The Cases of Mystery Lane

7.1 stars.

I was excited for this show after seeing the previews, however there is something amiss with the bond, or lack of bond shared between the leads. They are both very capable actors, but they don't mesh, and it's not for lack of effort, however I feel an absence of chemistry between Campbell and Garcia.

The title of this film is about the most clever I've seen in a very long time. Good one.

The plot is good enough, the killer was actually very predictable, as if you suspect this person as the killer early on and figure it would be too easy, and you would be correct, but you'd also be right in going with your hunch. I love Campbell's antics as a nerdy guy named Alden who has finally found his passion: to be a private detective. Unfortunately his quirks go unrewarded by Garcia's character Birdie - his unsatisfied wife. Or do they? It's hard to discern what she's thinking and we never really find out. All we know is that she likes to play online poker. There is a disconnect between Birdie's true feelings and what she is conveying in the presentation. Frankly, it's confusing and I'm not satisfied with her performance.

I think the writer would have been justified in making her the sleuth and him the lawyer, it would have been more convincing. My guess is that he was so hilarious with the bumbling geek schtick that they decided to switch the roles. Total conjecture on my part.

I fully expect a sequel sooner than later. Maybe I'll add to this review after the second installment.

I'm a licensed Med Tech and my absolute favorite part of the Lucifer series was Aimee Garcia and her crime lab...so when I saw she would be starring in a new Mystery series on Hallmark with Paul Campbell I was VERY excited...maybe too excited.

There was good humor in the series and Paul and Aimee played off each other well as husband and wife Birdie and Alden Case. My biggest complaint is around the sad theme of divorce that was introduced and woven throughout the movie. I thought it was wholly unnecessary to the story...especially as it really played as a comedy except for that. My other complaint is around Birdie's mom and her terrible behavior towards her daughter at work. Birdie should quit that job immediately! My final complaint is around a potentially unhealthy relationship that they seem to be trying to normalize and that is of a wealthy heiress and her gay husband who is having homosexual relationships outside of their marriage with her knowledge...including going on cruises etc. I am by no means saying that is wrong, to each his own, especially if everyone knows and no one is getting hurt. But my complaint is in the normalizing having sex outside of one's marriage...straight, gay, whatever. I am not sure that builds a healthy bond or marriage and distracted from the story.

I love both Aimee Garcia and Paul Campbell and will definitely watch an additional film if they make more, but I am hesitant to strongly recommend this film and am afraid it is not breaking in to my top three hallmark mysteries (Hannah Swensen, Aurora Teagarden and Mystery 101) any time soon.

At first I had no interest in watching this but, there was nothing else on so I gave it a try. I really enjoyed it and hopefully they make more of these mysteries. It's nice to see a new mystery movie on the Hallmark channel. I'm getting bored with the repeat ones they keep showing . The two main actors, Paul Campbell and Aimee Garcia are perfect in this as a married couple. They have good chemistry together and make it enjoyable with not only solving a murder but some humor added in. If you are looking for something lighthearted to watch , this would be perfect. Please hallmark looking forward to another "Case of mystery lane".

So glad they're making another quote the cases of mystery Lane" . This might be my favorite Hallmark movie. Most of the movies are all the same and this was a little different.

I am a big fan of Paul Campbell. When I see him listed in the cast, I watch the movie, probably more than once. I like Aimee Garcia. I think that she's a good actress. I enjoyed the first Cases of Mystery Lane. It was a decent mystery and Alden was smart, quirky, amusing and kind of endearing. Once the wife figured out what Alden was getting involved in, the couple worked well together.

However, in Death is Listening, the quirkiness is over-the-top. Alden is less amusing and endearing, more bumbling and annoying. The acting is great, but I find the character of Alden this time is kind of off putting.

I really hope that if there's a third Cases Mystery movie, they dial back on Alden's quirkiness, but I really like the premise of the series & the actors.

Fun detective show that has you rooting for them. Seeing Campbell as a quirky pre-midlife crises suburban husband is worth the ticket alone. I didn't mind the usual red herring turns, because the interplay between husband and wife characters was engaging.

It's starts out as a fish out of water movie, then becomes a bit of a romantic comedy-mystery. Don't expect grit or gore, this movie is family night appropriate. Which is a delightful change from Hollywood's norm.

Hoping that they make more of this series, it would be fun to see the main characters go through the transitions ahead, as well as seeing more side character development.