Recently the Hallmark Channel aired the first movie in their Hallmark Mystery Movie series revolving around Samantha Kinsey, a young woman dabbling in photography and is starting out again after the break up of her relationship with her ex spouse or ex boyfriend. And she inherits a bookstore from her late uncle and begins her new career as owner and manager and part-time detective.
I am glad that they recast one of the roles in subsequent movies, the one of Philby, the friend of her late uncle's who seems to have some kind of secretive past. Clarence Williams III was missed here, along with that typical police officer who discounts Sam's opinions.
Here, Robert Wagner was fun to see as the writer and victim. The reason why he was killed was linked to a strange death and to several other events throughout the story. Even with his limited scenes, Wagner was engaging. I wanted to see more of this guy and what went wrong. Too bad it didn't lead to similar casting cues in later movies.
What I like most is Kellie Martin's character. She has a lot of book and street smarts and likes pictures and has regard for writing and mystery novels and authors. And she gives a perspective to solving these crimes that the other detectives can't and often won't. Since she is not a detective or a cop or a lawyer she is often discounted and ignored by those in the know but like Jessica Fletcher she picks up on things that those in the know miss. And I too like pictures, books and have lots of trivia and knowledge so the character is easier to identify with.
The movie though is an okay if not a great mystery with the revelation surprising and then not so, but it is held together by a nice performance from Martin. The guy who played Philby here did not seem to spark well with her though. Glad they changed that with the next film.
Recommended for those who want a break from procedural dramas and plot based shows and those who grew up with the mystery movies like "Columbo" where an unlikely character solves the crime and finds what others miss. It is a good way to pass several hours, not great but fine.
I am glad that they recast one of the roles in subsequent movies, the one of Philby, the friend of her late uncle's who seems to have some kind of secretive past. Clarence Williams III was missed here, along with that typical police officer who discounts Sam's opinions.
Here, Robert Wagner was fun to see as the writer and victim. The reason why he was killed was linked to a strange death and to several other events throughout the story. Even with his limited scenes, Wagner was engaging. I wanted to see more of this guy and what went wrong. Too bad it didn't lead to similar casting cues in later movies.
What I like most is Kellie Martin's character. She has a lot of book and street smarts and likes pictures and has regard for writing and mystery novels and authors. And she gives a perspective to solving these crimes that the other detectives can't and often won't. Since she is not a detective or a cop or a lawyer she is often discounted and ignored by those in the know but like Jessica Fletcher she picks up on things that those in the know miss. And I too like pictures, books and have lots of trivia and knowledge so the character is easier to identify with.
The movie though is an okay if not a great mystery with the revelation surprising and then not so, but it is held together by a nice performance from Martin. The guy who played Philby here did not seem to spark well with her though. Glad they changed that with the next film.
Recommended for those who want a break from procedural dramas and plot based shows and those who grew up with the mystery movies like "Columbo" where an unlikely character solves the crime and finds what others miss. It is a good way to pass several hours, not great but fine.