Second Act

Jennifer Lopez (singer) is trying to get ahead. Her god-son lies on her social media and her resume to help her get a job at a big company. She meets the daughter she gave up for adoption when she was a teenager. It reminded me a little of Working Girl, but instead of it being women trying to break the glass ceiling it more about people without an ivy league education breaking the glass ceiling. All in all, I say: RENT IT don't see it in theatres.

Ellen DeGeneres: Relatable

A comedy show for Netflix. She always does a good job. This was very funny. All in all,  I say: SEE IT

Anna and the Apocalypse

A great surprise. I knew nothing when I went to see it in the theatre other than a zombie movie. It's more than that. It's a Scottish, Musical, Zombie movie. It also addresses the age of social media and the pains of high school and your parent expectations. It was really, really good. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Entertaining Christmas

She is poised to take over for her mother at the head of a company like Martha Stewarts. Her mom is the crafty one though, she isn't. She goes to a small town to plan a homecoming for a soldier and tries to fake it. A local reporter catches on, but he falls in love with her. Brendan Fehr (Roswell) had a strange look on his face the entire time in the Hallmark movie- it was weird. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it wasn't bad.

The Grinch

An animated re-imagining starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Strange). It's very well done as far as animation, but it was annoying and strange. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Extinction

A movie about aliens on Netflix. Michael Pena (Ant Man) plays a not so funny hard working father who is having nightmares. Lizzy Caplan (Are You Sleeping) his wife is having a hard time dealing with his lack of attention lately and wants him to see a doctor. He thinks it might be part of a conspiracy to hide the fact that aliens exist. You will never guess what the twist is - don't look up reviews or read anything about it or it will be ruined. I was surprised. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Kominsky Method

Alan Arkin (Argo) who runs one of the best agencies for representing talent in Hollywood loses his wife. His best friend Michael Douglas (Wallstreet) helps him get through it. Douglas teaches acting - his own method and meets a woman (Nancy Travis from Last Man Standing) and falls in love. He runs the acting school with his daughter. It's a series on Netflix and it was pretty good. The writing and acting are top notch. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Time for me to Come Home for Christmas

He's a famous country musician who ends up traveling home for Christmas. Through a series of unlucky events he ends up traveling with a woman trying to save her families famous jam company. They fall in love during their trip. The singing and music in this are horrible - the rest was good. They had chemistry. All in all,  I say: SEE IT

Welcome to Christmas

In this Hallmark movie, she is trying to decide where to have a resort built for her company. He's a sheriff in a small town that wants to get the resort. They fall in love while she's stuck there. Plot is a little thin, but it was well done. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Where Hands Touch

I never knew this about WWII and Germany. During WWI a group of African soldiers were occupying parts of Germany. Some of the men and German women had relations. There were mixed race children as a result. During WWII Hitler and the SS started to round them up and their mothers even though they were citizens. This is based on that event. Abbie Cornish (Jack Ryan) is the mother, Amanda Stenberg (The Hate U Give) is the girl who falls for a boy who is training for the SS when they meet and fall in love. It's so good and tragic. All in all, I say: SEE IT on OnDemand.

Attraction

Russian's shoot down an alien ship. People start to freak out because their water is going missing and it doesn't seem the government is doing anything other than forcing people from their homes. A young girl whose father is the head of the military finds the alien and decides to help him. They fall in love much to the disappointment of her violent boyfriend. It's cool to see how Russians would make an alien film. I liked it. All in all, I say: SEE IT - you can buy it on Amazon Prime or see on OnDemand.

Memories of Christmas

She comes back home to sell her mom's house and ends up saving the town and falling in love. It felt a little forced - I didn't feel chemistry between the two of them. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Homegrown Christmas

Lori Loughlin (Full House) sold her company she built from scratch and is trying to decide what to do next. She goes to her home town for the holidays and runs into her long lost love. They have some chemistry and they can act. It's cute. I liked it on Hallmark for the holidays. All in all, I say: SEE IT

A Majestic Christmas

She is trying to prevent a developer from destroying an historic theatre in her small town over the holiday. They fall in love. She was a good actor, but her character was way too cheerful. I don't like when the female characters are so fake like cheerleaders. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Once Upon a Christmas Miracle

This is a based on a real life story Hallmark movie. He is working for her uncle - she is at home trying to make the most out of what she thinks might be her last Christmas. She needs a transplant and no one is a match. Turns out he is...and he decides to give her what she needs. While they are getting to know each they fall in love. It was so good. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Christmas Wonderland

A Hallmark movie about an artist who while watching her niece and nephew falls in love and decides to be an artist full time. It wasn't great, but it didn't suck. All in all, I say; SEE IT

A Gingerbread Romance

I don't get it - Tia can act, but this movie was so so so so bad. He can't act, the plot was bad, and the writing even worse. Hallmark movie at it's worst. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Small Town Christmas

Kristoffer Polaha (Ringer) runs a small town bookstore and is raising his niece after her parent die. A woman he once dated becomes a famous author and is doing a book tour which takes her to his store. They fall for each other. All in all, I say: SEE IT

A Christmas for the Book

A lifestyle guru helps set up a big deal Christmas party for a family that owns a television company. She wants to move from books to a show of her own. She needs a "perfect" boyfriend who really ends up being the perfect boyfriend. All in all,  I say: SEE IT - the acting and editing aren't great, but it wasn't horrible.

Northern Lights of Christmas

A woman inherits a farm from an uncle and is trying to fix it up to sell to buy her own plane. The guy that's been helping around the farm starts to fall for her. Everything works out because it's a Hallmark movie. All in all, I say: SKIP IT. She is just too cheery for me.

Mortal Engines

Based on a series of young adult novels of which I only read half of one book. The effects were cool and it is something you haven't seen before. Hugo Weaving (Matrix) is the bad guy in this post apocalyptic action movie for teens. There are a few touching moments and cool martial arts. Basically, the main character has to escape a crazed robot and save two major cities from being destroyed by an ancient bomb. I saw it in the theatre. All in all,  say: SEE IT

Aquaman

Jason Momoa (Stargate) reprises his role as the future king of Atlantis. He has to deal with his half-brother, his issues with his mother, and a pirate. The special effects are cool and it's just a fun movie. It has lots of one liners and a lot of action. It's not going to win an award or anything, but it's the best of the Justice League series so far after Wonder Woman. You have to see it in theatres. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Home Again

Reese Witherspoon (Wild) is recently divorced and living in her deceased father's home in LA with her daughters to recover. She runs into 3 young guys new to the scene hoping to get their short made into a movie. She helps them and they help her. It was just strange - the acting was good - it was just strange. I saw this on Showtime. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Christmas Bells are Ringing

Josh Kelly (Midnight Texas) is a small town guy who runs into his old girlfriend, a photographer over Christmas. It's Hallmark, so they fall in love again. The acting wasn't so great. It wasn't the greatest movie of the season. All in all, I say: SKIP IT.

Christmas Made to Order

Alexa PenaVega (Spy Kids) decorates places for the Holidays and helps out a client entertain his family for Christmas. Because it's Hallmark they fall in love. He is super awkward though with odd facial expressions. She does a good job, but the writing and plot were weak. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Christmas at Grand Valley

Hallmark brought Danica McKellar and Dan Lauria (Wonder Years) together again for this Christmas movie about a small town trying to save a local inn at Christmas. Brennan Elliot (UnREAL) did a great job as always, but it was a little all over the place. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like Hallmark Christmas.

Jingle Around the Clock

Michael Cassidy (People of Earth) and Brooke Nevin (Carter) are both competing for the same promotion, but while working on a campaign together they fall for each other. They had chemistry, the editing was well done, and the acting was good. It was my favorite Hallmark Christmas movie this year. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Mary Poppins Returns

Rob Marshall (Into the Woods) teams up with some of his favorite cast members to make this sequel. Same basic plot a nanny comes to help a family through a difficult time using magic - song and dance. Emily Blunt (The Quiet Place) is Mary, Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) is the young boy Jack from the original movie, but all grown up. There are several cool guest appearances. Colin Firth (The Secret Garden) is the bad guy. My favorite musical/dancing scene is with the lamp lighters. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you liked the original. It's long and several of the younger kids in the theatre got bored.

Night School

Filmed in ATL starring Kevin Hart, comedian, as a salesman out of job options because he doesn't have his GED. Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip) is the teacher. She has the best lines in this movie. Taran Killam (Single Parents) is the principal and former arch nemesis. There are some funny parts and some overly exaggerated parts. I saw this on OnDemand. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like Hart's comedy.

The Post

Stevens Spielberg (ET) directed this true story about how the Washington Post hit the national stage when they printed the Pentagon Papers. Meryl Streep (Doubt) is the owner of the post. The movie also shows a woman's rise in a man's world. Tom Hanks (Road to Perdition) is the guy that runs The Post of Streep. It was well done - acting, writing, directing, and editing. I saw this on OnDemand. All in all, I say: SEE IT - thanks to Janice for suggesting I see it.

Robin Hood

Taron Egerton (Kingsman), Jaime Foxx (Ray), Ben Mendelsohn (Captain Marvel), and Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades) all star in this rethinking/retelling of Robin Hood. Some of the fighting action was excellent. Some of it was shot in digital, hand held and it shook like crazy. The costumes were strange - some of the scenes were just odd or disturbing. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - I didn't like all the oddities of it.

Mingle all the Way

A couple use an app to meet in order to help each other out over the holidays with all the events they have to attend. They fall in love. There just wasn't any chemistry in my opinion - it felt a little forced even though they tried for playful. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - this wasn't the best Hallmark has to offer.

Reunited at Christmas

Nikki Deloach (awkward.) and her fiance go to her recently deceased Nana's home for Christmas. She has to decide if she really wants to marry him. Her parents have to decide if they want to get back together. They all have to decide if they can meet the demands of the will and do all the traditional holiday events now that the matriarch is gone. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it's sappy, but good.

Switched at Christmas

Twins - both played by Candace Cameron Bure - switch lives over the holidays. One is a single woman in the city who has a company party to plan and the other is a single mom with a school fundraiser to plan. They end up falling in love with the guys they are planning with - they just have to tell the truth to live happily ever after. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it's cute and on Hallmark

A Shoe Addict's Christmas

A cast member from Full House (Candace Cameron Bure), Orphan Black (Kristian Bruun), Killjoys (Luke Macfarlane), and Designing Women (Jean Smart) all walk into a department store :) Bure is in HR, but was supposed to be a photographer. She falls for a fireman, plans a holiday event for her boss, and her guardian angel puts her back on her path. I leave it to you to figure out who plays whom. It's a lot like a Christmas Carol in some ways. It's cute. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Hallmark

Body Guard

Keeley Hawes (Death at a Funeral) is given a larger number of bodyguards because of new legislation she wants to pass. She's also planning to become the next Prime Minister of UK. The head of her security who has PTSD from the war may also have some questionable ties as well as an estranged wife. Richard Madden (GoT) does all her can to protect her, but gets way too close. It turns into a conspiracy and a set-up that must be solves and quick. It's intense with lots of twists and turns. All in all, I say STREAM IT on Netflix

Christmas Everlasting

OMG sappy as all get out. A woman's sister dies on the year she is finally getting to spend Christmas with her. In the will, her sister demands she live in the old family home for a period of time before deciding to sell. She falls in love with her old boyfriend as well as the town - of course. It was just way to sad. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Ralph Breaks the Internet

Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) joins the cast in this sequel. Ralph (John C Reilly from Chicago) wants things to stay the same, but Venellope (comedian Sarah Silverman) loves the idea of a new life in a fancy (and violent) racing game where she meets Gadot's character. It's a cute idea with a lot of product placements. It just wasn't as good as the original. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you saw the first otherwise SKIP IT

Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane

Alicia Witt (Dune) visits her home for Christmas and meets (and falls in love with) an antique dealer played by Colin Ferguson (Eureka). Together they find some old letters from her mother that challenge how her now deceased parents met. They solve the mystery and she wants to stay in her home town. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it's poorly done I thought compared to other Hallmark movies that came out this year.

Widows

Directed and written by Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave). A group of bank robbers are set up and die. The man they stole money from finds out and demands the widows pay him back or else. Viola Davis (The Help) and Liam Neeson (Taken) are the power couple. He's in charge of the group; they lost their son to a chop shooting a few years before. Elizabeth Debicki (The Night Manager) and Jon Bernthal (TWD) are the rough couple. Michelle Rodriquez (Fast & Furious) is the widow of the third couple. The second story line which connects later in the film is a political feud between Robert Duvall's (The Godfather) son played by Colin Farrell (In Bruges) and Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta). It's a good action, mystery, drama - there is a twist I didn't see coming. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Lacey Chabert (party of Five) is Darcy who comes back to her hometown for the holidays. Her old debating partner - and love interest played by Brendan Perry (John Tucker Must Die) helps her plan a party. They have chemistry. The writing isn't great, but the 2 of them have chemistry and make it work for Hallmark. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - the chemistry alone isn't enough.

Return to Christmas Creek

Steven Weber (Channel Zero) runs his parent B&B alone since his brother took his family and left for a corporate job. The split caused them to argue and loose touch. Years later his niece tracks him down and reconnects not only to her uncle, but to a long lost love as well. Keri Matchett (Covert Affairs) also stars. It's cute. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Christmas in Evergreen; Letters to Santa

Jill Wagner (Blade Runner) is a designer that helps store owners maximize their potential. She ends up in Evergreen. This is kind of a sequel to the other Evergreen movie. She falls in love with the town and a guy in town. It's magical and cheesy like the first one. Wagner does a good job - I haven't really enjoyed her in Hallmark movies previously. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you saw the first otherwise SKIP IT

A Godwink Christmas

Kimberly Susted (Travelers) is trying to decide whether she should accept a proposal and decides to visit her aunt. On her way to visit her aunt she goes antique shopping and gets stuck on an island at a popular B & B. She meets Paul Campbell (Spun Out) and they have an instant connections. There is a scene with them at the airport that made me cry - no joke. It's a subtle even though formulaic Hallmark movie. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Christmas at the Palace

A former Olympic ice skater is hired by a King to help him put together a ice skating play. She falls in love with him and his daughter. It's a lot of the two of them talking and sharing their emotions. It was a little off - hard to describe. All in all, I say: SKIP IT on Hallmark

Last Vermont Christmas

Sister's return to their family home in Vermont for their last Christmas there. A long lost love is there and sparks fly. It's a typical Hallmark movie with the basic plot. The acting is decent. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Hope of Christmas

Scottie Thompson (NCIS) is a recently divorced mother who inherits a home in the country and over the holidays helps a local bookstore owner. Ryan Paevey (General Hospital) is a local teacher that helps her make Christmas special. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Hallmark

Sisters

An Australian series about a fertility doctor who used his own sperm to impregnated hundreds of women. Three women - three of the sisters - becomes friends and support one another during the difficult time of their father (biological father) dying. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Girl in the Spider's Webb

This is the next book/movie in the series. It was only partially written by the original author - finished by someone else after he died. Claire Foy (The Crown) does an excellent job. I like the original Swedish actress and Swedish films best. There is action and some very disturbing info like always. All in all, I say: SEE IT - if you've read the books and/or seen all the other movies.

Insatiable

Dallas Roberts (American Crime) is a closested gay lawyer who loves coaching pageant girls. Debby Ryan (Grace) is a once fat high school girl who has gotten skinny and instead of focusing on food decides to focus on becoming a pageant girl. It is insane - crazy - wild - over the top, and it's highly addictive. Once I started, I couldn't stop. Christopher Gorham (Covert Affairs) and Alyssa Milano (Who's the Boss) also star. All in all, I say: STREAM IT on Netflix