Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

I totally agree with the other 2 reviews. What has happened with Delores? Why is she the focus instead of Hannah. Barbara's portrayal is so over the top, it's a huge distraction to the show. What has happened to the strong, independent Hannah. Since when does she giggle at the mention of a man, in this case Chad. I have read all the books in this series and it was a struggle to come to terms with all the radical changes from the books. Especially the description of Hannah. However, I came to terms with that and tried to enjoy the movies. However, since the producers made the change to go in a different direction and bring on Victor Webster's character, Hannah is now portrayed as a simpering shadow of herself. So very disappointing. Please get back to the mystery part featuring a strong and intelligent Hannah and drastically reduce the secondary plot with Delores.

I have loved all the Murder She Baked movies but this one was one I had to force myself to finish. Alison and Victor have no onscreen chemistry whatsoever. His character is too stiff and smug. They have Alison acting like a silly teenager just hoping he will ask her out. But the worst and what makes you want to stop watching is Barbara Niven. Usually a favorite character of mine; they have turned her into an over the top ridiculous drama queen. She must have insisted on having half the lines because you could almost have called it the Barbara Niven Mystery series. They have turned her character into such a completely obnoxious annoying overacting scene stealing caricature of herself it just ruined the whole show. Put Alison back front and center and tone down Barbara for the next one please. Barbara is fun as a small side character but not a main one. One can only take such nonsense in small doses.

My wife and I have watched many of the Hannah Swensen mysteries and this one, to me, seems a bit weaker and more silly than the others. However, my wife commented to me, "They are all silly."

But the real question is, does it entertain? And it does, a bit, but mostly in very silly ways.

Alison Sweeney is, of course, Hannah Swensen and she acts a bit like a teenager. The reason, she has a keen interest in the handsome, single District Attorney and in his presence just can't hold it together. She keeps waiting for him to ask her out.

The mystery here is twofold, a man has been arrested for several home burglaries and he is about to go to trial. But another burglary happens and Hannah wonders if it is a copycat and, if so, why?

Second, a film crew is in and using Hannah's bakery as their set for a popular cooking show, the host is Connie Mack who, it turns out, can't really cook but was chosen for her screen presence. Then on day two of shooting they came in and find her young producer dead in the restaurant. Is this connected to the trial, or just random?

So, as usual, Hannah and her friends look for clues and devise a plan to try to catch the new burglar in the act.

Again, as a story and as a movie it isn't that good but it does have a bit of entertaining value. Especially if it is free, like we found it streaming on Peacock.

(Trivia - Connie Mack, born in 1862, was an American professional baseball catcher, manager, and team owner. Mack holds records for the most wins, losses, ties, and games managed in Major League Baseball history. There once was a stadium in Philadelphia named after him.)

I think Alison Sweeney does a great job and like Chad ok but do wish they'd give Norman a love interest. And where did the tall, brunette sister come from in this new post-Mike batch? Fine actress but ridiculous casting to believe she is in this family of petit blondes. Ok, here is my real complaint: the mother. I have seen Barbara Niven in many, many Hallmark shows and even in previous Hannah mysteries and she has always been fine. But, she has become absolutely insufferable in these shows. They have written her character to be a complete fool and are doing Ns. Niven a disservice. Her character drags down every scene in which she appears and is toooo toooo annoying. Rescue her!

I wasn't going to watch any more Hannah mysteries after the mom character has been chewing the scenery in the last couple movies. I was intrigued by this plot so I decided to watch but it fell flat. The reality show star seemed like they couldn't decide it she was a villain or just a fraud. And Niven's character is so over the top that it's distracting. And insulting to anyone who has ever done local theater! Ugh! No more. We've already been asked to suspend our reality with the concept of a baker being involved in crime solving but the mom is way too campy. She ruined it for me. And the chemistry between the two leads was a snooze.