Surviving the Sleepover - Review
Hannah and her mother, Jessica, reside in a hotel while contractors finish their home. After three months, Hannah worries Jessica will never finish the house because Jessica is afraid of moving on after Hannah's father's death. Jessica tells Hannah to worry more about making friends than their living arrangements.
Hannah vlogs about coping with her father's passing and moving to another town. As she films while walking to school, Melissa honks her horn, causing Hannah to drop her phone. Melissa pretends it was an accident, but Hannah doesn't believe her. Hannah and her friends, Abbie and Charlotte, recognized the new girl but didn't know she resided in a hotel. They dislike it.
Melissa arrives at school and sees her stepbrother, Cameron, watching Hannah's vlog. She warns Cameron to stay away from Hannah. Cameron pulls Melissa away from her friends and rages that they had a one-time fling. Melissa threatens to tell her father, and Cameron backs down.
Hannah and Abbie talk during Spanish class and become friends. Abbie encourages Hannah to ask Cameron to date but warns that Melissa is protective over him. Hannah takes Abbie's advice, and Cameron accepts. Before they can cement their plans, Melissa invites Hannah to a girls-only sleepover. Hannah obliges.
During the sleepover, Melissa tries to humiliate Hannah. They play the game 'Never Have I Ever.' Melissa's card asks if the reader ever had a crush on their stepbrother. Melissa flies into a rage and blames Hannah. Hannah decides to leave early, but Melissa won't let her. Melissa says Hannah broke the vow, and Charlotte gleamingly reports the price is death. Hannah tries to pass Melissa, but Melissa grabs a knife. Abbie, attempting to help Hannah leave, gets stabbed by Melissa. Melissa panics and guides Hannah and Abbie to a room so Abbie can rest and wait for an ambulance. However, Melissa locks them inside. She doesn't plan on Abbie or Hannah surviving the sleepover.
This movie is Mean Girls turned deadly. Melissa's obsession with Cameron is narcissistic and delusional. Melissa befriends Hannah when Hannah's presence threatens her. Viewers will beg Hannah to leave, but Melissa gaslights her. Charlotte is the consummate beta follower, but Abbie openly second-guesses Melissa. As Melissa's crazy slowly ramps up, her cunning nature evolves. However, the final 5 minutes destroy her character development. And the conclusion didn't put an ending to her story. She caused so much havoc and didn't suffer any consequences. Instead of punishment, viewers get a group therapy session. It leaves the audience with a bad taste in their mouths.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
I guess times have changed - Hannah
When I'm alone, I tend to get into trouble- Melissa
It was a one-time mistake, ok - Cameron
You're such a follower - Abbie
Of course. I'm totally here for you - Charlotte
Find, shop for, and watch Lifetime movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information
Top of this Post
My Father's Murder in Greece - Review
Allie visits her father, Giorgos, and grandmother, Yiayia, in Greece after Yiayia received a poor prognosis earlier. Giorgos meets Allie at the train station and walks her to the docks. They stand at a street crossing, and an officer aggressively approaches and accosts Giorgos. Soon, Giorgos and the officer laugh. He is Giorgos long-time friend, Kostas. The two men stand at the docks and reminisce about their childhood. During the discussion, Giorgos spies Allie watching a young fisherman, Andreas. He smiles and admits that Greek men are handsome.
Allie arrives in Yiayia's warm embrace and delights Yiayia by speaking Greek. Yiayia prepares dinner for Allie, Giorgos, and Kostas. The dinner is pleasant until Giorgos's brother, Theo, enters. Although they talk in Greek, Allie understands they are fighting over a woman named Iris. Theo slept with Iris while Giorgos was dating her. He left for the United States and married Allie's mother, Catherine. Theo blames Giorgos for leaving him alone to care for their mother. They continue to yell until Theo leaves. Giorgos apologizes for the outburst, and the family finishes the meal.
Allie sleeps until she gets a phone call from Catherine. Allie promised to call Catherine before bed but forgot after dinner. Allie hears a thud during their conversation and leaves her room to find the sound's origin. She discovers her father dead on the ground and cries over his body. Then, someone knocks her out before she can call for help. Allie wakes up with a bump on her head and a smashed phone. Kostas wants to declare Giorgos's death as a heart attack, but Allie believes he is wrong. She believes someone killed her father and rendered her unconscious. She thinks Theo is the culprit, but Yiayia can't imagine Theo killing Giorgos. Can Allie prove someone murdered Giorgos and that someone was Theo?
This movie has several twists, allowing viewers to journey with Allie. The mystery will throw you for a loop, but the lead's stupidity will keep you grounded. Allie's is a Dateline episode waiting to happen. She goes on an unknown boat alone, privately meets with a stranger, and turns off her phone's locator. She discovers the truth after several near-death experiences. The audience slowly loses sympathy for Allie. Viewers should watch this movie for the mystery and to yell at the screen.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
Oh, it can always be worse. Trust me - Giorgos
Smart kid. Doesn't take after you - Kostas
The family hasn't fallen apart without you - Theo
You don't believe me - Allie
Can we please put that thought behind us - Yiayia
You're on my boat, and you're asking me who I am - Andreas
It's my job to watch out for you - Catherine
Find, shop for, and watch LMN movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information
Top of this Post
Danger on Party Island - Review
Mel travels to a remote island to identify the remains of her sister, Georgia. The police believe Georgia died while cliff diving and washed ashore with her wallet. Mel goes through it while explaining that Georgia wasn't the risk-taking type. She was into spiritual wellness. Then, Mel meets with Georgia's hosts, spouses Keaton and Paula. They give Mel Georgia's belongings, and Mel notices that Georgia's phone and passport are missing. Later, Mel calls her mother, Annie, to confirm Georgia's passing. She informs Annie that Georgia got another tattoo and the manner of death. Annie thinks those are out of character for Georgia. So, Mel decides to stay in town and asks questions about Georgia and her final days on the island. Mel's questions will bring a message from Georgia, put a gun in Mel's face, and uncover corruption.
This dark mystery adds reels and a phone call to keep viewers guessing. You wonder if Georgia is dead or alive. However, it doesn't take long to understand what's happening on this island. You can see familiar techniques and the blaring warning signs around Mel. Of course, Mel makes friends who lead her in the correct direction but doesn't see the danger ahead. This movie doesn't require your full attention but is a new twist on the 2024 Spring Breakdowns season.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
Maybe there was a side of her we didn't know - Mel
This place has a dark underbelly -Paula
I was going to say inspiring - Jever
Round it up. Call it two million - Keaton
Find, shop for, and watch LMN movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information
Top of this Post
Marybeth receives more disparaging text from classmates before the start of her senior year. Her best friend, Sophie, tells Marybeth to ignore the bullies and focus on this year. Last year, intimate photos Marybeth sent her boyfriend, Josh, were leaked to the school. Marybeth lost her scholarship, presidential campaign, and newspaper editor job. Marybeth refuses to let the torment overrule her senior year. Ray meets Marybeth and Sophie at school, and they walk in together but stop when they see Marybeth's presidential rival, Toby. Toby exposed Marybeth's photos in the school newspaper and now gloats about taking her job and being president. Marybeth looks at him with unadulterated disgust and goes to class.
Josh attempts to talk to Marybeth during class, but she refuses. She believes Josh gave her photos to Toby, but Josh vehemently denies it. The school gets a text message from someone calling themselves 'Extra Credit.' And this unanimous person exposes secrets throughout the day. While the school delights in the gossip, Marybeth is enraged. Although these people bullied her, she doesn't want them to suffer the devastation she did. Marybeth asks Sophie and Ray to help her expose 'Extra Credit.' Marybeth responds to 'Extra Credit' with a threat, but they promise to unveil more of her secrets.
Marybeth gets the shock of her life one day. 'Extra Credit' tells the school that Sophie released Marybeth's pictures. Marybeth confronts Sophie, and Sophie cries and begs to explain. Marybeth refuses to listen. Later, Sophie's father can't find Sophie. Marybeth runs to his aid and gets clues to Sophie's location. Marybeth runs to their private meeting spot and finds Sophie dead. The police rule it a suicide, but Marybeth doesn't believe it. She wants to prove someone killed Sophie and that it was 'Extra Credit.' Can Marybeth uncover the culprit without losing her life?
This movie feels like a continuation of Friday Night Sext Scandal and has many moving parts. You can spot odd behavior if you watch closely at Marybeth's friends in the background. The plot slows as Marybeth and Ray look through Marybeth's life to uncover the events leading to her demise. However, the conclusion - well, the first - speeds up the movie ten times. You will wonder if the film ends too soon because Marybeth catches the culprit with 15 minutes to spare. But hang on because there is a fun twist. This movie is perfect for the Spring Break crowd, but adults may want more.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
Joking kind of helps me deal with it - Marybeth
Ok, victim blamer - Sophie
You don't even feel a little bad, do you? - Ray
I didn't do it - Josh
Find, shop for, and watch Lifetime movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information
Top of this Post
Sweetly Salted - Review
Sweetly Salted - UPtv - 2 hours and 0 minutes
Alison critiques restaurants under the pseudonym Sweetly Salted for Chicago Today. She clings to anonymity until she gets a phone call from Olivia Sterling from Hudson Publishers. Olivia wants Alison to write a book because there are so few female critics with Alison's reach. However, they want to break her identity. Alison asks to ponder it, and Olivia agrees.
Alison goes to Isla Dulce with her friend, co-worker Jules. Alison has been looking forward to this outing because they serve Jibarito. Alison hasn't had the dish in years. And the first time she tasted it, she gave the server a $20 tip with 'thank you for the salty and the sweet' written on it. Alison hopes to have the experience again. However, she rejects the food because it has Hawaiian rolls instead of plantains. Jules thinks it's tasty, but Alison says it's wrong. She returns to the office and writes a scathing yet clever review.
Jules approaches Alison at work with a pitiful look and shows Alison the comments under her review. Alison's fans love Isla Dulce and turn against Alison. They question her taste, ethnicity, and privacy. Alison's boss, Lexi, thinks Alison should take a sabbatical from the newspaper so the readers can miss her.
Alison goes to Isla Dulce to speak to the chef, Seb, and explain her review but overhears a conversation between Seb and his sous chef. The sous chef quits because a poor review from Sweetly Salted ended other establishments. Alison had no clue about the impact her comments had. And it gives her an idea. She will use her break to work at the Isla Dulce as a sous chef to gain appreciation and experience for the food she loves. Then she will write about it for her book. Olivia loves the idea, but it has to end with unmasking her identity. Alison convinces Seb to give her the job without revealing her inexperience in the kitchen, alter ego, or upcoming book. Can she continue to hide the truth while falling in love?
Putting the apple cheddar pie and pineapple basil salad to the side, Alison has a lot of finesse. She talks her way into a job with no experience by challenging Seb. However, Seb is desperate. The poor review heavily impacted his business. Seb's brother, manager Luis, reminds Seb they aren't making money and will lose the restaurant without a profit. Alison never considered her article's ripple effect on people's lives and livelihoods. She learns the truth that her pen is a weapon. Also, she discovers the mistakes, backorders, and shortfalls that restaurants go through. And how they must quickly adapt under pressure. This realization will make you watch, but the love story is foreseeable.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
Powerful woman have their ways - Olivia
I'm always keeping score - Alison
One man's fortune can be another man's pain - Seb
Find, shop for, and watch Hallmark movies on Amazon (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Top of this Post
No comments:
Post a Comment