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Reviews
Baby in a Manger (2019)
Please Don't Waste Your Time
I'm taking my time to strongly urge that you don't waste yours on this movie. The storyline is very thin. While it could have been flushed out with better writing, nothing can fix the abysmal acting and lack of chemistry. I've watched hundreds of holiday movies, and I'm hard pressed to think of many that are this poor!
The story sounded like it had promise. A baby is suddenly left in a manger during a church production. It is unrealistic and goes down hill from that point on as they argue over jurisdiction though NOTHING that happens is based on real procedure.
I saw this movie on the network UP which often has good, unique movies. Sadly this is not one of them. With so many holiday movies to choose from each season there is simply no reason to waste your precious time on this one.
A Very Country Christmas: Homecoming (2020)
A great sequel to A Very Country Christmas
If you liked the 1st and 2nd Zane/Jeanette movies, you will probably like this one also. There really isn't very much depth to the storyline, so if you didn't see part 1- A Very Country Christmas 2017 or part 2- A Very Country Wedding 2019, this movie will probably feel like it rambles all over with no point. Some characters from the 2nd movie were given small parts that seemed unnecessary. Though there are some clips from the 1st movies, it would be better to record it and watch them all in order.
I was really looking fwd to it because I love movies with music star themes, I did love the 1st 2, and I like Greyston Holt. The absolute best part of the movie is the Quinn/Zane duet near the end. It was a uniquely beautiful song.
One major point - in my program guide, this movie is listed with the correct title but the date and synopsis from A Country Chrismas. I took a chance that the new movie would air, and luckily it did.
Las Vegas: Hit Me! (2005)
Spousal Abuse is NOT a joke!
The "trying to catch a cheater" storyline is just average as it feels the same as every other time. The few stars I did give this episode are for that storyline and the Tony Orlandi/Don Knotts guest appearances. Mary and Delinda trying to repair a marriage, on the other hand, is quite different.
If a man hits a woman and says he'll never do it again, coucilling for HIM is required and protection for her is strongly recommended. Turn the tables on that scenario and suddenly it seems hard to believe an "itty, bitty woman" (their phrase) could hurt a "big, strong man." Sadly women can and do physically abuse their partners and the one that needs coucilling is the abuser - not the couple, initially at least.
I can't remember an abused woman on TV ever being told she should stay around and try to work it out. This was an appalling, sexist storyline. What is next? A woman/women raping or sexually abusing a man and Danny and Mike laughing about how lucky the victim is? The reverse discrimination in this episode nauseated me. I hope we, as a society, have moved past
this but even as a rerun, it turned my stomach. A man close to me lived with the scars of abuse till the day he died.
Christmas Encore (2017)
Even More Unrealistic than Most Christmas Movies
OK, I admit I enjoy sappy holiday movies. I don't expect award winning fare. I have no problem "suspending disbelief" for movies that incorporate magic, Santa, or even time travel. Christmas Encore pushed the boundaries a little too far. It starts AFTER Thanksgiving with nothing but a title and plans to put on a play for Christmas. That concept in an elementary school would be a massive stretch. This is a NY City theater. I can only imagine people who work both behind the scenes and on stage being mortified by the ridiculous time frame.
Christmas Encore has the usual romantic conflict and misunderstanding (Which is minor so that is a positive) with a decent supporting cast. I wish some of the theater group had actually been shown doing their jobs. ie: sets, costumes. I love the set director, Sid.
It is made more watchable by Brennan Elliott who seems to have become a Hallmark "go to" guy and Maggie Lawson who also has a Psych movie released at the same time. If you have time kill or are a fan of a cast member then by all means enjoy the movie. If you only have time to choose a few movies to watch, I would recommend moving on to another one...
Tiny House, Big Living: Craftsman's Mini Mansion (2017)
A Mini Mansion Made Special by the Exquisite Cabinetry
I was quite excited when I realized it would be a father-son team building in this episode. As they work together on luxury cabinetry, my interest was piqued even more.
This mini mansion tiny home was unique in a lot of ways, but the cabinetry alone makes it well worth watching. Occasionally people recur on separate episodes of this show. This is one guy that I would love to see again making more cabinets! (If only I could afford them...)
Renegade: Rio Reno (1996)
Kathleen Kinmont's Renegade Swan Song
"Rio Reno" was Kathleen Kinmont's final episode with the Renegade franchise. She did also do a few episodes of "Silk Stalkings" which Steven J. Cannell had in production at the same time though her episodes came several years after she was fired from "Renegade." When Kathleen first married Lorenzo Lamas, she went on the "Howard Stern Show" and insisted that her marriage would last forever as they were deeply in love. Despite Howard's doubt, she was happily married for a while before things fell apart. Even while Kathleen sobbed in her trailer after Lorenzo told her he wanted a divorce, they managed to keep things civil for the sake of the show. For some strange reason, after Lorenzo hooked up with Shauna, Kathleen decided to go back to do the "Howard Stern Show" again. This time, instead of taking all of the sarcasm from Howard, Kathleen herself made some sweltering remarks about Shauna and her relationship with Lorenzo. Those tactless comments led to her being fired which resulted in "Rio Reno" being the last show in which she aired. As of this writing, seasons four and five aren't out on disc so we can't go back and watch them yet!