Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

I really liked the Murder She Baked movies, but these Hannah Swensen movies are awful. Even Hannah's character has become really goofy. The way she acts every time she sees the District Attorney, is embarrassing. I don't know any middle-aged woman who would behave that way. And why do they keep making the mom more annoying than the last movie? She was at least a bit likable in the Murder She Baked movies, but now I cringe every time she's in a scene. This one was so bad I didn't even watch until the very end. Even though I wanted to know who the killer was, I just couldn't take any more of this silliness.

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.

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.

Another poorly written Hallmark mystery and as usual it's the script and dialog that are the problems. Barbara Niven's affected Dolores Swenson character is over the top and dumb, she's not funny. She played a similar snooty character in a holiday movie and her character was also dumb. Her character should be dropped or toned down.

And Hannah not Dolores is the lead and Hannah should be solving the crimes. I enjoyed the series more when Cameron Mathison played the detective, you don't need a DA. I don't know why Mathison left the series or if his character was written out. It's never been a great series, but it was less annoying in past movies.