HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES will have All New Mysteries and Movie Dramas in September.
See all the details below...
NOTE: All NEW Premieres in September begin at 9pm/8c.
*****************
Redemption in Cherry Springs
Starring: Rochelle Aytes and Keith Robinson
Premieres: September 12, 2021
Storyline: After fallout from a story, reporter Melanie goes home to Cherry Springs for a break. When a friend disappears, she uses her skills to get to the truth, to the local detective's dismay.
Review:
🔎 "This was a good, family friendly sort of mystery for around age 12 and up. Nothing gory or creepy was shown. Melanie (Rochelle Aytes) has returned home to take care of her mother’s home and belongings after her passing (I believe it was a year ago)– and she’s also escaping some troubling issues she’s encountered as a journalist. A good friend of Melanie‘s winds up missing and she sets out to find him with the help of the local detective, Jake (Keith Robinson), who is a single father (his wife is deceased) and he's also a good friend to Melanie's uncle. The chemistry between the two leads is good; it’s obvious they are setting up this story to continue on to further movies, as one minor mystery at the end is yet to be solved. I also want to mention some brief dialogue that caught my attention at the beginning of the movie. Melanie is talking to her friend about a karaoke party from the past and she says (almost under her breath) she still has PTSD from it and they both laugh. I felt that was not an appropriate reference to use with this supposed joke. PTSD is a very serious condition and should not be used in a lighthearted way. Ever. Beyond that, the mystery portion wasn’t too difficult to solve, but it is interesting. And much like the recent Mystery 101 movies, as I alluded to above, this movie also leaves another mystery undone." ~Net
*****************
Finding Love in Mountain View
Starring: Danielle C. Ryan, Myko Olivier
Note: The poster below is a previous one released for this movie. Hallmark may release their own poster image and press photos. Stay tuned for updates.
Premieres: September 19, 2021
Storyline: After learning she's been entrusted to take care of her deceased cousin's children, an architect is torn between focusing on her career and honoring her cousin's wish.
Review:
💗 "Finding Love in Mountain View was a beautiful, family friendly movie that made me cry a time or two. The two leads had amazing chemistry and the kids were great too. I personally could have done without the selfish, workaholic boyfriend. It's been done so many times, and the movie had plenty of conflict without it. Other than that, it was touching and warm-hearted despite the sadness and loss. Just have tissues handy!" ~melnewlife
💗 "Finding Love in Mountain View - This is such a heartwarming story. Margaret is usually self-absorbed and career driven, but once she is tasked with the responsibility of caring for her cousin’s children after her passing, she realizes she’s been traveling down the wrong path. It is a beautiful movie about coming home, forgiveness, love, and sacrifice. Please note: A bit of caution for young viewers since this story does revolve around the death of the children’s parents. Otherwise, this movie is family friendly." ~Net
💗 "Loved "Finding Love in Mountain View". Agree with other reviews." ~~Jane
💗 "Finding Love In Mountain View Such an unusual movie for Hallmark which is perhaps why they sat on it for such a long time before airing it. This is more like an afternoon Lifetime or Larry Levinson family drama movie! I would say it was done on quite a low budget for there were several obvious loopholes in the plot. Margaret is on a career driven path but suddenly finds herself guardian to her "best friend's" two children. There were a couple of flashbacks to their relationship but none of this made sense. Her supposed best friend and although they lived within driving distance of each other (at the end she talked about commuting to her office a couple of days a week) they hadn't spoken for five years! Moreover she was named guardian to her two children although she hadn't been asked or knew anything about it apart from saying in passing in their youth "You know I'd do anything for you". It was a bit offputting that in the traumatic circumstances it seemed as if within just a matter of days everyone was smiling and laughing as if they hadn't been affected. Most of the focus was on Margaret's relationship with the children and the romance was pretty low key except towards the end when Andrew (who had been her boyfriend in their youth and they had met up again on her return to Mountain View) had asked her out and her boyfriend whom she hadn't mentioned turned up causing Andrew to exhibit signs of jealousy. I didn't think the boyfriend was that bad, he could have been more sympathetic but Mountain View just wasn't his sort of work-driven life. To be honest I thought Andrew was like a big overgrown schoolboy but he and Margaret made a warm and comfortable couple like they'd had never been apart. At this satge you can just see what is coming up!! Margaret decides that her life is back in Mountain View adopting the two children but not replacing their mother and able to continue her career working from there. I'd have liked to see a little more depth to the ending between Margaret and Andrew apart from the one kiss and a few hastily spoken words. The aunt and the children all played their parts well adding to the overall satisfaction. What you have to do is suspend belief,go with the flow and sit back and enjoy what is a heartwarming, sentimental and thought-provoking "family" drama (musn't forget to mention family-friendly!) about a woman realising what the direction her life really should go in. I can only say that as a whole I really enjoyed it." ~ Florence's rating - 8
*****************
Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone
Starring: Tom Everett Scott, Mia Maestro, Ella Ballentine
Premieres: September 26, 2021
Story: Benedict Stone’s (Scott) life is turned upside-down when his teenage niece (Ballentine) arrives on his doorstep; except she might be the change that Benedict desperately needs.
Review:
💗 "Rise & Shine, Benedict Stone I love this movie is such a gem. I love precious gemstone family with meanings - I’d like to wear like bracelets. They hang gems under the willow tree near Benedict’s house. Benedict follows his Father’s footsteps to become a jeweler who family owns jewelry store. Benedict separates from his Wife; Emilia after 10 years of unsuccessfully trying to have a baby but he wants to regain his Wife’s love, despite her need for space. His Niece, Gemma arrives her Uncle Benedict’s house in the middle of the night. Emilia & Benedict’s 10 years Anniversary - Benedict makes necklace with gemstones of meanings. They got married at the end of the movie. Gemma said they make for each other" ~Anonymous
💗 "Rise & Shine: Benedict Stone - On the night when I sat down to watch this movie on my DVR, I thought I would just watch 30 minutes or so, but I was so captivated, I couldn’t stop watching. The characters felt so real and authentic, full of emotion, heartache and promise. I loved that there was a bit of mystery in this story, as well. When Benedict’s niece shows up late one night in the rain, cold and needing a place to stay, Benedict is full of questions, however answers are slow to come. He allows her to stay, and gradually begins to reopen his heart to the past and future. Benedict’s job is the family business of creating jewelry pieces from various colorful stones; Gemma inspires her Uncle B (as she affectionately calls him) to find the artist inside himself to create unique pieces and reach out more affectively to his estranged wife. Rise & Shine: Benedict Stone is a beautiful movie about love, forgiveness and redemption. Plus, it’s family friendly and it includes an adorable cat! Tom Everett Scott is fantastic as the somewhat stiff, but reliable Uncle, while Ella Ballentine shines as the warm and energetic, Gemma. I also enjoyed seeing Viv Leacock (“When Calls the Heart”) as one of Benedict’s friends, and it was interesting to see that Peter Benson (“Aurora Teagarden”) was the director. This is one of those rare movies that is a gem, or in this case, a gem-stone!" ~Net
*****************
It will be nice to have some new shows to watch and I always love the Fall settings! Thanks for the info! Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteMy heart leapt when I saw Sam Page's photo at the top of the thread.
ReplyDeleteShort-lived though - why does he always seem to get inferior scripts? Don't like the sound of this one at all - Florence
They've said they want to bring more like this, so I'm hopeful.
ReplyDeletedenise
I didn't watch Redemption in Cherry Springs, but i heard it was really bad. And from the ratings, i can't see them doing another movie.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to the 6 drama movies, no more murders :)
Sabrina
🔎 Redemption in Cherry Springs - Movie Review:
ReplyDelete"This was a good, family friendly sort of mystery for around age 12 and up. Nothing gory or creepy was shown. Melanie (Rochelle Aytes) has returned home to take care of her mother’s home and belongings after her passing (I believe it was a year ago)– and she’s also escaping some troubling issues she’s encountered as a journalist. A good friend of Melanie‘s winds up missing and she sets out to find him with the help of the local detective, Jake (Keith Robinson), who is a single father (his wife is deceased) and he's also a good friend to Melanie's uncle. The chemistry between the two leads is good; it’s obvious they are setting up this story to continue on to further movies, as one minor mystery at the end is yet to be solved. I also want to mention some brief dialogue that caught my attention at the beginning of the movie. Melanie is talking to her friend about a karaoke party from the past and she says (almost under her breath) she still has PTSD from it and they both laugh. I felt that was not an appropriate reference to use with this supposed joke. PTSD is a very serious condition and should not be used in a lighthearted way. Ever. Beyond that, the mystery portion wasn’t too difficult to solve, but it is interesting. And much like the recent Mystery 101 movies, as I alluded to above, this movie also leaves another mystery undone." ~Net
Did you know that Redemption in Cherry Springs is filmed in NYS?
ReplyDeleteFinding Love in Mountain View was a beautiful, family friendly movie that made me cry a time or two. The two leads had amazing chemistry and the kids were great too. I personally could have done without the selfish, workaholic boyfriend. It's been done so many times, and the movie had plenty of conflict without it. Other than that, it was touching and warm-hearted despite the sadness and loss. Just have tissues handy!
ReplyDeleteMovie Review-
ReplyDelete"Finding Love in Mountain View - This is such a heartwarming story. Margaret is usually self-absorbed and career driven, but once she is tasked with the responsibility of caring for her cousin’s children after her passing, she realizes she’s been traveling down the wrong path. It is a beautiful movie about coming home, forgiveness, love, and sacrifice. Please note: A bit of caution for young viewers since this story does revolve around the death of the children’s parents. Otherwise, this movie is family friendly." ~Net
Loved "Finding Love in Mountain View". Agree with other reviews.
ReplyDelete~~Jane
Finding Love In Mountain View
ReplyDeleteSuch an unusual movie for Hallmark which is perhaps why they sat on it for such a long time before airing it.
This is more like an afternoon Lifetime or Larry Levinson family drama movie!
I would say it was done on quite a low budget for there were several obvious loopholes in the plot.
Margaret is on a career driven path but suddenly finds herself guardian to her "best friend's" two children.
There were a couple of flashbacks to their relationship but none of this made sense.
Her supposed best friend and although they lived within driving distance of each other (at the end she talked about commuting to her office a couple of days a week) they hadn't spoken for five years!
Moreover she was named guardian to her two children although she hadn't been asked or knew anything about it apart from saying in passing in their youth "You know I'd do anything for you".
It was a bit offputting that in the traumatic circumstances it seemed as if within just a matter of days everyone was smiling and laughing as if they hadn't been affected.
Most of the focus was on Margaret's relationship with the children and the romance was pretty low key except towards the end when Andrew (who had been her boyfriend in their youth and they had met up again on her return to Mountain View) had asked her out and her boyfriend whom she hadn't mentioned turned up causing Andrew to exhibit signs of jealousy.
I didn't think the boyfriend was that bad, he could have been more sympathetic but Mountain View just wasn't his sort of work-driven life.
To be honest I thought Andrew was like a big overgrown schoolboy but he and Margaret made a warm and comfortable couple like they'd had never been apart.
At this satge you can just see what is coming up!!
Margaret decides that her life is back in Mountain View adopting the two children but not replacing their mother and able to continue her career working from there.
I'd have liked to see a little more depth to the ending between Margaret and Andrew apart from the one kiss and a few hastily spoken words.
The aunt and the children all played their parts well adding to the overall satisfaction.
What you have to do is suspend belief,go with the flow and sit back and enjoy what is a heartwarming, sentimental and thought-provoking "family" drama (musn't forget to mention family-friendly!) about a woman realising what the direction her life really should go in.
I can only say that as a whole I really enjoyed it.
Florence's rating - 8
Florence, Wonderful points in your review. I too was surprised about the lack of emotional distress after the passing of the children's parents. Margaret supposedly arrived a few days later, but somehow missed the funeral? Even the children's grandmother, who is a great character actress, didn't seem too upset. I kept wondering if something was edited out for commercials, etc...
DeleteAnyway... wonderful review, as always, Florence! (I posted it above.) Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. :)
Florence, well said! I've been trying to figure out how to articulate exactly what you touched upon. It's overall a lovely, enjoyable movie, yet not realistic because of the glossed over grief and loss. It's like our regular, beloved, fluffy Hallmark movies with some dramatic music, darker lighting, and a few angst-filled scenes, but not drama like classic Hallmark did drama with "The Russell Girl", for example.
Delete~Alicia
Rise & Shine: Benedict Stone - Movie Review:
DeleteOn the night when I sat down to watch this movie on my DVR, I thought I would just watch 30 minutes or so, but I was so captivated, I couldn’t stop watching. The characters felt so real and authentic, full of emotion, heartache and promise. I loved that there was a bit of mystery in this story, as well. When Benedict’s niece shows up late one night in the rain, cold and needing a place to stay, Benedict is full of questions, however answers are slow to come. He allows her to stay, and gradually begins to reopen his heart to the past and future. Benedict’s job is the family business of creating jewelry pieces from various colorful stones; Gemma inspires her Uncle B (as she affectionately calls him) to find the artist inside himself to create unique pieces and reach out more affectively to his estranged wife. Rise & Shine: Benedict Stone is a beautiful movie about love, forgiveness and redemption. Plus, it’s family friendly and it includes an adorable cat! Tom Everett Scott is fantastic as the somewhat stiff, but reliable, Uncle, while Ella Ballentine shines as the warm and energetic, Gemma. I also enjoyed seeing Viv Leacock (“When Calls the Heart”) as one of Benedict’s friends, and it was interesting to see that Peter Benson (“Aurora Teagarden”) was the director. This is one of those rare movies that is a gem, or in this case, a gem-stone! ~Net
Are there going to be any new mysteries on HMM. It’s mostly love movies not mysteries? Why?
ReplyDelete