Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate

The movie is fine on its own. Maybe i'm biased because i like andrew walker. Normally, i like nikki deloach as well but not so much here. Not that she was bad, she just didn't feel like she was owning the role. It's a typical hallmark mystery with a few more suspects than usual so not an obvious solution. My main complaint is why'd they bother tying it into the book series? Granted, the series was/is popular but the book of the same name was written in the 80s; surely there are more recent properties you could use to get a ready-made audience? Or were they hoping no one who saw the movie had read the book? The similarities were minimal. Yes, movie and book goldys are both divorced caterers with children but thats as far as the similarities go. Book goldy has an established business at the time of this story, her ex-husband was (and still is) abusive, their divorce is contentious to say the least, her child is a son, and that's just some of the character differences. As far as plot goes, the victim dies in a car accident and the common ground ends there. So my question remains - why bother with the tie-in?

I remember when I started reading about Goldy. I went with my mom to a thrift store. Immediately, I went to find the books.

I rifled through some. Then I picked up "Cereal Murders".

I love mysteries and I love cooking and was a caterer. So this book was right up my alley.

I purchased all her books. I've been reading them for years. And, I've often talked to the author on Facebook when I was on the site.

We've talked about how exciting it would be to turn these books into movies.

Well, fast forward to the 2010's.

I saw adverts on HM&M for "Murder She Baked". It was from author J. F. I've never read her books but the movies were all great. Maybe that's why I loved the shows. I didn't have her books to compare them to.

Fast forward to April 2022.

I was watching the HM&M channel when an ad popped up. "Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate". My heartbeat picked up. I just knew it had to be from my favorite author: Diane Mott Davidson. I had read the book.

I set a reminder on my phone and set it to record on my FRNDLY app.

Sunday night. All tucked it with snacks.

Pressed play.

My 1st eye furrowing moment? "Marla". The actress was very skinny.

I know "Marla" from the books. She is chubby. She loves Goldy's desserts and is always happy to taste test. She had lighter color hair. She was flirty, funny, sarcastic and sassy.

Was HM&M afraid to have an actress even 5 lbs. Overweight?

Next. "Olive"? The daughter?

No. Goldy has a son named Arch.

She also has an assistant. Vegetarian Julian.

Next was the catering. I wanted to see more cooking. Goldy, in the book, cooked when she needed to work out the mysterious details in her mind.

Andrew and Nikki were good. I only wish her hair had some curl and did more Goldy type things. Like wake up and do her yoga stretches 1st thing. Desperately reaching for that single or double shot espresso and sweet treat for breakfast.

My biggest disappointment?

The JRK wasn't the jerk. At all.

In the movie, Dr. John Richard Korman(love that his initials look like 'jerk') is warm, kind, caring, sympathetic and a great father.

He was so awesome, one wonders why he and Goldy divorced in the 1st place.

In the book, he was an abusive super jerk who cheated constantly. Goldy's thumb was proof. Among other body parts when he knocked her around.

And, he would sometimes use Arch to try and get to Goldy.

I get that this aired on the HM&M channel. And, they only air movies from PG-PG13.

To see a more accurate presentation of Diane's books, it would have to be on LMN or another channel that shows a bit more riskier TV.

Will I watch every episode in this series? Of course.

Maybe they'll be more comfortable in their roles.

I just wish they didn't stray so very far away from the books.

6/10.

I had just unpacked my books from storage, excited to sign one of my faves - Diane Mott Davidson on my shelf again - and the there it is, an ad for this movie!

I watched the movie with an open mind, because we all know the screen writers make changes and the directors need more of this & that (don't they know the books made a killing on their own?! AND it's Hallmark.... So Goldy wasn't Goldy - not in my mind - she wasn't short, chubby, curly red bouncy hair, hopping from the stove to the espresso machine, all while displaying her cooking talents. No, but Nikki Deloach made me like her. She was thin & beautiful - NOT my Goldy, but she pulled it off. She is a good actress and if they make more of these movies, I know we will grow to know her as Goldy. She wasn't corny or hallmarky (sorry), just played the part and made it seem natural.

Now her ex - I knew right away when he was SO nice, charming even, that they had him all wrong. I kept telling myself, it's Hallmark, they put their own happy spin on things. I really like Lochlyn Munro - he is such a good actor. He will contribute so much to each movie. But maybe tone down the 'I'm the best ex' because we know him as such a different person. It will be easier for the fans of the books if you get him a little closer to how Diane wrote him in book after book.

No Arch? Missed him right away. Changes, okay, I get it. So Goldy has a daughter. I didn't mind. But Arch sometimes helps Goldy, takes out the trash even helps in the kitchen. I hope the girl gets a better attitude like Arch and we'll be fine there.

I love Tom in the books. Love him. I really like the actor, Andrew Walker!! I didn't feel his true acting was shining in this movie. Sometimes you only have one chance, and if this was it, well, he was on the fence. He has a gorgeous face, so lose the stubble - we don't need to see that on every man these days, it's just not realistic. Is it my imagination or has he gotten thinner? Would love to see some meat on his face. If they make more of these, I can see him courting Goldy & becoming our beloved Tom. He can get it right, I am sure.

Marla - in the Chopping Spree, it clearly states that she had a heart attack from being overweight & you push another skinny person on us? Please get out more! Casting directors - there are chubby or even slightly chubby women out there who can act!! I do like the actor, she is funny & her chemistry with Goldy is spot-on. But I beg you please stop making us think every woman has to be stick-thin.

I liked the story and all actors did a great job. Overall, I was happy with the movie. Make more, please. And add more of the cooking, please. I don't cook, sad but true. I've always enjoyed Goldy's cooking in each book with recipes included!

Best Hallmark mystery movie so far for 2022-I love the Nikki/Andrew pairing and know their movies have done well with ratings in the past. Hoping to see more movies to this series in the future!

Goldy, a caterer and a civilian, helps local detective Tom solve a suspicious accident, afterwards ruled a murder of a close friend of hers.

I'm not one who watches Hallmarks mysteries, the only one I watch is Mystery 101 and this pales in comparison to that one. The only thing I can rescue from this is the chemistry between Andrew and Nikki. I love their movies together, and one or two are among my favorites. So, imagine my disappointment after I finished this.

While watching I was entertained but when the culprit and their motive was revealed it was so anticlimactic?

Another outcome would have made so much more sense. Anyway, if they do more movies, I will be turning in but solemnly to watch the leads.