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Reviews
Journey to Christmas (2023)
Sweet Christmas movie for the whole family
This is a very unique take on the concept of strangers meeting at Christmas. The characters are well rounded, believable and just enough of their backgrounds are explained so the viewer can understand motives and root for the best ending. This movie is entertaining enough for adults and safe for the whole family. Sweet is the best word to describe it. I would love to see a sequel and more movies with such believable characters. I was surprised that even the young girl was well cast and fit so well into the family dynamic. All too often a tween/young teen will be way too bubbly for no apparently reason or spoiled. This was a refreshing change.
Journey Back to Christmas (2016)
Amazingly well done
Our family was pleasantly surprised how well done this movie was. The acting, directing and writing were above what we were expecting. There was no objectional language, course joking or hide the kids' eyes moments. Unlike a lot of Hallmark movies, this one was not easy to predict where the movie was going. We rooted for almost all the characters except for the one blonde who did nothing for the plot or setting and the "Brat" police officer. The little girl did such an awesome job as well. She added a lot to the happy home feeling. This is a nice, family night movie to watch over and over again.
Romance at Reindeer Lodge (2017)
Light, family friendly, emotional twists
I was pleasantly surprised how family friendly this movie was considering how Hallmark has drifted in recent years. There was no bad language, no course joking, no apparent agenda and the two married couples are sweet and memorable. We were surprised to see Robert Pine and Beth Broderick in this movie, but they were a welcome surprise. The main two characters actually are complex, not just your usual Hallmark two dimensional forgettable characters. The first half and last half of this movie seem to have been written by different people. The tone is completely different in the last half, so, if you are only fifteen minutes in, give it more time.
The Suspect (1944)
A man wants his cake and to eat it too
Laughton once again reminds us why he was one of the best actors of the last century. He becomes Mr. Ivan body and soul. We condemn him at every turn while feeling his dual nature which in the end saves an innocent woman's life (in his view). Mr. Ivan who lives for self alone meets a lovely young lady and lies to her about his marital status. He treats her to many fine evenings, but refuses to tell her he is married so she can find a single man to settle down with. When he tells his wife he is going to divorce her she rages at him and tells him she will ruin his career and his former girlfriend's career. Instead of starting fresh, quitting his job and moving to another area he commits cold blooded murder twice. One must have sympathy for the second wife as she believed fully in her husband who never deserved her trust. If you are a Laughton fan, The Suspect will not disappoint.
Life with Elizabeth (1952)
Very good show
This is a classic sitcom. The characters are limited in number, and the plot is always simple, but the acting and writing are very good. Most of the episodes revolve around Elizabeth's sense of humor. Her husband is the straight man usually. It is worth watching, unlike many shows today. Some of the characters are never seen including:
* the nosy next door neighbor who watches Elizabeth and Alvin from over the fence.
* Elizabeth's obese mother.
Main characters: Elizabeth: Housewife who is almost always in a good mood. Alvin: Husband who puts up with his wife's constant practical jokes.
Some of the best skits:
Elizabeth buys a lobster, but doesn't have the heart to kill it. Together they release it back into the wild.
Elizabeth schemes to get a new vacuum. She convinces Alvin that the door to door salesman is afraid they are going to kill him, so he buys a vacuum.
Elizabeth agrees to babysit a neighborhood boy, sight unseen. When he arrives he is a college student with a serious crush on Elizabeth.
An old schoolmate drops by making Alvin jealous.
Alvin is out practicing his golf swing in his front yard. He accidentally hits it through a neighbor's car windshield.
Elizabeth makes the local gopher into her pet.
Elizabeth gives Alvin a women's magazine test only to find he fails it. She is worried she is married to a dunce. Turns out Alvin has a trick up his sleeve.
Lassie: Inheritance (1954)
Lassie saves the day in this first episode
This is the first Lassie episode of the series. Lassie is left to Jeff in a will after her previous owner dies. Lassie won't leave that home because she is protecting the dead man's money. The hired hand is found to be trying to steal the $2000 cash the old man had hid in the old home. The hired hand locks Lassie and Jeff up in the old house and tries to escape with the money. Lassie chases down the crook and with the help of a neighbor, regains the cash.
After the cash is given to Jeff's family, Lassie joins the family. Even though she seems torn at first between her loyalty to her previous owner and Jeff, Lassie makes her decision to stay with her new family.
Meet Doctor Christian (1939)
Good family comedy
I missed the first 15 minutes of this movie, but easily fell into the plot. The story follows a beloved Dr. Christian who runs the health department in a small town. He seeks to build a hospital, but is turned down by the mayor. The mayor decided that a highway would better suit the town than a new hospital. All this is upset when the mayor's little daughter is injured and needs an operation.
The little daughter of the mayor is a stand out character. The part is well cast and very funny. At one point she meddles in her teen brother's love life by trying to give his rival the mumps. When she can't seem to get the rival to lick a mump infested sucker, she licks it herself and kisses him on the lips. Her brother never finds out, and ends up jilting the girl he had been chasing. The movie spends more time on the brother's love life than that of the little girl, but the girl's adventures are much more entertaining.
This movie is worth renting and watching with the whole family. Unlike some old movies, this movie is timeless enough (love for family, meddling little siblings, puppy love) for most ages to enjoy.