Site Unseen

This movie was OK. Not as good as a Garage Sale, Aurora Teagarden or Mystery Woman Mystery, but OK.

But what I found REALLY distracting was the casting of the actor who played Will.

There were repeated references to Emma having spent her summers there in Maine as a teenager, with Will.

However, Emma appears to be in her early to mid 50's (yes, the figure of a young woman, but facial close-ups reveal an "appearance age" or early to mid 50s).

Will, despite his dime-store dye job, appears to be in his early to mid 30s.

So when Emma would have been a teenager, Will would have been somewhere between a toddler and not-yet born.

Creepy.

A typical Hallmark mystery...sometimes they are interesting but many time they are rather boring. This episode falls into the latter category. IIenjoy mysteries and have given these Hallmark efforts a chance, hoping I will come across a decent effort. Courtney, who appears to have had some facial surgery, has a tight face which usually has a smile/grin in place regardless of the situation. The acting of the supporting cast is mediocre and at times amateurish. As several other reviewers pointed out,there is a lack of realism in the situations..the students digging away at the archeological site with no hint of dirt.

Actually, as far as archaeology is concerned, this movie is a great deal better than many I've seen (from the digg to the students!), and trust me, I am an archaeologist. I mean, everything is there - buckets, wheelbarrows, unmanned aerial vehicles, total stations...The main actress Courtney Thorn-Smith, who plays the archaeologist Emma Fielding, is amazing, and she looks 10 years younger than her real age. The character of Emma Fielding is very convincing, she is a convincing professor of archaeology and her relationship with students is accurately presented. All in all, a nice, easy plot and good actors make this a great film for relaxed weekend afternoons. From me 10 out of 10.

I knew this was going to be a groaner in the very first scene, when some immaculate archaeology students who'd supposedly just been working a dig stood up with perfectly clean clothes and shoes, neat coiffed hair, and not a trace of dirt under their fingernails. It got worse from there. It's a bit of bubblegum, not even close to the level of even the worst British mysteries. Don't waste your time with this potboiler.

Make more of these please. I've been following Courtney Thorne Smith for over 20 years since Melrose Place (yes I'm old). She always puts in solid and believable performances. We need more strong female leads and Courtney is the one to do it. Love the mystery, setting, and chemistry. Hoping there will be more this year and next.