The Cases of Mystery Lane

I am a big fan of Paul Campbell. When I see him listed in the cast, I watch the movie, probably more than once. I like Aimee Garcia. I think that she's a good actress. I enjoyed the first Cases of Mystery Lane. It was a decent mystery and Alden was smart, quirky, amusing and kind of endearing. Once the wife figured out what Alden was getting involved in, the couple worked well together.

However, in Death is Listening, the quirkiness is over-the-top. Alden is less amusing and endearing, more bumbling and annoying. The acting is great, but I find the character of Alden this time is kind of off putting.

I really hope that if there's a third Cases Mystery movie, they dial back on Alden's quirkiness, but I really like the premise of the series & the actors.

Birdie Case (Aimee Garcia) is a hard working lawyer. Her mother is her demanding boss. Her flighty husband Alden (Paul Campbell) quitted his accounting school and switched to private investigator classes. Before he gets up the courage to tell her, his class work investigation about her firm leads to the apparent suicide of one of the firm's partner.

This is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. The first act is a little confused until the exposition at its end. As for the mystery, it's a confused start, but the couple mystery team does grow on me. A couple mystery team is a long running cinematic tradition. I do like the two actors and their chemistry. This is not the best mystery movie, but it has the potential to be a good Hallmark series.

7.1 stars.

I was excited for this show after seeing the previews, however there is something amiss with the bond, or lack of bond shared between the leads. They are both very capable actors, but they don't mesh, and it's not for lack of effort, however I feel an absence of chemistry between Campbell and Garcia.

The title of this film is about the most clever I've seen in a very long time. Good one.

The plot is good enough, the killer was actually very predictable, as if you suspect this person as the killer early on and figure it would be too easy, and you would be correct, but you'd also be right in going with your hunch. I love Campbell's antics as a nerdy guy named Alden who has finally found his passion: to be a private detective. Unfortunately his quirks go unrewarded by Garcia's character Birdie - his unsatisfied wife. Or do they? It's hard to discern what she's thinking and we never really find out. All we know is that she likes to play online poker. There is a disconnect between Birdie's true feelings and what she is conveying in the presentation. Frankly, it's confusing and I'm not satisfied with her performance.

I think the writer would have been justified in making her the sleuth and him the lawyer, it would have been more convincing. My guess is that he was so hilarious with the bumbling geek schtick that they decided to switch the roles. Total conjecture on my part.

I fully expect a sequel sooner than later. Maybe I'll add to this review after the second installment.

Light and fun comedy, and done really well! I am impressed by the whole package: acting, plot, light jokes and just simpleness and cuteness of it all and how it is all wrapped up in a very good entertainment choice. Quirky little jokes were actually pretty original and funny, and actors did a very good job at doing their bit throughout the whole movie. As a huge fan of whodoneits, this one falls into light entertainment category that will leave you light and in a good mood after watching it. As TV movies go, this does the job and almost feels like there should be sequels. Well, I'm pretty sure there will be...

What a great mystery series. The perfect cast made for the perfect mystery series. You will love both number one and two. I can't wait for more and I'm hoping it goes on for a very long time. Great fun and intrigue. I can laugh and try to figure out the plot at the same time. You gave us so much more by bringing, what seems like, actual lives of two people, a couple, that are truly regular people. Every couple has quarks that people outside don't always see. I love that they are not goodie two shoes solving a case. You've brought co cast right into their lives too and made the series so cohesive. This really is one of the best mystery series in such a long time. I absolutely loved Family Practice Mysteries and Curious Caterer, can't wait for more of them too, because they aren't the goodie two shoe type either, but the Cases of Mystery Lane gets my top vote! Thank you Hallmark and keep these three coming. Love..love..love...these series.