing the rest of these.

The writing is OK the acting isn't bad, they're just filling too much time.

Every TV show movie uses music to help control the emotions you feel during a scene, this is so overdone it's unbelievable.

In summary, I really really want to like this, it's just too over-the-top.

A Taste of Love (2024 TV Movie)

Cooking movie

[4/10 · 6 March 2024]

It's hard, you get invested in a movie and get 40 minutes into it and it's hard to turn it off.

Old high school couple that was in love, but then she left to chase her dreams.., And of course they can't get along... restaurant, needs repairs, renovation, and it's up for sale.

Then the two girl chefs at competing restaurants enter a competition with each other.... OK, we know who's going to win... Halfway through, I want to click stop/erase... Aaron Cahill does an excellent job, Jessi is kind of a dork.

I'm trying really hard to like this....,

Very typical Hallmark plot, really needed help in the writing editing department.

Francesca Quinn, PI (2022 TV Movie)

Pretty good for Hallmark with lots of twist and turns

[7/10 · 8 February 2024]

To begin with this is not a straightforward who done it. There are multiple, multiple twists, turns and flashbacks. This is not a movie you can watch while you're doing something else.

All that being said, I found it captivating and a little easier to figure out than some other Hallmark movie and mysteries.

No spoiler alerts here, watch the movie. Acting writing directing are all above the average for Hallmark mystery movie.

And as in any Hallmark movie mystery, you have to stretch reality just a little bit to make everything fit together.

Definitely a recommend, but it's not a you gotta see this.

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

Movie for old timers

[8/10 · 29 January 2024]

Disclaimer, I'm an old guy. I will be 70 this year. I have really enjoyed both Robert Redford and Nick Nolte in works they've done.

Speaking of this movie, it is not for everyone. If you're an old guy, there will be lots of laughs. If you're not, I suggest you don't tune in.

Hard to imagine to 80+ year-old guys taking on the 2100 mile Appalachian Trail. Probably not very real. But their antics and their memories along the trail were precious. Just the scenery along the Appalachian Trail is worth watching the movie.

Remember the people that you haven't communicated with for the past 20, 30, or 40 years and reach out to them.

A Christmas Switch (2018 TV Movie)

Done before but worth your time

[8/10 · 16 January 2024]

This has been done before. Mother daughter, switch, sister switch, etc. Etc. This one is done especially well, two great actresses, good plot, great dialogue it will keep you glued to your seat. Definitely recommend.

Love the changes in the two characters personalities as they experience life from a different perspective. One, over the top for Christmas, and has the inability to say no to any request. The other is a grinch and a Scrooge, and the first word out of her mouth is no.

It's great to see the two of them learning to work together to help each other out and help each other's families out. Lots of lessons to be learned from this one.

Very very nice job worth your time.

The Christmas Note (2015 TV Movie)

Everyone loves surprises at Christmas

[8/10 · 1 January 2024]

This one had me crying 18 minutes into the movie. Women's husband is in the military and he's in a hospital overseas. She moves back home to be near her mother. She has a young son, maybe middle school years. She gets a message to tell the woman next-door that her mother has died, and that the woman needs to clear out her mother's things by Friday.

Turns out the woman next-door had a sibling. She didn't even know about. There begins the search.

Dillon Kingwell, as Ethan does an absolutely incredible job. He's summon to watch.

The mystery they're trying to solve is who is the sibling that was put up for adoption 28 years ago.

Really great writing good acting, the movie kept my interest the entire time

I'm usually a very good predictor of endings, but this one took me totally surprise!!

Debbie Macomber's Dashing Through the Snow (2015 TV Movie)

Spy versus spy?

[7/10 · 1 January 2024]

Girl misses her flight. Goes to rent a car and a rude guy, cuts the line, bribes the car rental agent, and gets the car. He offers to share the ride with her to Seattle. Now the fun begins. Is she a foreign agent? Is he an FBI agent? Why is the FBI following them? Why did she adopte dog from a biker? What's in the Redbox? Is he really talking to his mom on the phone?

Subplot, two teenagers that work in a coffee shop are broke and can't afford to pay for their license and registration on the car. Solution, swap license plates.

She really forgives him quickly.

Best quote in show "Show Joy and joy will show itself to you. "

Destined 2: Christmas Once More (2023)

Will you marry me?

[5/10 · 31 December 2023]

Plot: guy wants to ask the girl to marry him but he loses the ring.

Then, all of the things that can go wrong go wrong. He loses the ring and because he can't find it. Somehow they made a 90 minute movie about this.

Everyone he knows is trying to help him ask the girl to marry him, but everything that you can imagine goes wrong.

Cute movie, it will keep your interest, but it's not the greatest Christmas movie of all times.

Of course, as everyone helps him even more things go wrong, it will keep your interest. You can definitely wrap presents or hang ornaments while this movie plays in the background.

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe (2023 TV Movie)

Never gonna sell this house

[3/10 · 31 December 2023]

The first 30 minutes of the movie which plays out the competition between the two real estate agents feels very forced.

The relationship between the aunt and the niece, their giggling like a little teenagers also, doesn't feel natural.

Slowly, ever, so slowly, they start to decide that they like working together, and being together.

Very typical Hallmark plot, but it moves so very slowly. I'm an hour into this and it feels like I've been watching it for three hours.

Simon Arblaster as Jeff is stiff. Sarah Fisher is Eva does OK, but I'm not feeling the chemistry.

So much of the dialogue feels stiff and forced.

This is when you can skip.

A Glenbrooke Christmas (2020 TV Movie)

The Bells

[7/10 · 20 December 2023]

Well written, well acted Hallmark Christmas story.

Los Angeles real estate heiress goes back to the small town in Colorado where her parents got engaged. Art teacher doesn't show up, so she fills in. The bells of the church break, and she's going to figure out a way to get them fixed. And, on top of all that she's falling for the fire chief.

Of course, his last girlfriend was "upper crust" and she couldn't see herself being married to a fireman. So, he has a dislike in his heart for wealthy people.

Will it work out? Will the broken Church bells get fixed? If they do fix their relationship, how will they work it out between Colorado and Los Angeles?

It's Hallmark, what do you think?

Christmas Angel (2009)

Better to give them receive

[9/10 · 19 December 2023]

Very different hallmark type Christmas movie. This one is sad, sweet, and heartfelt. Ashlee is alone and having a hard time. A neighbor in her apartment building hires her as his assistant. Her job is to be an anonymous servant to others.

The movie reveals why her employer, neighbor, does what he does. The romantic interest in the story is a very very curious reporter.

He's digging up information to write about this secret Santa. But what are his real intentions?

The secret Santa has a secret also. No spoiler here, watch the movie and find out.

This one will tug at your heartstrings. We are put here to help others, it's better to give than to receive.

A Christmas for the Ages (2023 TV Movie)

Trip down Christmas memory lane

[6/10 · 17 December 2023]

Four generations celebrating Christmas. Great great grandma has a new boyfriend as does the great granddaughter. If you've ever been the young man meeting the parents for the first time you'll be able to relate to one of the scenes.

Think about what it was like before cell phones, televisions, and radios were brand new. How did people spend their time? Talking! Telling stories! Remembering the old days!

As a child of the 50s and 60s it was fun to travel back in time during this movie.

Reading the other reviews, it seems like there's a lot of people that don't like this movie very much. Personally, I found it, engaging and sentimental, and sweet.

Holiday Hotline (2023 TV Movie)

Great twist on a telephone relationship

[8/10 · 15 December 2023]

A London sous chef in a relationship with the restaurant's owner discovers not only does he not give her credit for her work, but he's cheating on her. She escapes to Chicago where she stays in her aunt's apartment which is vacant for several weeks. She allows herself to get talked into working the holiday hotline, a how to cook a turkey 800 number.

Movie mistake shows Chicago international Airport, rather than calling it by its name, O'Hare. Daisy dairy products must have paid for half the movie because their products are put in front of the viewers numerous times.

The Director uses a very unique and different technique in the movie. When two people are on the phone in different locations they are placed next to each other on the screen but not a split screen. I found it very engaging.

Abbie is from London but for the holiday hot line she uses an American accent, and uses the name Peggy. Jack doesn't want to be known as Jack on the turkey hotline so he uses a derivative of Jack, John. Needless to say, John and Peggy really connect over the telephone, but, Jack and Abbie connect in person.

How will the script writer write their way out of this situation and end it with a happy hallmark ending? You'll need to watch the movie. No spoilers here.

This one is worth your time!!

The Neighborhood (I) (2018– )

Speak the unspeakable

[10/10 · 4 January 2020]

Writers and actors do an outstanding job of communicating what we are all thinking but are afraid to speak.

Funny, heartwarming, engaging!!

Love it!!

When in Rome (2010)

Great First Date Movie

[8/10 · 26 August 2019]

Yes, it is predictable, but it is cute and funny with a twist ending.

We enjoyed it!!

Love, Take Two (2019 TV Movie)

Too far fetched

[4/10 · 6 July 2019]

What bride is going to take her boyfriends ex-girlfriend dress shopping???

Who makes this stuff up ?