The Good Witch's Charm

The fifth Good Witch movie has Cassie, now the mayor of Middleton, dealing with a crime wave as well as taking care of her new baby. She finds time to dish out advice and (possibly magic) help to her friends and family. Grandpa George is back, which is nice. He was missed in the last one. Brandon is mostly absent this time, save for a few brief appearances to let us know he's at school. The formula of the series is intact with two outsiders coming to town and causing problems for our heroine before the wise-beyond-her-years Cassie sets them on the right path. One is a reporter with no ethics (an oxymoron, I know) and the other is Cassie's foster mother, who looks a little like Veronica Cartwright. The foster mother's speech about how Cassie raised Lori is odd considering the girl was (almost?) a teen before Cassie married her dad and, earlier in this very movie, Cassie had praised Lori's birth mother as having done a good job raising her. Fun sequel in a fun series. Martha is particularly entertaining this time around.

Although not the best in the series it was a vast improvement on the last one, The Good Witch's Family. The series seems to have rebuilt some of the magic that seemed to be lost. At the end of the movie I found myself wanting more which can only be a good sign.

In this instalment the characters seem to be facing their usual trials but that doesn't stop them from keeping a good attitude. Baby Grace was also an adorable addition and I can't wait to see the value she adds now that Lori and Brandon are almost all grown.

If I had to make one improvement I would develop some of the supporting cast and create a few more movie regulars. The cast is too small and don't build a dynamic story. But aside from that I cannot wait to get to the TV series. It may be the boost this franchise needs.

The Good Witch's saving grace was it's charm, sadly it seems to have worn thin.

The Hallmark novelty seems to have waned as this 5th movie simply doesn't have "It" Thats not to say this is bad, it's just so generic and so predictable that it felt like I'd seen it already.

When the franchise began I was thoroughly onboard but now, now I'm bored so very very bored.

The Good:

Still sweet in that sickly way

The Bad:

Seen it all before

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Leaving babies alone outdoors is absolutely fine and supported by mothers worldwide

If someone drags your families name through the dirt and damages their lives your first response should be to sleep with them

Catherine Bell returns as Cassie Nightingale in the fifth Hallmark TV movie in the series that began with 2008's THE GOOD WITCH. Each has premiered in time for Halloween and, as I write, the sixth is slated in for 2013. Catherine Bell continues to play her in a charming, low-key manner as someone who never does anything clearly magical, even if Chris Potter, playing her husband, can go to the baby's room and find his wife already in the kitchen with their child.

The small, workaday problems continue as her foster mother shows up in town and an Internet newsman follows up a story which shows Cassie as a confidence artist. Her stepdaughter is trying to fit in with the cool kids at school, her husband is overworked by a crime wave, her father-in-law is feeling old and useless -- well, ordinary problems like those. Miss Bell smiles her way through the issues and by the end of the movie everything is sorted out. The actors are all more than competent, but are not aided by a script in which plot points are over-explained; the father-in-law is told that a man who has just died was his best friend.

Miss Bell continues to carry the series and this one is a pleasant time-waster. However, it would be nice if she got some help from the script writer.

There are too many sub plots in this episode. Cassie's life is overwhelming her and consternation is everywhere creating a slow boring wait to the obvious conclusion. There's no element of fun, comedy or anything Of intrigue to make you smile. Lastly, the deputy sees the thief but never does anything about. Plus other investigative holes. Sadly, This one you can skip.