KehDBug Reviews

The Seven Year Itch (1955)

I don't understand the appeal

[1/10 · 13 July 2021]

I managed to make it past the half century mark of my life before finally viewing this buzzy feature. Honestly, I was disappointed. The first day takes up literally half of the movie. I let out a sigh of relief when we actually got to day 2, but Richard's neuroses continued to wear on me. There are precious few other characters to break up the monotony of Richard and The Girl. The movie boils down to a lot of blabbering and a supposedly faithful husband who's trying to seduce The Girl. I understand that, in the play version, Richard is successful in his affair. I don't think I would have found that funnier, as I don't consider adultery a laughing matter.

The Perfect Wedding Match (2021 TV Movie)

Well, I managed to make it to the end!

[3/10 · 15 June 2021]

Stunning family home in a gorgeous location. Fresh faces. That's about all this had going for it. I know that the offerings on UpTV are on a budget, but did they really have to sink so low as to steal a 6th grader's writing assignment? This was a master class in utilizing every tired plot point from the bridezilla to misunderstandings to not one, but TWO, montages. What a muddled mess with zero chemistry, cringey dialogue, unresolved story lines, and yet another POC best friend. Why can't we have POC be the main characters? I'd love to see a lot more color represented rather than every production be whitewashed. And I'm white!

The Wedding Ring (2021 TV Movie)

Asking for a divorce

[3/10 · 11 June 2021]

I record and watch every single rom-com that airs on the Hallmark channels and UpTV. But even with the stinkers out there, I've never felt like I had no other choice than to fast-forwarded to the end--until this offering where I broke down at the hour mark. In the past, I've managed to have the movies going in the background while I do housework. But this was just such a muddled mess! And I love Lauren Lee Smith from 'Frankie Drake Mysteries,' but that's an example of actually GOOD writing. In this film, the dialogue is cringey, the storyline is all over the place, and characters just suddenly emerge in random scenes and you have no idea who they are. There also needed to be scenes with Kate actually working to create her custom pieces. It would have helped to support the notion that she really loves her "little store." And no offense to the actor playing Jamie, but he was not "leading man" material. He had no charisma, and his hair was so distracting (from the really bad cut/style to the oil slick slapped on top). He wasn't that handsome, and he struck me as more of a comedian in looks. I can't give a rating any lower than 1 star, so I gave 1 additional star for Lauren Lee Smith. The other star is for the one realistic element presented, which was the actresses' hair. As opposed to most of the movies where the female characters look like they just came from Hair & Makeup (which the actors did), the women in this movie had hairstyles that looked like how a normal woman would do her hair. (Yes, "Chasing Waterfalls," I'm calling you out on the perfectly styled hair on the lead which was AFTER she'd gotten her hair all wet swimming.)

The Story of Late Night: Inventing Late Night (2021) Season 1, Episode 1

10 stars for content, but...

[5/10 · 1 June 2021]

...why the loud music?? Some faint whispers of background notes can add to the production, but what's even the point of the narration and interviews when the dialogue is drowned out by music? I was enraptured by the history and commentary, but struggled to understand what was being said.

Not Cinderella's Type (2018)

Disappointed with many of the reviews

[10/10 · 25 May 2021]

I'm confused why so many would attack this movie for elements that are found in every incarnation of Cinderella. Obviously the evil stepfamily are caricatures. That's not bad acting, that's just the requirement. I dare anyone to name a single Cinderella story where none of the stepfamily were played over the top. It's different in each version, ranging from a single family member to all of them--in keeping with tradition. IMO the other actors were spot on. What some may describe as wooden, I say subdued. It was refreshing that they didn't over-emote. I'm so tired of Hallmark movies where everyone's perky for no good reason. Every one of the main characters who mattered were all dealing with pain of some sort. It was palpable, and I cried throughout the movie.

For those who complained that Indy was "self-centered," I have no words. Emotional abuse is real, even if you haven't personally experienced it. Indy had been loved by her mother, but then had been beaten down and deprived of love for so many years that she felt she deserved it. It took a sane outside influence to shine a spotlight on her situation. And, no, it didn't resolve itself too quickly with the happy ending and everything is sunshine and roses. Indy specifically stated she was staying at her current school because that's where the doctor was going to be. It's obvious that she has a lot of healing to do through therapy to deal with her PTSD, and she knew it would be a long road to recovery.

No, it's not a movie for young children. It's a drama that deals with serious issues requiring a certain mental development to comprehend. I understand there are people who felt it wasn't realistic that Indy could withstand so much trauma and remain a kind person. Well, EVERY Cinderella character is portrayed that way. Take it up with Charles Perrault if you don't like it. Watching this movie, I couldn't help but notice Indy acted way more realistically than many of her Cinderella predecessors, who sung to birds and mammals.

In summation, I felt like this was a very sensitive portrayal of a serious and under-represented topic accomplished by beautiful cinematography, a deft hand by the director, and moving performances by the leads. I don't understand why viewers would attack this specific film for containing elements found in many, if not all, Cinderella renditions.

Baby, It's Cold Inside (2021 TV Movie)

Come for the gorgeous winter wonderland and the lovingly sculpted hotel...

[2/10 · 16 May 2021]

...and stay for not much else. This movie was amazingly bad. Jocelyn is certainly lovely to look at, but in every role, she's like a gerbil on caffeine spitting dialogue out as quickly as she can. It makes one dizzy. Then there's the awkward dialogue, unnecessary best friend B storyline, and lazy script/direction. It's literally as sloppy as Hannah's consistently wild gesticulations. It's a shame that Canada is so full of itself that it doesn't care to get details correct about America (or literally any other country), which is a repeating pattern in all of their productions. The worst offense was with their "Nordic" food. They literally stacked a pile of drizzle-frosted pancakes and called that a Kransekake. For those who don't know, this is a Norwegian ring "cake" which eats like a cookie--it's a dense almond paste batter baked in special ring forms, NOT pancakes. And it's pretty solid when assembled, but placed in a plastic bag for transport. It's laughable about how it was magically transported in the back of a vehicle with no protection over bumpy mountain roads, but it was the skis causing its demise. And the Danish aebleskiver??? Ben literally said that all meals were provided in town at a restaurant and that the kitchen was sparsely stocked. It's highly unlikely they would have had a cake pop pan to sub for an aebleskiver pan, which wouldn't have worked anyway because aebleskiver are cooked in the special pan on the STOVE, not baked in the OVEN which the cake pop pan would have required. And you certainly don't serve aebleskiver in the shape of a croquembouche!!! I mean, seriously, it should be a drinking game every time a Canadian production gets a fact wrong, but then you'd pass out before even finishing the movie. Don't get me wrong--it was a delight to tour the ice hotel, just torture to get through the rest of the movie with a dud script, sloppy details, and no chemistry between literally EVERYBODY. It feels like those involved with this production just phoned it in, which was disappointing given the breathtaking locale.

Mystery 101: Killer Timing (2021) Season 1, Episode 6

Weakest production thus far

[5/10 · 30 March 2021]

Pros: The chemistry between the leads remains strong. The addition of the ex-wife (who is actually a NICE person) was refreshing. The storylines were interesting, albeit one of them was actually heartbreaking. The police officer enthusiastically encouraging the amateur lady detective is an enjoyable departure from other murder mystery series where the female lead is constantly chastised by law enforcement to "stay out of it."

Cons: Writers are so sloppy (and it isn't just Hallmark, it's all the cable channels who film mostly in Canada and churn these movies out like cheap Hostess bakery products). I get that these are low budget, but how many times have reviewers expressed a desire for quality over quantity? I'd much prefer 25% of the offerings that are actually made with care, as opposed to a movie every week that's just slapped together. No research is conducted at all, from the literature to police procedures and weapon usage. And an explosion with the force to throw a body into the middle of the street leaves not a single scratch, scrape, or injury of any kind other than a "mild concussion"???

Where the mystery is concerned, it's a convoluted mess. At the outset, I was intrigued and eager to learn how all of these different pieces would intertwine. Another reviewer mentioned the mysteries "woven together." I adamantly disagree. Existing together does not equal woven. It's just laziness of the writers to talk up synchronicity and not tie anything together. At the end, the viewer is left completely unfulfilled not only by the "attempted murder" by the serial killer, but by all the events covered that we find out are completely random and unrelated.

As to motive--REALLY?!? The weakest I've ever seen, and I've seen every murder mystery put out by Hallmark since the beginning.

And there's just no excuse after 5 installments of this series that Amy hasn't learned to not be alone when there's a killer on the loose. Her relationship with the perceived target would warrant more gravity. I really hate it when writers depict people acting in such an unbelievable fashion in order to fit with their narrative. These are people who are literally paid to be creative, and it's so sad to read reviews on this site from people who are obviously 10 times more creative than these paid writers.

Snowkissed (2021 TV Movie)

Two stars for the beautiful Canadian locations

[2/10 · 18 March 2021]

I don't understand the hate on the actors. Do people still not understand that an actor is a puppet for the writers and directors??? I love these two actors, but I couldn't stand the characters they played. People, there IS a difference!

What a horrible script from start to finish. I find it very hard to believe that a journalist has never stepped foot out of Manhattan, and that a B&B owner would make the leap to tour guide without doing any research about the job or the tour content. I honestly feel dumber after watching this movie. And the stalkerish best friend was quite the cringeworthy addition. Who decides after a couple of days that they're in love with someone and proceeds to hunt them down like prey?? That's fodder for the Lifetime Movie Network, not Hallmark!

Overall, I chuckled only a small handful of times, and I felt like the most enjoyable part of this movie was the violin.

A Winter Getaway (2021 TV Movie)

Sumptuous Scenery!

[6/10 · 17 March 2021]

I thought everyone did a good job with what they had to work with, and they are definitely attractive. However, I found the movie boring. We've seen the forced drama ad nauseum where a failure to disclose information must be resolved in the eleventh hour. But kudos to the location scouts for a breathtaking view of winter in all its majesty. And, this particular storyline has not been done to death, so there's that.

Romance Retreat (2019 TV Movie)

I thought this was adorable!

[8/10 · 16 March 2021]

Amanda Schull is always a pleasant view, having successfully made the transition from Ballet career to acting. I wasn't familiar with the male lead, but he was up to the task. Even though you knew his identity at the outset, it did not diminish the enjoyment of a playful script. Who knew it would be so delightful to poke fun at yoga? The narration worked for me the best when it was Dana. When they briefly had Stefan providing VO, I was confused. It felt random and inconsistent. Overall, I laughed countless times and thoroughly enjoyed the romp. As a side note, I find it hilarious and very telling that the bad reviews on this site are riddled with spelling errors and inaccuracies--very hard to take seriously!

Annie (2014)

I don't understand all the hate.

[8/10 · 16 March 2021]

Sheesh--It's almost like people were paid to leave bad reviews. I love every Annie production, whether Broadway, movie, or made-for-TV. And I own all the soundtracks. I think each production brings its own unique spin. I'm not sure if it's a racial thing or not (that would be disheartening), but as a white person, I enjoyed seeing a fresh take on the classic. It's nice to see a male POC being a successful businessman. And the new and updated songs by Sia are so catchy and singable. I found this movie to be touching and relevant, not to mention delightful. Yes, am I a little annoyed by the "closure" to the search for Annie's birth parents (oh, well, shrug our shoulders because we just can't find them anywhere), but it doesn't detract from my enjoyment. Yes, it's a little campy and it won't win any Oscars, but I thought the actors did a great job, and I thought the direction was handled with finesse. This is definitely one of my favorite movies.

A New Year's Resolution (2021 TV Movie)

Much better than the usual!

[8/10 · 13 March 2021]

I have enjoyed Michael Rady ever since the short-lived "Emily Owens MD" series. I was not familiar with Aimee Teegarden, but I liked her character. I feel like the writing was pretty superior to the majority of 'meh' out there, and the banter between the leads was fun. I was a bit perplexed as to why the female lead's friends would complain about not seeing enough of her, then practically push her out the door to move to Chicago. That made little sense, although it was necessary for the storyline set up by the writers. While I abhor the 'movie conclusion final kiss in public (especially with people clapping!!)' I had a good time with this one.

Blueprint to the Heart (2020 TV Movie)

I really liked this one!

[8/10 · 13 March 2021]

I wasn't familiar with the leads, so that was refreshing. It seems that these Canadian productions have a pool of about 50 actors they draw from, so I liked seeing fresh faces for the leads. The storyline was also new. So many storylines play out like a dozen other movies you've seen, so I enjoyed the home makeover theme. I laughed so often at Brooks, and I enjoyed the journey of Tiffany struggling to retain her air of sophistication, but succumbing to the charms of Brooks and loosening up to allow her true persona to shine. For those rebuffed at the idea of making over Brooks when he claimed to be happy, the script was very clear that his home was pretty devoid of furniture and personality, and that his personal wardrobe style was sloppy and comfortable, because he was having a hard time moving on from the devastating break-up with Gwen. And many of the renovation changes suggested by Tiffany did not come to fruition as she and Brooks ramped up their collaboration throughout the movie. Yes, are the writers a little lazy with their spoon-fed exposition? Of course. But I feel like they did a much better job with this particular script than usual. And it was wonderful to see a beautiful woman lead who wasn't a size 0, but rather a healthy, normal size!

Playing with Fire (I) (2019)

I would rate with 8 stars, but...

[10/10 · 2 March 2021]

...I feel it necessary to counteract all the negative reviews. The target audience for this movie was kids, plain and simple, and it was intended to be slapstick. You cannot look at it any other way. I don't know what people are expecting. I enjoyed the movie from start to finish. The "boom-boom" and "chocolate ice cream" scenes had me laughing so hard that I had tears running down my face! And I'm a full grown adult with kids too old to appreciate this movie. To say that it's not made for adults is a bit of a generalization. I think anyone with young kids, or who remembers when their kids were young, will definitely see the humor.

Lonestar Christmas (2020 TV Movie)

This is a pass

[2/10 · 1 March 2021]

I record and watch every Christmas/Holiday movie that airs free with my cable service. There's a lot of mediocrity out there, which I find forgettable but passable. This one, however, is so bad--all because of the lead actress and the story. I thought everyone else did a great job, especially the kind-hearted Mateo, but why did the writers insist on such a whiny, spoiled female protagonist? The writers dictated that she was always leaving her children, and the actress brought no redeeming warmth to the character. Makes you wonder if Stephanie Bennett has any kids of her own because she certainly didn't act like a mom. And boo-hoo, your daddy wasn't around much growing up. So what! That doesn't excuse your behavior. My dad wasn't either, but I've never kept my kids from him, and I certainly don't refuse to visit him. And he doesn't possess even a fingerful of the caring that the on-screen dad did. And for those who think I scored low because the location looked nothing like Texas, you'd be wrong. All the cable channels film 99% of their movies in Canada. Of course the locations don't look like the U.S. If you haven't gotten over it by now, that's your fault. On a hilarious side note, the closed captioning couldn't figure out "adobo." Come on--it's pretty standard. I'm sure there's Hispanic/Latino residents in Canada. Anyway, this was a pretty painful movie to watch.

Love the Coopers (2015)

Two stars for the star power, but...

[2/10 · 27 February 2021]

...what an unpleasant movie! If it was trying to be 'Love Actually,' then it failed miserably. Not a single storyline was interesting--instead they were sad and pathetic. I found myself marveling that the movie took place during one single day because it felt like it drug on and on. I just couldn't wait for it to be over because another reviewer said that the last 15 minutes made it worthwhile. I'm going to agree to disagree. Words kept popping into my head like "ugh" and "ick." I felt like I needed a shower afterwards. And what was up with Eleanor, the least likeable in this cast of unlikeable characters, ending up with the honorable, decent guy?? She literally leaves destruction in her path, but it's apparently okay because she did it for a guy? What about the other people's Christmases that she ruined in her eleventh hour "redemption?" Just one of the many examples of why I'm so perplexed that this script was greenlit and attracted so many influential stars. I would literally choose a root canal over viewing this so-called film again.

The Christmas Sitters (2020 TV Movie)

People really change that quickly?

[5/10 · 23 February 2021]

I loved seeing Riley from MacGyver in something else, but I felt that this production was not worthy of her acting prowess. This was a sloppy production: the kids who are supposed to be 8 & 10 look like they're 11 & 13; there's "snow" on the foreground trees during the snowboarding scene but none on the trees in the background; the male lead showed no remorse for the dog wrecking the house and did not even clean it up; etc. I wish there had been more of Tristin singing as she has a lovely voice, and I wish the writers would not think we're so stupid as to believe that 2 people would change the core of who they are in a matter of a few days. Sadly, the writers rule all, and this movie is pretty typical of the bulk of what they are churning out these days.

This Christmas (2007)

Two stars for a couple of killer lines

[2/10 · 17 February 2021]

The cast is attractive and does a great job with what they have to work with, but honestly I was bored the majority of the time. When I wasn't bored, I was shocked at how much violence was present. And, I'm sorry, I don't think spousal abuse should ever be the foundation of a comedic scene. In short, with so many themes running through it, I felt like this movie suffered from an identity crisis. Honestly, the best part to me was Chris Brown's singing. I should have just bought the soundtrack.

After the Ball (2015)

Pleasant fluff

[8/10 · 3 February 2021]

C'mon, it's not Shakespeare, nor is it trying to be. I enjoyed the riff on the Cinderella story, especially the part about her father being alive. It's the first take on the original that I can recall where the Cinderella character wasn't an orphan. Was the material below the caliber of acting talent present? Yes. But I thought everyone did a good job with what they had to work with. I've seen plenty of stinkers, but I found this one charming.

Great Performances: One Man, Two Guvnors (2020) Season 48, Episode 6

I always thought I appreciated British humor...

[6/10 · 31 January 2021]

...but I found this play rather coarse. I laughed about 5 times, but the rest of the time I found it more cringeworthy. I added stars for the originality of utilizing the audience. It's not uncommon to break the fourth wall, but to actually bring audience members onto the stage is not commonly done. Although I hope the woman holding the soup was a plant as practically her entire self was covered in food and I can't imagine anyone being happy about that. This play, in summary, is like watching a British Chris Farley (in its freneticness) meshed with 'Twelfth Night'. As such, it was exhausting to view.

A Christmas Kiss II (2014 TV Movie)

I wish I were paid to write garbage like this...

[1/10 · 30 January 2021]

Wow! Is this a male fantasy or what? It wasn't so bad when the male lead was non-committal towards women in general, but then when he begins to act as a sexual predator towards the female lead? And Mia lets it happen? The lead should have gone to HR immediately. This whole scenario is a lawsuit waiting to happen. As if that wasn't enough, it's all okay at the end because he proposes to her??? I know that in too many other parts of the world, women are viewed as second-class citizens at best, and property at worst, but I thought in America we'd made some progress. These types of movies just set us back and de-humanize us. How did this script get greenlit?

Prescription for Love (2019 TV Movie)

One medication I wish I hadn't taken

[2/10 · 30 January 2021]

This gets an extra star for a riff on the plot of being stuck in an elevator without there being a kiss between the leads. However, the whole movie is just ridiculous. You've got a sweet leading lady and she STILL wants the doctor even after he humiliates and degrades her multiple times. You've got the shameful depiction of the honorable nursing profession (they do the same tired old thing with the PTA, too, which is an honorable ALL VOLUNTEER organization). The icing on the cake is that the doctor spends the entire movie searching for this women he thinks he's fallen in love with on the elevator, only to not even recognize her when he sees her. Yet the waiter that worked for the catering company instantly recognizes her when he sees her again. In order for these stories to work, both leads need to be likeable, and the doctor just WASN'T. Take my advice and don't refill this prescription.

An Hour Behind (2017 TV Movie)

Mediocre

[5/10 · 30 January 2021]

This movie goes all over the place. You've got a grieving widower, a business owner trying to expand, mistaken identities, main characters who can't decide if they're naughty or nice, etc. Male lead is believable as a man grieving for his wife, but then borders on stalkerish with the female lead. The female lead is natural and sweet on their "blind date," but then turns into a mean girl snob. Storylines have "been there, done that." Another reviewer stated that cupcake bakeries are unrealistic. I'm not sure where they live, but cupcakeries are quite popular (hello, "Cupcake Wars" on Food Network, anyone??). The prize money, however, was very unrealistic. And a business owner not being able to handle a time change? I liked that it was a different plot device, but highly unrealistic that she would not have redundant systems in place since it is so easy to forget. As I went through this movie viewing, there were some things pleasant, and some things ick. I don't recommend it.

Great Performances: Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles (2020) Season 48, Episode 7

Great content, but poor post-production

[6/10 · 30 January 2021]

I thought this production was good, although I wish it had been longer. They touched a lot of points, but then skipped to the next one too quickly. It moved along and I thought it was crafted well. However, post-production needed help. For those of us who love the musical but who don't have the names of the creators committed to memory, nor how they looked in the 60's and currently, it would have been nice to be consistent with the text. Some interviewees had their name put up numerous times while others only once. The text was also not up for very long, so all of these quick cuts got annoying real fast. The V.O. was equally annoying. Why couldn't there be text of who is doing the V.O? Sometimes they showed the person after they'd talked for half a minute, but by then the context of their input was lost. And if there was no text with their name and relevance, then it was confusing. This production was not meant for those of us unfamiliar with the major players. It would have been more pleasant if it had been created for the masses. If one has to view the production numerous times to make sense of it, then IMO it wasn't done well.

A Christmas Tree Grows in Colorado (2020 TV Movie)

For those questioning the title...

[1/10 · 6 December 2020]

...it's a play on "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," a book. Films of the book were also produced with the same title. However, this Hallmark offering bears little resemblance to the source material. Also, unless the story takes place in some large Canadian city (subbing for Chicago, New York City, Seattle, etc.), most cities and towns in Hallmark movies are fictional.

With that out of the way, this movie should not have been made (for many reasons). While I applaud finally getting with the program and showing POC (although it would be nice to also see Asians, Polynesians, Indians, Middle Easterners, etc.), the main characters were so unlikeable, the plot was recycled, and the writing was absolutely ridiculous.