Un mariage mortel

"Flower Shop Mystery: Dearly Depotted" is a new Hallmark mystery in the Flower Shop series starring Brooke Shields.

I have to admit, shallow though I may be, I was distracted by Brooke Shields' appearance in this TV movie. More on that later.

In this movie, Abby (Shields) helps her cousin Jillian prepare for her wedding by supplying the flowers and agreeing to wear a hideous bridesmaid dress. She's hoping Jillian doesn't cancel this wedding, too, because of cold feet. But the wedding happens.

At the reception, Abby and Marco (Brennan Elliot) find the body of Jack Sutcliff who tried to crash the wedding. Naturally Abby, a former attorney goes off on her own with the help of Marco, now a bar owner but once a detective. They have a long list of suspects: some outliers who are part of Abby's family and people from the wedding.

I take these movies for what they are - light entertainment. I mean it's improbable that a former lawyer would open a flower shop, though maybe it's been done, and that next door is an ex-detective who now owns a bar. But I don't dwell on it.

I dwelled instead on Brooke Shields' distracting appearance. Here we have a beautiful actress and model, a famous face, now with nearly black hair, still long but now so straight it looks like it's plastered to her head - she resembles Elvira. I hope she doesn't look this way in other episodes.

What's wrong with her lighter brown, highlighted, full, wavy hair? Why have they done this to such a stunning woman? She goes to a wedding here with her hair slapped into a sloppy bun.

Okay mystery, Shields is a likable presence as always; she has a handsome near-beau in Brennan Elliott, and her father played by Beau Bridges is a plus.

In the third and last to date Flower Shop Mystery films Brooke Shields and partner Kate Drummond get a big order for a cousin's wedding.. As this cousin has twice chickened out before the ceremony, Brooke's biggest worry is being stiffed for her big flower order.

But no one's thinking of flowers when the body of Mark Gibson who crashed the wedding is found later. We don't see much of Gibson while he was briefly alive in this film, but when Shields and boyfriend Brennan Elliott start their investigation this was one thoroughgoing rat who any number of people would like to have done in for business and personal reasons.

Gibson was a conman gigolo and almost in the family as he knocked up another relative of Brooke's and then left her. Other suspects keep popping up, but one who really didn't make the list is the one who does the deed. You won't figure it out until almost the very end.

If there's another Flower Shop Mystery in the offing who knows? Dearly Depotted remains the last and it's a good one. I hope Brooke Shields, Brennan Elliott and Beau Bridges as her father come back for more.

I enjoyed this movie. Probably would not be as good without Beau Bridges, Brooke Shields and Brennan Elliot. These Hallmark Mysteries are light, reminds me of TV mystery movies in the 80's. This is a nice change for Mystery Lovers who do not want to see all the grit and gore.

I did find a mistake. Abby corrects Marco and tells him her cousin's baby is a boy. Later in the movie, she refers to the baby as "she". Minor point, I know, but with editing, you'd think someone would have caught this. I do agree with previous viewer that they are really playing down Brooke Shield's looks, but I understand they want to make it more believable. Overall "feel good" TV movie.

I found Brook sheilds just totally distracting in this series. For one, she doesn't look that good and when she finishes delivering her line, her mouth goes slack like she's a robot. Tried to watch them, but once was enough.

Abby Knight, ex-lawyer and crime buff, and the owner of Bloomers Flower Shop, is having a week to be reckoned with. A reluctant bridesmaid at her drama queen cousin's wedding, Abby ends up not just doing the flowers...but having to find out who murdered a wedding crasher.

Brooke Shields is brilliant as the protagonist in this light-hearted mystery which plenty of humour and nice banter between the characters. Shields comes across natural and not so OTT as other Hallmark lead actresses. She's part of the charm in this lively mystery. Her chemistry with Brennan Elliott is really good - every time they get close something/ someone interrupts the romance. Dani Kind as Shields' cousin and serial marry-er plays a great character and she's excels in her role.