Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker

I haven't read the books, and I know that a new series requires dialogue that sets up to explain a lot of relationships and characters quickly. But this dialogue was rough. The interaction between Ainsley and the other booth-owners at the artist shop is very promising! But the interaction between her and her brother is flat and cheesy. They have a great opportunity there to make a little sibling banter or warmth so I hope that improves. The storyline was fine. Had enough suspects. It was a little weird that the wine owners were losing tons of money but didn't know how.

Ainsley did overstep quite a few legal boundaries inserting herself which as a criminologist she wouldn't have, but it was a catalyst in the story so necessary and easy to overlook :) We all know it's not a true crime type drama, it's a feel good mystery :) But the fact that she had to pepper in that she's too small to do harm or too little to make an impact twice and then that she is into fitness not sports three different times was weird.

Acting was fine, setting was pretty, plot worked, hopefully by the 2nd or 3rd movie they will have their groove! I'm looking forward to the rest of this series!

I agree with others that this is too much like an Aurora Teagarden movie (minus Marilu Henner).

But my real issue is Willing Suspension of Disbelief. This movie supposedly takes place somewhere in Texas, but is so obviously filmed elsewhere (Hello, British Columbia) that I just couldn't go with it.

Also, as with other GAC movies, there's a lack of "oomph". There needs to be more emotion and energy. I am not sure why this is so consistent across all their efforts. I wish they'd show more zip.

Candace is cute, the mystery is okay, the production values adequate, the cast is trying, but...nope.

Better luck next time!

Having read all of the Teagarden mysteries. When they were turned into TV movies. I was quite excited. Unfortunately Candace Cameron Bure had other ideas.

She created a totally vacuous character. Unlike Teagarden in the books. Who continually evolves with each successive adventure. Bure set to defile the character and make her very unlikeable.

She always has to be right. She tampers with police evidence. She obstructs police enquiries. { I could not fathom why she was not arrested at least once ? } And is dangerous and destructive to all around her. With a ' friend' like her, you'd need no enemies.

Another observation is that the Teagarden of the novels, although chaste never appears sexually repressive unlike the Bure ' Teagarden ' Now I have not read any of the Ainsley McGregor books. But I will wager the Bure ' Mc Gregor ' is once again a fiction of her perverted imagination.

And since she is now pushing fifty. Isn't it about time she dropped the teenage character who resembles a ' gerbil on steroids ' ?

That aside, the script for this production was very tortuous. It wound all over the place and in and out. It was so easy to lose track.

Not helped by the incompetent sound engineers. They have very sophisticated equipment today. So why do they turn out such poor soundtracks ? Unlike their counterparts of the classical period of Hollywood.

Camera angles. Well there weren't any. It gave the impression of all been filmed on cell phones. Held by persons suffering from St Vitus dance. I'll make no comment on the lighting. But I think you would know what I might have said.

I have read other reviews about this production. From people who actually read the novels.

And with regard to the characters they appear to be in lockstep.

I do hope the production team is not contemplating throwing good money after bad. By filming further of these novels. Without they make very, very drastic changes.

I haven't read the book to know how close this storyline is to it, but the dialogue and acting are shoddy The setting is a fictional town in Texas. Yet, not a single person has a Texan drawl or twang. They do, however, have plenty of the interesting and quirky southern sayings like, "You're as stubborn as a mule with his heel caught in a stump."

In my opinion, the writer(s) could have done better. I was able to immediately figure out who the killer was, which made for a boring movie. It also was a disappointment as it came across as a wannabe mix of Hallmark's Aurora Teagarden Mystery and Mystery 101. Hopefully, the next one is better; otherwise, it's peace out GAF."

I feel like they were trying to differentiate this character from Aurora Teagarden. You know, a real criminologist versus an amateur sleuth. But one of the things that made the Aurora movies great was the supporting characters.

I just never believed the actor playing her brother as the sheriff. Although I did like the brother and sister dynamics between the two of them. Maybe he needs a demotion so a stronger sheriff can come on board.

The love interest character is handsome but didn't really seem like a good match for someone who had worked for the Chicago police department. I didn't buy their connection.

I always like Cameron so I will wait to see future episodes, but if this movie plays at the same time as an Aurora movie, I'm watching Aurora.