bensonmum2
Joined Feb 2004
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In this Hallmark mystery movie, crossword editor Tess Harper (Lacey Chabert) is once again set on helping Detective Logan (Brennan Elliot) with a murder investigation. Tess feels she must get involved as the victim was a friend. The clues lead to a valuable ring, a code cipher, an elusive children's book, and at least one attempt on Tess' life.
For the first time since I began watching these Hallmark movies, I found one that failed to entertain. I can and have overlooked a lot of shortcomings with these films as long as I enjoy the experience. But with clues that go nowhere, police that act like idiots, and the forced chemistry between the two main leads, Proposing Murder just didn't work for me. But my main complaint comes in the film's last act. One of the things that bothers me most about a mystery is one that doesn't play fair with the viewer. You know, the ones that present vital clues in the final scene that lead to unmasking the killer. The kind of clues that the viewer would have no way of knowing anything about. Well, Proposing Murder commits this sin. While most of these Hallmark mysteries are guilty of this to some degree, this one is the worst I've run across so far.
4/10.
For the first time since I began watching these Hallmark movies, I found one that failed to entertain. I can and have overlooked a lot of shortcomings with these films as long as I enjoy the experience. But with clues that go nowhere, police that act like idiots, and the forced chemistry between the two main leads, Proposing Murder just didn't work for me. But my main complaint comes in the film's last act. One of the things that bothers me most about a mystery is one that doesn't play fair with the viewer. You know, the ones that present vital clues in the final scene that lead to unmasking the killer. The kind of clues that the viewer would have no way of knowing anything about. Well, Proposing Murder commits this sin. While most of these Hallmark mysteries are guilty of this to some degree, this one is the worst I've run across so far.
4/10.
Dead Talk makes the fifth Hallmark mystery movie I've watched recently. In Dead Talk Professor Amy Winslow (Jill Wagner) is invited to speak at a TED Talk like event. But when one of the other participants, a software developer, falls from the roof of the event building, Winslow's focus switches to solving a murder.
Thus far, Dead Talk is easily my favorite movie in the Mystery 101 series. The writing here is the star. Dead Talk features a wonderfully convoluted story. What starts out as a fairly straightforward mystery with a few obvious suspects transforms into something completely different. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting. I was guessing (wrong) until the very end. Watching the plot unfold to a nice conclusion was incredibly entertaining. I was also impressed that the plot was fairly straightforward in presenting clues to the viewer. It's a fun one to play along with.
Jill Wagner and Kristoffer Polaha continue to shine. And I really like the continuing storyline involving Winslow and Burke's evolving relationship. It's a small moment, but I really enjoyed the scene where Burke is doing everything he can to be invited to go to Seattle with Winslow's father. Polaha does a particularly nice job of acting.
Overall, no real complaints from me. A nice story, some good acting, and a satisfactory conclusion to the mystery. Dead Talk is solid entertainment.
8/10.
Thus far, Dead Talk is easily my favorite movie in the Mystery 101 series. The writing here is the star. Dead Talk features a wonderfully convoluted story. What starts out as a fairly straightforward mystery with a few obvious suspects transforms into something completely different. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting. I was guessing (wrong) until the very end. Watching the plot unfold to a nice conclusion was incredibly entertaining. I was also impressed that the plot was fairly straightforward in presenting clues to the viewer. It's a fun one to play along with.
Jill Wagner and Kristoffer Polaha continue to shine. And I really like the continuing storyline involving Winslow and Burke's evolving relationship. It's a small moment, but I really enjoyed the scene where Burke is doing everything he can to be invited to go to Seattle with Winslow's father. Polaha does a particularly nice job of acting.
Overall, no real complaints from me. A nice story, some good acting, and a satisfactory conclusion to the mystery. Dead Talk is solid entertainment.
8/10.
Words Can Kill is the fourth Hallmark mystery movie I've watched recently. In Words Can Kill, Professor Amy Winslow (Jill Wagner) is responsible for putting together a mystery writers' convention. Her father, Graham Winslow (Robin Thomas), Is set to be the star of the show. But when his previous publisher is found dead, Graham becomes a key suspect. Amy will move mountains to prove her father is innocent.
As I continue to roll through these Hallmark mysteries, they just keep getting better and better. Maybe I've gotten lucky and accidentally picked the good ones, but whatever, I'm really enjoying the movie journey I'm on. I had great fun with Words Can Kill. The plot has some nice twists and turns, culminating in a very satisfactory conclusion. This one kept me guessing right up to the end (even though I really should have spotted the killer from a mile away). The growing relationship between Amy and Detective Burke is another highlight. Jill Wagner and Kristoffer Polaha are solid. And I was impressed with Robin Thomas as Amy's father. Given a larger role in this film, he excelled.
I can't write one of these without listing a few of the problems I had with the movie. Without going into detail: several one dimensional characters, standard mystery tropes, and some iffy acting. But it's easy for me to overlook these weaknesses given how much I enjoyed the rest.
Finally, one of the things I like about these movies is how much they remind me of the mystery novels I grew up reading, with similar plots, similar pacing, and similar reveals. The movies have that mystery novel "feeling" - nothing heavy or groundbreaking, just entertainment and escape.
7/10.
As I continue to roll through these Hallmark mysteries, they just keep getting better and better. Maybe I've gotten lucky and accidentally picked the good ones, but whatever, I'm really enjoying the movie journey I'm on. I had great fun with Words Can Kill. The plot has some nice twists and turns, culminating in a very satisfactory conclusion. This one kept me guessing right up to the end (even though I really should have spotted the killer from a mile away). The growing relationship between Amy and Detective Burke is another highlight. Jill Wagner and Kristoffer Polaha are solid. And I was impressed with Robin Thomas as Amy's father. Given a larger role in this film, he excelled.
I can't write one of these without listing a few of the problems I had with the movie. Without going into detail: several one dimensional characters, standard mystery tropes, and some iffy acting. But it's easy for me to overlook these weaknesses given how much I enjoyed the rest.
Finally, one of the things I like about these movies is how much they remind me of the mystery novels I grew up reading, with similar plots, similar pacing, and similar reveals. The movies have that mystery novel "feeling" - nothing heavy or groundbreaking, just entertainment and escape.
7/10.