New Movie Premiere on BYU - When Love Blooms! 🌹 See Here:

BYU will have the premiere of the movie, When Love Blooms, on Friday, March 25, 2022 at 1pm/12c. Note: This will air in the afternoon and not primetime. The movie is also available to stream through BYU's app or web-site.

You may recognize the two lead actors from previous TV movies: Sarah Power, from Nantucket Noel, etc... and her co-star, Thomas Cadrot, from the Merry Liddle Christmas movies and My Best Friend's Bouquet, etc...

See details on the movie below...


Movie: When Love Blooms

Network: BYU

Original Air Date: March 25, 2022 at 1pm/12c.

Starring: Sarah Power and Thomas Cadrot

Storyline via BYU:

Risk management analyst Ann Keller's world is full of facts and figures. Just as she hopes to add some creativity back into her life, her father Tom has a minor accident and Ann winds up back in her hometown of Franklin Heights, a place she left years before in pursuit of a career in the big city. During her stay, Ann discovers that Tom has secretly become a competitive flower arranger and was set to compete in the upcoming 'Botanic Cup'. Deciding the best way to help him out - and scratch her creative itch - they both agree that Ann, through a loophole in the competition rules, will participate on her dad's behalf with the help of Aaron Blum, Franklin Heights charming resident florist. Its big city versus small town as Ann and Aaron put their opposing perspectives aside. Their effort pays off, with Ann qualifying for the final round of the competition, ultimately leading to a newfound friendship and a chance for them to compete in the finals. And much like a flower bud thriving in the right environment, Ann and Aaron's time together cultivates into a blooming romance.


Movie Review:

💮 "If you really, really enjoy flowers, then you might enjoy When Love Blooms, because nearly every scene is about arranging flowers for a big competition. As a risk management analyst, Ann Keller (played by Sarah Power, “Nantucket Noel”) is rather persnickety; she has trouble making up her mind, even in inconsequential situations, such as: picking something to eat for lunch or ice cream flavors. Ann returns to her hometown after her father injures his arm and takes his place in a flower arranging competition, titled the “Botanic Cup”. She really has no idea about flower arranging, but her partner, Aaron Blum, an ex-football player, is the town’s florist, so he teaches her. This movie is mostly family-friendly; however, I have one caution on dialogue. Aaron eventually reveals his former partner in the flower competition was his ex, and he makes a brief comment that implies that he formerly lived with his ex-girlfriend. He says, "love doesn’t lock you out of the house at 2am in only your bath robe." That’s the only questionable content I recall. The chemistry between the leads, in my opinion, is a little stiff, and Aaron’s side project at the florist shop is a bit odd. Even though I do love flowers, this was just an okay one time watch for me." ~Net


*images/details via: Incendo Productions and BYU


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If you'd like to post a review, as well, please let me know your thoughts in comments below.

Blessings, Net🌹

UPtv APRIL 2022 TV Movie Premieres + Easter's on its way! 💮 SEE HERE:

UPtv will be airing inspirational and religious movies throughout the month of April, leading up to Easter Sunday. Then, they'll end the last weekend of the month, with an all-new romantic-comedy premiere.

Some of the uplifting films air in April on UPtv include: Run the Race, When We Last Spoke, Courageous, and more. The Passion of the Christ, which tells the story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, will air on Palm Sunday and Good Friday.

See details on the April movies below...

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The movie, Run the Race, is from Executive Producers, Tim Tebow and Robby Tebow. It had it's theatrical release in 2018 and is rated PG.

Run the Race

Original Air Date: April 3, 2022

Starring: Tanner Stine, Kristoffer Polaha, Evan Hofer, Kelsey Reinhardt, Mario Van Peebles, Frances Fisher, Jaci Velasquez, etc...

Story-line via UPtv: Against the backdrop of high school football and track, two brothers in a small Southern town face escalating problems with two different world views, straining – but ultimately strengthening – the bonds of brotherhood. All-star athlete Zach Truett finds glory on the high school football field — working to earn a college scholarship and a ticket out of town. When a devastating knee injury forces Zach to the sidelines, his brother laces up his cleats to compete in track and field.

Movie Reviews:
"Run the race is a little depressing, but also very good." -Maria

"Run the Race is definitely a deep movie about faith and family issues. The story centers around two teen boys, who are basically raising themselves after their mother’s death. Their father (Kristoffer Polaha, "Mystery 101") is a drunk, who drops in and out of their lives when he needs something. The younger boy has seizures, periodically, due to a concussion from playing football. The eldest brother is determined, ironically, to get a football scholarship so they can get out of their small town and make something out of their lives. In the meantime, he meets a special girl, Ginger, who loves Jesus, as he wrestles with his faith. There are many ups and downs throughout the movie, and I loved the stories of faith and redemption; however, the ending was terribly disappointing and sad. I was hoping to be uplifted in the end, but I wasn’t. Really enjoyed the depth and terrific acting in the movie, minus the last 10-15 minutes." ~Net

*Run the Race is available on DVD, Blu-ray, and Prime Video.

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On Palm Sunday and Good Friday, UPtv will have a special encore presentation of the film, The Passion of the Christ, which focuses on the last 12 hours of Jesus' life.

Please Note: this movie is Rated R - due to the violence of the crucifixion.

The Passion of the Christ

Encore Air Date: Palm Sunday - April 10, 2022 and Good Friday - April 15, 2022

Starring: Jim Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, Christo Jivkov, Francesco De Vito

Story-line via UPtv: Academy Award winning director Mel Gibson offers audiences breathtaking cinematography and the seamless performance of actor Jim Caviezel in an uncompromising film depicting Jesus Christ’s profound courage and sacrifice. The Passion of The Christ dramatically captures the last 12 hours of Christ’s life on Earth, based on the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.


Movie Reviews:
"Passion of the Christ is one of my favorite biblical movies that I have seen." ~ Chris

"My family and I went to our local theater to watch 'The Passion of the Christ' the day it premiered. I have never been so moved by a film in all my life. I love how the story depicted the life of Jesus from the very beginning to the resurrection. It is powerful, moving, emotional, and mot definitely, difficult to watch, at times. It's hard to imagine the pain Christ endured on the cross for our sins. 'The Passion of the Christ' is the perfect Easter film. ~Net

*The Passion of the Christ is available on DVD, Blu-ray, VHS, and Prime Video.

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See the full Easter line-up *here* in UPtv's press release.

In prime-time on Easter Sunday, UPtv will have the premiere of...

Faith, Hope & Love

(Note: Many refer to this film as a faith-based romcom/dance movie. According to Wikipedia: Faith, Hope & Love is a 2019 American romantic comedy film directed by J.J. Englert and Robert Krantz and starring Peta Murgatroyd, Robert Krantz, Michael Richards, Corbin Bernsen, Natasha Bure and Ed Asner in one of his final film roles during his lifetime.)

Original Air Date: April 17, 2022

Starring: Robert Krantz and Dancing with the Stars' dancer Peta Murgatroyd

Story-line via UPtv: Recent divorcee Faith enters a dance contest to save her dance studio, where she meets Jimmy Hope and rediscovers her faith, and dreams.

Movie Review:

I wanted to share this movie review I read at Common Sense Media by someone who goes by the initials, GM:
💮 "I was happily surprised to see the dad in this film caring about his daughters, having limits for them, being involved in their lives. I liked how he made his faith natural and a basic part of his life. My only caution is that there is a parent death in case that's a concern, there is also talk of a divorce and mentioning of the adultery that lead to the divorce. A few of the dance outfits are skimpy." ~GM

💮 "I watched Faith, Hope & Love online and really liked it. I recommend the movie." Misty

💮 "Faith, Hope & Love has some wonderful scenes about faith. I liked seeing Ed Asner ("The Christmas Card," "All of My Heart"); he was so fun in the church Bible study scenes. Natasha Bure ("Home Sweet Home," "Switched for Christmas") was wonderful in this, as well. She plays the leading guy's daughter, and I liked how she chose family first. Overall, it's a very intriging story, and like I said above, the faith elements are good and inspiring, but I must caution that the dance performances were rather risque, at times, and some of the clothing worn by the lead female were very tight and short. Due to that, I cannot label this movie as family-friendly." ~Net

I hope the reviews above are helpful to you. More reviews can be seen at Common Sense Media and Amazon.

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This next movie premiere on UPtv premiered in theaters in 2018 and is rated PG-13.

Small Group

Original Air Date: April 17, 2022

Starring: Sterling Hurst, Emily Dunlop, and Matt Chastain

Story-line via UPtv: A documentary filmmaker infiltrates a small church group to document how imperfect people live for Christ. When his producer gets angry and exposes him to the church, the director has to deal with the repercussions.


Movie Review:

I have not seen this movie, but I want to share this review from Common Sense Media: "Parents need to know that Small Group is a 2018 faith-based drama in which a documentary filmmaker is sent to infiltrate a small church group. Unlike some faith-based movies, this drama doesn't sugarcoat or gloss over mature content. A mother gives birth to a stillborn child. While in Guatemala, characters witness and stop the near-rape of a girl sold into sex slavery. A character is pistol-whipped, and then the gun is pointed at his head. The characters are flawed, know that they're flawed, and try to use church and the Bible to improve themselves, as opposed to using religion as a weapon to judge others and act sanctimonious. A neighbor chews tobacco, walks around with an assault rifle, and talks about going to the shooting range where new targets that look like "Obama bin Laden" have arrived. Wine, beer, champagne, shot drinking. Implied cigarette smoking in a flashback scene (not shown). Some humor concerning huffing kerosene, riding the "short bus," and flatulence." ~ Movie review by Brian Costello, Common Sense Media

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UPtv ends the month of April, with a romantic comedy...
(Please be sure to read review below.)

Kiss the Cook

Original Air Date: April 24, 2022

Starring: Erica Deutschman and Andrew Bushell

Story-line via UPtv: Kacey, a food blogger with an impressive following, is approached with the opportunity to write her own cookbook. The only problem is, she isn’t a very good cook, but with the help of chef Gavin, they may just have the recipe for success.


Movie Review:

An anonymous commenter shared this information with us... "Kiss The Cook is NOT family friendly. There is a comment by women asking the two main characters to forgive HER WIFE for being I think she said over enthusiastic. Near the end of the movie the one woman kisses her wife's shoulder." ~Anonymous

"Not all UPtv shows are family friendly. Kiss the Cook has a same sex marriage. This is awful." ~Anonymous

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Please note: I have not pre-screened the new movie premieres. If you'd like to post a review on whether a film is family-friendly, please share in comments.

I am moved each year by the way UPtv takes a break from their usual programming to honor the Easter holiday with these wonderful films about Jesus. Thank you, UPtv, for telling the true Easter story, by sharing with the world that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice on the Cross at Calvary so we could be forgiven of our sins. We rejoice because we know Jesus is Risen!

“In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” ~1 Peter 1:3

If you've seen any of the movies mentioned above, we would love to hear your thoughts in comments below.

God's blessings to you all! Net

Spring Ahead this Weekend with New Movies!

Catch 3 ALL New Premieres this weekend! It's a season of new beginnings with Hallmark's Feeling Butterflies, a time to discover love in UPtv's rom-com, A Honeymoon to Remember, and travel to England for the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries premiere of The Presence of Love. Will you be feeling the new movies this weekend?

See details on these movies below, plus the new episode of When Calls the Heart...


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Saturday, March 12, 2022

Feeling Butterflies

Storyline: The movie follows Emily (Kayla Wallace), who owns a booming butterfly business, and delivers monarchs to a birthday party where she meets single dad Garrett (Kevin McGarry). With the help of Garrett and his daughter, Emily’s business begins to take flight.

Feeling Butterflies

Premieres Saturday, March 12, 2022

at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel

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Sunday, March 13, 2022

A Honeymoon to Remember

Storyline: When a devastated Ava’s fiancé leaves her at the altar, she’s determined to enjoy her honeymoon without him. Time away in a beautiful setting helps her figure out what she truly wants from a partner, but when her fiancé shows up unannounced, she’s more confused than ever… Can Ava forgive the man who broke her heart?

A Honeymoon to Remember

Premieres Sunday, March 13, 2022

at 7pm/6c. on UPtv

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Sunday, March 13, 2022

When Calls the Heart

Season 9, Episode 2

Episode 2 - “Out Like a Lamb”

Storyline: Hope Valley elects a new mayor. Lucas and Elizabeth try to find the “little moments” in their relationship. Elizabeth offers to help Nathan with his horse after the hit-and-run, but it’s newcomer, Mei, who connects with Newton.

When Calls the Heart

Airs Sunday, March 13, 2022

at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel

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Sunday, March 13, 2022

The Presence of Love

Storyline: The film follows adjunct professor Joss (Eloise Mumford), who travels to England to visit the farm where her late mother grew up and bonds with single father Daniel (Julian Morris), whose family now runs it.

The Presence of Love

Premieres Sunday, March 13, 2022

at 9pm/8c. on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

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I hope you all have a nice weekend. May you enjoy many wonderful movies and make special moments and memories. As we watch the news out of Ukraine, it makes me feel even more grateful for the simple things in life. I know we are all still praying hard for peace there.

Be sure to set your clocks ahead for *Daylight saving time* early Sunday morning at 2am (EST)! I do love springing ahead... so we get an extra hour of daylight in the evening. It truly feels like Spring is around the corner now.

As for the movies, I'm looking forward to seeing the incredible transformation of all the beautiful butterflies in Hallmark's movie, "Feeling Butterflies"; I think it will also be fun to see Kayla Wallace and Kevin McGarry in a movie together, since they are a real-life couple. Are you watching anything special this weekend?

Please note: I have not pre-screened the new movies, etc... listed above. If you'd like to post a review on whether a film is family-friendly, please share in comments.

Blessings on your weekend! Net

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SHINING HIS LIGHT:

4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.

5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.

6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.

7 They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.

~Psalm 112:4-8

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Net's Movie Reviews - God's Not Dead: We the People and The Clue to Love! See Here:

Today I want to share with you all my take on two movies I watched with my family through the Christian streaming service Pureflix.

The first movie is "God's Not Dead: We the People." When Pureflix had a limited viewing of this movie last year in November, I was able to watch then, but with all the excitement around Christmas, I didn’t get a chance to share a review. However, I recently noticed, the movie returned this March to Pureflix, so I gave it a re-watch and decided this was a great time to finally share my thoughts.

"God's Not Dead: We the People"

Before I share my review (below), if you don’t have Pureflix, you’ll be happy to know that "God's Not Dead: We the People" is available to watch through Prime Video, and it's also available on DVD at Amazon, Walmart, etc…

You can also find this movie in a 4 movie DVD collection, which includes all of the "God's Not Dead" films. (By the way, the second movie in the series stars Melissa Joan Hart ("Mistletoe in Montana," "Dear Christmas") and Jesse Metcalfe ("Martha's Vineyard Mysteries," "Harmony from the Heart"), and it is an excellent, uplifting story!)

In addition to "God's Not Dead: We the People," I recently viewed another movie on Pureflix that might be of interest to many of you. The movie is a lighthearted rom-com titled "The Clue to Love". It’s from the production company Reel One Entertainment, which is where UPtv acquires many of their new movie premieres. Hopefully, they will acquire this one day, but until then, "The Clue to Love" is available to stream through Pureflix and Prime Video; plus, it is available on DVD, as well, at Amazon, Walmart, etc…

"The Clue to Love"

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*Please Note: As an Amazon and Walmart affiliate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases when you click on my links. This will not change the price for you in any way. Thank you for supporting *It's a Wonderful Movie*!

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See my reviews for both of these movies below…

"God's Not Dead: We the People"

God’s Not Dead: We the People - Movie Review

Intense! Powerful! Uplifting! “God’s Not Dead: We the People” (the fourth film in the “God’s Not Dead” series) is an inspirational Christian film about standing up for our religious rights. Specifically in this film, homeschool parents are targeted for teaching the Bible in their homes and not the standard curriculum taught in public schools. It was incredibly moving to see this group of parents and their pastor, Reverend David Hill, (portrayed by actor/producer, David A.R. White) stand up for their beliefs and take their case all the way to Washington, D.C. I believe this movie will embolden you in your faith, encourage you in your commitment to stand on God’s Word, and invigorate you in your strength to fight for your freedom, no matter the cost.

The movie also had a wonderful cast, with Christian singer, Francesca Battistelli, as Rebecca McKinnon, one of the main homeschool parents, actor Antonio Sabato Jr., as Rebecca’s incredibly supportive husband, actor Isaiah Washington, as Congressman Daryl Smith, who helps to defend religious liberties, and Fox News host, Judge Jeanine Pirro was truly dynamic as Judge Neely, whose role was pivotal to the entire film.

Another beautiful touch to this impactful film, were the meaningful and heartwarming flashbacks to previous “God’s Not Dead” movies. The moral of the story is... how far are you willing to go to stand up for your beliefs? “God’s Not Dead: We the People” is family friendly – a perfect movie for believers, churches, homeschool families, youth groups, etc... This film is a perfect reminder of how fragile our freedoms are, and that message is even more meaningful in the world we live in today.

~Net, It's a Wonderful Movie  

Where you can see...

God’s Not Dead: We the People

Stream through: Pureflix or Prime Video

DVD: Amazon or Walmart

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The Clue to Love - Movie Review
(Note: I watched "The Clue to Love" through Pureflix)

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! "The Clue to Love" is such a cute family friendly rom-com with charming banter that revolves around a newspaper business and stars Rachel Bles (“Cooking Up Love”) as Audrey Harper and Travis Milne (who I just loved as Charlie Baker in “A Gift Wrapped Christmas”) as Morgan Cooper. Both are newspaper reporters; however, Audrey is learning to write her stories with a little more heart, as Morgan, the Editor in Chief, has shown in his award winning articles. As Audrey shadows Morgan at the Hope Cove Beacon Newspaper, she discovers the identity of the person who writes the infamous local advice column, Ask Aunt Hope, is a secret and she is determined to figure out who the person is. Morgan and Audrey have wonderful chemistry together, and there’s some interesting tension at the newspaper on whether or not Morgan’s father will sell the family business. Plus, Morgan is beginning to wonder if he can trust Audrey, since she is connected with the big city newspaper that wants to purchase Hope Cove’s small town paper.

Overall, here’s my exclusive scoop… "The Clue to Love" is a very sweet story, with a little bit of mystery and heartfelt moments. I hope to see it on UPtv some day!

~Net, It's a Wonderful Movie 

 

Where you can see...

The Clue to Love

Stream through: Pureflix or Prime Video

DVD: Amazon or Walmart

Note: I noticed Amazon has this movie rated as TV-14 and I can't imagine why. I personally didn't see any content that required this rating when I watched this movie through Pureflix, and to my knowledge, the movie was not edited in any way. In fact, I checked the time on the DVD versus the time of the movie at Pureflix, and it was actually a few minutes longer at Pureflix. So, that rating makes no sense to me at all. What I saw was a decent, lighthearted movie.


UPDATE - Another Movie Review:

"The Clue to Love that was shown in Canada had a man making a comment about his Husband not letting him see their baby. It was fairly close to the beginning when Rachel Bles is having a meeting with the people at the newspaper. It shows the guy answering his cell phone talking about the surrogate about to have the baby and then he makes the comment about his husband. The US version must have removed that comment." ~Anonymous

*Note #2: I spoke to Pureflix and they said some of the movies are edited by the companies before they are submitted to Pureflix. So... the version I watched must have been edited. Please know, I'm not sure what is on the DVD.

I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading my reviews for both of these movies.

Blessings to you all, Net

Update on GAC Family Movies...

Love in Bloom

Just wanted to send out this quick update today! I spoke to my friend at GAC Family, and I have some news on the two movies, Prescription for Love (starring Jillian Murray and Trevor Donovan) and Love in Bloom (starring Susie Abromeit and Julian Haig), that were originally scheduled to air in March. They have both been moved to a later date, which has not been announced, yet. I will be sure to update you all with further news on this as soon as I hear.

If you'd like to know more about these movies, visit my post - *here* - which gives you a storyline for both films, pictures, and a movie trailer!

Stay tuned for updates...

Blessings on your day, Net