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angellsmith
Reviews
Love & Gelato (2022)
Beautiful scenery, but...
I watch romcoms a lot, so it goes without saying my standards for this kind of movie aren't that high. Fluffy is fine, but this one wasn't just disappointing but really annoying.
So many of the characters were such broad caricatures (other than Howard), I'm inclined to blame the director rather than the actors. Somebody had to really push these folks to be that over the top.
I haven't read the book, but it's pretty obvious that whoever scoped it down for the movie left some pretty gaping plot and character holes.
In their quest to create their own content, Netflix has been cranking out some real stinkers, and this is one of them.
Christmas She Wrote (2020)
Not one of the best, but love the diversity
As others have said, Danica and Dylan don't make a great match. I like them both in other movies, but her over-the-top perkiness and his sophisticated style just don't mix well.
But, I have to say I appreciate that Hallmark is at least trying, awkwardly, to make their communities more realistic by including people of color, gay characters and mixed race couples, especially in lead roles.
Those who are offended that there's a gay character looking for love are offensive to those of us who have gay family and friends. Your "family values" don't seem to value families like mine.
Virgin River (2019)
Tremendous actors, phenomenal series, but season three storyline not up to par
Loved, loved, loved the first season, which struck just the right balance. The "slow burn" character development was fabulous! The second season was good too, but as others have commented, the disappointing third season seems much more like a soap opera, with strange twists and turns and individuals acting completely out of character.
I'm still flabbergasted by a life-altering decision Mel makes without planning or forethought, which apart from moving to Virgin River, is not at all something she would do. (How many months did she take to choose a crepe pan?) Not to mention, I think it's medically improbable, if not impossible, to schedule and complete in a few days.
Doc's story in season three is just odd. I gather that Annette O'Toole was generally unavailable, and as annoying as Hope is, her absence really threw things off.
The actors continue to be phenomenal. Just watching the many beautiful nuances from Martin Henderson, Alexandra Breckinridge, Tim Mathewson, Colin Lawrence and Lynda Boyd is tremendous.
However, I really hope creator Sue Tenney re-directs the writing team to the original concept. I've read the early books, and the first and second seasons improved the story. The season three storyline was disappointing.
Christmas Around the Corner (2018)
Movie: Delightful! Some Reviewers:
Better than average holiday romance. Sure, chances that a venture capitalist would leave a six-figure job to cuddle with a somewhat grumpy blacksmith in Vermont are slim, but it's a holiday romance....and it was charming.
On the other hand, I am appalled by the number of reviewers who feel the need to complain about a very minor character who happens to be gay, has a same-sex spouse and a child. Oh good grief! "Judge not lest ye be judged." All of you who complained about this ARE being judged, and it's not at all flattering. If you think it makes you more "Christian" to pretend that gay people don't exist, you need to read your Bible again.
Many of us are thrilled that these production companies are finally being more inclusive and diverse, portraying people of color, LGBTQ characters and persons with disabilities...although usually in minor roles. It's a positive step.
Love Unleashed (2019)
Another
Do the producers really think we're so dumb we won't notice the female lead is noticeably pregnant? I'm happy for Jen and her family, but this just doesn't work. Somehow, even though this film was shot after "Paris, Wine and Romance," the baby bump was not as obvious in this one, but still hard to miss. You have to be able to suspend common sense about a lot of things to watch these films, but with her petite frame even the most clever director can't camouflage that a woman is 7 months pregnant.
Jen Lilly, Christopher Russell, Bailey Skopje and the rest of the cast were good, but the script was just so-so. There were lots of plot holes and strange timelines. For example, how old were those "puppies?"