Redemption in Cherry Springs

The actors are great! The script needs work. Slow.

A reporter, Melanie (Rochelle Aytes) returns to her quiet home town and finds herself embroiled in a missing person case and murder in Redemption in Cherry Springs, a Hallmark film from 2021.

Filmed in the Hudson Valley, this film has a very nice feel to it - the scenery was lovely, and the characters who comprise Melanie's friends are likable: Frankie Faison, Keith D. Robinson, etc. You really hope Melanie will decide to stay and not return to New York.

The problem is this is a slow-moving and dull movie with not much intrigue. Everything about it was flat - the mystery, the dialogue, the denouement. Beautiful Rochelle Aytes deserved better as did the rest of the cast.

This murder mystery is often streamlined with scenes jumping one to another quickly as evidence is gathered for the viewer. At times it feels fast paced and choppy at the same time. Interpersonal scenes are inserted at times developing relationships. Jake is very direct and to the point even with Melody. The focus of the movie is more on the investigation than on any chemistry between the two.

There are a lot of clues. It gets complicated. Something ominous is hanging over Melody which is reinforced by her backstory as an investigative reporter with enemies. Is it related to Tony's murder? Are the mysteries tied together or is something being set up for a sequel?

Some of Melody's activities are illegal and jeopardize potential prosecution, but at one point they acknowledge at least one instance of this. Melody is also careless about her own personal safety, which is one reason I don't like some "amateur detective" mysteries.

This is a good mystery movie even if it is a bit choppy at times. I think that is intentional so as to squeeze more details into the mystery. But Melody's insane carelessness and her B&E's take too much away from the movie for my preferences.

'Redemption in Cherry Springs' was mainly seen for Hallmark film completest sake. As said more than once, their 2021 output was very uneven (with their Christmas films particularly varying) but generally could have been worse. It was also seen because the idea of the story had real potential to be intriguing and moving. What little has been seen of the leads, with a little more familiarity with Rochelle Aytes, has been uneven in performances and filmography but never unwatchable.

This film however had all the right ingredients for a decent film and had a good idea. It is a shame that not enough, in fact little, is done with it. Really wanted to like it and it has good things, but the story for 'Redemption in Cherry Springs' was severely wanting. It's not one of the very worst Hallmark films of 2021 (the worst being very weak whereas this was mediocre), but it's in the lesser half and one of the weaker mystery oriented films of theirs for that year.

Am going to begin with the good. Aytes and Keith D. Robinson are amiable and engaging enough leads, with Aytes being particularly heartfelt, and Frankie Faison is solid support.

It also looks good, beautiful scenery accompanied very well by some atmospheric photography. The music is pleasant enough and some of the investigating intrigues.

Unfortunately, the story and pacing in 'Redemption in Cherry Springs' are very messy. The first half is wafer thin and slow going, and while the second half does pick up it's not for the better. Due to a lot of jumping about and too many events rushed through. The mystery did sound intriguing but lacked suspense, had too many loose ends and the lack of realism and surprises spoil the film.

Some of the content could have been elaborated upon a lot more, will agree that the ending and the identity of the perpetrator were too vague. A longer length would have helped, like five minutes more to round the mystery off more. The chemistry between the two leads felt very undercooked, there is a little spark but it never really ignites and plays second fiddle to the investigating and mystery. While the actors perform well, the character writing is shallow and Aytes' character's decision making and rookie errors really frustrate and distract from what's happening in the story. The dialogue is very stilted and mundane and tends too much to over explain, too much tell and not enough show.

Overall, mediocre but at least the acting and production values were decent. 4/10.

As I sat down to watch the 2021 Hallmark TV movie "Redemption in Cherry Springs", it was done so without ever having heard about this movie from writers John Bellina, Talia Gonzalez and Lauren Snowden. But I do believe in giving any movie that I haven't already seen a fair chance, so of course "Redemption in Cherry Springs" was given a chance as well.

And I have to say that director Letia Clouston didn't deliver a movie that fell into my liking, and I found very little entertainment and enjoyment in the storyline. So it was quite a drag for me to sit through 84 minutes of subpar narrative of a storyline and plot that I cared very little about.

I was mostly unfamiliar with the cast ensemble in the movie, aside from Frankie Faison. I will say, though, that the actors and actresses did carry the movie well enough, despite the fact of the storyline failing to find grounds with my liking.

"Redemption in Cherry Springs" wasn't a movie that impressed me, and this is not something I will ever return to watch a second time.

My rating of "Redemption in Cherry Springs" lands on a three out of ten stars.