tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6945176369627295812024-03-13T07:24:19.138-04:00My Little CornerPull up a chair and join me in the little corner here! A place to talk, to think, to exchange opinions. A place where the things I enjoy become important. Where Broadway is just next door, where television characters can become real, where movies are panned or reviewed, where advice is passed on. Don't be hesitant to jump in and share your own opinion, what is important to you. I am all ears.Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.comBlogger1111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-71463140772720403822024-03-06T12:00:00.001-05:002024-03-06T12:00:00.142-05:00The Wedding Veil Journey–My Big Fat Greek Honeymoon<p><span style="color: #674ea7;">And we’re at the third movie in this new trilogy!</span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Honestly, based on the summary offered by Hallmark, I thought this movie was going to go in a different direction. I’ll tell you what it was when we get to the end. </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">So do Tracy and Nick finally take their honeymoon? Let’s find out! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jD7ETLwZahYhbJGOz-aY5vEdWEQfCgV8pTqasIhYBmpc0r5VDu65dBgUL3icvGM-O7BF-mAC04A-VCVbnuzcGTD8dC_aOnCLivkAGUdbwBa7rrgvUMiHhfvMtmbmJcAEX5zAiJSy1VzaaKwJNGv38Txr5AH7HkSqRjmo7EwTgjgGClYsRuXBn4y9cd0/s682/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="682" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jD7ETLwZahYhbJGOz-aY5vEdWEQfCgV8pTqasIhYBmpc0r5VDu65dBgUL3icvGM-O7BF-mAC04A-VCVbnuzcGTD8dC_aOnCLivkAGUdbwBa7rrgvUMiHhfvMtmbmJcAEX5zAiJSy1VzaaKwJNGv38Txr5AH7HkSqRjmo7EwTgjgGClYsRuXBn4y9cd0/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">If we took a holiday/Took some time to celebrate/Just one day out of life/It would be, it would be so SPOILERS! </span></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">We start with a montage of Tracy (Alison Sweeney) and Nick (Victor Webster) always constantly missing each other. They converse through Post-It notes left on Tupperware containing food. No wonder they can’t set a honeymoon. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaVpxdeAo-cB0AOYJU4pHsizNlFEzwhmzRHzIgrJE1cybx9oWMATJuxKy8wMBHt09WYI6GGEk_ISVcV8ijpOGYvny65XwD2iRpx-jIgrYO83Ls7ytxhJiIcVXn6eG83mK2_2uc1or_xZFeTbfLwib_VjAJKqbM6dIypoWu07GzD68WmrfRmkdomG9qm8/s1014/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1014" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaVpxdeAo-cB0AOYJU4pHsizNlFEzwhmzRHzIgrJE1cybx9oWMATJuxKy8wMBHt09WYI6GGEk_ISVcV8ijpOGYvny65XwD2iRpx-jIgrYO83Ls7ytxhJiIcVXn6eG83mK2_2uc1or_xZFeTbfLwib_VjAJKqbM6dIypoWu07GzD68WmrfRmkdomG9qm8/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>Tracy then meets up with Avery (Lacey Chabert) and Emma (Autumn Reeser) for their annual antiquing weekend. Through conversation, we learn that Emma and Paolo had a daughter they named Arianna. And she’s old enough to be weaned from nursing as Emma has wine and reveals that Arianna wants to drink from a sippy cup after seeing little Daniel do it on a video call with Avery.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Aww.</span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Anyway, Avery and Emma again grill Tracy about going on her honeymoon. She decides its finally time to do that and vows to talk to Nick when she gets home. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ft0Lo7Ermug7Ra4FeiaGIQpzS2keGX8l0F1rJ_BI2EcDwVv_oDuFQCyqQEtAIkcvUbffq6TWCA8Lf9j3-NHmJdb2cZJqp8LORrn0e76N4N4rTaBfDIqsGLo0QKTWppNFwqanX_k_vpiD4NQkvxxWCdsNHM_WREZfcawfJDk0qOXaGU612zXimbBKtpM/s768/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="768" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ft0Lo7Ermug7Ra4FeiaGIQpzS2keGX8l0F1rJ_BI2EcDwVv_oDuFQCyqQEtAIkcvUbffq6TWCA8Lf9j3-NHmJdb2cZJqp8LORrn0e76N4N4rTaBfDIqsGLo0QKTWppNFwqanX_k_vpiD4NQkvxxWCdsNHM_WREZfcawfJDk0qOXaGU612zXimbBKtpM/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">So she stays up one night and surprises Nick when he gets home from the restaurant. She convinces him to take some time so they can go on their honeymoon. They spin a globe and land on Greece, deciding to go there. </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">And away we go! </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">They arrive at Rhodes but there’s been some complications – namely their flight got delayed and so they arrived after their booking. Apparently their plan was to hop around the Greek isles and just book wherever they could. Unfortunately, there’s a big convention at the hotel and so they can’t book a new room. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ve5KnswREllzN0yyTj_RI00fBdtSLhVHAYvFCSj68Cq-x7c9wJBuziGtkYyvkk4uHeVXrO-2yQWUSgBUUx_d7cN_WguwzcHobfjPY01c0QwSJSgwNr2ZO4kqJiD2gPO95RS3m_aC0xbjabPsUOLP-r6oczCV_KkawV8KxvqiMNzEE1McHVenF4I3EKU/s5318/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%204.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3546" data-original-width="5318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ve5KnswREllzN0yyTj_RI00fBdtSLhVHAYvFCSj68Cq-x7c9wJBuziGtkYyvkk4uHeVXrO-2yQWUSgBUUx_d7cN_WguwzcHobfjPY01c0QwSJSgwNr2ZO4kqJiD2gPO95RS3m_aC0xbjabPsUOLP-r6oczCV_KkawV8KxvqiMNzEE1McHVenF4I3EKU/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%204.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>Uh oh.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Enter courier Pen (Ioanna Meli). She tells Tracy and Nick that she knows a great little bed and breakfast on a nearby island if they’re willing to go with her. Despite the fact this could easily be a human trafficking scheme, they agree to go with her. </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Thankfully she takes them to another island and to a quaint bed and breakfast run by siblings Tessa (Katerina Geronikolou) and Xander (Alexander Nicolaou). They welcome Nick and Tracy, giving them the honeymoon suite – and the veil gets a spot of honor. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_wcfKHSnF4n9EtbUnsAUDwkP2gyB6d41Q8T3j2vYyk8uXG46icGjEXkldxW87FWnxll2_34z3ioIIVygFAbhWKlOhRpdkkTqhwF65PqHIStNZbKPWx05G71k-Q2xnJaMe2u-lLbadhpC46iWYSmSms5jWSvFv2fQsklYYD0vWTWI8FI38uITIZEKJkg/s600/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_wcfKHSnF4n9EtbUnsAUDwkP2gyB6d41Q8T3j2vYyk8uXG46icGjEXkldxW87FWnxll2_34z3ioIIVygFAbhWKlOhRpdkkTqhwF65PqHIStNZbKPWx05G71k-Q2xnJaMe2u-lLbadhpC46iWYSmSms5jWSvFv2fQsklYYD0vWTWI8FI38uITIZEKJkg/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>Yes, they have the veil with them because they are going to meet up with one of Nick’s sisters and his mother is hoping the veil will work its magic on her.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">We then learn that there are other guests coming to stay at the bed and breakfast. Lady Dalton (Jane Asher) arrives with her grandson Colin (Nicholas Banks) and there is a spark between him and Tessa, who happens to be holding the veil when she meets him. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYObxef4dzzkphrjAnbZZOgh_7kXSIBr93yndBsuWmhfszHw_pVw3Y90tewSjzB4EXlb1eUFe4A9wUMLceG0UbuGGweWtLfuCN13RlsAybrooFV_zJmOhFjDeQ6YCqU-ZnGXFTh59c8b8MKmz3ZqodZe-E1zAQ8amgeL9XsX9vJE2u4CFYfKtRrenYDc/s750/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYObxef4dzzkphrjAnbZZOgh_7kXSIBr93yndBsuWmhfszHw_pVw3Y90tewSjzB4EXlb1eUFe4A9wUMLceG0UbuGGweWtLfuCN13RlsAybrooFV_zJmOhFjDeQ6YCqU-ZnGXFTh59c8b8MKmz3ZqodZe-E1zAQ8amgeL9XsX9vJE2u4CFYfKtRrenYDc/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>I think you all know what’s going to happen next.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">But we’ll get there. </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">That night at dinner, everyone learns that Xander really can’t cook but put up with his food to be polite. And Tracy tells the story of the veil. Everyone seems enchanted by it. </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">In the morning, Tracy goes exploring along the beach and runs into a young boy she met the day before. His name is Leo (Che Grant) and he leaves behind a drawing. She realizes it is of her and that he is very good, which impresses her. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic93bcExHyAm54VWG2gtEXbNeTeHnk5VmjRX7uyurQQs8fwr8T0fPZkPhBIlBo8Cq5qi1RqYXUwWLVJ4B7Mw1jBmSb0zGE5mnt6fbTUhrV-dnDpVlxg0hIfFBfcewuCpM6nwL8dyXIjzgaw-vS7tjhx8ko11EdpKmZrhjqJZan7sNjYtoUGvkhJlloR0w/s600/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic93bcExHyAm54VWG2gtEXbNeTeHnk5VmjRX7uyurQQs8fwr8T0fPZkPhBIlBo8Cq5qi1RqYXUwWLVJ4B7Mw1jBmSb0zGE5mnt6fbTUhrV-dnDpVlxg0hIfFBfcewuCpM6nwL8dyXIjzgaw-vS7tjhx8ko11EdpKmZrhjqJZan7sNjYtoUGvkhJlloR0w/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>Tracy decides to buy an art set for Leo but it backfires on her. She meets Headmaster Papadopoulos (Andreas Karras), who runs the school Leo not only attends but also lives. He reveals that Leo is an orphan who had been left in the care of an older neighbor he called an uncle but when the man’s health declined, Leo came to live at the school. The headmaster wants him to focus on pursuits that would let him have a job job and not focus on art. He pretty much tells Tracy to butt out of Leo’s life.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Naturally, Tracy decides to do the opposite. </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">She works to help Leo achieve his dream of being an artist, even enlisting the help of Emma and Avery. Together, they find a school that Leo can attend in Manhattan and would give him everything he needs. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7SYiALF5ksDB-9shweCq3n6_dQ_fw1SxA_jxUEN7vMvCqW1UXqyDzn_IbxI7MuD215kU8Ad0fU8D8TrhuouH8gvhDW92LNaQIGSskWmcyUxBY70GX8-v4OrBR_ZACycXsx8a0Hig-eMSv5ZWkh15wWorVCxJgPclE4XCZwy24sbv69iWGkyKXTbDaFA/s437/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="437" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7SYiALF5ksDB-9shweCq3n6_dQ_fw1SxA_jxUEN7vMvCqW1UXqyDzn_IbxI7MuD215kU8Ad0fU8D8TrhuouH8gvhDW92LNaQIGSskWmcyUxBY70GX8-v4OrBR_ZACycXsx8a0Hig-eMSv5ZWkh15wWorVCxJgPclE4XCZwy24sbv69iWGkyKXTbDaFA/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>Meanwhile, Nick keeps sneaking down to the kitchen and improving Xander’s recipes so that they are, you know, edible. This annoys Tracy as they agreed not to focus on their jobs at all. They end up having a conversation and I think solve their issues? It was even a blur when I first saw it as well.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">In addition, the veil keeps going missing and being found in Colin’s room. So Tracy and Nick stage a trap and learn that Lady Dalton keeps moving it as she’s trying to set Colin up with Tessa. Tracy tells her that the veil is already working its magic as we see Colin spending a lot of time with Tessa. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYDMErI-Vd15dtdLSXeFEpxhKZWj43d3_6ZuzqBwNJ5njqJ3KrTkJBbCZtRFYfW2p5-1l1eTvNFt5utB7lPDLTEA7l-gIrvehYj7ER7kqFXVqwzJwT9DAYZj2ijzUcM0ClUSO6lDP0uDYBCucZafXLNqWVJzlkUJFY4k0v7_lBqcT_FjC7caIzPC4nQ0/s1200/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYDMErI-Vd15dtdLSXeFEpxhKZWj43d3_6ZuzqBwNJ5njqJ3KrTkJBbCZtRFYfW2p5-1l1eTvNFt5utB7lPDLTEA7l-gIrvehYj7ER7kqFXVqwzJwT9DAYZj2ijzUcM0ClUSO6lDP0uDYBCucZafXLNqWVJzlkUJFY4k0v7_lBqcT_FjC7caIzPC4nQ0/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%208.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>Nick and Tracy team up to convince the Headmaster to let them take Leo to visit his uncle. The Headmaster is hesitant as he’s certain it will end in heartbreak for Leo but agrees. So Nick and Tracy take Leo to Athens and he is reunited with his Uncle Orion (Lyubomir Bachvarov), who does recognize Leo and has hung up every drawing Leo has ever sent him.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">It’s a really beautiful scene. And Nick comes around to letting Leo come to America as well as possibly living with him and Tracy. </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">The Headmaster also agrees as well. So Tracy and Nick leave Greece with a stronger marriage (allegedly) and a preteen kid.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nIKKuPudiItM25zCLUxc3bJEinS9g_SMbo8229OuzMvscaHWHlqC3hvxgxCTVloStVPPVbdskWpiW4eScJj6uj-ZMMtsEewDxa3tfjbMEAN15lLh83l_LC9luLw8mXhY6D6ewKFEkVszqUOS_amJ9eWtQ8wNtsqv-zkOcUEAXDlWggTV8oSiXmXifxg/s3000/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nIKKuPudiItM25zCLUxc3bJEinS9g_SMbo8229OuzMvscaHWHlqC3hvxgxCTVloStVPPVbdskWpiW4eScJj6uj-ZMMtsEewDxa3tfjbMEAN15lLh83l_LC9luLw8mXhY6D6ewKFEkVszqUOS_amJ9eWtQ8wNtsqv-zkOcUEAXDlWggTV8oSiXmXifxg/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>We cut to some time later…</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tessa and Colin are married! Lady Dalton is thrilled! And everyone is there – Avery, Emma, Tracy, Nick and Leo. Leo seems to be settling in well with Tracy and Nick, who are pretty much his parents now. Tracy says its a big adjustment for everyone and they are taking their time. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0kkT3JPlIhoUFOrVHwcjcEtm62160xJfxnJ2Jfxum7i84TGgpkRuYpyYezi-xh10maBb4zWMQXSMw2YbTzf7zAEx_G3Y1qSEz6mWg7-WrstZ_nl4ssZS_y50HUaA1SuuVP4xO9eIN0OaMLa8R2Ygz_Vwz1zldYrOZBdhmFkWarGEcjWDjyA9fkzr6I8/s140/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="140" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0kkT3JPlIhoUFOrVHwcjcEtm62160xJfxnJ2Jfxum7i84TGgpkRuYpyYezi-xh10maBb4zWMQXSMw2YbTzf7zAEx_G3Y1qSEz6mWg7-WrstZ_nl4ssZS_y50HUaA1SuuVP4xO9eIN0OaMLa8R2Ygz_Vwz1zldYrOZBdhmFkWarGEcjWDjyA9fkzr6I8/s1600/Wedding%20Veil%20Journey%2012.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>Everyone toasts the veil and we end with Tracy and Nick recounting their first movie for the off-scene filmmaker.</p><p style="text-align: center;">*****</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">And thus ends the second round of <em>The Wedding Veil</em> movies! Right now, it doesn’t seem like there will be a third round of movies so I guess we’re done. I do hold out hope for at least one more that features all three couples at once because I think that would be fun but that’s up to Hallmark. </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">I was disappointed in this film and I’ve never really rewatched it (so if I skipped over anything, sorry) because of it. I didn’t really like how they kept Nick and Tracy apart for most of the movie. It felt different from Emma’s movie, where you could still feel how much of a couple they were. In this case, it was almost like they were just friends who went on a vacation together. Sweeney and Webster have great chemistry together so I’m not sure why the writers didn’t use that to their advantage. </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">The synopsis on my TV’s guide sounded far more intriguing. It made it sound like they would get stranded on a deserted island and have to spend a couple days waiting to be rescued, forcing them to really work together and on their marriage. I think that would’ve been more intriguing. Emma and Avery could’ve even come to the rescue! </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">I think it also would’ve helped keep the focus on the issues in their marriage and help them overcome them rather than the shoehorned resolution that exists in the movie now. </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">But I’m at least glad that they didn’t have Tracy suddenly decide she wanted a baby after all. I also liked Tessa and Colin – they were definitely adorable. </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">So ends <em>The Wedding Veil</em> series. Maybe there will be more in the future but for now, I think we’ve left our couples in good places so I’ll just say:</span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">And they all lived happily ever after. </span></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-10176707269874940852024-02-18T12:00:00.001-05:002024-02-18T12:00:00.148-05:00The Wedding Veil Inspiration: Work/Life Balance<p><span style="color: #b76e79;"> Avery and Peter are settling into parenthood and so it’s time to move onto our second couple – Emma and Paolo! They are also my favorite couple and so I was so excited to see this movie.</span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Was it a good follow up to the original movie (The Wedding Veil Unveiled)? Does it do our international lovers justice?</span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Let’s find out! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVsQD3N5QOW8NG6xpqoCYw2qVTRaBdHLIzs1c-_Uo38s_y_9iKtwdHryTtFehNbnu7GsAtEtOV0gPqeYu4p3xcHoY6dXRkMdzIUUB20ukN1370EaX7ymvw9cILDC25-KPGdUK2P2YhnO-If6wdZUxKHDU1NeCd6OhPrdbPWOUxI42ET35Nr_3hhb27So/s1000/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVsQD3N5QOW8NG6xpqoCYw2qVTRaBdHLIzs1c-_Uo38s_y_9iKtwdHryTtFehNbnu7GsAtEtOV0gPqeYu4p3xcHoY6dXRkMdzIUUB20ukN1370EaX7ymvw9cILDC25-KPGdUK2P2YhnO-If6wdZUxKHDU1NeCd6OhPrdbPWOUxI42ET35Nr_3hhb27So/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%201.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="color: #b76e79;"><p>I will be there to share forever/Love will keep us together/I’ll be thinking of you/Look in my heart and let love SPOILERS!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>Emma Di Stefano (Autumn Reeser) is enjoying life with her husband, Paolo (Paolo Bernardini), in Chicago. She gets ready for work as he comes in wearing an Italia shirt to keep her company. They discuss a gorgeous mirror they saw in Italy and how the owner was certain they would have a lot of children. Paolo offers to still buy the mirror but she says they would have to sell everything to afford the shipping fees.</p></span><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">This then leads into a conversation about children with Emma saying she wants to wait because the chair of her department will be retiring soon. Emma is then in line to become chair and believes that once that happens, she’ll be in a better place to start a family. But Paolo says her chair, Nancy, has been talking about retirement for a while but never makes a move toward it. He believes she is never going to retire and Emma will just keep waiting. He says he doesn’t like that their life plans are so reliant on another person. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFyPalCu-OSh-dmQ1Anzdyl9sbsdAJe0sR295meqS4lXt7VbCVHQhRx15JP-j-MrJOaSSHxjzXLuMQIMMGdSRA0RoAwNIIcJ-qJEP_g7X5ddd12UBC13C9DtlyvfWZzxAsvjJ14B1SB67h7VfKuLrX2ct19zUdnYlUqJusGASqcDxyUsSeAIxYxQI5RM/s848/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%205.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="848" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFyPalCu-OSh-dmQ1Anzdyl9sbsdAJe0sR295meqS4lXt7VbCVHQhRx15JP-j-MrJOaSSHxjzXLuMQIMMGdSRA0RoAwNIIcJ-qJEP_g7X5ddd12UBC13C9DtlyvfWZzxAsvjJ14B1SB67h7VfKuLrX2ct19zUdnYlUqJusGASqcDxyUsSeAIxYxQI5RM/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%205.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #b76e79;"><p>Preach it, Paolo!</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma insists that Nancy is really going to retire and Paolo decides to move on. He’s about to open a lace store in Chicago and Emma promises to be there. His grandmother even sent her a present for the occasion and it’s a beautiful lace shawl. Emma manages to translate the letter from Italian and it’s just a sweet message from Paolo’s grandmother, reminding her that when she wears the lace, she wears his family’s love. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Aww. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">We then see Emma as she dismisses her latest class at the university. Her teaching assistant, Lily (Kacey Rohl), notes that they are lacking in enthusiasm but is confident that Emma will get them excited by art. It worked with Lily and that is why she wanted to TA for Emma. I love Lily already. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnp0auOtkTDUtx6Eg78iEjsAJVhuh5qYzKJ8DvdNF5eQQcl5vFu2AcJwMEsYjsOe7jLh3xkEYmRzFQhx558h8uZRmWFnJziuWYWg_S3CG1zmGfcO_d3afP-AZjA8uVpQRqeyA9qgGu2WFlg7_OATvzoCJgFmfp96D0-3u3wC21Ptv0c9vCbhiAU6V8vE/s3000/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnp0auOtkTDUtx6Eg78iEjsAJVhuh5qYzKJ8DvdNF5eQQcl5vFu2AcJwMEsYjsOe7jLh3xkEYmRzFQhx558h8uZRmWFnJziuWYWg_S3CG1zmGfcO_d3afP-AZjA8uVpQRqeyA9qgGu2WFlg7_OATvzoCJgFmfp96D0-3u3wC21Ptv0c9vCbhiAU6V8vE/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #b76e79;"><p>Emma wants to end her day early so she can go help her husband. But her chair, Nancy (Lynda Boyd), has other plans. She pulls Emma into a meeting.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">And so Emma just makes the opening. Paolo does his best not to curse out Nancy before introducing us to his cousin, Matteo (Carlo Marks). Matteo has recently relocated from Miami to Chicago to help Paolo run the store. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Paolo then reveals a surprise – the veil is on display in the store! And it’s there because Avery (Lacey Chabert) has brought it. Of course, Tracy (Alison Sweeney) is there as well. The friends have a big reunion before Emma is convinced to tell the story of the veil while Lily, who has shown up to support Emma, films her. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">During the opening, Lily also tries to keep a wide berth around the veil. Emma asks her why and Lily says she is not ready for a relationship so she doesn’t want it working its magic on her. Emma insists that is not how it works. But at one point, it nearly falls over and both Lily and Matteo race over to catch it. They are holding it at the same time their eyes meet and a spark already flies. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">The veil strikes again! </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Avery and Tracy go back home with Emma as they enjoy some Chicago deep-dish pizza. Paolo teases them about how that isn’t real pizza and then they all tease Avery about how much she loved Hawaiian pizza while pregnant. She vows to never eat another pineapple on a pizza slice and Paolo looks horrified before he gets a call.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn7uGoIOpyFB2-cOI5TIPVSuUU29jnwh7K8TxtrvOEX2oECfjzT7vUAK_J1vxd9JIhP6tn2p0JGFmhzvE5wGBj36-vI6ie-cTAWGqc53198L_MHvhjKZ_v35CzioCBjJ_63lC_3CivnLXJOyX1yWEZv9B7ARrkK_B-4j6JbJTZFlGCaADWubtgaGMpis/s1083/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="1083" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn7uGoIOpyFB2-cOI5TIPVSuUU29jnwh7K8TxtrvOEX2oECfjzT7vUAK_J1vxd9JIhP6tn2p0JGFmhzvE5wGBj36-vI6ie-cTAWGqc53198L_MHvhjKZ_v35CzioCBjJ_63lC_3CivnLXJOyX1yWEZv9B7ARrkK_B-4j6JbJTZFlGCaADWubtgaGMpis/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #b76e79;"><p>When he returns, Emma can tell the call wasn’t a good one. He says his sister just called to say his father was rushed to the hospital. Paolo needs to go to Italy and Emma agrees. They get him a last minute ticket on a flight to Italy and get him packed. Paolo says he’s glad that Avery and Tracy are there before promising to call. Matteo drives him to the airport while Avery and Tracy comfort Emma.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">They snuggle in Emma and Paolo’s bed as Avery and Tracy tease Emma for still having her five year plan taped to her closet. She swears by her five year plan, which will end with her becoming chair of the Art History department. Avery asks if her plan included Paolo and Emma shows them that Paolo added falling in love with a handsome Italian and marrying him. They love it and then go to make brownies since they figure they won’t be getting sleep for the rest of the night. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Paolo gives Emma an update the next day after Avery and Tracy have left and says his father is resting comfortably but they had to perform some procedure. He says he will stay to help his family until his father is out of the hospital and Emma understands. She sends her love and promises to keep an eye on Matteo and the store for him. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">At the school, Nancy tells Emma that she needs to start coming to meetings so she can prepare to take over as the chair. But the meetings are during Emma’s classes so Nancy reassigns her classes to other professors. Emma is less than thrilled about it and Lily complains that the other professors aren’t as engaging as Emma. She worries that they are going to lose students. But Emma insists that she wants to be the chair and believes this is the price she has to pay to advance in her career. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma and Lily head down to the store to check on Matteo. Lily is still giving the veil a wide berth but there are some people admiring the veil. One woman recognizes Emma and calls her everyone’s favorite art historian. That confuses Emma until Lily reveals she took a video of Emma’s talk at the opening and posted it on some sort of social media website where the names are “Everyone’s Favorite (Insert Thing Here).” Matteo is familiar with the site as well and promises that it’s a good social media site. Emma is hesitant to leave the video up…until she hears about how many views it has already gotten. Emma tells Lily she wishes Lily had gotten her permission and will handle it later. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">For now, she decides to share the history of the christening gown. And again Lily films her. Looks like “Everyone’s Favorite Art Historian” is going to have a new video! </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma and Paolo touch base. He says that his father’s health scare has been a wake up call to the family. His uncle wants to retire and it is nearly Paolo’s time to take over the company. But Emma knows he can’t run it from Chicago and asks if there is anyone else who can take over. But there is not. She reminds him that her career is in Chicago and she will not be in another long distant relationship before quickly ending the call. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Uh oh. They better not break up Emma and Paolo or I might make the Hulk look tame. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Meanwhile, things aren’t going so well at the shop. They get a lot of people there to see the veil but aren’t making any sales. Emma realizes that most people coming can’t afford some of the grand designers so she suggests putting out smaller items that can be more affordable. Matteo does that and things pick up at the store. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Things also pick up between him and Lily. However, she resists her feelings for him, especially when she learns that he used to date a model. She believes she has no chance with him and so keeps him at arm’s length. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma struggles with no longer teaching and having to attend many meetings. And then Nancy tells her that she needs to stop making the videos as they were not becoming for a department chair. Emma is confused because it seemed like something the college would want them doing but Nancy says that the art department doesn’t get a lot of respect to begin with. She fears the videos would give their colleagues even more of a reason to not respect them and demands that Emma stop making the videos. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Nancy sucks. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">There is also a cute scene where Lily spots a spider crawling around Emma’s desk. Emma freaks out but Lily tries to capture it to save it. But it escapes. Lily promises to find “Charlotte” and save her. Emma later tells Paolo she believes she needs to burn her office to the ground and he completely supports her. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Unfortunately, they are still caught in a dead end when it comes to his desire to return to Italy. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Paolo does briefly come home but it’s only for a couple days before he needs to leave again. He again encourages Emma to stand up to Nancy and also to consider teaching in Italy again. But she’s determined to continue where she is and so again, impasse. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs3pH0HU6ifhyyRLX09K-GjMF7x30ZvK_UNA90Jv03ymx46eao8NNlj_pGw17cGZvXsnf-6pDkmE1SbbzTn_nyjqmXf-v21GWLoA71lXLYuJbxl5zyLTHDOpDxaZaX6JMw-fq95UvHBvwdkqj0C2FAKGmeM5TU0UWSc8TfEqRFbFQCGyUct3zVw5gLu4/s500/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="500" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs3pH0HU6ifhyyRLX09K-GjMF7x30ZvK_UNA90Jv03ymx46eao8NNlj_pGw17cGZvXsnf-6pDkmE1SbbzTn_nyjqmXf-v21GWLoA71lXLYuJbxl5zyLTHDOpDxaZaX6JMw-fq95UvHBvwdkqj0C2FAKGmeM5TU0UWSc8TfEqRFbFQCGyUct3zVw5gLu4/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #b76e79;"><p>These two really need to get it together.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">But Paolo isn’t the only one that Emma is avoiding. She also tends to quickly end calls from Avery and Tracy, promising to call them back when she really doesn’t want to answer their questions. They are concerned. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Let’s go see what’s up with Lily and Matteo. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">They continue to bond. We learn that Matteo had a girlfriend who was a model but that she broke his heart and is now married to someone else. So he decided to leave Florida and relocate to Chicago to help his cousin. And so he’s single but Lily keep resisting his romantic overtures, though she does finally agree to get dinner with him. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">There is also a cute scene where they sneak into Paolo and Emma’s house to set up a surprise date for Emma at Paolo’s request. But when Matteo tries to spend more time with Lily, she again runs off. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">We’ll learn more about Lily’s deal later.</span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Meanwhile, Nancy is still out there being the worst. Now she takes Emma out and tells her that she admires Emma’s colorful fashion sense. But she says it is not professional and so Emma needs to dress in a more subdued style. This is really overstepping as there was nothing wrong with Emma’s style. She looked professional and had a beautiful look. Colors are not unprofessional. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Nancy really sucks. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">So Emma comes in wearing black and Lily asks her if someone died. Emma repeats Nancy’s words but Lily looks less than thrilled. But she heads into Emma’s office for a meeting, finally rescuing Charlotte the spider while Emma freaks out. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">I’m with you, Emma. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">On top of that, Emma gets into another fight with Paolo. She gives him the suggestion of selling replicas of Ariana’s veil and he likes it, saying he wants to run it by his sister. He then tries to talk about moving back to Italy but Emma tells him that she can’t do another long distance relationship. In the first movie, if you recall, we learned her last relationship had ended because of distance so she didn’t want to try that again. She says that Paolo will keep staying in Italy longer and longer before he just doesn’t come home and their marriage falls apart. Paolo tries to protest but Emma just ends the call. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Oh, Emma. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">She heads home and is surprised to find her friends waiting for her. Emma has been avoiding their calls and so they’ve decided to fly out to see her. She lets them in her house as Tracy and Avery also wonder if someone has died. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma pours them some wine and the let her vent about Nancy. She also talks about her problems with Paolo. Avery then asks a very smart question. She asks if Emma ever changed her five year plan after marrying Paolo. Emma says she didn’t. Avery and Tracy point out that its not just her anymore but her and Paolo. It wasn’t fair not to consider him in her plans. That seems to give Emma something to think about. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">The next morning, Emma gets Avery and Tracy coffee and breakfast as they admire the lace Paolo’s grandmother made for her but that Emma not got to wear. Their car comes and so they say their goodbyes before Emma goes to face a new day. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">And despite the angst in her own relationship, Emma convinces Lily and Matteo to give each other a chance. So Matteo surprises Lily on her morning walk and they lay their baggage out for each other. Matteo has been working to get over his model ex-girlfriend and the fact she got married. Lily reveals that she’s always been considered the weird kid and that has usually eventually caused boyfriends to leave her. Matteo asks her to take their relationship one date at a time and she agrees. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAao_644vUnZhT2puOpkVNNR6n979yj4c0l9JlS2ECNhNimxkQeKbVzV2gCXWufudNQhWsbF7vdTo-fLlXlbPwq3vS_N26rAuajlLcAT76N-8zp9xDCmux3pWS6kGaWptxah84yt6UqOQzR8KGXEB50jpNLQit5OYYqUQ2y96fkzZpjRjMCB9v1_kKCk/s437/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="437" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAao_644vUnZhT2puOpkVNNR6n979yj4c0l9JlS2ECNhNimxkQeKbVzV2gCXWufudNQhWsbF7vdTo-fLlXlbPwq3vS_N26rAuajlLcAT76N-8zp9xDCmux3pWS6kGaWptxah84yt6UqOQzR8KGXEB50jpNLQit5OYYqUQ2y96fkzZpjRjMCB9v1_kKCk/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #b76e79;"><p>Nancy comes into Emma’s office and tells Emma that she needs to fire someone to make budget. She recommends a professor but Emma protests, saying that the professor is good but has had some childcare issues. Nancy’s recommendation stands so Emma says she is going to fire herself. She apologizes to Nancy but says she realizes she doesn’t want to the be the chair after all.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">To her surprise, Nancy is relieved and says it took Emma long enough to realize it. Apparently Nancy isn’t exactly the worst. She knew that if she had told Emma that she would not like being the chair, Emma would not take it well. So she decided to just make Emma so miserable she decided not to take the job. That is a stupid plan that could’ve backfired on Nancy and the university spectacularly. Emma is stubborn and was dedicated to getting the position but I don’t think Nancy went about it the right way. At all. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">I wish we could let this trope die. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">A relieved and determined Emma returns home and is packing when a panicked Paolo enters their room. He looks heartbroken when he sees her suitcase and he asks if she’s leaving him. She shakes her head and hugs him as she tells him she was going to fly to Italy to find him. Emma promises that she will never leave him. They continue to share an embrace, pretty sure the crisis has been averted. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiww7O0hmabZ7xda6yJGYHmqePryxePWPfO3Kf9etCPlWVcblK6vmUG7Wn9q___idHEVXxeXECPPcQyXCKfT5zMl6VtVM6BYSuwZErstO1C-qrfjSWphMN-gzuDN5r_yA6V-bO3jJvwR2VpJjD0bVQFH9gCp-y58J5k26_9FsZAA0A53GhTc_Pqm-Gm5DQ/s845/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%206.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="845" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiww7O0hmabZ7xda6yJGYHmqePryxePWPfO3Kf9etCPlWVcblK6vmUG7Wn9q___idHEVXxeXECPPcQyXCKfT5zMl6VtVM6BYSuwZErstO1C-qrfjSWphMN-gzuDN5r_yA6V-bO3jJvwR2VpJjD0bVQFH9gCp-y58J5k26_9FsZAA0A53GhTc_Pqm-Gm5DQ/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Inspiration%206.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma and Paolo sit in the backyard around the firepit. He is amazed that Nancy isn’t the worst after all and Emma reveals that she quit her job. She takes her five year plan – minus the part about marrying Paolo – and burns it, saying it’s time to come up with a new plan. And if that means moving to Italy, then she’s willing to do that for him. Besides, she can continue her videos now as Everybody’s Favorite Art Historian. Paolo is just happy that she’s happy…and then amazed when she tells him that Matteo and Lily are dating. She reminds him that they did leave the veil in the shop and it appears to have worked its magic again. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">And so we jump forward to Lily and Mateo’s wedding. Emma and Paolo serve as the matron of honor and best man, clapping as the happy couple shares a kiss. Lily is wearing the veil and a rather cute short dress. It fits her style perfectly. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma meets up with Avery and Tracy, who seem to be invited on principle at this point. They tease Tracy about the fact she still hasn’t gone on her honeymoon yet and she promises that it will happen. With all the time jumps, I’m not sure how long it’s been since the end of <em>The Wedding Veil Legacy</em>, but I assume it’s at least two years. But it is the set up for the next movie so we just have to hold tight a bit longer. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Tracy will be taking the veil back home with her. It’s time to pass it on to some of Nick’s sisters. Avery then asks about the christening gown but Emma says she’s going to hold onto that because she’s going to need it in about eight months. Avery and Tracy realize Emma is pregnant and they hug her before waving to Paolo, who realizes they know the good news. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">And so they make their traditional toast to the veil – with Emma drinking something nonalcoholic. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">The movie again ends with Emma and Paolo recapping their love story for a camera crew. And they continue to just be the sweetest. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b76e79;">*****</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b76e79;">This movie was an emotional rollercoaster for me. As I’ve said, Emma and Paolo are my favorite couple and I was so worried they were going to break up. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">But I should’ve known that there would be a happy ending. It is a Hallmark movie, after all. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">I do wish we had gotten to see more of Paolo but I loved how romantic he was even when on another continent. He and Emma continue to have the sweetest bond. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">I also loved the relationship between Matteo and Lily. I feel like this movie gave them more time than the secondary couple in the previous movie. We really got to know both of them and watch them fall in love. I think this one found the best balance between the two romances. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">The only thing I didn’t really like was the twist with the head of the department. Do we really need a plot where one woman essentially makes life hell for another one to prove that this isn’t what she wanted? They could’ve kept the whole “Emma would be too stubborn to realize Nancy is right” but just had Nancy let her really experience the workload without insulting Emma’s wardrobe or saying she couldn’t make the videos. It was just too icky to me. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">But otherwise, another great movie. So let’s now finish the trilogy with Tracy and Nick’s second movie – <em>The Wedding Veil Journey</em>. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">See you then! </span></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-79318947773674111472024-02-13T12:00:00.001-05:002024-02-13T12:00:00.140-05:00The Wedding Veil Expectations: All Great Plans...<p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> After the success of the original Wedding Veil trilogy, Hallmark ordered another trilogy to make it a series. Once again, we’ll follow our original heroines – Avery (Lacey Chabert), Emma (Autumn Reeser) and Tracy (Alison Sweeney) as they navigate married life. And the veil comes along as well to continue working its magic on some brand new couples.</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Once again, we start with Avery and the next chapter of her life. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFoCruZLZpbjhOJl6Zd6Om3lA8cTy5yPbLpvYJnE3gpvODoIyuW8MC1XcDsJYtUMCEIiX0-qu-aLmQiOzzJW8-qNrPlZ4tk9OIZZEUqD_qnj9fiGO6D_x1Jv4yY-LIBw9RaD-wRC7ELoxdN6DY-d1Q2AnWsA_2xwt6wriMpO-7m_LhTSRhSWksYvLCEM/s810/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFoCruZLZpbjhOJl6Zd6Om3lA8cTy5yPbLpvYJnE3gpvODoIyuW8MC1XcDsJYtUMCEIiX0-qu-aLmQiOzzJW8-qNrPlZ4tk9OIZZEUqD_qnj9fiGO6D_x1Jv4yY-LIBw9RaD-wRC7ELoxdN6DY-d1Q2AnWsA_2xwt6wriMpO-7m_LhTSRhSWksYvLCEM/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%201.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><p>When the world outside’s too much to take/that all ends when I’m SPOILERS!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>We get a glimpse at how married life is treating Avery and her husband Peter Hastings (Kevin McGarry). He wakes her up with a rose and they are pretty sweet together. They have just bought a new house which is historical, something right up their alley. But it has some issues so his mom has recommended a contractor to look it over and find what needs to be fixed.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">But first Avery has a girls’ weekend with Emma and Tracy planned. Tracy has also brought the veil while Emma came with Claudia’s christening gown, the one she and Paolo found in Arianna’s trunk. These items are for an exhibit on lace that Avery is doing at the museum. Emma jokes that maybe they should start passing around the christening gown but Tracy says kids are not in her future. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPq1X06_fqIbKJMLjJ9AZvawyzSFMHx2MsHg5J1CxUMLE8_qBixZmYQvqjAux_CAlT8oj1aj8TRLmFvfI0BAHgQ5JvXPm5cKMkFogxQv0oGWwlTkTTxuJ2BZVeDPQs0DZ8yeyDXcSH9Po4ULbWWBdvrykFo3RITEiaZUz8cUf53IIE85WVGzBubNCUCw/s663/Wedding%20Veil%20Expections%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="663" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPq1X06_fqIbKJMLjJ9AZvawyzSFMHx2MsHg5J1CxUMLE8_qBixZmYQvqjAux_CAlT8oj1aj8TRLmFvfI0BAHgQ5JvXPm5cKMkFogxQv0oGWwlTkTTxuJ2BZVeDPQs0DZ8yeyDXcSH9Po4ULbWWBdvrykFo3RITEiaZUz8cUf53IIE85WVGzBubNCUCw/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Expections%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">They may be in Avery’s future though. She says she got a positive test a few months ago but it turned out to be false. However, she’s late and another home pregnancy test came out positive. But she’s waiting for her doctor to confirm before she tells Peter so he doesn’t get his hopes dashed again. She swears her friends to secrecy before they leave again.</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Avery and Peter meet Sam (Doron Bell), the contractor, and it turns out that their house is going to need lots of work. Peter seems to be reconsidering their purchase (and did they not get a report from an engineer before buying it?) while Avery remains optimistic that they can make their house their home. They also have the help of Peter’s mom Grace (Karen Kruper), who was an interior designer before she married Peter’s dad so she is excited to help. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Grace and Avery go shopping together to look at couches. While there, Avery asks Grace to hold the veil for her while she takes a call. Grace spots a man by the door and wants to leave, confusing Avery. She explains the man was her former fiancé, the man she was going to marry before Peter’s father, Daniel. But he has spotted him and comes up to say hi. Clark (Barry Levy) and Grace seem to hit it off and Avery can’t help but notice that she’s holding the veil. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Avery makes it to work and adds the veil to her exhibit. Lucy (Fiona Vroom) stops in to see her. They both reveal that Sondra from the first movie has gotten a new job and moved on to another museum. And even though Avery became a full curator in the first movie, it seems the board decided to hire someone else to run the museum – though she doesn’t seem to mind that. She hasn’t met the new director but Lucy is clearly not a fan as she heads back to her work. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Meanwhile, Avery tries to make an appointment with her doctor but he is out of town. So it looks like she will need to wait another week to find out if she’s pregnant or not. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Avery then meets her new boss, Mason Sylvester (Oliver Rice), and it’s clear that their visions for the center clash. He’s more focused on modern art while she’s more classical. And he’s not a fan of the veil or the lace exhibit, saying the portrait of Arianna is old hat now. Avery tries to stand up for it but knows the decision is ultimately up to him. And he makes it clear that he doesn’t care that her husband is a board member. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">(Later it is revealed that Mason insisted on complete creative control so the Board can’t interfere in the exhibits he selects for the museum, which seems like a really stupid decision on behalf of the board). </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">(Of course, I’m probably biased. I really don’t like modern art so the fact Mason is all about it makes me like him even less). </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Tracy also knows Mason and is not a fan so she warns Avery to be careful. She and Emma ask Avery if she’s gotten confirmation about her pregnancy. Avery says it will happen soon. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Don’t worry they aren’t going to make us wait the entire movie to find out the answer – Avery is pregnant! Yay! </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Now she just has to tell Peter. But she wants to do it in a very special way. Avery decides to get a reservation at their favorite restaurant and visits Mario (Marco Soriano) to set it up. Since she doesn’t want anyone to know about the pregnancy just yet, she lies that she and Peter have made an important car purchase and want to celebrate. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">That was really the best lie you could come up with, Avery? </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">We then start a series of unfortunate events where all of Avery’s attempts to tell Peter she is pregnant keep getting ruined. Her dinner gets pushed back so she and Peter can go to dinner with Grace and Clarke. Peter is definitely not cool with his mother dating again. At all. Then a pipe bursts in the house and so they have to spend the night in a hotel. Avery books them the honeymoon suite and is prepared to tell him the news but Peter is too tired from dealing from the burst pipe. He just ends up falling asleep on her. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I don’t know who I feel for more in this scene – Avery or Peter. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTk8y8lamJrELx9u2DAfyPs5r7qjzToJFraRZEQ6vkE93mZGJDfIE6VPdlLdOX53BXS3_y1okEBVoS8oxm64W0WkC0R94qFyEpT1bricEJVt4WC_7oqngNMSNr-WvWHZZGR6fzqbuRELuxKb5tiZ4aLsdVnKqdBLw7hQnEzN4NiQxzRFdQ42Uem5Xq0x4/s1500/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTk8y8lamJrELx9u2DAfyPs5r7qjzToJFraRZEQ6vkE93mZGJDfIE6VPdlLdOX53BXS3_y1okEBVoS8oxm64W0WkC0R94qFyEpT1bricEJVt4WC_7oqngNMSNr-WvWHZZGR6fzqbuRELuxKb5tiZ4aLsdVnKqdBLw7hQnEzN4NiQxzRFdQ42Uem5Xq0x4/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><p>Meanwhile, Grace and Carter keep getting closer but this mostly happens off screen. So just know that they are falling in love and Peter is not thrilled by it. It will become important later.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Peter is also stressed about a proposal to bring an art program to Boston schools. His day to present keeps getting pushed back and he works to make sure it is powerful and convincing, ultimately deciding to bring some of the students already benefitting from the program to speak before the board. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">House renovations are still underway. Avery finds a room that she feels is perfect for the nursery and starts spending time in it, daydreaming of what it will be. Sam notices it and tells Grace that Avery really likes that room. Grace starts to put things together. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Avery is also frustrated by Mason, who is determined to get rid of the more romantic and classical paintings and replace them with Modern Art. He also drinks a rather strong coffee drink that turns Avery’s stomach thanks to morning sickness. She does her best to get away from him while still making it clear that she prefers the paintings he wants to do away with. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">So Emma and Tracy pay a visit to Boston to help her. Mason seems surprised to see that Avery knows Tracy and it’s clear he’s a little afraid of her. But it doesn’t stop him from being rather condescending to all three of them when they try to praise the veil and he realizes they all have worn it. I’m not sure pointing out that Emma married into the family that made it would’ve made it better but maybe he would’ve felt that to be rude and kept his opinions to himself. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TJwZcm-1Ta5E6PPhAHjOZOltTITFJ_K1V_jo-vFc_grBRwJHzF5PfonT97Fv1SuKK2oU6DJfUj1sAvzspoWhShXenvcmgGdGdkBlSIsQCyuQIJ0diVx9W7z-LoFgw0sm_Xxzan8sXkxneHnkv8eWlWbfYRuvfTlWBt-Xr1rh1QsKspuiEF60vSNmihU/s1000/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TJwZcm-1Ta5E6PPhAHjOZOltTITFJ_K1V_jo-vFc_grBRwJHzF5PfonT97Fv1SuKK2oU6DJfUj1sAvzspoWhShXenvcmgGdGdkBlSIsQCyuQIJ0diVx9W7z-LoFgw0sm_Xxzan8sXkxneHnkv8eWlWbfYRuvfTlWBt-Xr1rh1QsKspuiEF60vSNmihU/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><p>Thinking it over, I finally figured out what bothers me the most about him. He mocks them for having an emotional connection to the veil and to the portrait. Yes, maybe it does prevent them – especially Avery – from being more objective. But art is supposed to evoke an emotional connection in us. He needs to find a good balance between pieces that are thought-provoking and creating an emotional response.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Anyway, Emma and Tracy cheer Avery up before leaving – even if they did enjoy teasing her about her sudden love of pineapple pizza. She did also have to lie to Mario that the big news she wanted to tell Peter was that they were getting a new SUV. Mario surprisingly buys it despite how obvious it is that she is clearly lying. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Peter grows more and more frustrated by the renovations and when he loses his cool one day, Avery flees the house tears. He chases after her and she finally tells him that she is pregnant. At first he is surprised and then overjoyed. They celebrate in their rather nice backyard before realizing that everything will work out. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-Nh_6qe0WvO_ZS8z8H022qYaNNX7ys5gNx6HcSsPUUF3kTVf76PG-QB9pqRoWyZQF6FcH4NXdDLEXXU0nhUfYAV3U1fAF8GEtQgulcqBizwDRWYCkri_YX-ZvLkur1X55rOEa3-oQ3GgJpQJeLbEmCu8B8OwbvhypiMGbgLd6Eod_BhOR1eOzcMbyAY/s1600/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-Nh_6qe0WvO_ZS8z8H022qYaNNX7ys5gNx6HcSsPUUF3kTVf76PG-QB9pqRoWyZQF6FcH4NXdDLEXXU0nhUfYAV3U1fAF8GEtQgulcqBizwDRWYCkri_YX-ZvLkur1X55rOEa3-oQ3GgJpQJeLbEmCu8B8OwbvhypiMGbgLd6Eod_BhOR1eOzcMbyAY/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><p>Things at home get better and Sam stops running into issues. Everything starts to fall in place just as things seem to get worse at work for Avery. Mason has made a deal to send <i>Portrait of a Bride</i> to Europe in exchange for a modern art piece called <i>Traffic</i>, by an artist that is considered “hot.” We never see the painting but it’s clear from Avery’s face that she’s not a fan though she tries to be diplomatic. Mason pretty much tells her they need to chase the next “big” thing and not be so romantic.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">So Avery vents to her friends, talking about her pregnancy as well – which she has been keeping from Mason because frankly, she doesn’t have to tell him anything. But he overhears and she finally unloads on him, saying that being a romantic is not a bad thing and that sometimes a museum needs balance. She then storms off to be sick. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Meanwhile, Grace starts to get scared and gently breaks things off with Clarke. She claims she isn’t as ready to move on as she thought and she believes Peter and Avery need her more. They can just be friends. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Peter’s proposal goes well and he just needs to wait for approval. He and Avery relax as they watch the news. Sam comments on how much he loves the reporter, Fred Carruthers (Kevin Mundy). Fred is a big fan of history and often advocates for preserving it. Sam apparently knows Fred and Avery asks for his contact information as she gets an idea. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Fred comes down and films a piece on the lace exhibit as well as <i>Portrait of a Bride</i>. Avery mentions that the people of Boston won’t be able to see the painting much longer since it will be on its way to another museum. Mason watches and I’m not sure if he’s impressed by her determination or annoyed by her antics. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">But it works! Their gala is sold out as people come to see the painting and the exhibit. It seems the solution wasn’t really shaking things up and turning to modern art. They just needed to, you know, market their exhibits and do publicity. I know the board ceded total creative control to Mason but certainly they could use this to give him some pointers on how to do the rest of his job. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwxaJeCkwbNmAeL5zmWEiVkXQO2chyphenhyphencyokGmM-s8MDxXEyI-pKSpiQ7DMgmW9DLCnfi8gmkoGTr9CNoTFUPQjltgcg1uHTg_mS8ZuSUsx2mnrgos0kk2DN-m9pUlVCQB-iCE_rjjArYTt2NYItOo-ANGlUEFV_n_EsErDvHn0i0n7kG8CaTsxUYo1XEI/s300/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwxaJeCkwbNmAeL5zmWEiVkXQO2chyphenhyphencyokGmM-s8MDxXEyI-pKSpiQ7DMgmW9DLCnfi8gmkoGTr9CNoTFUPQjltgcg1uHTg_mS8ZuSUsx2mnrgos0kk2DN-m9pUlVCQB-iCE_rjjArYTt2NYItOo-ANGlUEFV_n_EsErDvHn0i0n7kG8CaTsxUYo1XEI/s1600/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%206.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><p>(Mason does also say that the painting can stay. Hurray!)</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">After the gala, Peter and Avery tell Grace about the pregnancy. She is over the moon to become a grandmother. Peter also tells her that she should continue to see Clarke, that she deserves to be happy as well and that he knows her moving on doesn’t mean she loved his father any less. It seems to be just what she needs to hear as Avery and Peter look forward to building their family in their beautiful house. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">So cut to some months later…</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Grace marries Clarke while wearing the veil! Avery and Peter are their witnesses. And of course, Emma and Tracy are there too. They are thrilled that the veil brought another couple together. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoPpw93M9L1M3Inw95ZsiuPYJkYP7idXg3gkhVjL8Qw5HaSbOkWkIZ9nozzlDjKymahtHaOdsFUz9DBH83MV_1lPQsolkMMezk5oaNePvuCK8SuQG7ADBJjUYG9o0soa7Zf5CVUcsWRZvrtfRb6BkI-82E7zo8XtNAYtxgGebazAEJ7h4jO_NkPd4DuQ/s1024/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoPpw93M9L1M3Inw95ZsiuPYJkYP7idXg3gkhVjL8Qw5HaSbOkWkIZ9nozzlDjKymahtHaOdsFUz9DBH83MV_1lPQsolkMMezk5oaNePvuCK8SuQG7ADBJjUYG9o0soa7Zf5CVUcsWRZvrtfRb6BkI-82E7zo8XtNAYtxgGebazAEJ7h4jO_NkPd4DuQ/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><p>Avery then brings her friends up to see their godson, little Daniel. Emma and Tracy are over the moon and Emma hopes she has a child with Paolo soon. Tracy, though, is happy to stay childfree. So instead, her friends point out that she hasn’t taken a honeymoon yet and she says she and Nick will do it when they have more time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqkCr-f0aHAko5Y5ocXolA2uJm1GeqajIfWBozYrkw0m6wirGJI3oQYNMw8YnB4p8z25Em-S3nvgq-MGHGqT-zQLQgaaH5ZQxjaLrAdtvsDSC81c6bN1jPfrIBNUOht2Q9JhBMC8JR8VG8Rjasl47ZFkqsQdeUrepS6yAbbdgxG_5rJU-tP80GEBldEU/s1024/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqkCr-f0aHAko5Y5ocXolA2uJm1GeqajIfWBozYrkw0m6wirGJI3oQYNMw8YnB4p8z25Em-S3nvgq-MGHGqT-zQLQgaaH5ZQxjaLrAdtvsDSC81c6bN1jPfrIBNUOht2Q9JhBMC8JR8VG8Rjasl47ZFkqsQdeUrepS6yAbbdgxG_5rJU-tP80GEBldEU/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%208.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>That will become important later.</p></span><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And so our friends toast to the veil as Avery promises to return the christening gown to Emma. The next story will be hers and I guess we’ll see if she’ll need to use the gown as well. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3kmbrgtoEP7DrIhYH9DFQt_mWnOSgUoLcayMz1-FRd5aspF8MUd39sMO8pky2PYinABB6w9F0OQCtdvaVjADLnFSeAnpONTN5UPurhYtQyjHIF9QuXt6TtBZrFPNmzxdBcv0N1q_ZkmSNpva1TB8skX1Zz9AfZNOD7xQEMHiymAAw-oQ7HdnRwKZiY4/s1024/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3kmbrgtoEP7DrIhYH9DFQt_mWnOSgUoLcayMz1-FRd5aspF8MUd39sMO8pky2PYinABB6w9F0OQCtdvaVjADLnFSeAnpONTN5UPurhYtQyjHIF9QuXt6TtBZrFPNmzxdBcv0N1q_ZkmSNpva1TB8skX1Zz9AfZNOD7xQEMHiymAAw-oQ7HdnRwKZiY4/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Expectations%209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><p>The movie ends with Avery and Peter being interviewed by someone off screen. She recaps the events of the first movie and they end with a kiss. It’s a sweet moment but I’m not sure why it was included here and not in the beginning to serve as a recap of sorts.</p><p style="text-align: center;">*****</p><p>So that was <em>The Wedding Veil Expectations</em>!</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">This was cute though I think a little too busy. I’m not sure we needed all those plots and I think that made it suffer a bit. Grace and Clark hardly got any real development and I think showing them as well as Peter’s issues would’ve been a bit more entertaining than all the missed opportunities for Avery to tell Peter that they’re going to be parents. While making a grand reveal is in character for Avery, it probably could’ve been done sooner and then let everything else stand as is. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Also does anyone still use the clapper? I didn’t mention this but early in the movie, we see Avery and Peter get ready for bed. They get into bed and clap together to turn off their lights. Later in the movie, they get into bed again but they are out of sync with their clapping, resulting in the lights going off and then coming on again. It’s a too-on-the-nose metaphor for the tension between them that probably wasn’t very necessary in the end. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">But Chabert and McGarry continued to have an easy chemistry between them. They were believable as a married couple who have hit a rough patch but come out stronger for it. I wish we got more of Lucy in this movie but I guess it was busy enough. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">So it looks like the veil will be bringing even more couples together in this series! And maybe there’s at least one more pregnancy in the future? Though I do like the idea of Tracy and Nick staying childfree and showing that is a valid option. We don’t see that too often in these types of movies. </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Next time: Emma and Paolo step back into the spotlight as distance may come between them. Uh oh. </span></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-43735883739121282512023-12-18T12:00:00.001-05:002023-12-18T12:00:00.144-05:00“Where Are You Christmas?”: Christmas Makes the World Brighter<p><span style="color: red;">Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas is in full swing and has been since October 20th. As they do every year, they introduce many new movies to add to their collection and I like to try to review at least one before the New Year.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">And here it is! </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">We start with the classic trope of hardworking city woman returns to her small town and learns the true meaning of Christmas while falling in love. But there is a twist in how she learns her lesson. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRi7m6-x5O5cHOyUtNcKRf6la5GWdbm2fMvCrJeW88tOCipS31q570j_xgRsb6PmmE9qw-LfgFpwLqTK8mMSiVC0k-w8gLGfRmVdF90pjCH_xx4ARg7DGCExwPJ6Iigp1IJBaPPTalMnVIFapc-MbNcWnZoQV2uldaxcZERlYUHKPRcjUS7NYJOspcQ4/s2700/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRi7m6-x5O5cHOyUtNcKRf6la5GWdbm2fMvCrJeW88tOCipS31q570j_xgRsb6PmmE9qw-LfgFpwLqTK8mMSiVC0k-w8gLGfRmVdF90pjCH_xx4ARg7DGCExwPJ6Iigp1IJBaPPTalMnVIFapc-MbNcWnZoQV2uldaxcZERlYUHKPRcjUS7NYJOspcQ4/s320/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: red;">My world is changing/I’m rearranging/Does that mean Christmas SPOILERS</span></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="color: red;">Addy (Lyndsy Fonseca) lives in Chicago and works on promotional campaigns. Her latest one is an app encouraging people to make their Christmas wishes so they can get what they want for Christmas. And companies can make lots of money. All Addy wants for Christmas is a trip to somewhere nice and tropical, which her best friend and colleague Suma (Joanna Carpenter) supports. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ8K_ecQjyXvUYX32TukvxArzQ8ncMU7DUEFWGZITWoZ4YxHBvluGAS3RN8OmGw1yZZh1Y3adYfM6FKe1WK7uzRMRQqhG-0Y8OPq6y1uYC3LJHs8T4XF0l5PLetmpDJey90KQE2bCMK4SZTJsBj1TdeSY8gOHdmCXXGFFWxNtNoRHUGzSsTOs2bdNKUE/s2000/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas%204.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ8K_ecQjyXvUYX32TukvxArzQ8ncMU7DUEFWGZITWoZ4YxHBvluGAS3RN8OmGw1yZZh1Y3adYfM6FKe1WK7uzRMRQqhG-0Y8OPq6y1uYC3LJHs8T4XF0l5PLetmpDJey90KQE2bCMK4SZTJsBj1TdeSY8gOHdmCXXGFFWxNtNoRHUGzSsTOs2bdNKUE/s320/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas%204.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red;"><p>But then gets a call from her brother, Connor (Andrew David Bridges), calls her. He asks her to come home for Christmas because he is planning on proposing to his girlfriend. So Addy agrees and just decides to push her trip back. She is a bit reluctant to head home to her small town, saying it’s very Christmas crazy. But she will do it for her brother.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: red;">So Addy heads home and her mother Sharon (Julie Warner) is thrilled to see her. Her father Nick (Jim O’Heir) isn’t so thrilled and seems to avoid her. Sharon tries to brush it off as everyone being busy with Christmas coming – especially since Nick runs a charity that gives gifts to veterans and their families. But Addy can’t help but feel like an outsider. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">She also runs into her childhood best friend Dana (Mandi Masden), who makes her promise to come to the Christmas pageant at the school on Christmas Eve. Addy promises, knowing it’s important to her friend. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">However, she experiences some issues with her car so she goes to the gas station to check in with her old mechanic. But she learns he has died and his grandson Hunter (Michael Rady) has taken over. He’s somewhat antisocial and has a lot of cars but listens to her car. It sounds fine but he says she can bring it back another day and he’ll take a look at it. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDssS4xAK4cRHY1W0zph1zjS6Cs2HR-7Jsu0YAPXjyweMe2mpDtGJGf_dxev0a_k_GfQ2AXERUsdEy_yK8GUWvAv3fVPBohjvCGZ2sWWnzjsf5Gd-k6yvjGhEm1FyVRxK62KoffJj0Iqaf5PGJea7TNlmR0yvp_7Zj6HwuTEWHGK39FVVFG1IeUoym_4/s1200/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDssS4xAK4cRHY1W0zph1zjS6Cs2HR-7Jsu0YAPXjyweMe2mpDtGJGf_dxev0a_k_GfQ2AXERUsdEy_yK8GUWvAv3fVPBohjvCGZ2sWWnzjsf5Gd-k6yvjGhEm1FyVRxK62KoffJj0Iqaf5PGJea7TNlmR0yvp_7Zj6HwuTEWHGK39FVVFG1IeUoym_4/s320/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas%206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red;"><p>Dinner that night is tense and Addy continues to feel like an outsider in her own house. She also isn’t feeling the Christmas spirit even as she finds her own journals talking about Christmas and her past feelings. Her Santa app comes to life and she wishes that Christmas didn’t exist.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: red;">Uh oh. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Sharon wakes up Addy and asks her to get another Christmas tree for the house. Addy drags herself out of bed and makes the drive. But her car starts to act up and she ends up spinning off the road, crashing into a tree. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">It’s always a car crash, isn’t it? </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Addy comes to and everything is black and white. She is disoriented as Hunter rescues her, saying he saw her car from the road. He promises to get fix it as Addy realizes everything is black and white. She asks if things look different to him and he says no. He asks if she needs medical help but she insists she just needs to go home. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">When she gets home, everything is still in black and white but even more confusing. Addy’s house looked like Christmas threw up inside it but all that is gone. She asks what happened to the Christmas decorations but no one in her family knows what Christmas is. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Looks like Addy really did wish Christmas out of existence. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Uh oh. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Everyone is concerned about Addy because she insists things don’t look right and keep asking about something called Christmas. So Addy finally agrees to go see the town doctor. Dr. Rago (Mitch Poulos) says nothing is wrong with her and she feels even more confused. But she asks him about his daughter and he says that he and his daughter don’t talk. He orders Addy to leave and she does. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">She runs into Dana again but this time she is stressed and grumpy. Addy asks about the Christmas Pageant and Dana thinks she’s crazy. She snaps at Addy, saying she needs the upcoming Winter Break to be alone and to focus on herself. She does enough for the parents and students and isn’t appreciated so why would she do anything additional? </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Dana storms off as Addy realizes everyone is grumpier and meaner to each other without Christmas. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Addy goes to check on her car and tries to get inside but finds that Hunter has locked the door. She knocks and demands to be let in. Hunter does it and she starts ranting but he shuts her down, snapping about how stressed and busy he is and so doesn’t have time for her delusion. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">She steps back and apologizes before handing him a ring. Addy says she found it in her car and thinks he dropped it when he looked at it the other day. Hunter takes it and we enter a flashback. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Color returns as the garage is decorated for Christmas. Hunter is dressed in Army fatigues as he talks with his grandfather ahead of his deployment. His grandfather says he is proud of him and gives Hunter his ring to wear. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">We return to the present day as Hunter recalls that Christmas. He then wonders how he could forget Christmas before he returns to color, looking odd in a black and white world. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPD8DHo1qBy3uLRHwqqz10bvR6k4oUJcHwFny9A4nV2v9ekiUsVnV_26pEgjDicsPcV8LgJ42IsuE7D2agOGuox-Rc4pZa8OUO3NwWqwjKBl08Mbh0uO-thscI38gpoAwfvOXVIDRgSdUc-f-JHxCLr1ITWIuti3Ni6azbHxNcwvXogwfrE5qkDlP3OQ/s1500/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1500" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPD8DHo1qBy3uLRHwqqz10bvR6k4oUJcHwFny9A4nV2v9ekiUsVnV_26pEgjDicsPcV8LgJ42IsuE7D2agOGuox-Rc4pZa8OUO3NwWqwjKBl08Mbh0uO-thscI38gpoAwfvOXVIDRgSdUc-f-JHxCLr1ITWIuti3Ni6azbHxNcwvXogwfrE5qkDlP3OQ/s320/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red;"><p>Addy, though, is thrilled. She figures she just has to remind people of Christmas and they’ll turn back. She asks Hunter to help her but he says he’s been trying to hide from everyone. Being in color is just going to make him stand out more. So he’s just going to lock himself in his office instead.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: red;">Hunter needs more Christmas spirit, if you ask me. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Anyway, Addy decides to go around town trying to remind people of Christmas by singing <i>Jingle Bells</i>. All she achieves is going viral – at least in her town, which appears to be cut off from the rest of the world as she can’t reach Suma no matter how hard she tries. Her family is worried about her but her father and brother are also concerned as Addy goes to bed, hoping she can find a way to restore Christmas before, well, Christmas. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">In the morning, Addy and Nick have another fight. She then has a fight with her brother, who says she always upends things when she visits. He asks why she even came and she reminds him that he invited her because he’s proposing to his girlfriend. Connor has no clue what she’s talking about, saying he and Sienna have a good relationship and don’t need it to change. He pretty much tells her to butt out of their lives.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Addy, though, is determined to save Christmas. She goes to visit Hunter, who is bundled up so people can’t see he is in color. Addy convinces him to come with her to visit her friend Dana at the school, thinking she knows how to restore Christmas. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Addy visits Dana at school, who is a bit suspicious of Hunter. She and Addy apologize before Addy tries to remind her of Christmas, getting Hunter to reveal he is in color. Dana is shocked to see it. Addy then hands her a sweater and Dana remembers making it with her mother as a memory plays. Dana then remembers Christmas and turns back to color as well. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Dana agrees to help restore Christmas and vows to get started on the pageant right away. Addy is pleased to have someone else on their side and leaves with Hunter to continue her mission. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Hunter and Addy go get a Christmas tree for his house and decorate it as he explains how being in the army and seeing war changed him. He retreated to his cabin and shut out the world, including his grandfather – and so he wasn’t there when his grandfather died. But he’s now willing to open up again and let himself interact with others. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Addy is touched and she helps him decorate his tree. She helps him make an ornament and recalls making ornaments with her mother. That gives her an idea and she heads back home. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">When she gets home, she asks her mother to do an arts and craft project with her. They make ornaments and Sharon remembers making ornaments with little Addy, including a special stamp they would put on their ornaments. She regains her color as she remembers Christmas. She realizes they need to decorate for the holiday. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">They decorate for Christmas but Nick and Connor are not pleased when they get home. Nick tells Sharon to take it all down and Connor yells at Addy about how she’s created chaos yet again. They leave and Sharon comforts Addy. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Meanwhile, Dana has spread the Christmas cheer and more people know remember. Mayor Matt (Alvin Keith) still doesn’t and says that the town council has passed an ordinance pretty much banning Christmas decorations. He reveals that Addy’s father has led the charge, disheartening her. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Hunter, though, keeps supporting her and helps her as she helps Connor remember. She brings him to the jewelry store and the clerk gives him the engagement ring he bought. We see how he met Sienna (Melanie Sutrathada) on Christmas Eve right after she moved into town. He escorts her to the pageant and the rest, as they, say is history. Connor remembers and his color returns. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">By this point, even the mayor has gotten his color back and Nick is not pleased that he’s still in a Grinchy minority. Addy tries to talk with him but nothing seems to work. She makes him more angry. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Christmas Eve arrives and almost everyone is in color except for Addy and Nick. They have a big heart-to-heart where he confesses that he feels like she’s pushed him out of her life, like she’s embarrassed of him. That whenever they visit her, she’s always sending them on things to do and never letting them meet her friends or experience her life. She apologizes, saying that’s what she thought they wanted to do. But she promises that she loves them and that she will do better to include them in her life. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Nick and Addy make their way to the Christmas pageant where Dana calls Connor up. He proposes to Sienna, who says yes and regains her color as she remembers Christmas. Sharon is overjoyed but Nick is a little upset that he just watched his son get engaged but still can’t accept Christmas. Addy assures him that they will figure it out together before she realizes that Dr. Rago is sitting with his daughter, both in color. Everything is good with them again – even if she is still a terrible cook. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjow9T8qQ6CopOy3loqGKEOKHjFTDr5DV0VZISEuOUowTuSJ7DKbA8te-7q5ny8Zt_b2s-Q2cD2pAXv8Z7unuot7coH-YwAMyTpUggVMsgjoHlwki5_xZ4uiRtub0mHLvwH_kdKsvwq0ZQTKslG4o8bersTM5JXm1A8LXLbN_m1-X9zsBgW2qUo3LEEAv8/s900/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="900" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjow9T8qQ6CopOy3loqGKEOKHjFTDr5DV0VZISEuOUowTuSJ7DKbA8te-7q5ny8Zt_b2s-Q2cD2pAXv8Z7unuot7coH-YwAMyTpUggVMsgjoHlwki5_xZ4uiRtub0mHLvwH_kdKsvwq0ZQTKslG4o8bersTM5JXm1A8LXLbN_m1-X9zsBgW2qUo3LEEAv8/s320/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red;"><p>The pageant ends and Hunter gets up to say that the town has managed to pull together to make sure there are plenty of toys for Nick’s foundation for veterans. Everyone thanks Nick for all his hard work and he finally turns back to color as Christmas returns for him.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpfLr1dx8A9lHHhIrZHgXprlHJqrm2mTOjzJXvPRQaBQYV_XXIPMhkkS2TicJ6PpZer_xon2nx6MuJcN0yA76VpmBIezH5CjgDxl5U9zMlIpQe3J_d9RRK_fXWYyyAr1HMpyTNgDQUXSt17dH1kJBOZTIb0X6N7dmFRo9bamYWGmknIFoJJ18_39QYJU/s663/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="663" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpfLr1dx8A9lHHhIrZHgXprlHJqrm2mTOjzJXvPRQaBQYV_XXIPMhkkS2TicJ6PpZer_xon2nx6MuJcN0yA76VpmBIezH5CjgDxl5U9zMlIpQe3J_d9RRK_fXWYyyAr1HMpyTNgDQUXSt17dH1kJBOZTIb0X6N7dmFRo9bamYWGmknIFoJJ18_39QYJU/s320/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Everyone heads outside and Hunter gives Addy her keys back, revealing he fixed her car. She thanks him and then kisses him. But when she pulls back, she lets out a groan of frustration and wonders why she is still black and white when she’s doing everything correctly – including kissing him. Hunter is hurt that she just kissed him to turn back and he walks away.</p></span><p><span style="color: red;">Addy decides that she needs to go back to Chicago and climbs in her car, trying to drive away from her hometown as her Santa app taunts her. She tosses the phone out her window before she keeps ending up right back in her town every time she tries to leave the town limits. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">She is stuck. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Returning home, Addy has another heart-to-heart with her father. He tells her that she has always been so focused on what she thinks she should be doing, she’s never really stopped to ask herself what she truly wants from her life. It certainly gives her something to think about. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Addy wakes up on Christmas and is still in black and white. But she celebrates the day, helping her father out with his charity event while wondering if she would get a chance to see Hunter again. Everyone assures her she will but she still has doubts. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Night falls and Addy worries that Hunter has locked himself away again. He tells her that she’s not that good of a kisser, revealing that he came after all. The family makes themselves scarce so Addy and Hunter can talk. </span></p><p><span style="color: red;">She apologizes for what she said about the kiss and confesses that she really likes him. He says he likes her too. Addy reiterates whatever lesson she needed to learn – the magic of Christmas, slowing down and really living her life, appreciating what she has, take your pick – and she turns back to color again. She and Hunter then share a kiss before everyone celebrates. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLe7O7B1dRSSx1AwMfjPo9Wh2pTQGlxYcSzTXIcz5D7IWhgoe0zPc-5n0a3CoXJhmRLx-r2q7nIeOHlW4feD4n0ldL-oUw12ckgvOwdKVEVUdilXuSNn43l-Be5xYPG9_3S8V3ZbpkwKoQ8QJp87JvQPBWNMTVF_0JXNYbP_TaijOIGi7NDRRmpoyHK1M/s1200/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas%209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLe7O7B1dRSSx1AwMfjPo9Wh2pTQGlxYcSzTXIcz5D7IWhgoe0zPc-5n0a3CoXJhmRLx-r2q7nIeOHlW4feD4n0ldL-oUw12ckgvOwdKVEVUdilXuSNn43l-Be5xYPG9_3S8V3ZbpkwKoQ8QJp87JvQPBWNMTVF_0JXNYbP_TaijOIGi7NDRRmpoyHK1M/s320/Where%20are%20you%20Christmas%209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red;"><p>A happy ending for everyone!</p></span><p></p><p></p><hr /><p></p><p><span style="color: red;">So that was <em>Where Are You Christmas?</em>!</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Overall it was a pretty cute movie and a bit different from the others. It still had a lot of the same messages but the way it was delivered was interesting. If you get a chance to see it at least once, I would recommend it. </span></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-39750525108372365212023-09-19T12:00:00.001-04:002023-09-19T12:00:00.158-04:00Summer Movie Round Up<p><span style="color: #fcff01;">Hard to believe it’s already September! It feels like it was just Memorial Day and here we are, getting ready for spooky season and then the holidays.</span></p><p><span style="color: #fcff01;">But before we speed toward 2024, let’s pause and reflect on this past summer. </span></p><p><span style="color: #fcff01;">Namely, the movies. </span></p><p><span style="color: #fcff01;">It was a good summer for movies. I started at least three reviews but never had the time to finish them. So I’ve decided to just do a round up of my thoughts about each movie. </span></p><p><span style="color: #fcff01;">Here we go! </span></p><p><span style="color: #fcff01;">(Beware possible spoilers under the cut). </span></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="color: #fcff01;">We’ll go in the order I watched these movies. </span></p><p><strong><u><span style="color: #15bcbc;">The Little Mermaid</span></u></strong></p><p><strong><u></u></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWA34jVWIEfjjhD3L-ZeXLK-ABBj1jbGV_z4756K6kP8gRNMT0xe788OOk2qCWz1GBrBJDsLEKxjBQCAJ3CFs9GNeM0NQ1PzDiUcgCzWqVGP1A6LKPOFTIQBeRHz2XBDpkvtg-dldunVvwBiRzUoGwKBbL9mOlCKR9mH6E9zATWwp6FO18J48-1FUGZyU/s1481/The%20Little%20Mermaid%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWA34jVWIEfjjhD3L-ZeXLK-ABBj1jbGV_z4756K6kP8gRNMT0xe788OOk2qCWz1GBrBJDsLEKxjBQCAJ3CFs9GNeM0NQ1PzDiUcgCzWqVGP1A6LKPOFTIQBeRHz2XBDpkvtg-dldunVvwBiRzUoGwKBbL9mOlCKR9mH6E9zATWwp6FO18J48-1FUGZyU/s320/The%20Little%20Mermaid%202023.jpg" width="216" /></a></u></strong></div><span style="color: #15bcbc;"><p>I enjoyed this live action remake. I thought it followed enough of the original to evoke that nostalgia but still had enough new material to feel fresh. One of the best additions, in my opinion, was fleshing out Eric and Ariel’s relationship. I liked that they had this great connection and so much in common. Their love story felt more complete this time around.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #15bcbc;">The casting was also superb. Halle Bailey shone as Ariel and I think she has a bright future ahead of her. I look forward to seeing what she does in the future. She also had great chemistry with Jonah Hauer-King, who played Eric, which helped even more. He also breathed new life into Eric and made him even more swoony-worthy. </span></p><p><span style="color: #15bcbc;">Ursula was already an iconic character but Melissa McCarthy elevated her even more. It was clear she enjoyed playing that character so much. And Javier Bardem brought gravitas and emotion to Triton. His scenes with Halle were magnificent. </span></p><p><span style="color: #15bcbc;">Most of the new songs were a good fit with the original ones. I especially liked Eric’s “Wild Unchartered Waters” and Ariel’s “For the First Time.” While “The Scuttlebutt” is okay, I’m not entirely thrilled with it. But it does get stuck in your head. The changes to some existing songs like “Poor Unfortunate Soul” and “Kiss the Girl” are pretty seamless with the originals and don’t really change the nature of the songs. And of the cut songs, I think “Les Poissons” may be the one I missed most but I doubt anyone would’ve been able to live up to Rene Auberjonois’ version. </span></p><p><span style="color: #15bcbc;">You probably heard a lot about this movie and some of it was unpleasant, to say the least. I say to give it a watch and form your own opinion. </span></p><p><strong><u><span style="color: #01ffff;">Elemental</span></u></strong></p><p><span style="color: #01ffff;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmqt9WFSeFwOCAbF46Xch8mRAVQNdzmLiwXNinOm9Is508ls8NL7O6stcLwnWMBysqLGjDvlADd-8_IXb-pi9HJxe0z-raADffrHlmPtMx9SimdbRZpUZG6eYLNZFF94zfyQ859N8P8K1O_eT1tQlPaCb21vGQsGRTJpU-bv3kn5HPRl1FFjEMvPS7sg/s3000/Elemental.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2025" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmqt9WFSeFwOCAbF46Xch8mRAVQNdzmLiwXNinOm9Is508ls8NL7O6stcLwnWMBysqLGjDvlADd-8_IXb-pi9HJxe0z-raADffrHlmPtMx9SimdbRZpUZG6eYLNZFF94zfyQ859N8P8K1O_eT1tQlPaCb21vGQsGRTJpU-bv3kn5HPRl1FFjEMvPS7sg/s320/Elemental.jpg" width="216" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #01ffff;">In the review I started for this, I said that it seemed like Disney had forgotten how to market their films. If you haven’t seen it, can you tell me what it’s about? I bet you can’t. And that’s a shame. It has a rather simple concept but then goes on to explore some complex themes. But even the simple concept would likely have been enough to bring in more audiences if they had known about it. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #01ffff;">It has a lot of popular tropes: Opposites forced to work together, enemies to lovers, and forbidden love. It is an honest-to-God romance and no one likely knew that. I had an idea but I still wouldn’t have been able to tell you much else until I saw it. And the romance is so sweetly done that Ember and Wade deserve to be enshrined with many other Disney romances but likely won’t. </span></p><p><span style="color: #01ffff;">And that’s a shame. </span></p><p><span style="color: #01ffff;">There’s also a lot in the movie about the immigrant experience and how painful excluding others can be. And it’s about having the courage to pursue our own dreams, not the dreams of others. These all combine to make a beautiful movie that again deserved better than it got. </span></p><p><span style="color: #01ffff;">So if you never got a chance to see it, definitely check it out on Disney+. </span></p><p><strong><u></u></strong></p><p><strong><u><strong><u><span style="color: #fe08ac;">Barbie</span></u></strong></u></strong></p><p><strong><u><strong><u></u></strong></u></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><u><strong><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7PgOZNVb9prelnxWp_vNGVo6q43oTq927VSw73xNsrB9RVzH2NWSsI396kVVstEsTGtNyyyzN0UcFgWri4bNVj3AnOfx9PxKd1FRz1-sP7Yh_tFx-5LqeuezjvP7K4yAS7DhJ7lL2NWt77L_SE1dDKH5BLzYFii1C0VAQch-W6q0mlzvkiJP5NK9cwI/s323/Barbie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7PgOZNVb9prelnxWp_vNGVo6q43oTq927VSw73xNsrB9RVzH2NWSsI396kVVstEsTGtNyyyzN0UcFgWri4bNVj3AnOfx9PxKd1FRz1-sP7Yh_tFx-5LqeuezjvP7K4yAS7DhJ7lL2NWt77L_SE1dDKH5BLzYFii1C0VAQch-W6q0mlzvkiJP5NK9cwI/s320/Barbie.jpg" width="218" /></a></u></strong></u></strong></div><p><span style="color: #fe08ac;">This was probably the biggest movie of the year. And I saw it opening weekend. I went with some friends and we were all in pink, much like everyone in the theater. And we all enjoyed ourselves. </span></p><p><span style="color: #fe08ac;">I know a lot has been written about this movie. Most of it positive, some not. But like <em>The Little Mermaid</em>, I encourage you to watch it and form your own opinion on it. </span></p><p><span style="color: #fe08ac;">I’ve said that Barbie has the perfect mix of poignancy and humor. Greta Gerwig put together a movie that will be enjoyed for years to come. Everyone was perfectly cast – Michael Cera looks like an Allan doll come to life – and the music was pitch perfect. America Ferrara deserves to be nominated along with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. </span></p><p><span style="color: #fe08ac;">My only quibble is that I wish they had done a little more with Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt) but I go back and forth on whether we really needed her journey spelled out more or if it’s better to leave it to the audience’s interpretation. And I think that also marks <em>Barbie</em> as a good movie. </span></p><p><strong><u><span style="color: #eadda4;">Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny</span></u></strong></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNFlLAL6dbyt93DwwrVhl7GuiKgsA1ht0E3ug7SyY1-nPG-VKeMDdvf22yKtG2Nm-xnO0MBSeUDSbC5qGMH0k6KV6MdYwM1V6D2QoazziRtiI29zDcCE0UMjdfO7oObJck_J2NBOErxT-9U2n_ONKEKWOUpeV43jGGzhdCPWVsEiMA49GvScyIe4e-U4/s391/Indiana%20Jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNFlLAL6dbyt93DwwrVhl7GuiKgsA1ht0E3ug7SyY1-nPG-VKeMDdvf22yKtG2Nm-xnO0MBSeUDSbC5qGMH0k6KV6MdYwM1V6D2QoazziRtiI29zDcCE0UMjdfO7oObJck_J2NBOErxT-9U2n_ONKEKWOUpeV43jGGzhdCPWVsEiMA49GvScyIe4e-U4/s320/Indiana%20Jones.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><span style="color: #eadda4;"><p>I saw this on my Disney Cruise at the beginning of August, which was fun. I figured since I had the chance, might as well go see it. I never saw <em>Crystal Skull</em> but I’ve seen the other movies so I felt I was pretty set for this one.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #eadda4;">For the most part, I enjoyed it. I did think it lagged in some points and may have been a little too long. But if this is Indy’s farewell, it was a fitting one. I enjoyed Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena and Mads Mikkelsen always makes a good villain. I do wish there had been at least one comment about how Dr. Voller’s plan wouldn’t work even if he managed to go back in time but c’est la vie. </span></p><p><span style="color: #eadda4;">The best parts of course were when Indy got to be Indy. The action scenes were amazing and Harrison was on point as always. He continues to prove why he is such a legend. So if you’re an Indiana Jones fan, definitely go see it. If you’re not, you might be okay bypassing this one. </span></p><p><strong><u><span style="color: #ff00fe;">The Haunted Mansion</span></u></strong></p><p><strong><u></u></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALRTS9B1SvG_YKTk-SRT5n6vYmHg78zQQnLIRIkki1MRGOZljsEBGds-ZjgRRVz1ubi52c5K_snAYI97MfrE4ItHzb8DRWoQ71VLDXET2fXYUOrqaG6E3dNo26mcOz5xmBp4v1M33_Xu94qx2saW8RgAMluLb8X5Yf1IaqK04ZpVYslPs97SKNd4yMLM/s325/The%20Haunted%20Mansion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALRTS9B1SvG_YKTk-SRT5n6vYmHg78zQQnLIRIkki1MRGOZljsEBGds-ZjgRRVz1ubi52c5K_snAYI97MfrE4ItHzb8DRWoQ71VLDXET2fXYUOrqaG6E3dNo26mcOz5xmBp4v1M33_Xu94qx2saW8RgAMluLb8X5Yf1IaqK04ZpVYslPs97SKNd4yMLM/s320/The%20Haunted%20Mansion.jpg" width="217" /></a></u></strong></div><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><p>I also saw this movie on my Disney Cruise, which was a nice treat. That’s certainly a plus for taking a Disney Cruise – we get to see first run movies on the ship. Because as our cruise director said - they own them!</p></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff00fe;">I felt this version of <em>The Haunted Mansion</em> was an improvement over the first one with Eddie Murphy – though The Muppet version is still probably the best. At least this one seemed to have an idea of what it wanted to be and didn’t bounce between genres so fast it caused whiplash. </span></p><p><span style="color: #ff00fe;">This movie is mostly comedic though it has its moments, especially surrounding the 999 not-so-happy haunts in the house. Those familiar with the ride will recognize most of the ghosts. But it’s not just about making references to the ride. A story about grief and depression is woven in as well as well as the power of community. So you may think it looks silly but I encourage you to give it a chance. I think the message will surprise you. </span></p><p><span style="color: #fcff01;">So there you go – my thoughts on some of the movies of the summer. Did you see any of these movies? What did you think? Did you see some big summer movies that I missed? If so, let me know in the comments! </span></p><p><span style="color: #fcff01;">Happy fall! </span></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-42950941277976302242023-07-22T12:00:00.001-04:002023-07-22T12:00:00.143-04:00The Wedding Veil Legacy: Food, History and True Love<p><span style="color: #674ea7;">We’ve seen a beautiful Italian lace veil originally made for the wife of an Italian nobleman bring love to a museum curator and an art history professor. Now it is in the possession of their friend, who works at an auction house. She is firmly a skeptic in the veil’s alleged power to bring the owner true lover Will she change her mind? </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Of course she will. It’s a Hallmark movie. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">How does it happen? Find out in <em>The Wedding Veil Legacy</em>! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLS5zegIC-W2iG2DO11mKYXSV5CcrmsnjiMMTTCne1M95NOLmRic6HOpTxw7ZIhwxmRL7jlExvHHYcFckNGGFV4AokJMyqKdqQxEGLzQGAVfhSta3V1gX_J0W6nWYwhsOjZpvLRQ6h8OjUczUJt-Ss0rMwLbxI7m-5k3zVtRarEfi_WEsl5WRdb1x/s500/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLS5zegIC-W2iG2DO11mKYXSV5CcrmsnjiMMTTCne1M95NOLmRic6HOpTxw7ZIhwxmRL7jlExvHHYcFckNGGFV4AokJMyqKdqQxEGLzQGAVfhSta3V1gX_J0W6nWYwhsOjZpvLRQ6h8OjUczUJt-Ss0rMwLbxI7m-5k3zVtRarEfi_WEsl5WRdb1x/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%201.jpg" width="210" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">I’m so glad you found me in time/And I’m so glad that you’ve rectified my mind/This will be an everlasting SPOILER!</span></p><span style="color: #674ea7;"><a name='more'></a></span><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tracy Goodwyn (Alison Sweeney) returns to New York City from Italy following the events of <em>The Wedding Veil Unveiled</em>. She works in an auction house and specializes in old books and documents, so she’s thrilled when her boss Leland (Gerard Plunkett) tells her they got some new items in that are right up her alley.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Her assistant Stanley (Matty Finochio) asks her about the details of the wedding and then asks if there are wedding bells in her future. Tracy insists she’s happy with her relationship as it is. But she does need to get the veil fixed and asks Stanley to help her find a place that can do that. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Meanwhile, she finds out that her boyfriend Finn (Toby Levins) has an audition with an orchestra that is located in California. She encourages him to go on it but they don’t think he’ll get it. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcM_-c4XTM3pHO1buD-wAxxtwsb-B5MYVlhEsnOCTIkMU5t2QPqjC6QmJ-F204h6K3lwCWF5ZhrINXOT_pdQASUl_Ana02j0LC_LAkPu9GCWoYttdMWhdKQEcU0y-xX2CIYzNjfnAwapRN1lqHYb-yKwBo6KUZjcZUUBUx0O_ZyQqc40tQYPoI09Rz/s401/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="321" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcM_-c4XTM3pHO1buD-wAxxtwsb-B5MYVlhEsnOCTIkMU5t2QPqjC6QmJ-F204h6K3lwCWF5ZhrINXOT_pdQASUl_Ana02j0LC_LAkPu9GCWoYttdMWhdKQEcU0y-xX2CIYzNjfnAwapRN1lqHYb-yKwBo6KUZjcZUUBUx0O_ZyQqc40tQYPoI09Rz/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%202.png" width="256" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">But he does. Which forces a serious conversation between them. Finn wants to take the position and figures Tracy will follow him to California. But she’s happy in New York and doesn’t want to relocate to the West Coast. They realize that their lives are going in different directions and that their relationship has run its course. They part amicably but Tracy is still heartbroken.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Time for her Mr. Right to enter the picture, isn’t it? </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tracy goes to the tailor who can fix the veil, Luigi (Salvatore Vetro). He is busy with another customer, Nick Serchio (Victor Webster), and they are bantering about the Jets and the Giants. Because, you know, New York! (And it seems to finally be autumn rather than the perpetual summer of the other two movies). Tracy picks the Giants to have a good season and Luigi is happy to help her while she banters with Nick. Once Luigi takes the veil, Tracy reveals she is actually a Dolphins fan and Nick feels like she tricked them. </span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">But she just picked the Giants, not said that she was a fan of them. It also makes sense that she would pick the Giants as the Jets play in the same conference as the Dolphins, so she wouldn’t want them to have a good season anyway.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">At work, Tracy admires the new items that have arrived for auction. She’s most impressed with a handwritten early draft of “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus. For those who do not know it, this is a poem that sits affixed on the base of the Statue of Liberty and describes Lady Liberty. You’ve probably heard some of the lines from it: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free/the wretched refuse of your teeming shores/send these/the homeless, tempest-tossed to me/I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tracy doesn’t want something like to just end up in some collection, locked away where people can’t enjoy it and some rich person can just brag they have it. So her boss gives her permission to find a museum willing to acquire it. Tracy is ecstatic. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoOOe02-DQimI0nQHLS3RDkhMkcHQrAsE9oxCnAr0ebHA8b3Jx-l_EC-IqhhHFnA3_68-wHNe6IdUvADj35mMOKLpTpckzABnsqvL9LaNzN54zDIMEHyw2G8qK-3KuNSs_DlAQJvULRs7KVWhZWL1lkCrQAydjw1hAYsWnyRYn0W9AfnENq4yEEaS/s1200/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoOOe02-DQimI0nQHLS3RDkhMkcHQrAsE9oxCnAr0ebHA8b3Jx-l_EC-IqhhHFnA3_68-wHNe6IdUvADj35mMOKLpTpckzABnsqvL9LaNzN54zDIMEHyw2G8qK-3KuNSs_DlAQJvULRs7KVWhZWL1lkCrQAydjw1hAYsWnyRYn0W9AfnENq4yEEaS/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%204.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">But she and Stanley also have to plan a party to show off the items they acquired ahead of the auction. He convinces her to go out to a restaurant to try the food and she goes along.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">This is probably when I should mention that Nick is a chef with a high end New York restaurant. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Nick and his sister Carly (Jordana Largy) are preparing to open a new restaurant, this one an Italian and Asian fusion. It’s an interesting combination and the reason for it will be revealed later. Their family already has a successful Italian restaurant and it is where Stanley takes Tracy. She loves the food and wants them to cater the party…until she meets the chef and realizes it’s Nick. She wants to back out but Stanley convinces her to use the restaurant. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Which of course means they have to spend a lot of time together because of Hallmark movie law. But Sweeney and Webster (both alums of <em>Days of Our Lives</em>) have great chemistry so it’s fun to watch! </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">They have some clashes at first. Both are pretty stubborn and prideful but they soon get past each other’s defenses and learn more about each other. They also start helping each other with work and start building a sweet friendship. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUBEc8A5GwbpvWE9EYt20WfoIeTtHCpTnDhwZFEXkolmZfYLZnnT0jPTXNvJIz47YwoWBmDbXlALOcpHY4xAHYT9Pvvr8lssd1tEYwcMsq1gvTZ3IcDyMG2sd4nvIk0Dfd6zANROEoe-aeNAqyLOFDYfZCtTBK5_3NZLnBdes24EOGKpJ6TAhPPmGHVk/s1200/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUBEc8A5GwbpvWE9EYt20WfoIeTtHCpTnDhwZFEXkolmZfYLZnnT0jPTXNvJIz47YwoWBmDbXlALOcpHY4xAHYT9Pvvr8lssd1tEYwcMsq1gvTZ3IcDyMG2sd4nvIk0Dfd6zANROEoe-aeNAqyLOFDYfZCtTBK5_3NZLnBdes24EOGKpJ6TAhPPmGHVk/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%203.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tracy finds a museum willing to accept the Emma Lazarus but Tracy needs to find someone who will donate the money to restore and preserve it. Nick introduces her to a collector friend of his but the friend is more interested in the letters from George Washington rather than the poem. But he wishes them well and Nick talks about how his family immigrated from Italy many years ago and how they built the restaurant to what it was that day. That gives Tracy the idea to appeal to someone who immigrated to this country and she decides on tech wunderkind Ranghion Narula (Justin Singh).</span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tracy scores a meeting with Ranghion but he has to cancel. But she has done her research and with Nick’s help (and some cannoli for courage), she tracks down the diner where he enjoys breakfast every Saturday and makes her pitch to him. He is interested and promises to let her know soon. She feels like she’s close to victory. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhxV0yEL1vHoVcP8g_t6tyUQil7BXcMAS15ZCVUo0spfU4t_DD21t-fo1XlUciRnqH7QpbNpkvTmg4ZgH1RElJw3WPOZvLEbyio4bhVdGuzAavzwuLPQqA7DlilIUlR_PKa_9seaKQbgMToOlPg9jPo-Mv_OAydEHh26GLVrSM3C8599laG_ckEHdHRo/s1222/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1222" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhxV0yEL1vHoVcP8g_t6tyUQil7BXcMAS15ZCVUo0spfU4t_DD21t-fo1XlUciRnqH7QpbNpkvTmg4ZgH1RElJw3WPOZvLEbyio4bhVdGuzAavzwuLPQqA7DlilIUlR_PKa_9seaKQbgMToOlPg9jPo-Mv_OAydEHh26GLVrSM3C8599laG_ckEHdHRo/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>Meanwhile, she helps Nick decorate his new restaurant. He reveals he was supposed to open it with his ex-fiancée and it was supposed to reflect them – Italian and Asian. But they ended up breaking up and so he’s pursuing the restaurant on his own as he’s leaving the other one to his sister once the new one is open.</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tracy brings him to the art gallery owned by her mother, Sarah Goodwyn (Christine Cattell). She and Nick look over different paintings before being drawn to one that shows the ocean, reminding them of their time by the Long Island Sound. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Because when I think romance, I think the Long Island Sound. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Nick takes Tracy to an event his family runs – they serve spaghetti to those at a local soup kitchen. She reveals she used to be a waitress and easily helps serve everyone. Nick’s mom, Isabella Serchio (Michele Scarabelli), and his grandmother, Gia (Paula Shaw), aren’t too sure what to make of their growing relationship but they seem to like Tracy. That’s a start. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Nick also takes Tracy out for a night on the town that involves pizza and enjoying the sights of New York. He even shows her some history he’s found over the years and they just continue to bond. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Concerned by Tracy’s breakup and her sudden need to redecorate since it usually ends in decisions Tracy ends up regretting, Avery (Lacey Chabert) and Emma (Autumn Reeser) show up in New York to help her. She takes them to Nick’s restaurant and they are impressed with him. They even try to encourage Tracy to pursue Nick but she resists, even exploding when Avery and Emma mention the veil. The friends part in a sour mood. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_s32ccqaLjwXXFYLUKl-nX0Vy-dpK5fgdMmt34AhGU8YqQndK3MzQ2OdOzlMDIYCjh7Rvk8D8HocO1FtWpIB0ejSKnVBOckwL-7a_hc4I3U8Uk-INJaOkD-Qq8o4P5FI_qn0UQHFDmfrteM2c-onf-bj1gvI3iPmON3t7IiGKAoRXROLmGt1xF1474S4/s1200/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_s32ccqaLjwXXFYLUKl-nX0Vy-dpK5fgdMmt34AhGU8YqQndK3MzQ2OdOzlMDIYCjh7Rvk8D8HocO1FtWpIB0ejSKnVBOckwL-7a_hc4I3U8Uk-INJaOkD-Qq8o4P5FI_qn0UQHFDmfrteM2c-onf-bj1gvI3iPmON3t7IiGKAoRXROLmGt1xF1474S4/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>The day of the auction arrives and Tracy is still waiting to hear from Ranghion. It seems that the Emma Lazarus draft will end up in the hands of a greedy collector who will hog it for himself. But just as the bidding is about to close, Tracy gets the call she is waiting for. She lets Leland know and the item is removed from the auction. Everyone toasts this success afterwards, including Nick. He escorts Tracy home and kisses her but she tells him that while she feels something for him, she’s not ready to pursue a romance. Nick is confused and Tracy is heartbroken.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEj5s7MWAiS2MRFT4h8PL2sulPPc4omQ3RzLb1ya3BORpP8QPxhUwDQxQlLzaoyiSQdr2n6SVIjNzkHe-h5R2TpFgqzvMWZSPItnCDxXNqL3CZXIqWMIyb3Qu_ECAfCsd7s4ZVle8DteYk12iIQTGTTjI2juJcVVn6j5uwTQEljCbjXWaVNIASKLPRDhQ/s600/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEj5s7MWAiS2MRFT4h8PL2sulPPc4omQ3RzLb1ya3BORpP8QPxhUwDQxQlLzaoyiSQdr2n6SVIjNzkHe-h5R2TpFgqzvMWZSPItnCDxXNqL3CZXIqWMIyb3Qu_ECAfCsd7s4ZVle8DteYk12iIQTGTTjI2juJcVVn6j5uwTQEljCbjXWaVNIASKLPRDhQ/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Tracy takes her mother to the unveiling of the Emma Lazarus poem in the museum and Sarah is confused why she didn’t bring Nick. Tracy confesses what happened between her and Nick. Sarah ties her daughter’s fears to the divorce between her parents and Sarah encourages Tracy not to be afraid to love. After making up with Tracy, Avery and Emma encourage Tracy to go after Nick. Tracy races over to the opening of Nick’s restaurant and confesses her feelings for him. They share a kiss right there.</p></span> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">We then cut to some time later. Tracy and Nick are getting married. Emma is running late but manages to get there – though her husband will have to miss the festivities. She gets changed as she gives some updated information about the veil. And it turns out that Nick’s family is connected to the veil – it was sold to help the family open its first restaurant. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19BA_NETMMeGqotdZVEE6BayxKSIibvLH5feqD7zyWL83qsQBmPbJj_K8C1ssYncNAmcRHPLaZVkp5yV9zF4TdZe6-bBW9HZrWeuqrT0l86jl--moF6GnuKhj6EHO4ziAGPFBfmhlPRfqtcH5e3ClVy3Kx1oKMRMi6LuTaR6fjhm3iol-bPQZi955hv8/s500/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19BA_NETMMeGqotdZVEE6BayxKSIibvLH5feqD7zyWL83qsQBmPbJj_K8C1ssYncNAmcRHPLaZVkp5yV9zF4TdZe6-bBW9HZrWeuqrT0l86jl--moF6GnuKhj6EHO4ziAGPFBfmhlPRfqtcH5e3ClVy3Kx1oKMRMi6LuTaR6fjhm3iol-bPQZi955hv8/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%208.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>Quelle coincidence!</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">After learning the truth, Tracy happily dons the veil and marries Nick in his restaurant. As Peter (Kevin McGarry) welcomes Nick into the little club of husbands as Tracy, Emma and Avery gift the veil back to Nick’s family. Which is a sweet gesture but with Tracy marrying Nick, the veil is technically back in the family. And so are some sapphire earrings that Tracy had been admiring throughout the movie and that Nick ended up buying for her from the auction house. They end up being the earrings that Arianna wore in the painting and were sold along with the veil. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63TEzW769frdCVm-86vV4_w-vd92MHHaTNdTMZafym8Il6gFNYUJJ8yPOmhP7fssEVulRpgJjefod29XHzTm-pYZ-DgZQluVUbvcVvVhKpoLTWwgzAtT9VMk4eGRGM5s--L5OWsN5wF04d6xPWsW6Q3rIaB24A-BCSvEszAjmXqwpwH_MuXMIfL48dkk/s500/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63TEzW769frdCVm-86vV4_w-vd92MHHaTNdTMZafym8Il6gFNYUJJ8yPOmhP7fssEVulRpgJjefod29XHzTm-pYZ-DgZQluVUbvcVvVhKpoLTWwgzAtT9VMk4eGRGM5s--L5OWsN5wF04d6xPWsW6Q3rIaB24A-BCSvEszAjmXqwpwH_MuXMIfL48dkk/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Legacy%209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><p>So happy endings all around now that all three friends have found love thanks to the veil.</p></span><p></p> <hr /><span style="color: #674ea7;"> This was a lovely conclusion for the trilogy (or was it?) and I enjoyed it. As I said, Webster and Sweeney had great chemistry between them that I have no doubt comes from the fact they had worked together previously. I never watched <em>Days of our Lives</em> except for maybe a few minutes while waiting for <i>Passions </i>to begin but the cursory research I’ve done doesn’t indicate their characters really interacted together. But they still likely interacted just from working together on the same soap. </span><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Which is just a long way of saying that I would love to see Webster and Sweeney together again. And I may just get that! </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">The rest of the story was enjoyable if a bit predictable as the final part of a trilogy. And it seemed like a love note to New York and the immigrant experience as well. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Though it was starting to stretch things when it was revealed that Nick’s family was also related to Paolo’s and the veil. I’m glad Avery’s only connection was that she found the painting. It might have been too much otherwise. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Anyway, I still recommend this movie – and I recommend binging the entire trilogy in a marathon if possible. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">But wait! There’s more! </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">I’m behind in reviewing this movies and in that time, Hallmark made three more movies! So now it’s a whole series. I’ll be reviewing the other three – <i>The Wedding Veil Expectations</i>, <i>The Wedding Veil Inspiration</i> and <i>The Wedding Veil Journe</i>y – soon. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">See you then! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhq95Ki5xsEr0l14T9djkMME7F3Io3QwrkReLUx1vMeCcFQFfMVr1LdrvCWGGmFeP_OXzOjA0wKX13hU285kV7LnTxwk1i0e73_T-t2k8lDPeBjrDDniCQrF4r6-lFbSXIxn52mx-fugiLDgUXWuM4lJdBmtq1giV81tMCkdNfOnGaqlVt7ezbOfDH_n0/s1222/Wedding%20Veil%20Avery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="815" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhq95Ki5xsEr0l14T9djkMME7F3Io3QwrkReLUx1vMeCcFQFfMVr1LdrvCWGGmFeP_OXzOjA0wKX13hU285kV7LnTxwk1i0e73_T-t2k8lDPeBjrDDniCQrF4r6-lFbSXIxn52mx-fugiLDgUXWuM4lJdBmtq1giV81tMCkdNfOnGaqlVt7ezbOfDH_n0/w133-h200/Wedding%20Veil%20Avery.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGb_WmPUMpKiZksavTsuuF42e-f7gYY1WnH-A4bVaHGgeKrIpIArrQgbrS_tB3P-IaM0-4ffpDxfyej1dFIPgMgyRfLw5Z65DL8pUhvh6beeQnudDQqJxZym19x1Y1t4Y33cDHtGVIeYeh7pENQttrmlNSN4u_4ZT13dkVlLRDpWAj0vyfyhqB6SXecbY/s1024/Wedding%20Veil%20Emma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1024" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGb_WmPUMpKiZksavTsuuF42e-f7gYY1WnH-A4bVaHGgeKrIpIArrQgbrS_tB3P-IaM0-4ffpDxfyej1dFIPgMgyRfLw5Z65DL8pUhvh6beeQnudDQqJxZym19x1Y1t4Y33cDHtGVIeYeh7pENQttrmlNSN4u_4ZT13dkVlLRDpWAj0vyfyhqB6SXecbY/w200-h148/Wedding%20Veil%20Emma.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ulT7UMuSxiu1kkaFvp9PkDHehmXm_Ffcvd80U2ggRd-7r3KCi0o6gZ1HhpcEcDP4gwHpzSxhTjUcXZd7wuCZQb23KRsy0GojDJZkVABoSLpbTKCaVSDW3cmd8U0GJnAZv2ndQotXWqPIUrokQevlIIP8cBVfK9DGc8ZriLJi2UyZbS0lm5idOdOwtiQ/s290/Wedding%20Veil%20Tracy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="227" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ulT7UMuSxiu1kkaFvp9PkDHehmXm_Ffcvd80U2ggRd-7r3KCi0o6gZ1HhpcEcDP4gwHpzSxhTjUcXZd7wuCZQb23KRsy0GojDJZkVABoSLpbTKCaVSDW3cmd8U0GJnAZv2ndQotXWqPIUrokQevlIIP8cBVfK9DGc8ZriLJi2UyZbS0lm5idOdOwtiQ/w157-h200/Wedding%20Veil%20Tracy.jpg" width="157" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span><p></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-28726020888625220042023-07-15T12:00:00.001-04:002023-07-15T12:00:00.142-04:00The Wedding Veil Unveiled: A Story of Love and Loss<p><span style="color: #b76e79;">The story of three friends and their beautiful and possibly magical veil continues in The Wedding Veil trilogy. After the first friend found love, a rare painting reveals there may be more to their veil than meets the eye. Now the second friend has possession of the veil as she heads to Italy, ready for an adventure of her own. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">But is she ready for love? </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Time to find out in <em>The Wedding Veil Unveiled</em>! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrObt_Iu_z8oadAvTYKacY1q6idlr-6vxSaZ7FIZ3DgomjRvxfS4UMYUvzED6HhOdGNn5ZmO3_I99EwzfS3FBBvIf1lfBPOK1fAVYebGPuH1V2AHiLm3PRVrdPC6HyUY_uomi5AVHj3kcyipIk5QzoN6Fs9R0gIrSERKuSWp00qL7BEi8R7Nc4Nws/s1524/Wedding%20Veil%20Unvealed%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b76e79;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrObt_Iu_z8oadAvTYKacY1q6idlr-6vxSaZ7FIZ3DgomjRvxfS4UMYUvzED6HhOdGNn5ZmO3_I99EwzfS3FBBvIf1lfBPOK1fAVYebGPuH1V2AHiLm3PRVrdPC6HyUY_uomi5AVHj3kcyipIk5QzoN6Fs9R0gIrSERKuSWp00qL7BEi8R7Nc4Nws/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Unvealed%201.jpg" width="210" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #b76e79;"><p>I’ll be your hope, I’ll be your love, be everything that you SPOILERS!</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;"></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma Lowell (Autumn Reeser) arrives in Padua to begin a course on American art history at the local university. She stays in a residence run by Francesca (Alessandra Carrillo) and the two bond immediately. Francesca admires the veil Emma has brought with her and asks if Emma is getting married. Emma says she is not and reveals that she’s hoping to find out the history of the veil as she and her friends believe it is originally from Italy. Francesca suggests she ask in Burano, a city known for its lace. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">The next day, Emma takes Francesca’s advice and tries to take the ferry to Burano. But she has difficulty getting a ticket and is holding up the line. One man jumps over and helps her, reminding her that Europeans put the date before the month. She feels foolish but thanks him for getting her a ticket and boards the ferry. When she gets to the other side, he seems to be following her but just insists they are going in the same direction. They finally manage to part and Emma figures she will never see him again. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCoVwUTfsACFpZ3esz9sJ3kkM5ty_K0wII41xnTl-LxCEEd2uZUSbP-cDcAvX7rBNHv3bo1dzfT5VQUJe2tKi4WPx_ydE31GDhWkIEYZO7Dl4gDOwu7ozhnoR3Wh0fxTkN9ujhOzp1_V0qFRTvyT9B_rYgu_wBvN-RRr4X0HzF3X5ozsvKkqT5yk2/s752/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b76e79;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="752" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCoVwUTfsACFpZ3esz9sJ3kkM5ty_K0wII41xnTl-LxCEEd2uZUSbP-cDcAvX7rBNHv3bo1dzfT5VQUJe2tKi4WPx_ydE31GDhWkIEYZO7Dl4gDOwu7ozhnoR3Wh0fxTkN9ujhOzp1_V0qFRTvyT9B_rYgu_wBvN-RRr4X0HzF3X5ozsvKkqT5yk2/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%202.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma finds a museum about the history of lace but is dismayed to learn it is closed. A woman at a store nearby informs her the woman who usually opens the museum was sick so the museum was staying closed. Emma shows her the veil and asks her if she knows where it may have come from. The woman tells her to try a certain shop and gives her directions to get there. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">At the store, Emma shows the woman there the veil. The woman starts talking fast in Italian and calls for another woman. Both admire the veil and seem very excited. Emma is very lost as she wonders what is going on. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Enter the man who helped her earlier - Paolo di Stefano (Paolo Bernardini).</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wVdJYPjaOalVoKG9WWfPdMVZn0wAroaHrQAVjz_aO3r7IbrFdywV9y2JMSNriodmBgu6vCi1a0WeJWTk1GLoXLBZ8l_fRvTgF5ocb2oRuLxrF5BFt0hoTryNWExLq3RgwJSwJQL22LWwnqNt3BdIITHd7jIBOoht0DtFUm94i6Zq9sFQEYvwyNCa/s300/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b76e79;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wVdJYPjaOalVoKG9WWfPdMVZn0wAroaHrQAVjz_aO3r7IbrFdywV9y2JMSNriodmBgu6vCi1a0WeJWTk1GLoXLBZ8l_fRvTgF5ocb2oRuLxrF5BFt0hoTryNWExLq3RgwJSwJQL22LWwnqNt3BdIITHd7jIBOoht0DtFUm94i6Zq9sFQEYvwyNCa/s1600/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%205.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #b76e79;"><span><p>Paolo explains that the store belongs to his family and that they made the veil. The women fawning over it are his mother Elena (Anna-Maria Everett) and grandmother Maria (Dora Romano). It was a special veil that they had thought lost forever. They are happy Emma has returned it and she asks about the history. It was made for a woman who was to marry a nobleman in the city back during the 19th century. Emma figures out that this was likely the woman in the painting and decides to learn more about her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrw0zkfT1YnXd5Ngke6P6BUZv0VJ9UoU9nciD9ge0mk-Hyrnn6W9V9V3OdYOG8llEdLDrZqmscVAlTPMycpF17s7yOv4EE_pAKeSoS1alepqQeSEJQtWiOavqrzIdOCbPHaHH_1yG6XChA3NW-mTx219QvxqHp78gDEr34eS_phkRIuAkHUq3YnyXT/s1222/Wedding%20Veil%20Unvealed%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1222" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrw0zkfT1YnXd5Ngke6P6BUZv0VJ9UoU9nciD9ge0mk-Hyrnn6W9V9V3OdYOG8llEdLDrZqmscVAlTPMycpF17s7yOv4EE_pAKeSoS1alepqQeSEJQtWiOavqrzIdOCbPHaHH_1yG6XChA3NW-mTx219QvxqHp78gDEr34eS_phkRIuAkHUq3YnyXT/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Unvealed%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Emma fills Avery (Lacey Chabert) and Tracy (Alison Sweeney) in about her discovery. She asks if they would be okay with returning the veil to Paolo’s family. Both agree but they still wonder how a veil made for the wife of an Italian nobleman ended up in America. Emma decides to keep digging.</p></span> </span><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">First, though, she has a course to teach. Natalia (Wanja Sellers) gets her set up and Emma starts her class with a PowerPoint…that promptly blows all the power in the University. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Oops. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">To make matters worse, Paolo also happens to do some part time work at the university and witnessed her little misadventure. He teases her about it but then offers to help her learn more about the veil, thanking her and her friends for letting his family keep the veil. She decides to see if the university has any information about Amici and they agree to work together. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Meanwhile, Paolo is trying to convince his family to expand their lace business into more fashion areas and to have a presences in America. But it’s hard to get his family’s attention, especially his father Nico (Petar Antonov) and his uncle Vittorio (Saverio Buono), as business is often discussed at family meals. They are also pretty stubborn and prefer not to take risks so Paolo has to find a way to convince them that this is a risk worth taking. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma is also struggling with her course. While young Luca (Camillo Pardi) enjoys her course, the other students want to skip to the more well-known and exciting American artists and not sit through the history that leads to them. She feels like she can’t get through to them and worries that her program will fail. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Ultimately, they will help each other. But we’ll get there in good time. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">First, there’s art and history to discover and beautiful Italian scenery to explore! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEzRcPmZw94XwdQAzl8ziO6GJ_xcq6iutzV0zFqvjMNgQC8GUQrBVYESMb6EXmv9A3s6stwMUulGRTE1L_gUxF2JJNwEFSRlD4T3ivK16H7mNAxGfSi28QcgjpSKG-H4UoEsRoyQ4Jib6QJVJaEUBI8UK5b0A0iTgwlPhEshA7fm7h0zrUZobmuMY/s550/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b76e79;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="366" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEzRcPmZw94XwdQAzl8ziO6GJ_xcq6iutzV0zFqvjMNgQC8GUQrBVYESMb6EXmv9A3s6stwMUulGRTE1L_gUxF2JJNwEFSRlD4T3ivK16H7mNAxGfSi28QcgjpSKG-H4UoEsRoyQ4Jib6QJVJaEUBI8UK5b0A0iTgwlPhEshA7fm7h0zrUZobmuMY/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%204.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #b76e79;"><p>They discover that the veil was made for a woman who was to marry an Italian nobleman and Amici painted her wedding portrait. Emma gets access to some of Amici’s sketches and finds an early one of Portrait of a Bride. She realizes that the bride is smiling in the sketch but not in the final painting. That makes her wonder what happened.</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Their quest leads them to a mysterious trunk in Paolo’s family house and a descendant of the bride, Signor DiConcini (Velizar Binev). Each time, they get more clues before putting everything together. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1fUE_lmnxJxeFqhmZfv5pqpR4qkbU56jVuR0huPtb2UgOK-JdM280m9Ldk1-5O00Dk8GXxAg4drzsnqap7PJOrHcmR4H7CSF5u8Gsh4VSkh_SCngS1bb5gEh7jFEo2f-vvKVWTivfK_sdBNmfziHP3OntjfntJvOqipCkNshZAIzgJ-CWaBHyJEE/s620/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="620" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1fUE_lmnxJxeFqhmZfv5pqpR4qkbU56jVuR0huPtb2UgOK-JdM280m9Ldk1-5O00Dk8GXxAg4drzsnqap7PJOrHcmR4H7CSF5u8Gsh4VSkh_SCngS1bb5gEh7jFEo2f-vvKVWTivfK_sdBNmfziHP3OntjfntJvOqipCkNshZAIzgJ-CWaBHyJEE/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #b76e79;"><p>Along the way, Emma is welcomed by his family. She’s even invited to his grandmother’s birthday party in a couple weeks and Paolo’s sister Sophia (Mily Cultrera di Montesano) encourages him to have a relationship with Emma. But Paolo is hesitant and so is Emma. He is a widower who is slowly getting over the loss of his wife while she is still stinging from the end of her long term – and long-distance – relationship(mentioned at the start of <em>The Wedding Veil</em>). It makes her hesitant to start anything serious – especially with someone who lives in another country. Paolo understands.</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">As for the veil, they discover that it was made for a young woman who was to marry a nobleman. But she fell in love with Amici and they were lovers. She did eventually get married but gave birth to Amici’s child in secret. Her faithful maid adopted the little girl and was also gifted the veil. Ultimately, the child grew up and moved to America, explaining how the veil got to America. What happened to it after that must be answered in America. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">It’s a love story with a sad but hopeful ending.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma takes some advice from Paolo and decides to give up her linear lesson plans in order to find out what her students were interested in learning. She finally got them to engage with her material and the program continues to do well. Emma grows fond of one student, Luca (Camilo Pardi), who is a promising art student from a family known for their blown glass creations. Luca already has a spot at a major art school but he has to pass her class to take it. But his family’s store is struggling and they are unable to pay for the semester so he has to drop the class. Despite Natalia telling her that she can’t have Luca in her class, Emma lets him sit in on her lectures as they try to figure out a way to pay what he owes. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Avery reveals that her husband Peter has formed a committee under his family’s foundation that awards scholarships to up and coming artists. Emma helps Luca apply for it and Peter grants it – they even offer to pay for his tuition at the fancy art school. Emma apologizes to Natalia for going against her wishes but Natalia forgives her, understanding wanting to advocate for a student. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Yay, Luca! </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Also, yay for Emma as Natalia invites her to teach the following year as well. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Using Emma’s advice, Paolo gathers his family at a time and place that does not serve food. He presents a PowerPoint with stats and figures on why they should open a store in New York City. While his grandmother and mother are impressed, his father and uncle need to think it over. Sophia just wants her brother to marry Emma already. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">I like Sophia. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">But both Paolo and Emma are still determined to just be friends though Paolo is clearly falling for her. Emma starts to be more romantic, even deciding to visit Juliet’s balcony. This is believed to be the balcony where Shakespeare’s famous star-crossed lovers met. People leave letters to Juliet, asking for her help in matters of the heart or to tell her secrets. Emma adds a letter of her own. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCT2dE91LAYqt5orDFkRNn2e-lKYzajf51l5y7cQsqgj9vH9dl_mTQDCuY81nwNelb1VKw-hrfrexr7mr6WUQAoUCsZkpRCl34FNR1PVYHBFSKKUq2CjCpFAE9zZyt1PHyssyjsjFomeurRaqGdrvvi2quJPhUYoyZWwjYC81SGHoU4jKexnBDhWC/s1908/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1908" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCT2dE91LAYqt5orDFkRNn2e-lKYzajf51l5y7cQsqgj9vH9dl_mTQDCuY81nwNelb1VKw-hrfrexr7mr6WUQAoUCsZkpRCl34FNR1PVYHBFSKKUq2CjCpFAE9zZyt1PHyssyjsjFomeurRaqGdrvvi2quJPhUYoyZWwjYC81SGHoU4jKexnBDhWC/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%208.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #b76e79;"><p>Emma then makes Maria an apple pie and bring it to her birthday party, which also takes place during a major festival. She meets most of Paolo’s family and his father tells him his idea to sell handbags has been a great one. Though he hasn’t made a final decision about the store in New York, he promises to trust his son more when it comes to the business.</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Yay, Paolo!</span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">He decides to take a chance as he and Emma enjoy the festival. Paolo asks Emma if they could give a relationship a try but she’s still not sure a long-distance one will last. Instead, she would rather stay friends and enjoy the rest of their time together. Though heartbroken, Paolo agrees. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnVX0fNR1rjY0vVtTeRTCatyllWRGCESF4fUrU2rcvwrFs5muI1X1UIrLRjNjw9azsPctqI4e2J3VpzZUjl-pD249viQDc4MQAtQm6To6zq4SSbpYHXPLl7-fG7e65WAURPsgOg9c365c0CsdH6dY1LuML3V5wi5L_vtlRjchU8Ji7iAQg7T-DEb0/s1024/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="1024" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnVX0fNR1rjY0vVtTeRTCatyllWRGCESF4fUrU2rcvwrFs5muI1X1UIrLRjNjw9azsPctqI4e2J3VpzZUjl-pD249viQDc4MQAtQm6To6zq4SSbpYHXPLl7-fG7e65WAURPsgOg9c365c0CsdH6dY1LuML3V5wi5L_vtlRjchU8Ji7iAQg7T-DEb0/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma prepares to return to the United States. Francesca is also Team Paolo and tries to encourage Emma to talk with him. But Emma remains resolute that a long distance relationship won’t work. She then receives a gift from Paolo’s family – they give her the veil back and gift it to her and her friends. But it doesn’t seem that the veil will bring Emma love like it did for Avery.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">At another meal time meeting, Paolo’s father announces that he has accepted Paolo’s proposal to open a store in New York. Everyone congratulates him and Sophia tells her brother to go get the woman he loves. He does not hesitate. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Emma boards a train, heading to Rome for a few days before returning to the United States. Paolo jumps on the train and tells her that he is going to New York, hoping that a few hundred miles is better than a few thousand miles. He confesses his feelings for her and Emma stops fighting her own, kissing him as she decides to make it work. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">We then cut to about six months later as Emma and Paolo get married. She wears the wedding veil as Avery and Tracy stand by her side. Everyone is happy and their families have really blended. Peter was unable to go so Avery is on her own but we are assured that the couple is still very happily in love, promising the same for Emma and Paolo. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJTyOtzQGS3IHob4wnVzBe0JMDe3CgHGj_z77h6b4oo8wbRtdLOIuluylo95m9Mpp7IRLMLzaaYUVG-4RLan864SGgZ99Zc2tfp8vKX-wduGGngucYEWe37mjECkTqJysJWtks6Ccr9ZNkHV_JYIJWJ9PHgI5JE_MTyKw0o7JyhO-YR7weSXjL_Qf/s437/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="437" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJTyOtzQGS3IHob4wnVzBe0JMDe3CgHGj_z77h6b4oo8wbRtdLOIuluylo95m9Mpp7IRLMLzaaYUVG-4RLan864SGgZ99Zc2tfp8vKX-wduGGngucYEWe37mjECkTqJysJWtks6Ccr9ZNkHV_JYIJWJ9PHgI5JE_MTyKw0o7JyhO-YR7weSXjL_Qf/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Unveiled%209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #b76e79;"><p>The friends retreat to a room and Emma says it is time to pass the veil off. Avery and Tracy help her take it off and they realize it has a tear. Since it’s Tracy’s turn to take the veil, she says she’ll take it back to New York and get it fixed but she doubts she’ll be wearing it soon. She and Finn are happy with their relationship as is. Besides, she still doesn’t believe in the legend despite Avery finding Peter and Emma finding Paolo, who is now opening his store in Chicago rather than New York so he can be with Emma.</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">And so the veil brings us a second happy ending as Emma and Paolo begin their life together. </span></p><p><span></span></p><!--more--><p></p><p><span style="color: #b76e79;">I honestly think this is my favorite of the trilogy. Though that may be because this was the first one I watched all the way through (I caught the last hour of <em>The Wedding Veil</em> and then watched the whole thing after the entire trilogy had premiered). </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">And good news – you can watch any of the three movies on their own and not be lost. It’s easy to catch up and each story is relatively self-contained so you don’t really need to know the other storylines to follow along. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Reeser is probably one of my favorite Hallmark leading ladies and I enjoy the movies she is in. This one is no different. She is good at playing head strong and somewhat stubborn women who have walls up for a reason but once they lower them, they are incredibly loving. Emma fits this mold to a T. It’s understandable why she’s wary of a long-distance relationship and why she is hesitant to let herself love Paolo. But the audience just wants her to be happy in the end because of how Reeser brings her to life. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">I commend Hallmark for casting Italian actors for the Italian characters. Bernardini made the perfect leading man and I wouldn’t mind seeing him in a few more movies. He balanced Paolo’s charm and his vulnerability perfectly. I couldn’t help but fall in love with him a little myself and root for him and Emma to get together, especially as Bernardini and Reeser had amazing chemistry together. It was perfect. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Italy served as a beautiful backdrop to this story and was a perfect choice for the movie, especially with all those canals. Absolutely gorgeous! </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">The stories are sweet, romantic and a bit sad but ultimately happy and hopeful – everything you want from your romance movie. So I do highly recommend this, even if you don’t want to watch the other movies. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #b76e79;">Now onto the third and final movie – <em>The Wedding Veil Legacy</em>! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpXnz9x8y3Zw5WMjlAG1AfqRlf7W6Tvfp4oy1Zry0DbYmoNtJEpmzyR1gmVuoJoHrpbxcBWkyCqunqXa1aTf1cAJmObpm-OFu75Omnt5ehey1BSL_dh0J59T0bAq9WieUiNLVbIYOlSvL_os6aZRe7UD2kqEloTm2HXlV3w7neAtMr3GKaSOnVqfv/s1222/Wedding%20Veil%20Avery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="815" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpXnz9x8y3Zw5WMjlAG1AfqRlf7W6Tvfp4oy1Zry0DbYmoNtJEpmzyR1gmVuoJoHrpbxcBWkyCqunqXa1aTf1cAJmObpm-OFu75Omnt5ehey1BSL_dh0J59T0bAq9WieUiNLVbIYOlSvL_os6aZRe7UD2kqEloTm2HXlV3w7neAtMr3GKaSOnVqfv/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Avery.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyouPVO2ZyRKK0mEoujbjiuHtDpo3x6JqPxHZZ7GoM8OCfMopIl8D055PqEXWBVWz7mlmnV00UcacLff7y72M6mj0ZfzwvxJrSdS0HtkD1R8T3SLneKsiMAkiH1VXazttNZWAWpV-8Q5Td4QdGdoqGk1WMicT0v0P_PmAlSYMBMHu2KK5VWfMGSs-3/s1024/Wedding%20Veil%20Emma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyouPVO2ZyRKK0mEoujbjiuHtDpo3x6JqPxHZZ7GoM8OCfMopIl8D055PqEXWBVWz7mlmnV00UcacLff7y72M6mj0ZfzwvxJrSdS0HtkD1R8T3SLneKsiMAkiH1VXazttNZWAWpV-8Q5Td4QdGdoqGk1WMicT0v0P_PmAlSYMBMHu2KK5VWfMGSs-3/w218-h320/Wedding%20Veil%20Emma.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #b76e79;"><br /></span><p></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-3894218485814574562023-07-08T12:00:00.001-04:002023-07-08T12:00:00.147-04:00The Wedding Veil Trilogy: The Wedding Veil<p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Christmas may be Hallmark Channel’s bread and butter but it produces movies all year round, often timed to the different seasons – winter movies after Christmas, spring movies as the weather warms, summer movies for the hottest months and then autumn movies before Christmas comes back around again. While I tend to watch more of the Christmas movies, I do like to check out the channel’s other fare and I must say I was intrigued by the idea of The Wedding Veil Trilogy movies – <em>The Wedding Veil, The Wedding Veil Unveiled and The Wedding Veil Legacy</em>. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The Wedding Veil trilogy surrounds three friends who meet up every so often to go antiquing together. On one of these trips, they find a beautiful wedding veil. According to the shop owner, anyone in possession of the veil will find true love. The friends decide to split the cost and buy it, vowing to wear it at their weddings. One by one, the veil brings them love and happiness. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Uniting three of Hallmark’s leading ladies – Lacey Chabert, Autumn Reeser and Alison Sweeney – this movie trilogy certainly got 2022 off on the right note. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">We’ll go movie by movie, so let’s start with <em>The Wedding Veil</em>!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDsyS28iNRAKfLsI2_85yetF0MHs-bZFDfIUOjDkEjcprVBeBDkAdozvCYrlVik3XnRW2c0LI94Ug6sf5qS3upXNgZA8dvhvRQboMvg-gJj3xLuk0MUdGq83S8rvgBbjkjzszR4TKxzD2qQBxn_6NLOmxiyYWTsJceBHlI0e8vr-hILWFc3e14u9q/s1920/Wedding%20Veil%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDsyS28iNRAKfLsI2_85yetF0MHs-bZFDfIUOjDkEjcprVBeBDkAdozvCYrlVik3XnRW2c0LI94Ug6sf5qS3upXNgZA8dvhvRQboMvg-gJj3xLuk0MUdGq83S8rvgBbjkjzszR4TKxzD2qQBxn_6NLOmxiyYWTsJceBHlI0e8vr-hILWFc3e14u9q/s320/Wedding%20Veil%201.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">You smiled, you smile, and then the spell was cast/And here we are in Heaven, for you are SPOILERS!</span></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Avery Morrison (Chabert) buys a wedding veil with her best friends Emma Lowell (Reeser) and Tracy Goodwyn (Sweeney) that comes with a legend about how it will bring its own true love. Avery believes in it, Emma’s a bit on the fence and Tracy thinks it’s nonsense but thinks the veil is beautiful. Avery gets to keep it first and along the way meets Peter Hastings (Kevin McGarry), though she doesn’t know his name at first. They bond over art and being from Boston before heading back to the hotel. When Peter sees the veil, he assumes Avery is getting married and starts to distance himself from her.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSRv_ee2CBFJYsPnU785VNFYwDYJp05h86F1DcVqE2BfH0jmnU8hWUQcShmpX9nxgjT9Bu-BlRJrV45UQjuIsmHpaKJLLbp2CcDrV9Ebb0soTu-C4D2g97MGLAZ1lPIUeL0KLlUZhsZiEV0PRm6xQrfRzKU3A-ckiJepui-9EtpPFfPtGxmPoy7t0/s2000/Wedding%20Veil%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSRv_ee2CBFJYsPnU785VNFYwDYJp05h86F1DcVqE2BfH0jmnU8hWUQcShmpX9nxgjT9Bu-BlRJrV45UQjuIsmHpaKJLLbp2CcDrV9Ebb0soTu-C4D2g97MGLAZ1lPIUeL0KLlUZhsZiEV0PRm6xQrfRzKU3A-ckiJepui-9EtpPFfPtGxmPoy7t0/s320/Wedding%20Veil%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><p>Confused, Avery returns to Boston and focuses on getting the full curator position at the museum where she works. She is up against her colleague Jason (Zachary Gulka), who seems very competitive and not above underhanded tactics. Thankfully, Avery has executive assistant Lucy (Fiona Vroom) on her side. Lucy reveals she’s getting married in a month and asks Avery to help plan it. Avery is more than happy to do it.</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">In addition to planning the wedding, head curator Sonya (Catherine Lough Haggquist) puts Avery in charge of their biggest fundraiser, their annual gala. Avery will be working with their newest board member…Peter! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTyM6VRUMTenuE69GHRNMIvqSvNLXhokpd7sEpWXwAbPO1nRPINxXspnDScemtkAcwlTPWM1Vn94yWC8fq26JUrwinPa-uVfow9tBYrrHBdWGP-Bd8c_iOiB04EEO9u2HUd4hQeyKODpu2c9gy3N6OUwJSQOq1UqkibmDhFD6F4mPk_xy35_xQuh_/s1200/Wedding%20Veil%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTyM6VRUMTenuE69GHRNMIvqSvNLXhokpd7sEpWXwAbPO1nRPINxXspnDScemtkAcwlTPWM1Vn94yWC8fq26JUrwinPa-uVfow9tBYrrHBdWGP-Bd8c_iOiB04EEO9u2HUd4hQeyKODpu2c9gy3N6OUwJSQOq1UqkibmDhFD6F4mPk_xy35_xQuh_/s320/Wedding%20Veil%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><p>Awkward.</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Peter and Avery have a rather tense reunion and he continues to believe she’s getting married, especially now that she’s helping Lucy with her wedding. They are constantly drawn together but then Peter will misinterpret something and get cold again. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">During some renovations, Avery ends up going into the museum’s basement to see if there’s anything they can use. She finds an old painting and shows it to Peter, saying it could be a painting from a great Italian painter known as Amici. Avery thinks it got misplaced during some major renovations to the museum in the 1960s and has been gathering dust down in the basement. Once it’s authenticated, she and Peter decide that they will use the gala to unveil the painting. Avery convinces the board and they are off with a plan. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Which is to theme the gala as a wedding since the painting is called <em>Portrait of a Bride</em>. Things are about to get more awkward! Especially when Lucy’s brother Ryan (Thomas Darya) arrives on the scene. He and Avery are in charge of the music and so when he picks her up one day, Peter believes Ryan is Avery’s fiance. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">But between the planning and the misunderstandings, Avery and Peter do get to know each other better while Emma and Tracy get to comment on their relationship through phone and video calls. Peter reveals that he really loves art and wanted to pursue it as a career like Avery, Emma and Tracy did but instead took over his father’s foundation in order to preserve his father’s legacy. Avery encourages him to find ways to still pursue his passion for art but he seems hesitant. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RN5NfAzvvOkNJxkq5YgYPpiJsVuiIXqaaKj9CwLqTEFgLzKYSDOdT9emQZ2eHaLz3yYgu6hvNagL04swhev-f9S_puJ3-sQJgrL-EPdrkA9P1ppcRdQdV-BzBYFKOyxMSWyLpqaLDglxsrhgqhdjpa8Tzq49pRLCEwDRtPWvXSxeNUA0J1k45KtP/s2560/Wedding%20Veil%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1706" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RN5NfAzvvOkNJxkq5YgYPpiJsVuiIXqaaKj9CwLqTEFgLzKYSDOdT9emQZ2eHaLz3yYgu6hvNagL04swhev-f9S_puJ3-sQJgrL-EPdrkA9P1ppcRdQdV-BzBYFKOyxMSWyLpqaLDglxsrhgqhdjpa8Tzq49pRLCEwDRtPWvXSxeNUA0J1k45KtP/s320/Wedding%20Veil%205.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><p>Meanwhile, Jason continues to sabotage Avery’s bid to become a full curator. An art restorer calls to tell Avery that there’s an issue with Portrait of a Bride and Jason does not pass on the message purposefully. Thankfully said restorer does call Avery directly and informs her that the painting needs a lot more work. It may not be ready in time unless he clones himself and works around the clock. Avery decides to get permission to get another restorer to work with him to see if that could work.</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">But Avery has Emma and Tracy on her side. Her friends pull through and find a restorer for her to use. Avery manages to get the approval and everything looks like it’s back on track. If only she could figure out how to deal with Peter. She even starts to doubt the veil is really as magical as it seemed in San Francisco. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Finally, Lucy’s wedding arrives and Peter learns that Avery is not engaged. She tells him the story of the veil and they finally seem to have a shot at having a relationship. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Avery even manages to save Jason’s ass when he was so busy trying to sabotage her, he booked the professor who was supposed to lead his children’s program on the wrong flight. Avery convinces Peter to do it instead and it’s clear he’s really good with children and passionate about art. Jason thanks Avery and apologizes for trying to sabotage her. He seems to get off scot-free. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The gala arrives and it is a big success! Avery unveils <em>Portrait of a Bride </em>and it is gorgeous. She is very proud of herself. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">At the party, Avery meets Peter’s mother, Grace (Karen Kruper). As Peter makes a speech at the gala, Grace notes how happy he is and what a good job he has done. Avery tells Grace that Peter has been great and his love of the arts is clear, especially when he took charge of their youth program. Grace is surprised and Avery worries she has overstepped. Grace assures her she has not. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsara3hx52x8IZqCPGffkSZSFg4GQ3jPewKLpcXoaeb59spGX-gQQBNTjYt_VRxTOy34gp7kCJbYV1K2AmFEUv54z4d5ROErAa8ssPvNs3SLHveb2hRC23J5cA4k2HJBhiWifr2OQeWl2pOMZBcTuuCp-wYBWuTGA9HHSgaeAEaSwbci1z50EZ57q/s2808/Wedding%20Veil%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1872" data-original-width="2808" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsara3hx52x8IZqCPGffkSZSFg4GQ3jPewKLpcXoaeb59spGX-gQQBNTjYt_VRxTOy34gp7kCJbYV1K2AmFEUv54z4d5ROErAa8ssPvNs3SLHveb2hRC23J5cA4k2HJBhiWifr2OQeWl2pOMZBcTuuCp-wYBWuTGA9HHSgaeAEaSwbci1z50EZ57q/s320/Wedding%20Veil%206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><p>Peter, though, has a different idea and he yells at Avery for telling his mother that he would rather be working in the arts. He says that it’s too soon after his father’s death and she shouldn’t have to worry about his father’s legacy. Avery tries to explain that she didn’t mean anything and wonders when he gets to pursue his dreams. He storms off, breaking Avery’s heart.</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">She once again doubts the power of the veil. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Peter has lunch with his mother, who discusses his future with him. He tries to explain that he knows how important his father’s legacy is and that Avery had spoken out of turn. But Grace defends Avery, saying she spoke the truth both of them had ignoring. She assures Peter that his father’s legacy is secure and the foundation is in good hands, that it’s clear that art is his true passion. Grace also suggests that they expand the foundation to also cover the arts. She tells him to stop running from what he wants and to go get her. Peter agrees. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">(There have been small scenes where Peter talks with a friend and colleague about Avery while the colleague pesters him to review certain reports. It is made very clear that Peter does not like business and is forcing himself to do this). </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Sonya informs Avery that the board has awarded her the full curator position and Avery thanks her. Lucy then tells Avery that someone wants to talk with her about the painting and when Avery goes there, she finds Peter with roses. He apologizes and asks for a second (third?) chance. Avery grants it and they share a kiss. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Nine months later, Emma and Tracy help Avery with the veil as she prepares to marry Peter. They get married in the garden of the art museum and apparently it’s warm in Boston in all year round because it was warm weather during the main movie and it’s warm again now. Go figure. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia943eoaURtNtIXF8fr_AA8W09W0nmTMDdKjwlOmh1dd-KjnuWbXZkH7sPRQejCsdE3yYieoTAuFM8oY9Niv8u5jVADa4rbfGnV1sidE6804GwaUP3DXwO58AxTkcEMr7I-M_cNU-lCTMSfn_YrIy64lX1P879y7WIYC3DsyXipJfO7jK0Q_FjtmfH/s904/Wedding%20Veil%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="904" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia943eoaURtNtIXF8fr_AA8W09W0nmTMDdKjwlOmh1dd-KjnuWbXZkH7sPRQejCsdE3yYieoTAuFM8oY9Niv8u5jVADa4rbfGnV1sidE6804GwaUP3DXwO58AxTkcEMr7I-M_cNU-lCTMSfn_YrIy64lX1P879y7WIYC3DsyXipJfO7jK0Q_FjtmfH/s320/Wedding%20Veil%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><p>After the ceremony, Avery brings Emma and Tracy inside and shows them the painting. She tells them to look at the veil the bride is wearing and they realize it is their veil. They realized the history has a longer history than they realize. Emma offers to take the veil with her to Italy since she’s leaving for her art history course there. After checking that Tracy doesn’t want it – she and boyfriend Finn are very happy with the current state of their relationship – Emma gets the veil. Avery thinks Emma will be the next down the aisle but Emma is not looking for love.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrR71RdmWWZ-BNjlcayIFlnzOOzsT-BTUGZlbUpYErKfKacNXHfw0NrdvLmSmaynNkDon4PRMYZfVljCOj9HpVhECVYB1EzNeLf0Q1g-wl2aC3Wy73Bnqb40T8bmddKSVMj-Ch1E-4mtmnjxQiPaCnoLRqTpg283nfrQgrG3JnOpD6AUOvtllvuQPQ/s1500/Wedding%20Veil%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrR71RdmWWZ-BNjlcayIFlnzOOzsT-BTUGZlbUpYErKfKacNXHfw0NrdvLmSmaynNkDon4PRMYZfVljCOj9HpVhECVYB1EzNeLf0Q1g-wl2aC3Wy73Bnqb40T8bmddKSVMj-Ch1E-4mtmnjxQiPaCnoLRqTpg283nfrQgrG3JnOpD6AUOvtllvuQPQ/s320/Wedding%20Veil%208.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I think we all know what’s going to happen but that’s for the sequel. For now, the story ends happily ever after for Avery and Peter.</p><span><!--more--></span><p>I thought this was a cute movie that established the premise of the series and let us know what to expect. Hallmark was wise to enlist Chabert, Reeser and Sweeney for this series. Each can easily carry a movie while also working as a group of close friends. The premise of three friends sharing a veil that brings them each love has been fun and I’ve honestly been trying to figure out how to turn this into a fanfic since I first saw it.</p></span> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Chabert and McGarry had a good chemistry and I find myself rooting for them. The misunderstandings got a bit old by the middle of the movie but thankfully the last one was tied up relatively quickly. I thought the main plot with the painting and gala was also interesting and a good foundation as well. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Next time, we’ll learn more about the veil as Emma explores Italia. History and amor await! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xIjX6jR1xyUUlOsLzMyGJ7nwk0YJMi8OIqDpNo94djOovwasVs4c3fBmwzXt_RDb2OnzUuYpC-qqEO6KVodK_O49E56k__ilqscmZFkZStPUxdiF-Fb5WZki_wDgHFdH6vKGcvWsmRWpgx3FZYyXSz_EWIw4QfP90qsGpsqLwQU5ZOYMxlhy0IjU/s1222/Wedding%20Veil%20Avery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="815" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xIjX6jR1xyUUlOsLzMyGJ7nwk0YJMi8OIqDpNo94djOovwasVs4c3fBmwzXt_RDb2OnzUuYpC-qqEO6KVodK_O49E56k__ilqscmZFkZStPUxdiF-Fb5WZki_wDgHFdH6vKGcvWsmRWpgx3FZYyXSz_EWIw4QfP90qsGpsqLwQU5ZOYMxlhy0IjU/s320/Wedding%20Veil%20Avery.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><p></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-72055776793407641212022-12-25T12:00:00.009-05:002022-12-30T01:28:46.859-05:00The Royal Nanny: A Fun Christmas Adventure<p><font color="#00df70">It’s that time of the year again! Yes, it’s Hallmark holiday movie time! And of course, I’m watching them. They’re comforting and festive. No one can resist their charms. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Especially me, as you all know. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">I don’t know how many of the new movies I’ll be able to review. But I’m going to try, starting with this one set in England. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UK05CGiIyiBy9jR1BaxtJK2Wt-wPaKbfGdYPvcX1BA5vpsl1DCQsWvQNtySnkIQbjs5Tpfxr6wzzwbRWr7gdODWk2TbWG_tiA3nMvVzHuKcrarpnph8pfcCtQczb_C_tuKYG-yMwtb5HQ7RAjHJKX31pJrE0Jn3rxsNgHdXDoAQwrnWzHwiScpRn/s1280/Royal%20Nanny%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UK05CGiIyiBy9jR1BaxtJK2Wt-wPaKbfGdYPvcX1BA5vpsl1DCQsWvQNtySnkIQbjs5Tpfxr6wzzwbRWr7gdODWk2TbWG_tiA3nMvVzHuKcrarpnph8pfcCtQczb_C_tuKYG-yMwtb5HQ7RAjHJKX31pJrE0Jn3rxsNgHdXDoAQwrnWzHwiScpRn/s320/Royal%20Nanny%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>So, grab an umbrella and avoid SPOILERS!</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">We are introduced to Claire (Rachel Skarsten) and Wallace (Toussaint Meghie), two agents with MI-6 as they walk through a Christmas festival. They are tracking two suspicious characters, Amanda Young (Barbara Hellemans) and Michael Ford (Marcel Zade), as they exchange a Christmas present at a charity event dedicated to giving presents to children in need. Wallace arrests Ford while Claire chases down Young, losing her thanks to a either a poorly timed or well timed double decker bus. But she did manage to recover the present and she passes it off to her boss, Vance (Richard Wells). </font></p><p><span style="color: #00df70;">They soon learn there is a Teddy bear inside the gift but it’s not an ordinary Teddy bear. One of his eyes is a disc that contains information regarding Kensington Palace. This puts the royal family in danger, especially as the information could’ve only come from someone intimately acquainted with Kensington. So the head of MI 6, Taylor (Martin Swabey), decides to send Wallace and Claire undercover in the palace. Wallace will join as part of the royal security team while Claire will fill in the vacant nanny position for the royal children. Claire is hesitant to take the position as she has no experience with children but Taylor says it’s their best way to keep the family safe so she will need to do her best.</span></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">So Claire is sent to Juliet Lansbury (Greta Scacchi) for nanny-training. Juliet, who is also known as “Scary Poppins,” doesn’t think Claire will make a good nanny but once Claire makes an impassioned speech about how devoted she is to protecting the royal family, Juliet agrees to train her. Claire seems to be a good student and it also seems that Juliet may have been a spy or something earlier in her career because she can make an umbrella a dangerous weapon. But her main lesson is that in the end, only love matters and she believes Claire will succeed. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5cV6uOYEw9N2FKGWLeX-6GtI3eccmbIIbituY2d0Muku5xRAhyw3cLcYXF06KWWIgTdCHw9zMFeHnXCefxLuMSv0CcTt6ZJztAOL6HflqDm5awJiRDhUdtifN2waGb_qS9w5LNcgDnLkFjw0LW7zYCX6YJ06M0EwktHVcGe0EEdrjavDk2RqHhWV/s1920/Royal%20Nanny%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5cV6uOYEw9N2FKGWLeX-6GtI3eccmbIIbituY2d0Muku5xRAhyw3cLcYXF06KWWIgTdCHw9zMFeHnXCefxLuMSv0CcTt6ZJztAOL6HflqDm5awJiRDhUdtifN2waGb_qS9w5LNcgDnLkFjw0LW7zYCX6YJ06M0EwktHVcGe0EEdrjavDk2RqHhWV/s320/Royal%20Nanny%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Mrs. Lansbury introduces Claire to Princess Rose (Katie Sheridan), who in this version of England is first in line to the throne after her unnamed father. Her children, Princess Elle (Isabelle Wilson) and Prince Robert (Phoenix Laroche), insist they don’t need a nanny and it seems they take the Von Trapp children as their inspiration for chasing off nannies. Claire, though, may be the one nanny they can’t annoy off as her training allows her to anticipate and disable all their pranks. She puts them in a tin and hands it back to them so the royal children decide to call in reinforcements.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Reinforcements mean their uncle, Prince Colin (Dan Jeannotte) – who is fourth in line after his niece and nephew. He has a warm and loving relationship with them and clearly is their partner-in-crime when it comes to scaring off nannies. Colin has them set up a bucket of spaghetti over Claire’s door. But when he sees her, he is clearly taken with her. She then also spots his prank and turns it on him before wishing them a good night. Colin agrees with the children that Claire might be more difficult to chase off while Rose thinks she might be the one nanny who lasts. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">In the morning, Claire gets a more intimate look at the royal family. Rose and her children are missing Prince Edward (Robbie Nock), who is off on a military deployment that will keep him away until after Christmas. Rose’s assistant, Olivia (Aurora Marion), is struggling with arranging a video call with him. Apparently being royals can’t help with that. Then when Robert says he has an assignment he needs his mother’s help with, Olivia chimes in that it won’t be possible as Princess Rose has a lot of engagements for the rest of the week. Robert dejectedly says he’ll ask the tutor but Rose is determined to make it happen. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRXLh9CbPouXII4CWwo-q45_qB-TMJpQEOVZ9rbGbbkCFXkn2aNrcJ5HypJzpBFqWGJg5dNxRLujAehfayLrrk1ALbFzPPEhXkHt6IzRRpeEhYYyb5PYCfhKk2eluuX5vHvH-XVC6_t3OghsXmEwqSB-fqq4ySDLIctpj7ft2QPkmvIA4u2mHczPh/s800/Royal%20Nanny%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRXLh9CbPouXII4CWwo-q45_qB-TMJpQEOVZ9rbGbbkCFXkn2aNrcJ5HypJzpBFqWGJg5dNxRLujAehfayLrrk1ALbFzPPEhXkHt6IzRRpeEhYYyb5PYCfhKk2eluuX5vHvH-XVC6_t3OghsXmEwqSB-fqq4ySDLIctpj7ft2QPkmvIA4u2mHczPh/s320/Royal%20Nanny%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Claire gets the children off to school and asks Wallace if he could make a call happen for the royal family. He promises to look into it before escorting them on a rather awkward ride to the school. After the children have been dropped off they head back to their offices to continue their investigation.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">She then returns to pick up the children and brings them to their uncle, who lives in Frogmore Cottage (famously home to the Sussexes). He tells her that she is not needed while the children are with him and refuses to let her into his house. Indignant, Claire is forced to wait. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">But Claire soon ingratiates herself with the Royal Family. She covers for Princess Rose when she unknowingly sets off an alarm while making lunches for her children late at night. It does force Wallace to tell her that there is a credible threat and so they’ve increased security. She thanks him and asks him to give her security briefs. Rose also thanks Claire, who then earns her trust. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">She then earns the respect of the children when she fills their minivan with ornaments. It shows that she has the same sense of humor as them and they appreciate it. Wallace also tolerates it for her sake. And she is also a hero when she is able to get them to video chat with their father, though she does credit Wallace. Olivia, however, is not thrilled and gives off weird vibes. Claire asks Wallace to look into her and he agrees. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Prince Colin proves to be trickier even though he is impressed by her prank, which Rose shows him as she sings Claire’s praises. Evidence shows that the people threating the royal family have infiltrated the royal charity, which Colin runs – and Vance believes he may be involved. He orders Claire to get closer to the prince and so she turns to Mrs. Lansbury for help yet again. “Scary Poppins” comes through and soon Claire is granted permission to enter Frogmore. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Claire soon wins over Colin and he even takes her on some charity work. She helps him convince wealthy businessman James Wilder (Jasper Box) to donate to the fund by sharing her own experience growing up as an orphan in a children’s home. Skarsten really shines in this scene and I encourage everyone to watch it. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qEFztvOyopeDXXhtQSzirnsY1L5JjvAH-t8-3CNrCN_UxAgVkPCVv5SCkAFsZAiBK-3hAxljR3ztZzla95P19a2RoNlHav6LnOgSPduoAt3-uuJX-mKvBvTbkmLMeCkKGyPuVi77N525JASzuhKgM1jmU4ddMB5_h3So19MIyEqLLhqZNENY7UZN/s750/Royal%20Nanny%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qEFztvOyopeDXXhtQSzirnsY1L5JjvAH-t8-3CNrCN_UxAgVkPCVv5SCkAFsZAiBK-3hAxljR3ztZzla95P19a2RoNlHav6LnOgSPduoAt3-uuJX-mKvBvTbkmLMeCkKGyPuVi77N525JASzuhKgM1jmU4ddMB5_h3So19MIyEqLLhqZNENY7UZN/s320/Royal%20Nanny%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Over time, Claire becomes more and more part of the royal family – including arranging for Princess Rose to be able to stay to help Robert with his homework after all. They invite her to a Christmas ball and it becomes clear she and Colin are falling in love.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mQQJ-IzvuBy75VMCoSx19O7s2iC_hjTGsh5WR-8gLq6FFD5aM2eT02Q6JbtemylbTm_J7TKVvnT9CiZXkPCeVnbka1re3BRh5IKO1HiuIG48Hw5kjaknTsGKOSPLA_a7qrEod_ZN0o_aD_AjTtiRbMdg4ZlZ1Gvu1p7FKRqg8DO7aqFI3AFqPYUj/s455/Royal%20Nanny%206.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="455" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mQQJ-IzvuBy75VMCoSx19O7s2iC_hjTGsh5WR-8gLq6FFD5aM2eT02Q6JbtemylbTm_J7TKVvnT9CiZXkPCeVnbka1re3BRh5IKO1HiuIG48Hw5kjaknTsGKOSPLA_a7qrEod_ZN0o_aD_AjTtiRbMdg4ZlZ1Gvu1p7FKRqg8DO7aqFI3AFqPYUj/s320/Royal%20Nanny%206.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Despite the security concerns, Colin brings Elle and Robert with him to a charity event. Amanda attacks the royals and Claire is able to get the children to safety while Colin is captured. Claire brings the children home and tells Princess Rose what is happening. Taylor orders her off the case but the princess overrules him, insisting that Claire stay on the case.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUGKBj_gMjG3cwVmY7Pvd1wwOSje6Gzqc-hNRYyGgyYe-RcKUBezPhnS_m4pOQaHoNJIS9KHBrB2ua3XJI3MfeQcTQYX0mL-mxH2rMUzKvfGUTchueTucltB9nJfY7yJBhy-1GpoaVCXbLa-byS1lgwL9K5sff0nos9ysKMWI8T5GMa4McbgJzFPX/s750/Royal%20Nanny%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUGKBj_gMjG3cwVmY7Pvd1wwOSje6Gzqc-hNRYyGgyYe-RcKUBezPhnS_m4pOQaHoNJIS9KHBrB2ua3XJI3MfeQcTQYX0mL-mxH2rMUzKvfGUTchueTucltB9nJfY7yJBhy-1GpoaVCXbLa-byS1lgwL9K5sff0nos9ysKMWI8T5GMa4McbgJzFPX/s320/Royal%20Nanny%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Colin’s cell phone is sent over to Claire and she answers, talking with Colin. He takes the fact that she’s a special agent rather well though he has no choice but to trust her since he’s been held hostage. Colin tells her that his kidnappers are sending over their demands and Claire promises to rescue him. They continue to probe that this is an inside job and haul Olivia in after discovering that she had some money problems that had recently been resolved. Olivia reveals that she’s been selling gossip to the tabloids, not state secrets to terrorists. Claire gives her a letter of termination from Princess Rose and leaves Olivia to realize how screwed she is.</p></span> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Taylor continues to believe Colin is not a victim but a co-conspirator, changing his plans because Claire prevented him from kidnapping the children. Claire, though, insists there’s no evidence and believes that Taylor has something against Colin given how he keeps trying to pin this on the prince. He removes her from the case and suspends her, even after Princess Rose’s admonishment. Angry and upset, she leaves. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Claire meets up with Mrs. Lansbury, who apparently is part of national security as her network of nannies are her eyes and ears on the street. She gets information about the so-called terrorists, revealing they were former MI-6 agents who have had their records scrubbed – essentially turning them into ghost agents. Mrs. Lansbury also reveals some more information that could help Claire before asking her to bring “her boy” home – Mrs. Lansbury was Colin’s nanny and has a soft spot for him. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Teaming up with Vance and Wallace, Claire tracks down Colin and goes in to rescue him. She uses the umbrella given to her by Mrs. Lansbury and takes out Colin’s captors. He is relieved to see her but wonders how much she told him was a lie. Claire tells him that she only lied about her last name and job but never about who she was as a person. He believes her and they are able to stop the rogue former agents. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Vance then goes and has Taylor arrested. It seems this was all his doing – there were plans to reorganize MI-6 and cut their budget. Taylor arranged all of this to prove that they were needed. I’m not sure why he thought the best way to do that would be to frame the king’s son, even if Prince Colin isn’t heir to the throne. Something tells me the king wouldn’t have been too happy about that. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Claire brings Colin home and everyone is happy to see both of them. They also have someone else in tow – Edward, who was immediately removed from his military tour and brought due to security measures that were enacted when Colin was kidnapped. So he gets to spend Christmas with his family after all! And Claire gets an invite from the king to spend Christmas at Sandringham with the royal family. She accepts and Rose hopes that she will become an official member of their family. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Judging by the kiss Claire shares with Colin, it seems very likely that Rose’s wish will come true. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">So I guess we can assume they will all live happily ever after. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyaP34nDFrPlP5ExMoPvcCoSmLlRZV5Un_aHcmIFPVc_JC7HdxFMuNhWqF3RStxhF4pKcrQwEzvj9QI2jyz_97Mp0nSUIEkNTcrqCx6NrGPytpo7mNwoTtc53jVzW-H8BHaNOfwRtCQvvKqDSg8XYS5FaIIQCFtk0tqsz0NwsWEcg2TbjAZrSvJB3/s268/Royal%20Nanny%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyaP34nDFrPlP5ExMoPvcCoSmLlRZV5Un_aHcmIFPVc_JC7HdxFMuNhWqF3RStxhF4pKcrQwEzvj9QI2jyz_97Mp0nSUIEkNTcrqCx6NrGPytpo7mNwoTtc53jVzW-H8BHaNOfwRtCQvvKqDSg8XYS5FaIIQCFtk0tqsz0NwsWEcg2TbjAZrSvJB3/s1600/Royal%20Nanny%202.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><font color="#00df70"><br /></font><p></p> <font color="#00df70"> <hr /></font> <p><font color="#00df70">I did enjoy this movie a lot. I was surprised that they decided to use an actually country rather than a fake one like they usually do when royal families are involved. But it was still sweet and I don’t think the British royal family is going to mind it. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">(The creative team must’ve been really surprised when there really was a King of England by the time this aired since I know most Hallmark Christmas movies generally tape in the summer). </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Skarsten and Jeannote have good chemistry and really sell the romance between their characters. I also hope we see Sheridan in a leading role of her own in a Hallmark movie – I think she would knock it out of the park herself. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Definitely check this out before the holiday season come to a close! </font></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-69490467203394401382022-09-08T12:00:00.001-04:002022-09-08T12:00:00.244-04:00Walt Disney World: Trip 2 Report<p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">I’m back from my second trip to Walt Disney World for this year! And just like I promised in my last post, I have some more to report and comment on so let’s get it started! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycpa9QX9k8oKpqxkVOt-nYPQYgdRn3x_4sSt_L5r7X9C0bfvodGhCDRjB26V6UHu7vYA8yq9L7VHm374xPORFWauCO3d9Xk3FZDbnGnugw3QC6_7j5C8y4hI1kgZVVb3f8nIncE5VfG1Mc1PVGdzdd2pjPFYWbe320W5_69ZNuAfrClXXwQqfxOZP/s624/wdw%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="624" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycpa9QX9k8oKpqxkVOt-nYPQYgdRn3x_4sSt_L5r7X9C0bfvodGhCDRjB26V6UHu7vYA8yq9L7VHm374xPORFWauCO3d9Xk3FZDbnGnugw3QC6_7j5C8y4hI1kgZVVb3f8nIncE5VfG1Mc1PVGdzdd2pjPFYWbe320W5_69ZNuAfrClXXwQqfxOZP/s320/wdw%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><u><strong><span style="color: #ff80ff;"><p><u><strong><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Weather</span></strong></u></p></span></strong></u><p></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">It was hot. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">I don’t remember our last trip in June being that hot. It felt more like August than June and I pretty much had to do laundry when I got back because I sweated through everything. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Most people in Disney had fans or cooling towels. My sister got us these nice fans we could wear around our necks. I could just leave it on and let it blow up at me or hold it against my face. It was a godsend. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Even on some rides! I read that many suspect that Disney is not fully utilizing the air conditioning to save money and I would believe it. Sometimes I was sweating inside on some rides, such as Spaceship Earth – and not because we were stuck near Rome “burning.” But there were other places where it did allow you to get comfortable but it still wasn’t as cool as I’ve experienced in the past. </span></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">We did have some storms but by now we’re used to them. A few times it rained for a few minutes or so and then felt even worse. It sometimes would rain in one park but not the other – we barely saw rain in Epcot but got reports from some other members in our party that it poured in Animal Kingdom while seeing large puddles as we took the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">The most significant rain came the last two days in Disney. It was gray and overcast on Sunday, which was Father’s Day so we did not go to the parks. We did try to go to the pool but thunder and lightning kept us out as it poured on us. We stayed out there, huddling under the umbrella of our table while I covered myself with a towel to keep myself mostly dry. It passed for a bit so we were able to go into the pool. It then rained on and off for the rest of the day (and I believe night). </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">It also rained as we were leaving on Monday. It poured as we waited for the Mears bus to the airport. And it poured as we boarded the bus. The rain, though, did subside as we approached the airport (and half our group was in Universal where it apparently didn’t rain). Those two bouts of rain did seem to cool things down. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Too bad it was at the end of the trip. </span></p> <p><u><strong><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Old Key West</span></strong></u></p><p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Let’s talk about the hotel now!</span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">This was our first time staying at Old Key West. Now that we’re Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members, we’re trying to stay in all the hotels that offer DVC at least once to say we’ve been there and to determine which ones we like. So far, we have enjoyed each one we’ve stayed at as DVC members (our home base of Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian and now this resort). </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">We were dropped off at the Hospitality House, which is the main building. The lobby is open and bright, smelling of a fresh scent that reminded me of Bath and Body’s Ocean Breeze, though a bit more overpowering. It didn’t trigger my allergies but it came close to it so warning for others who can’t stand strong scents for whatever reason. There was also a little lounge off the check in area that looked like a sitting room with tables, arm chairs and a TV showing cartoons. There was a strong nautical scene, which makes sense since the hotel is trying to channel the feeling of being in Key West, which is an island. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQYSb4DSCDPo74LJPJrkKhr_3_lviTEr_gI3ZbWo-RNgWt4IqhVQFiYUfwhKxOnZ6ksbHRA7HPmw8RAo5voguMD62fO9KETyw4jykPJ5g-MzcR4p6dmzpcoCpW6e82neBl8RSz-TvlwWzvRTdW07x-acancJK_flq25yIBpPngZjtSwM25R-MhSKa/s4032/IMG_7548.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQYSb4DSCDPo74LJPJrkKhr_3_lviTEr_gI3ZbWo-RNgWt4IqhVQFiYUfwhKxOnZ6ksbHRA7HPmw8RAo5voguMD62fO9KETyw4jykPJ5g-MzcR4p6dmzpcoCpW6e82neBl8RSz-TvlwWzvRTdW07x-acancJK_flq25yIBpPngZjtSwM25R-MhSKa/s320/IMG_7548.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff80ff;">The Hospitality House</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">The Hospitality House was a complex that included a general store, the restaurant Olivia’s and the smaller Good’s and Olivia’s to Go. This included one of the mug refill stations as well as the quick service food. One of the pools was nearby and there was also a boat that ran to Disney Springs that left from the Hospitality House. And there was a bus stop in front of the Hospitality House, which we learned was always the last stop before the bus continued to wherever its final destination was. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Old Key West is sprawled out and so depending on your location, you could be in for a walk. It was about ten minutes from the Hospitality House to our building. But you could take the bus if you wanted – you just had to let the driver know you wanted to get off at the main building because if the bus gets full early on, they might skip the last few stops. I hardly took the bus but it was nice to know it was an option. Thankfully our building was by another pool and a second mug refill station so that reduced my need to go to the Hospitality House. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">We had a deluxe studio room. It came with two queen beds, a dresser, a TV, a nightstand, a table with two chairs and a little nook with a refrigerator, sink, cabinets and a microwave. Then there was the bathroom with a shower/tub as well as a nice sized sink. And we also had a little balcony – our looked over a waterway behind our building. It was a great room. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXNXWHAoeHKoXZnVByW7RVeBk6aa1l9yUKNqZq2DDbffYpLNbdUU60lRhGzFQNdtH9leTNRp_RoXDBQTA4dXifuLeG4Dr0hQFdyCE1srUy1naRJRuEWcF5rpMwHnu1lZklXWnVMfCgFVrPceldnSZx--Wady_3sQQhAClk3OnJMblHqtcf7MXExjp/s4032/IMG_7474.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXNXWHAoeHKoXZnVByW7RVeBk6aa1l9yUKNqZq2DDbffYpLNbdUU60lRhGzFQNdtH9leTNRp_RoXDBQTA4dXifuLeG4Dr0hQFdyCE1srUy1naRJRuEWcF5rpMwHnu1lZklXWnVMfCgFVrPceldnSZx--Wady_3sQQhAClk3OnJMblHqtcf7MXExjp/s320/IMG_7474.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff80ff;">(Our building in Old Key West)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #ff80ff;"></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">As for the food, the to-go place wasn’t the greatest. You could pick up actual meals but if you wanted a snack, you would have to go to the market. After Pop Century’s wide variety of pastries and other options as well as the smaller but still varied options at both the Polynesian and Wilderness Lodge, it was a bit of a letdown. We bought some donuts and cinnamon rolls for the room and I ate those for breakfast.</span></p><p></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">But that was really the only con to the resort so I would stay there again. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">The pool we were close to was nice and we spent some time there on Sunday since we decided to avoid the parks altogether on Father’s Day. Laundry services were also available there and I got myself a pizza from the snack shack by the pool. It was delicious! So that was also a plus, but as I said, there really was only one con. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">So, I would definitely stay there again! </span></p> <p><u><strong><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Olivia’s </span></strong></u></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">As mentioned, this is the restaurant in Old Key West. We had looked up the menu and had been intrigued enough to choose it for dinner on Father’s Day. But when we got to the hotel on our first day, we decided to also have lunch there. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVdSVEPhk_eFrjFCWAMxHehB7cQvqjsI2Av2YQft_K-esB4jnJRxaEx9Uu0cT-ymp-1NWypGACWov5XFjT6IhkN8DyOU1_1TKxgYxLO-648eTyoWP8mblEQ17OFavGW1luLHo856wKaq74z6Y8orgk0hdkKPCAXERSbU4ywj4PtjqPWLejEPdt5YV/s4032/wdw%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVdSVEPhk_eFrjFCWAMxHehB7cQvqjsI2Av2YQft_K-esB4jnJRxaEx9Uu0cT-ymp-1NWypGACWov5XFjT6IhkN8DyOU1_1TKxgYxLO-648eTyoWP8mblEQ17OFavGW1luLHo856wKaq74z6Y8orgk0hdkKPCAXERSbU4ywj4PtjqPWLejEPdt5YV/s320/wdw%2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ff80ff;"><p>We loved it!</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">I had the boneless fried chicken and it was delicious. It was not greasy or overly breaded so that you were mostly eating fried breading. The skin was perfectly fried and the chicken was juicy. And the mashed potatoes and garlic string beans complemented it well. I also enjoyed a watermelon margarita to start off my vacation. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrRPY7Laqr7aj3NEjk1sMn_3B13rTK753YBL421OrEjuK-G0fW8i6cw0WOH62kk0TLRrwTHhntHnaEttXFlMIVA6wdViUOu1feU0HT8OHQO6vAYzdR6hUamkyesKtW2BSGsCZPTzxh9soona-q7jeIz_VqCxR0UBuz4ABhiVkYYAV9bF9gnkpMVO7/s4032/67691726663__03E709DB-063E-4FAB-97E8-7C4A7BB98700.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrRPY7Laqr7aj3NEjk1sMn_3B13rTK753YBL421OrEjuK-G0fW8i6cw0WOH62kk0TLRrwTHhntHnaEttXFlMIVA6wdViUOu1feU0HT8OHQO6vAYzdR6hUamkyesKtW2BSGsCZPTzxh9soona-q7jeIz_VqCxR0UBuz4ABhiVkYYAV9bF9gnkpMVO7/s320/67691726663__03E709DB-063E-4FAB-97E8-7C4A7BB98700.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff80ff;">(My margarita)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">I had the same thing on Father’s Day as did a few others. My mother and aunt decided to split the prime rib since it was 14 ounces. They realized they could eat 7 ounces each. Others had crab cakes or other sea food fare. In the end, everyone enjoyed their meals so I highly recommend checking out Olivia’s if you’re interested in good food with the feel of the islands.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">You won’t regret it. </span></p> <p><strong><u><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Moonlight Magic</span></u></strong></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">This is an event for Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members only and we found out about it when my mother got an email telling her to register for it. And we’re glad we did! </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Moonlight Magic is a special event held six times a year – twice in Epcot, twice in Hollywood Studios and twice in Animal Kingdom. Ours took place in Hollywood Studios and the main part of the event happened after park close at 9 PM, lasting until 12:30 AM. Check in began around 6 PM, though we were delayed for a story I’ll recount later. But we made it and got our wristbands as well as vouchers for snacks, including a complementary souvenir popcorn bucket. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigSvwJ_FmFtlfywfprV3jzgbed1wM8hKYN3FRSKxlQkUPSHGWDKoaBxX7XGffZRJrLrnw-nzZEuuznACIGgIioGPv3a-viLDy3-swHBYD5AS2PLRBP9AAGQlaZxGtXrNSVJisVxsdXDEP84VAbT5M2po5ztWnBP-pYpp48rDBVqnm4Rd4XTaQef96/s4032/IMG_7483.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigSvwJ_FmFtlfywfprV3jzgbed1wM8hKYN3FRSKxlQkUPSHGWDKoaBxX7XGffZRJrLrnw-nzZEuuznACIGgIioGPv3a-viLDy3-swHBYD5AS2PLRBP9AAGQlaZxGtXrNSVJisVxsdXDEP84VAbT5M2po5ztWnBP-pYpp48rDBVqnm4Rd4XTaQef96/s320/IMG_7483.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #ff80ff;"><p>We decided to watch the tribute to Disney animation fireworks show that is projected onto the Chinese Theater at the end of the night. If you haven’t seen it, I do recommend watching it at least once. It will remind you of the magic of Disney movies.</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">After the fireworks show, we then got in line for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. With the limited numbers allowed to participate in Moonlight Magic, the wait time was about fifteen minutes. And this was common around the park as the regular guests made their way out of the park and only the registered participants remained, having to show our wristbands to get on any ride. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Though Slinky Dog Dash did breakdown while my dad and I were waiting in line. At first, we waited but when they announced there was no expected timeframe for the ride to become operational again, we decided to leave. Instead, we picked up our souvenir popcorn bucket at PizzeRizzo before also turning in a snack voucher for drinks. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">We met up with my mom and aunt, who were enjoying the DJ playing music in the plaza in front of the Chinese Theater. My sister and her group were at the dance party with Disney characters – she sent us a video of Goofy and Max teaching the crowd how to do the “perfect cast” from the movie. I went down Sunset Boulevard and decided to do the Rock N’ Roller coaster since Tower of Terror appeared to be down. I pretty much walked right onto the ride. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">After getting off, my sister texted that they went to do Rise of the Resistance and that it had about a fifty minute wait. Because the queue would close at 11:30, I raced from Rock N’ Roller coaster and made it to Rise of the Resistance, so…</span></p> <p><strong><u><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance</span></u></strong></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">(WARNING: If you do not want spoilers, scroll down to the next section!) </span></p><p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">While I still do not like queues where I cannot see how far I am from doing the ride, I am not completely against this queue. Because lightning lanes were not available during the Moonlight Magic, our line continued to move so this is a ride where they can continually move you. However, I did note that there were benches disguised as part of the queue so people could sit while they wait and I have to applaud Disney for this design decision.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">After making my way through the queue, I filed into a pre-show area with a group of other guests. BB-8 was there, rolling around and making preparations when Rey transmitted a holographic message. She welcomed us to the resistance and informed us that our planet was not safe so we were being taken to somewhere safe. The doors then opened and we were loaded on what looked like a transport ship. We held on as Poe tried to escort our ship to the safe location but the First Order intervened. He flew off for help while we were boarded by First Order officers and taken prisoner. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglntmAWHxqEJpgChSTfttNJiDZ_M1wz5DvSAUufDQ6HvO_wNdPMjyfHiJf26wFpLa_wN1T5DWPUSrcZAkH9rvfJU8aVYaAGWYk38SBCmjy49lSUq-TrG98v-ntsxI0aaNXTRRGc9LO8HyEAPvUI9fUyWPToK-MK5aBDD3fpgeGtSugPt0vGGKZNEih/s4032/IMG_7485.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglntmAWHxqEJpgChSTfttNJiDZ_M1wz5DvSAUufDQ6HvO_wNdPMjyfHiJf26wFpLa_wN1T5DWPUSrcZAkH9rvfJU8aVYaAGWYk38SBCmjy49lSUq-TrG98v-ntsxI0aaNXTRRGc9LO8HyEAPvUI9fUyWPToK-MK5aBDD3fpgeGtSugPt0vGGKZNEih/s320/IMG_7485.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #ff80ff;"><p>We filed off the transporter and into a room with rows of Stormtroopers watching us as we waited on what was another queue. But that one moved as well and I soon was placed on an orange square. My group was put into a cell where Kylo Ren threatened to torture us for the location of our final destination. But he was thankfully distracted and we were soon rescued by the Resistance.</p></span><p></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">The ride itself is very similar to Ratatouille and the Runaway Railway. You are loaded in transports piloted by droids that separate and act independently of each other as you try to escape the ship. There are stops and starts, turns and a ride on an elevator at least once. It moved quickly as a battle rages around you and is certainly quite the experience, especially as Kylo Ren tries to recapture you. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">But we escape and it ends outside where you are loaded at the “safe spot,” which is still just the Star Wars section of Hollywood Studios. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;"><strong style="color: black;"><span style="color: #ff80ff;">(SPOILERS ARE NOW OVER! IT IS SAFE TO READ!)</span></strong></span></p><p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">I then went on Star Tours, got a picture with Chip and Dale (in their Rescue Ranger outfits!) and claimed my last snack voucher for another soda before heading back to my hotel for the night. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKazRa2O5Gm7yZFOj_7W83Ytnux9G5UTVq2YZqhshNmN3EtFq16Tm6SbuCuI5BuVgLyP_OW4Eh83xC_aIZjGRzd18kr9taoxQAWW7caO4PJo7-UnSM2hTI4L3IDG3P0Gw0iX1qKgr8YBh7PjiPiQa7ZKzLC0YuuFZ0pZYxcMvAKoGd8ICkLd3OrCSX/s4032/IMG_7487.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKazRa2O5Gm7yZFOj_7W83Ytnux9G5UTVq2YZqhshNmN3EtFq16Tm6SbuCuI5BuVgLyP_OW4Eh83xC_aIZjGRzd18kr9taoxQAWW7caO4PJo7-UnSM2hTI4L3IDG3P0Gw0iX1qKgr8YBh7PjiPiQa7ZKzLC0YuuFZ0pZYxcMvAKoGd8ICkLd3OrCSX/s320/IMG_7487.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff80ff;">(A rare look at me)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">No, I didn’t get a chance to ride Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind. My sister did and she did not share any spoilers. All she did was warn me that I might not make it through as I do suffer from motion sickness. I will attempt to ride it at least once and determine if I can do it again or not.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">We’ll end with this topic…</span></p> <p><strong><u><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Evacuations</span></u></strong></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">We got evacuated twice during this trip. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">The first time was when we were on the Skyliner. My father, sister, her fiance and I were traveling from Epcot back to Hollywood Studios to check in for the Moonlight Magic. We thankfully were in the Riviera station but had come to a stop between the unloading platform and the loading platform, so our door was closed. We had seen some families with wheelchairs waiting at the Epcot station and so had figured we were stopped to load them. But as we kept waiting and waiting, it soon became clear that we had broken down – which they eventually confirmed. We had to wait. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEqXhMisEDRba20CGKPAkWUWNigi_l4h0-9w7VO1qApc3BqrPaz82KqSZtkjnNIby7BLXX42SkbhuL7QXbPGEx8BERQqLgtJZcwvYFSGJHpqvTuUXlGX9K9bJoaZe_XnOFd_2Hs2GG9JuLGljUhSsPdfHxrb5gEInP3WSMzaHOAQ2l0hLZFZB9XCH/s3088/IMG_7481.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEqXhMisEDRba20CGKPAkWUWNigi_l4h0-9w7VO1qApc3BqrPaz82KqSZtkjnNIby7BLXX42SkbhuL7QXbPGEx8BERQqLgtJZcwvYFSGJHpqvTuUXlGX9K9bJoaZe_XnOFd_2Hs2GG9JuLGljUhSsPdfHxrb5gEInP3WSMzaHOAQ2l0hLZFZB9XCH/s320/IMG_7481.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff80ff;">(Another shot of me in the Skyliner)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">After about forty-five minutes, they managed to move our car forward enough to open the doors and let us out. We were definitely relieved and felt glad that we were at least in a station so evacuation was easier. But the downside was that since we were in a station, we did not have the breeze blowing through our car and so we were melting from the heat. So we were definitely glad to be out of that oven. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">We then had to walk to the Riviera’s bus stops. And while the hotel looks beautiful, the bus stops are pretty far away from the lobby. It was a bit of hike. But we got there and the bus to Hollywood Studios pulled in shortly to take us the rest of the way. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Then the next day, we were in the Magic Kingdom when my parents and I went on Splash Mountain. And we got stuck right before the drop into the “Pretty Good Sure as You’re Born” scene. We were told pretty much right away that the ride had broken down and we were to wait for a cast member to come escort us off the ride. At one point, the parade started and we were all able to watch it from our perch. </span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzennJLF1ckcBvQTazowvgHf-BIEYODGJUR_6ATZDdgKHsOuOV01swVNmeDEZDad1EH5gdihzhuaR1pm8s08cGtMQaBCAOTPVtzCSAqmF78fO9P69CTB8z3hCNR9FsdjgydPAQgyiWtpjtqiTHDkH0eFrheVAic0DCpDfgekoe_JaAKmBRUK6-OPL1/s3520/IMG_7502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzennJLF1ckcBvQTazowvgHf-BIEYODGJUR_6ATZDdgKHsOuOV01swVNmeDEZDad1EH5gdihzhuaR1pm8s08cGtMQaBCAOTPVtzCSAqmF78fO9P69CTB8z3hCNR9FsdjgydPAQgyiWtpjtqiTHDkH0eFrheVAic0DCpDfgekoe_JaAKmBRUK6-OPL1/s320/IMG_7502.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff80ff;">(A shot of the Maleficent float from Splash Mountain)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Two cast members did come to let us off and unlocked our safety bars so we could climb out of the logs. My log, the last in our cluster, was the first to be evacuated and we had to stand on a walkway, still watching the parade as they emptied the other logs. We then followed the cast members down to a set of stairs and was led to the backstage area. Cast members were waiting there with iPads and we got some “magic” to make up for the evacuation. The magic was a multi experience Genie+ pass for us to use. </span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsSYDeI7wrJeYZOho0ZMzQXqHSGd_c90HjvnUlEfhJV8u4BaKPD-0-tuJmn8NYuF6LH-q4qaUgJZL2dtpnZ6kfWgpViUXW49L7DBB0ZilpBNcr4vMrDYNUsQPFxbsNQIKsptRAwlPJ4cR1puJPFGDx865o6n-RVz0SJftrMbKUrHLYrd1o-q5sHSO/s4032/IMG_7497.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsSYDeI7wrJeYZOho0ZMzQXqHSGd_c90HjvnUlEfhJV8u4BaKPD-0-tuJmn8NYuF6LH-q4qaUgJZL2dtpnZ6kfWgpViUXW49L7DBB0ZilpBNcr4vMrDYNUsQPFxbsNQIKsptRAwlPJ4cR1puJPFGDx865o6n-RVz0SJftrMbKUrHLYrd1o-q5sHSO/s320/IMG_7497.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff80ff;">(Our empty log)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">We did ultimately use it once Splash Mountain was up and running, this time with my sister and her fiance joining us since they still had a multi experience pass to use after Smuggler’s Run shut down the day before and our Genie+ booking was affected. We were able to finish the entire ride and got a refreshing splash (though we did notice they aren’t using as much water as they used to, probably to conserve it). </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">So those were our fun stories from this trip. We can add them to the vault of memories we’ve created at Disney World. </span></p> <p><strong><u><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Conclusion</span></u></strong></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Despite the heat, it was another great Disney trip and I enjoyed every minute of it. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">Next week, I’m heading out to Disneyland so I’m going to write something about that trip as I don’t think I’ve ever really written about Disneyland. I’ll give it a look but still write about my trip anyway. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">After that, I don’t know when my next Disney trip will be. My parents are going again in October but I opted not to go on that trip as I thought a convention in Paris would be around that time. (Spoiler alert: It isn't). It seems unlikely that we'll go next year due to a few things, including my sister's wedding. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff80ff;">So I’ll guess I’ll just have to see what happens next. </span></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-83680225243507227442022-03-27T12:00:00.001-04:002022-03-27T12:00:00.154-04:00Walt Disney World: A Round Up of My Thoughts<p><font color="#ff80ff">Several years ago, I did a countdown to a Disney trip I was taking by writing something about the park each day for like 100 days. It was massive and I think I had to backdate a few posts but I did it! </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">However, it was several years ago and Walt Disney World has made a lot of changes since then. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">I recently got back from Walt Disney World and I thought I would discuss my thoughts on some of the latest changes and additions to the parks. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdamYrqouwGBlnrf8s43VE3F3J61oBDUv47Cz7BpkgJ2CfSezDSi1_63sY6OaK-q47lcEx4v5AkUzEYA1Jvp83xNIW0QLZP2mbZbhARfgL5wAYCtEVVGfR7c_PIkkVbBfvPo7nANTn1KaCrxwu0elG_bAIuqMjAkMQ7ZoP-b_6d3AGdzy4x4rcfpKx/s624/wdw%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="624" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdamYrqouwGBlnrf8s43VE3F3J61oBDUv47Cz7BpkgJ2CfSezDSi1_63sY6OaK-q47lcEx4v5AkUzEYA1Jvp83xNIW0QLZP2mbZbhARfgL5wAYCtEVVGfR7c_PIkkVbBfvPo7nANTn1KaCrxwu0elG_bAIuqMjAkMQ7ZoP-b_6d3AGdzy4x4rcfpKx/s320/wdw%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ff80ff;"><p>Here we go!</p></span><p></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><strong><u><font color="#ff80ff">Genie+</font></u></strong></p> <p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtl7py3geYoiIRqWC2q8HiVkxp0v6cTdSuAgfjEiqgsQZwPWS7hQ4Z_cO65YyDUmTX6ZvJ5prFev8i44j0abLtDit32DAX0YQzFTpzpkY1CAob_7uZz4LZyXAuG6mbK5K0d_9bbcYw3ADtwz0_KSDJjguuwHZfYsVJQg3aER4c8GflW3wc8dZCsDwB/s800/wdw%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="800" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtl7py3geYoiIRqWC2q8HiVkxp0v6cTdSuAgfjEiqgsQZwPWS7hQ4Z_cO65YyDUmTX6ZvJ5prFev8i44j0abLtDit32DAX0YQzFTpzpkY1CAob_7uZz4LZyXAuG6mbK5K0d_9bbcYw3ADtwz0_KSDJjguuwHZfYsVJQg3aER4c8GflW3wc8dZCsDwB/s320/wdw%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><font color="#ff80ff">Okay, I have some mixed feelings about Disney’s replacement to the Fastpass system. Genie+ works just like Fastpass – you book an hour time slot to do a ride and when you show up, you can take the Lightning Lane rather than the stand-by queue, often cutting down your wait. </font></p> <p><font color="#ff80ff">The price can hurt families as it’s $15 a day per person on top of the ticket price. You can now get tickets that include Genie+ which helps. Because otherwise, you would have to wake up every day around 6:30 AM to buy Genie+. Why that time? Because you can start making reservations at 7:00 AM. And if you’re not quick enough, you’re going to get later timeslots. That mostly worked for my family as we’re not early birds but it may not work for everyone. </font></p> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Speaking of price, we were not fans of the select rides that have additional costs to use their Lightning Lanes on top of the Genie+ price – such having to pay $12 to ride Space Mountain if you didn’t want to wait on the stand-by line. We did not pay these extra fees. We either waited on standby if the wait times were not so bad (we found an excellent time to hit Space Mountain) or we didn’t do it all.</font></p> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Good news though – Disney has moved three popular rides from the individual lightning lane to the Genie+ app, meaning you no longer have to pay extra to get access to the lightning lane. These include Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom), Frozen Ever After (Epcot) and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Hollywood Studios). Now this is only until August but it should be a big help – apparently not many people are willing to pay extra and that led to long standby lines. </font></p> <p><font color="#ff80ff">The good thing is that you can get access to the lightning lanes and that does cut down wait times. You can make quite a few reservations throughout the day – you either have to use up your previous reservation or wait two hours to make your next one. You can only use a ride’s lightning lane once per day. The app will not let you make a reservation if you’ve already made one for that ride. And one person can book the reservation for everyone in your party if you’re all connected in the My Disney Experience app, making things easier. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><strong><u><font color="#ff80ff">The Skyliner</font></u></strong></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_lMJsf9jPHo7QAvPMjdxv0SJxdXPL0zu0xSu_WioRVyhyz6r0p5hQBdMEpxT64Q2WRCBmL20pxesMT1FnS19-BSx2XPB2984FQUbhdRGgSpUnt36x11GfRvJ7cWJa1ZMwqxSEHDdC-h0Zmi_XC0HEVaPa-OxNeEygZbwW2RtujOAuJuAIPcWwZKY/s780/wdw%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_lMJsf9jPHo7QAvPMjdxv0SJxdXPL0zu0xSu_WioRVyhyz6r0p5hQBdMEpxT64Q2WRCBmL20pxesMT1FnS19-BSx2XPB2984FQUbhdRGgSpUnt36x11GfRvJ7cWJa1ZMwqxSEHDdC-h0Zmi_XC0HEVaPa-OxNeEygZbwW2RtujOAuJuAIPcWwZKY/s320/wdw%208.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ff80ff;"><p>This trip was my first time on the Skyliner, which I think had either just opened or was about to open when I last went in 2019. We stayed at Pop Century and the Skyliner was the only way to get to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The Skyliner only went from Pop Century to Caribbean Beach where I would transfer to the line heading to my park of choice but even with that, I found it quicker than the bus. Since I was traveling around noon, it was pretty empty but even when I was leaving with the rest of the park at the end of the day, the line constantly moved so it was probably on par with taking the bus.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Most Skyliner cars have designs featuring Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars characters. So it was fun to see who was on your car – one time I wore my Belle shirt to the parks and ended up in a <em>Beauty and the Beast </em>themed car! </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Once you climb into the car, the doors close automatically and then you are sent up on the line that takes you over Walt Disney World. I’ve flown over Hourglass Lake, separating Pop Century and the Art of Animation Resorts, as well as the Caribbean Beach and past the Rivera Resort. I’ve flown along Buena Vista Boulevard and got a bird’s eye view of the World Showcase as well as the Boardwalk. And on the way to Hollywood Studios, I flew over protected wildland but did not spot any animals out and about. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">I enjoyed every one of my flights and look forward to taking the Skyline again. I recommend those going to the parks figure out a way to ride it yourself – you’ll definitely enjoy it! </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><strong><u><font color="#ff80ff">Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway</font></u></strong></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrktkGEsDxqaWTHXNw2Ab2gASLrdzLg47dKMCZHDuV16y8wBGKtDAnSeAsQSDH4wSlbpwckeq6zs64riS3J9s7efqAH2hXXBhXki_h1BW4QCzNjEkwjQYPU2Zk9l4mq5gp3IwEyYFKWlwpJmRMtVVvmb36_rpP65uaTtWu9Gbp3M93BrRudoilIfT/s1500/wdw%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1500" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrktkGEsDxqaWTHXNw2Ab2gASLrdzLg47dKMCZHDuV16y8wBGKtDAnSeAsQSDH4wSlbpwckeq6zs64riS3J9s7efqAH2hXXBhXki_h1BW4QCzNjEkwjQYPU2Zk9l4mq5gp3IwEyYFKWlwpJmRMtVVvmb36_rpP65uaTtWu9Gbp3M93BrRudoilIfT/s320/wdw%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">This is one of the new rides in Hollywood Studios and this one replaced The Great Movie Ride in the Chinese Theater. My family and I decided to wait on line for it as we never saw it dip below an hour and we weren’t going to pay for the Lightning Lane for it. But the wait was really under an hour, though it moves in spurts not only because of the Lightning Lane but also how the ride is loaded. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">We are loaded in groups into the theater so we can watch the new Mickey and Minnie cartoon, showing them going on a picnic. They encounter Goofy driving a train…which he proceeds to crash through the screen, creating an opening that allows riders into the cartoon. Despite the cast member’s protest about insurance paperwork, riders are then allowed inside and we board trains that will take us through the cartoon. But we are quickly separate from Goofy in the engine and separate, left to our own devices. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Runaway Railway is a trackless ride, so while of course all movements are well-planned and executed, our vehicles are free to move around the room and aren’t confined to a track. So you have no clue where you are going to go since you can’t follow tracks (and the tire marks on the floor are too numerous to figure out which ones may belong to your car). It makes things a little more exciting that way. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Your train car takes you through different scenes in the cartoon and different elements are used to help create the experience, including strategic use of film to make it seem like you’re falling into the water. One of my personal favorite rooms was Daisy’s Dance Studio. I won’t give too much away but you’re going to want to hold one when she tells everyone to conga! </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">The ride actually features a song, something I haven’t witnessed in a long time. I do encourage you all to do the ride if you can (just don’t spend extra money to do so). </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><strong><u><font color="#ff80ff">Ratatouille</font></u></strong></p><p><strong><u></u></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_i1PgOPsSc6EBEVWuyn2Mr6qhOWaZ5_n6evrWGz7Phk66ulYZGCtpWgkZ6DqvujBxq7BkqyzKBp6rMe4mLG6EPv6h-0gTi3r9SkgUETUF5I3tpQ5tBA4qpRfea6AEn2HmXEk6SpsUkmG34cH3MEIiFN7G3ZZu0DLYuZqutKdG8CnmaGME2QwQvzj_/s1200/wdw%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1200" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_i1PgOPsSc6EBEVWuyn2Mr6qhOWaZ5_n6evrWGz7Phk66ulYZGCtpWgkZ6DqvujBxq7BkqyzKBp6rMe4mLG6EPv6h-0gTi3r9SkgUETUF5I3tpQ5tBA4qpRfea6AEn2HmXEk6SpsUkmG34cH3MEIiFN7G3ZZu0DLYuZqutKdG8CnmaGME2QwQvzj_/s320/wdw%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></u></strong></div><p></p><p><em><font color="#ff80ff">(In 2020 during the Before Times, I had been planning a trip to Paris that May for my second time. I was hoping to go to Disneyland Paris and so I would’ve done Ratatouille before it came to Epcot. But COVID blew that plan up). </font></em></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">While we were there, Disney did away with the virtual queues but we did do Ratatouille’s. The first time, it got so backed up that we had to get off the line to make our dinner reservations. But the second time, it did work (but mostly because my mom got up at 7 AM to get us into the queue that time). We probably waited about a half hour for the standby option that time. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">I must say I’m disappointed in the queue design. I think lately Disney has been so caught up in design and immersing you into the ride even on the queue that they’ve forgotten about functionality. We were unable to gauge how far away we were from the loading area while waiting that first time (turns out we were a lot closer than we thought). My belief is that when I’m in the queue, I should always be able to see how far away I am from the loading platform at all times. This queue, though, involved a lot of small rooms that we filed through and made a lot of turns that became more and more frustrating with each corner turned. We could never see how long we had to wait or where we were going next due to all the separating walls. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">(Early on, my sister said that she felt like she was waiting for the ladies’ room at this fancy restaurant and it seemed appropriate). </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Once we grabbed our 3-D glasses, we were loaded into our rat. I noticed ours was wet and was like “Oh, they must squirt water at us at one point.” My mom pointed out it could also be wine so we waited to see who would be right as we took off for our adventure through the kitchen. We followed as Remy tried to cook a meal for Ego, avoided Skinner and also prepared a feast for his family. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Like the Runaway Railway, Ratatouille is also a trackless ride. It does move faster than the railway and I was starting to feel my motion sickness kick in at the end. But it was a fun experience as we raced through the different scenes and experienced life as a rat. My aunt’s favorite moment was when we were briefly stopped under the lit stove because it warmed her but I enjoyed it all. It’s probably something I would likely only do once a trip right now but that could change depending on the wait times. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Once again, I encourage people to do the ride but probably just wait in the standby line rather than pay extra for the lightning lane. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><strong><u><font color="#ff80ff">San Angel</font></u></strong></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1LnpGzToUyJ782sj7cREynRpRFWuXsKbdfYVIsWUA3gUBx3TrqTC-EP7uKad60H8-KFPOJJmpHdCsMIMZWSrBxOl6iFb9IQiqj6EFn1xiyC2hD3Yb8V96gJtNoSNfYD6Mnie9gcCLKTxTfnz9M8CqoCpqfvmNGmXngGS3PrfIXfVH5PYtocndCsH/s800/wdw%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="800" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1LnpGzToUyJ782sj7cREynRpRFWuXsKbdfYVIsWUA3gUBx3TrqTC-EP7uKad60H8-KFPOJJmpHdCsMIMZWSrBxOl6iFb9IQiqj6EFn1xiyC2hD3Yb8V96gJtNoSNfYD6Mnie9gcCLKTxTfnz9M8CqoCpqfvmNGmXngGS3PrfIXfVH5PYtocndCsH/w281-h219/wdw%205.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><span style="color: #ff80ff;"><p>This trip marked my first time eating in Mexico. In the past, my dad and sister would eat here while my mother and I ate in the Rose and Crown in the UK pavilion. But I have been more open to Mexican lately so after checking the menu, I decided it would be okay to try since we couldn’t get reservations in the Biergarten (Germany).</p></span><p></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">I had a delicious chicken dish with poblano sauce, which I now adore. Unfortunately, the roasted potatoes that came with my dish were not the greatest and at one point, I had to turn on my phone’s flashlight in order to make sure they were potatoes and not plantains. My dad shared his rice with me though and it was delicious as was the frozen margarita I enjoyed with my meal. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">We decided not to have dessert there and enjoyed it later at our hotel but the desserts they did have listed looked delicious. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">The only downside is the lighting. For those unfamiliar with the Mexican pavilion, it is almost entirely inside and is designed to look like a village square. It is also always twilight since that’s when things are usually happening, after the heat of the day. So the lighting is dim inside the restaurant and at one point, I did have to turn on my phone’s flashlight to check something out. But if you want such an ambiance, it may be a plus. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><strong><u><font color="#ff80ff">The Plaza</font></u></strong></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxftXFuq6-i1d7ugEAMJUZOJEC3v-cvaAKCT_A91f1V7kIzEjBzj7gGZLz4XBu0noRTS0EvlJYKxZPQqqM282A2gIPSpjIKBHU8PyIKpn6Sw1Zo30-Zr4pt311p0nV3eXri6FCj5fZL4-Haw3ISdRB3qVAvYlz_C_KmOc1cFBHQAjHb3eqnFE2_kM6/s1024/wdw%209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1024" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxftXFuq6-i1d7ugEAMJUZOJEC3v-cvaAKCT_A91f1V7kIzEjBzj7gGZLz4XBu0noRTS0EvlJYKxZPQqqM282A2gIPSpjIKBHU8PyIKpn6Sw1Zo30-Zr4pt311p0nV3eXri6FCj5fZL4-Haw3ISdRB3qVAvYlz_C_KmOc1cFBHQAjHb3eqnFE2_kM6/s320/wdw%209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ff80ff;"><p>My mother and sister discovered The Plaza when they went to the Magic Kingdom for the opening ceremony during our 2019 trip to Disney. They went there for breakfast and we then went back for lunch. We loved it so much, we quickly made a reservation for this past trip.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">And once again, it was delicious. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">The Plaza is found just off Main Street by the ice cream store. As you turn right to head toward the Tomorrowland Terrace and ultimately Tomorrowland, it is on your right. It’s a small restaurant (as I think they generally do more outdoor seating) but I highly recommend it. I had a burger there that was delicious and followed it up with a milkshake. We definitely walked away full from that meal. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Check it out if you’re in the Magic Kingdom. </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><strong><u><font color="#ff80ff">Regal Eagle</font></u></strong></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZ8bIr2wq-dOalfu-toSuEJYvHXw3MNNBbQIf1a5QDnhfYhi3n9vPLU6IaFKTDTiTnV5lW2D3JxCgASyIEufwlv0d-7kkaRbJMg07mbAyUZuLklK2DIkH1aIEiOabhx11-VsRwWJ0kgFgJgb1GMqo0tlyHaVAi-4lJwuZYMfjvEiL8DgZx0oB2YDz/s2560/wdw%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="2560" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZ8bIr2wq-dOalfu-toSuEJYvHXw3MNNBbQIf1a5QDnhfYhi3n9vPLU6IaFKTDTiTnV5lW2D3JxCgASyIEufwlv0d-7kkaRbJMg07mbAyUZuLklK2DIkH1aIEiOabhx11-VsRwWJ0kgFgJgb1GMqo0tlyHaVAi-4lJwuZYMfjvEiL8DgZx0oB2YDz/s320/wdw%206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#ff80ff">The Regal Eagle has replaced the old Liberty Tree Tavern at the American Adventure Pavilion in Epcot. It’s still window service but is now a barbecue place with a Muppets theming (Sam the Eagle is the eagle in the name). </font></p> <font color="#ff80ff"></font> <p><font color="#ff80ff">It got mixed reviews from my family. My mother and aunt were not fond of the salads they got and my sister was meh on their hamburger. I, though, I loved my barbecue chicken while my dad loved the pulled pork. So if you like barbecue, you’ll love this place. If you’re looking for something else, I’d bypass it for now. </font></p> <p><strong><u><font color="#ff80ff">Mobile Ordering</font></u></strong></p> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6hHdFdI205NhoawRN4RwI75-8iva8T6a0OjCbogo2NMqlgWNYpaKVfCpeZ3KiRPZqNQiLeKcievTZxBSfZdi05dPo5bftY30NvxpdCpv45jEWl45HMs_fR4Biy2zckPRQmWBCM97Tl34nPeOBaAtQ_wkhlJyL3TtyjVsebgPA16LAl2oH7LuvOPH/s620/wdw%207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="620" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6hHdFdI205NhoawRN4RwI75-8iva8T6a0OjCbogo2NMqlgWNYpaKVfCpeZ3KiRPZqNQiLeKcievTZxBSfZdi05dPo5bftY30NvxpdCpv45jEWl45HMs_fR4Biy2zckPRQmWBCM97Tl34nPeOBaAtQ_wkhlJyL3TtyjVsebgPA16LAl2oH7LuvOPH/s320/wdw%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ff80ff;"><p>Mobile ordering has been around since before the pandemic. I definitely recall it being an option during my 2019 trip and maybe my 2018 trip but we never took advantage of it. We could just go up to the register and order. It didn’t really matter to us.</p></span><p></p> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Naturally, the pandemic changed all that. </font></p> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Though guests could still go up to registers to order, Disney strongly encouraged us to use the Mobile Ordering option and had more windows devoted to those orders. We first used it at Cosmic Ray’s in the Magic Kingdom and we fell in love. </font></p> <p><font color="#ff80ff">Here’s how it works: Mobile Ordering can be found on the My Disney Experience app. You pick the restaurant you want to order from and then a window to pickup your order, whether you want it now or want to schedule it for a certain time. You then pick what you want off the menu and there are some items you can customize. You finalize your choices and pay for it. Once your window is open and you are near the restaurant, you click “I’m here, prepare my order.” Once your order is ready, you will be told which window will have your order. You show them your phone and they give you your food. </font></p> <p><font color="#ff80ff">It’s really easy and so I encourage you to use it when you can. </font></p> <p><strong><u><font color="#ff80ff"></font></u></strong></p> <p><font color="#ff80ff">There are some new things in Disney! I go back in June so maybe I’ll have even more to talk about! Maybe I’ll even get on Rise of the Resistance! </font></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-88459932782997521912022-01-23T12:00:00.001-05:002022-01-23T12:00:00.166-05:002021: A Wrap Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinsKF_XAKMpmI_9Yz6N-1SX-30qSBfiHh1DfdfWGsI6cuZX695ZPV1uHOAEKtbXZdOFsWQ9KvwupBcQcnCYeAEfQj4H0oeQ5wOIAHfjyrdhxYvjsGZqPAu8eBj2ezEEPhvDpPpa7w_T_5R_uMbBMCxkFnkvbMj0z_UkQZ_VhaVhEjX95bRklt86QAk=s480" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinsKF_XAKMpmI_9Yz6N-1SX-30qSBfiHh1DfdfWGsI6cuZX695ZPV1uHOAEKtbXZdOFsWQ9KvwupBcQcnCYeAEfQj4H0oeQ5wOIAHfjyrdhxYvjsGZqPAu8eBj2ezEEPhvDpPpa7w_T_5R_uMbBMCxkFnkvbMj0z_UkQZ_VhaVhEjX95bRklt86QAk=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>I hope 2022 finally brings us that new normal we've been waiting for, one where we can live our life even with COVID still among us but without the fear of a surge. </p><p>In 2021, I made 56 posts to this blog. And I went back to look at the view counts to find my top 10 popular posts so I can count them down. </p><p>So let's begin! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO62y9xRiaEzTF-Gt2FmYCsG22TGBc10hakJ7lB5V_xl3NtUmjwgBrt0uETm5def_jRatpHv-D00MvWDyiUsVEtyGVBqgv5WDeNKFfMEBVuixgIbGWexUKWQZ7XaBFnJFX1_AkG3ReyLOz2A18oloNEx0jLSLNKZ65VnIlSbF3I7xu2uANXsqaaA3D=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO62y9xRiaEzTF-Gt2FmYCsG22TGBc10hakJ7lB5V_xl3NtUmjwgBrt0uETm5def_jRatpHv-D00MvWDyiUsVEtyGVBqgv5WDeNKFfMEBVuixgIbGWexUKWQZ7XaBFnJFX1_AkG3ReyLOz2A18oloNEx0jLSLNKZ65VnIlSbF3I7xu2uANXsqaaA3D=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>10. <a href="http://musicalangel12.blogspot.com/2021/04/zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-capturing.html">Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Capturing Lightning in a Bottle</a></p><p>Zoey tries to recreate a special memory she shared with her father while Mo and Max get ready to open their restaurant. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBkUzOXJiTkMcCPCnpBAj8yUjRdMjQopQ_ExqEGoDWTbT5051frnRXmtdof1Wzbz3Rv6Lr983MCZEWhuFuZnEqAveHfdRlFUe23J-RyHk9-dLuf88d8wwgDobPloMFyQEKw_3D-eewzXYUUad6MSjRNUcs7q-FVYGOCVRDRWOb8KTXe1ptb8vM9YnB=s1260" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1260" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBkUzOXJiTkMcCPCnpBAj8yUjRdMjQopQ_ExqEGoDWTbT5051frnRXmtdof1Wzbz3Rv6Lr983MCZEWhuFuZnEqAveHfdRlFUe23J-RyHk9-dLuf88d8wwgDobPloMFyQEKw_3D-eewzXYUUad6MSjRNUcs7q-FVYGOCVRDRWOb8KTXe1ptb8vM9YnB=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>9. <a href="http://musicalangel12.blogspot.com/2021/03/zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-i-want-to.html">Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: I Want to be Sedated</a></p><p>Zoey gets high with her next door neighbor Felix and boss Danny Michael Davis and tries not to care. Thankfully she gets some sense knocked back into her. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhl-j8l-Xb60UD1QPf2mkzw_QakN0v-HsD4VOZehlRiISzxz6sR-kesTP92qJqD8G3nsGajlQBqleqqwI9lAOyRfHfuYZoA1DNYPqNlmIgPbANxCPUP-6_S1vX9Ohm7h0Ac92y1uI4zYJL0WfvDHavPRP1_kvIUZo7SFS8VHqaGEW3NuQfOibiZwtz2=s1260" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1260" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhl-j8l-Xb60UD1QPf2mkzw_QakN0v-HsD4VOZehlRiISzxz6sR-kesTP92qJqD8G3nsGajlQBqleqqwI9lAOyRfHfuYZoA1DNYPqNlmIgPbANxCPUP-6_S1vX9Ohm7h0Ac92y1uI4zYJL0WfvDHavPRP1_kvIUZo7SFS8VHqaGEW3NuQfOibiZwtz2=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>8. <a href="http://musicalangel12.blogspot.com/2021/01/zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-i-wanna.html">Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: I Wanna Sex You Up</a></p><p>Zoey decides to go on a "grief vacation" and spends the episode trying to have sex with Max. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmmIGKx_Y1M7MlC_ReFZ4He8YyO_4h33X-dxsQ5e9aJSl_GFt6RoTVBQyuzlnZ5Fy1EoEwPEGKlLnqjUkkjtAUxitPOJUEUG4zJtDjACs1VATxzcctmElP1weyWGb5_KbXpRkRYA0kP0kF8hzmq3H8gJDYhz0ibTMr29C92Pu7IfUuUWp7LOUlkt2h=s1260" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1260" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmmIGKx_Y1M7MlC_ReFZ4He8YyO_4h33X-dxsQ5e9aJSl_GFt6RoTVBQyuzlnZ5Fy1EoEwPEGKlLnqjUkkjtAUxitPOJUEUG4zJtDjACs1VATxzcctmElP1weyWGb5_KbXpRkRYA0kP0kF8hzmq3H8gJDYhz0ibTMr29C92Pu7IfUuUWp7LOUlkt2h=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>7. <a href="http://musicalangel12.blogspot.com/2021/03/wandavision-something-wicked-this-way.html">WandaVision: Something This Wicked This Way Comes</a></p><p>Halloween comes to Westview as Vision grows more suspicious of their town and Hayward prepares to destroy Wanda against Monica's wishes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjOtYgs_oycrjqblwSfckezXRpEg-NLIi69kvc0kPpdW7x3CJl97frU3SdcitoIJMBnbreUYu-rIewIgwKI5cgVum75_jQ1pI_99RN03wfPYLCPia68T0qCQbWEnslHyEJoPzA8haRe3jx1KfveJsHffI8HDn2KWbJ4PLkmytpa-XLFUAzQdJTZg3Z=s1549" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="1549" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjOtYgs_oycrjqblwSfckezXRpEg-NLIi69kvc0kPpdW7x3CJl97frU3SdcitoIJMBnbreUYu-rIewIgwKI5cgVum75_jQ1pI_99RN03wfPYLCPia68T0qCQbWEnslHyEJoPzA8haRe3jx1KfveJsHffI8HDn2KWbJ4PLkmytpa-XLFUAzQdJTZg3Z=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>6. <a href="http://musicalangel12.blogspot.com/2021/01/zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-ch-ch.html">Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Ch-Ch-Changes</a></p><p>Zoey returns to work after her father's death and struggles to deal with all the changes in her life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgH8YQGiW1pTCIYNprbXXKBsmue703ATxXrsXDfIVTF2Gks6PuljvDUq-6usTpvEgf8HfY60jc_9KnhFjHYpiagI7IaiFg4MvQ2I5u7rZ4g-0JPR93McXEF_iVDi7xsjYGJz5m5VHBOpYIoLgHVZAvlNJzFNjbU6ZH4kx56mn4fYQZAoVvDNZyvj5gv=s1260" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1260" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgH8YQGiW1pTCIYNprbXXKBsmue703ATxXrsXDfIVTF2Gks6PuljvDUq-6usTpvEgf8HfY60jc_9KnhFjHYpiagI7IaiFg4MvQ2I5u7rZ4g-0JPR93McXEF_iVDi7xsjYGJz5m5VHBOpYIoLgHVZAvlNJzFNjbU6ZH4kx56mn4fYQZAoVvDNZyvj5gv=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>5. <a href="http://musicalangel12.blogspot.com/2021/03/wandavision-family-matters.html">WandaVision: Family Matters</a></p><p>Wanda and Vision deal with their growing twin boys while Vision also realizes that there's something rotten in the state of Westview all while surviving the 80s. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuQ7c0RzJFcKa4xr40WFmJFeZ45tcsz7e2WyjpVU_e4qA4UF9WmlL1jTRAutAa3nkh27qAQ2KCkUhqO8BkXuprLhMyNcZTsxkL5D1l4x3p4UDTmDjM4v6hFx1l0g__Js9cjxg_jXZekh31uO0Etz8Urp-TfdThff5Yd-uSvA7YkWcYdwaMWSEMssxV=s618" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="618" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuQ7c0RzJFcKa4xr40WFmJFeZ45tcsz7e2WyjpVU_e4qA4UF9WmlL1jTRAutAa3nkh27qAQ2KCkUhqO8BkXuprLhMyNcZTsxkL5D1l4x3p4UDTmDjM4v6hFx1l0g__Js9cjxg_jXZekh31uO0Etz8Urp-TfdThff5Yd-uSvA7YkWcYdwaMWSEMssxV=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>4. <a href="http://musicalangel12.blogspot.com/2021/02/wandavision-growing-by-leaps-and-bounds.html">WandaVision: Growing by Leaps and Bounds</a></p><p>Wanda and Vision deal with her fast moving pregnancy while grooving out in the 70s. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTuJpzqzUUHUwyCe1B2bI982rvmxuQnweEOIozm1iQdwlf4Sk2f-SdmoaZkyyFfVXkeJv2JCCZwVreyqB0vfRmJNso5P02N4BK7fMH76RvD9f91PqcySZz88SqULieBIBmjDxPgSvm2idBeLBcz_QV9DSY8hJ7hrCqfKte-kMEfecBTlOblqSf_ghi=s768" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTuJpzqzUUHUwyCe1B2bI982rvmxuQnweEOIozm1iQdwlf4Sk2f-SdmoaZkyyFfVXkeJv2JCCZwVreyqB0vfRmJNso5P02N4BK7fMH76RvD9f91PqcySZz88SqULieBIBmjDxPgSvm2idBeLBcz_QV9DSY8hJ7hrCqfKte-kMEfecBTlOblqSf_ghi=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>3. <a href="http://musicalangel12.blogspot.com/2021/08/zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-savior.html">Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: A Savior Appears</a></p><p>The announcement about Roku picking up <i>Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist</i> for a Christmas movie and possibly for a third season. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSLQHxNMzV2KDvui2CnpNXndVHJI25GLKaiKe5xYK7QMYWsLpqUHQFHnilgLiJrw1CLNgYMjmGq1qFLYwPQyirA8ob5gEYvOkxp78g8HojbGgL1ymQpNxj2nPH9zD55xplk84-YbzY-cQ-VcTdRVlcUwK7xoqyl8sT5N_sTL5Zm2qGSUU_a9mgz3oC=s300" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSLQHxNMzV2KDvui2CnpNXndVHJI25GLKaiKe5xYK7QMYWsLpqUHQFHnilgLiJrw1CLNgYMjmGq1qFLYwPQyirA8ob5gEYvOkxp78g8HojbGgL1ymQpNxj2nPH9zD55xplk84-YbzY-cQ-VcTdRVlcUwK7xoqyl8sT5N_sTL5Zm2qGSUU_a9mgz3oC" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>2. <a href="http://musicalangel12.blogspot.com/2021/07/zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-taking-leap.html">Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Taking a Leap of Faith</a></p><p>In the second season finale of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Zoey finally figures out what (and who) she wants and hopes she's not too late. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhomD4VEELtSASKTlhsOlm1XjwgHD0-IIBkE7BhGxwz21UaaqYtOKHcS-9kxa6rO2Bl3pKLeqd-8XycU7ECnAS46rsF2jKvll_VSmfbQbz-bIb_dQ-Sa3vIL-_w94Jq_4_LdPA22JkcJl0332qkjwIH9d4hjCtuGgY1GvTrjlz-Yix_kmSsEBRoZC9r=s1260" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1260" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhomD4VEELtSASKTlhsOlm1XjwgHD0-IIBkE7BhGxwz21UaaqYtOKHcS-9kxa6rO2Bl3pKLeqd-8XycU7ECnAS46rsF2jKvll_VSmfbQbz-bIb_dQ-Sa3vIL-_w94Jq_4_LdPA22JkcJl0332qkjwIH9d4hjCtuGgY1GvTrjlz-Yix_kmSsEBRoZC9r=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>1. <a href="http://musicalangel12.blogspot.com/2021/01/wandavision-wanda-van-vision-show.html">WandaVision: The Wanda van Vision Show</a></p><p>In the premiere of WandaVision, Wanda and Vision move into their new house in Westview and try to impress his boss at dinner.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2L57h8efdKHgqirn0Gl1xLj5PRkmFy7LGnVwL9ttSsb3h47Z1d5k70pgXo4HuU8EgQKn0GHZzTqjwLQeO2Qza2nAOANW3KZf1_ForJ5IcW_9gN20XAlp8BB2s9Ar7q1Qu5d1XQAliqREH7xH9yX9Z31MFS1lbomkIjOchIQCM6whVepvBcI35Yxlq=s450" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="450" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2L57h8efdKHgqirn0Gl1xLj5PRkmFy7LGnVwL9ttSsb3h47Z1d5k70pgXo4HuU8EgQKn0GHZzTqjwLQeO2Qza2nAOANW3KZf1_ForJ5IcW_9gN20XAlp8BB2s9Ar7q1Qu5d1XQAliqREH7xH9yX9Z31MFS1lbomkIjOchIQCM6whVepvBcI35Yxlq=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>There we are! Of course most of the entries are from earlier in the year as it does mean that they will gather more views but I see a couple of entries from later in the year as well. And it does seem that my recaps are more popular than my movie reviews. </p><p>I have some things planned for the coming weeks - including some highlights from my recent trip to Disney World, finally seeing and recapping the Zoey movie, revisiting Top Model and a few other things. I hope you all enjoy them!</p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-17693605744301300572021-12-25T12:00:00.001-05:002022-01-02T05:56:00.746-05:00The Nine Kittens of Christmas: Cute Kitties Solve Everything<p><font color="#00df70">Merry Christmas! I hope who celebrate are having an amazing day filled with loved ones, fun, gifts, food, music and movies. We’ve made it through another year and have reached my last Christmas movie of 2021. While I’m not sure I’ll be doing these monthly in 2022, I’m sure I’ll have more to write about throughout the year. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">For now, we’re going to finish 2021 with one of the new movies Hallmark introduced this year, which is a sequel to one of their 2014 movies – “<a href="https://musicalangel12.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-nine-lives-of-christmas.html">The Nine Lives of Christmas</a>.” I’m fond of it so I was very excited to see it got a sequel and wanted to know what happened to the characters. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Let me just quickly recap the first movie: Firefighter Zachary and Vet Student Marilee cross paths after he ends up inheriting a cat named Ambrose. They develop a friendship that blossoms into something more as Christmas approaches but they both have their own issues to work through in order to be together. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS-HG8Erm2A2KGQIDIp3TsfqIymh-LZfMxpDjLs3piDPrOD90OKCsU92En8I0FlkIstkozzAMcGEgR5fQ-jLX8hCyqUvUSH17MP6qNgeaAEQSoOZ3K6wljZDpyppJpVdkZ9cErVcdBRWhBcOQmjVq9kZrBG0E9h3gI0vLLPn2IJahjq273T_sXoudu=s600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS-HG8Erm2A2KGQIDIp3TsfqIymh-LZfMxpDjLs3piDPrOD90OKCsU92En8I0FlkIstkozzAMcGEgR5fQ-jLX8hCyqUvUSH17MP6qNgeaAEQSoOZ3K6wljZDpyppJpVdkZ9cErVcdBRWhBcOQmjVq9kZrBG0E9h3gI0vLLPn2IJahjq273T_sXoudu=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><font color="#00df70"><br /></font><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Presents and cards are here/My world is filled with cheer and you/This SPOILERS!</font></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">The movie starts by quickly establishing that Zachary Stone (Brandon Routh) and Marilee White (Kimberley Sustad) are no longer a couple. We find out that Marilee has moved to Miami and owns her own veterinary clinic. We also learn that her cat, Queenie, has passed away. She is getting ready to return home for Christmas and is looking forward to it as she doesn’t get a lot of time off since she’s been busy building a thriving practice. But she has managed to find romance with her partner Miles (Nathan White), who will be following her to Oregon a couple days after her so they can spend Christmas with her family. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Back in Oregon, Zach is still at the firehouse. He confirms with his father-figure and chief Sam (Gregory Harrison) that he will be going skiing with his friends for Christmas again. Sam offers to let Zach come to Christmas with his family before the firehouse gets ready for pictures with Santa. We meet Sam’s daughter, Gabi (Victoria Dunsmore), who is the newest member of the firehouse and find out that Ambrose is still the firehouse cat. Zach is less than thrilled when he is given a costume and realizes he is going to be an elf. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Marilee has arrived back in Oregon and is reunited with her sister Jaclyn (Stephanie Bennett) as well as Jaclyn’s husband Kyle (Carey Feehan) and their daughter Sierra (Linden McMillan). Sierra loves Duchess, asking her aunt about how the cat got her name. Marilee explains that when she adopted Duchess, she wanted to honor Queenie but still give the cat her own identity. Hence the name Duchess. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLab58hluXudDxT0JMpIkc3kdJwLvAemRKNqr4-O5-9UnqPwrcDXBYIyLVyodBdAXhmNIjh6rNfYiuOzYbgEFkyY1GL2dtLJVEJ9QMz2f20llHWixOsG4m1YngLdyr5E5v9f3OsozDghNSRjFPg9oHLEFM_gNXiw7SKdLTBa9SKR_XYmPqbrCnLG7O=s750" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLab58hluXudDxT0JMpIkc3kdJwLvAemRKNqr4-O5-9UnqPwrcDXBYIyLVyodBdAXhmNIjh6rNfYiuOzYbgEFkyY1GL2dtLJVEJ9QMz2f20llHWixOsG4m1YngLdyr5E5v9f3OsozDghNSRjFPg9oHLEFM_gNXiw7SKdLTBa9SKR_XYmPqbrCnLG7O=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Jaclyn then reveals that she cleaned out the cabin their parents owned and found an unopened Christmas present. Sierra is shocked her mother and aunt let a present go unopened but Marilee says that the Christmas they lost their parents was a bit crazy. They let Sierra open the gift and reveals an Advent calendar. Honestly, this subplot has absolutely no bearing on the main plot and is pretty shoehorned in. Basically, they realize that each day contains a charm that was on the bracelet their mother used to wear.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">The family then heads down to get Sierra’s picture with Santa. As they walk, Jaclyn asks Marilee how her relationship with Miles is going. Marilee first talks about their clinic before realizing her sister was talking about their relationship. All it gets is “good” though she says that Miles is the first person she’s dated that is more ambitious than her and she likes it. Though sometimes he tends to put the business before everything else. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Jaclyn then pivots to Zachary when Marilee realizes that they are at the firehouse. Her sister tells her that he’s still a firefighter but she likely wouldn’t run into him since he goes skiing at Christmas. Marilee insists she’ll be okay if they do run into each other. They wanted different things and it was best for them to part. We’ll find out more about their breakup later. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Speaking of Zach, Marilee runs into him at the picture event. They have an awkward but sweet reunion and they are really mature about it. Zach expresses his condolences about Queenie and informs Marilee he’s now captain. She congratulates him and they part.</font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiME97MsDmpir7E_SUC6dvQ7p7hCm2GAmKWKHKtjtsMPc-z_iokBZb-tQEPR55XK1KdLAJmALiCVvoLFzKXSU4AE99gp7UNHb2YuTwctMThiPTe2x8A44whdoQFSvoJU7zTY8xPg3X6Og2Y2tjHMRY5mpbdUD_covZWuRizUxS0Z1z3xS86ZYNAzn7m=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1280" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiME97MsDmpir7E_SUC6dvQ7p7hCm2GAmKWKHKtjtsMPc-z_iokBZb-tQEPR55XK1KdLAJmALiCVvoLFzKXSU4AE99gp7UNHb2YuTwctMThiPTe2x8A44whdoQFSvoJU7zTY8xPg3X6Og2Y2tjHMRY5mpbdUD_covZWuRizUxS0Z1z3xS86ZYNAzn7m=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>It’s really nice to see a mature reaction to a breakup even though it’s pretty clear that they still have oodles of chemistry with each other.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Anyway, Zach is ready to head out on his ski trip and Marilee buys tickets for the fire company’s charity gala to raise money for the children’s hospital. She forgets about Miles but Jaclyn reminds her so she gets an extra ticket. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">This doesn’t bode well. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Zach goes to drop Ambrose off at the firehouse, saying the cat will enjoy spending his time at the firehouse than at a kennel. As he walks into the firehouse, he hears little meows and finds a box of kittens outside the firehouse. He summons Sam, who has to leave his wife Harriet (Robyn Bradley) to go help Zach. They decide to get the kittens checked out before looking for homes for them. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir1g1K-tV5svVKqLjQX0dUiaUckwm9q1DqMCU-eQ41YK9vLW2bGPFPabpy1aL-J0zWHnc4li9hByvXoDWAu7QzTJtuw-_zcT43n-Vz_CSqMi1ob0N221OB5bZxXTEcaszSoDzMVbhJHDXHtYBLozYkRqmyV8ixakI0Vlm00C829-0R8bMSgnZs8btK=s437" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="437" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir1g1K-tV5svVKqLjQX0dUiaUckwm9q1DqMCU-eQ41YK9vLW2bGPFPabpy1aL-J0zWHnc4li9hByvXoDWAu7QzTJtuw-_zcT43n-Vz_CSqMi1ob0N221OB5bZxXTEcaszSoDzMVbhJHDXHtYBLozYkRqmyV8ixakI0Vlm00C829-0R8bMSgnZs8btK=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Meanwhile, Marilee and Jaclyn are walking around town. It sounds like Marilee really misses being home and being around her friends and family, especially as she hasn’t had much time to make friends in Miami due to getting her animal clinic started and running. She and Jaclyn then collide with Zach, who is rushing to the vet. Jaclyn reminds him that said vet retired and Marilee volunteers to look over the kittens.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">They all go back to Jaclyn’s house and Marilee determines the kittens are ten weeks old and healthy. She says she can get their shots overnighted to her but otherwise they could be adopted quickly. Marilee and Zach decide to work together to get that done, hopefully by Christmas in about a week. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Plenty of time to fall back in love!</font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Especially as Marilee gets a call from Miles, who says he can’t leave the clinic. The vet covering for them is too new and the system crashed that day – though Marilee points out that the system crashes every day and that it’s an easy fix. It’s just clear that Miles feels better being there and working, that to him “work-life balance” is a dirty word. But Marilee clearly has reached a point where she wants a work-life balance and that she wants to build a life outside of work with him. He then talks about seeing if he can make a later flight but she tells him forget it because she can tell he’s now coming because he feels he has to not because he wants to. She realizes that they are on different paths and breaks up with him. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Way to go, Marilee! </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">The kittens stay at Jaclyn’s house since she has the most room. Sierra loves taking care of the kittens and names them after all the reindeer. She’s pretty adorable with them. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhr2S_plYmC8J5oVhpNgEwaWII5oLTvW6HJ8A6RDg_gWKt50LkpGPT86Vkl_Mn92XVZqRAZWXDoqlB75n2sOMs9EiSuLS1O8J42kq0JtfMFK-_WpMWYjqoawmbkmWf4fyRfbT5UbjEZwZLA42LbuDGnph7JCPKp8r5H_1wsoB5G-U27uvAqOG7U9iUP=s275" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhr2S_plYmC8J5oVhpNgEwaWII5oLTvW6HJ8A6RDg_gWKt50LkpGPT86Vkl_Mn92XVZqRAZWXDoqlB75n2sOMs9EiSuLS1O8J42kq0JtfMFK-_WpMWYjqoawmbkmWf4fyRfbT5UbjEZwZLA42LbuDGnph7JCPKp8r5H_1wsoB5G-U27uvAqOG7U9iUP" width="275" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Sam and Harriet decide to adopt two of the kittens, so that leaves seven to be adopted. Sam also decides to retire and to make the big announcement at the charity ball. He tells Zachary and then asks Zach if he will be chief. Zach wants to think it over.</p></span><p></p> <p><font color="#00df70">He and Marilee decide to have an adoption event in a local cafe, which has a good turnout as his fellow firefighters showed up for the food and women came for the firefighters. One man seemed to flirt with Marilee but she was not interested. She did manage to convince the shop owner to adopt two cats and two more were adopted as well, leaving three to be adopted. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKxIUa_CfLkt2L-KY9dnK8TF80Oef4NgPe6ZKK2lCeDDFflNkGuYNtiRU1PAVn4vis5_gdfsGhA0uYHw50-UVhs6z_6mQe5FalKE3UJ42LHQbeETYFvGcLn1Nw-D5hqduKv8Fm2IvKjS30HiYeqcGJR_sGehRFXhVIl7tf_w2uE74w_utw47y-oHwB=s700" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKxIUa_CfLkt2L-KY9dnK8TF80Oef4NgPe6ZKK2lCeDDFflNkGuYNtiRU1PAVn4vis5_gdfsGhA0uYHw50-UVhs6z_6mQe5FalKE3UJ42LHQbeETYFvGcLn1Nw-D5hqduKv8Fm2IvKjS30HiYeqcGJR_sGehRFXhVIl7tf_w2uE74w_utw47y-oHwB=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>They then find someone to adopt the remaining three shortly afterwards by hanging out outside a church.</p></span><p></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Could it be that easy? Of course not, we’re only like halfway through the movie! </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">In addition to getting kittens adopted, Zachary and Gabi lead the other firefighters in creating a gift for Sam as he leaves. They refurbish the old fire truck he bought and present it to him. Sam is absolutely thrilled and takes it for a spin as everyone watches. He also gets his kittens as Zachary and Marilee drop them off. They then stay to help put up the Christmas tree with him, Harriet and Gabi. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">And then the woman who was going to adopt the kittens is unable to do so as she needs to help another litter of kittens. So now Marilee and Zachary still have three kittens that need to be adopted. She mentions taking a billboard and it gives Zachary an idea. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Marilee arrives at the firehouse and meets up with Zachary. He reveals that he got a banner printed with the three kittens and advertising that they are up for adoption. He put it on the side of Sam’s firetruck and plans to have it outside the charity event. Marilee is very impressed and is so overwhelmed she kisses him. She then freaks out and runs away. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Things are getting good! </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Marilee talks things over with Jaclyn, who asks her about the end of her relationship with Zachary. It’s a bit clunky – this should be old history between the sisters – but it’s for the audience so it slides. Marilee says that Zachary was scared of change, which is consistent with what we’ve seen of him in the first movie. He thought that things were good and didn’t want to change them up when Marilee wanted more. So she chose to go to Miami hoping it would shock him into stepping up and stopping her but he didn’t. That pretty much told her the relationship was over and she went on her way. But now that she’s back, she can’t deny the attraction and chemistry is still there – it feels like no time has passed at all. And she’s just very, very confused. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">For his part, Zachary goes to talk with Sam and his story matches Marilee’s so this isn’t a case of miscommunication. It really was that Zachary’s fear of change and commitment got the best of him. He says that letting her go was the biggest mistake of his life and Sam tells him to tell that to Marilee. But Zachary isn’t sure they could be together again, even if she kissed him. He does learn his lesson and decides to embrace change by accepting the offer to be fire chief. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Way to go, Zachary! </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">We make it to the charity ball. Marilee wears an amazing green dress as she and Zachary enjoy time together. He’s also very sweet with Sierra and it’s just nice to see how he and Marilee fit so well together. She is proud when he’s announced as the new chief and they share a nice dance together. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Which means it’s time for Miles to re-enter the story! </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Marilee goes out to talk with him while Sierra and Zachary look on. Sierra is surprised Miles is there and Zachary asks if she knows him. She replies she only knows him from her aunt’s Christmas cards and Zachary puts two and two together. He leaves Sierra to watch her aunt and heads out of the party, brokenhearted. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">It’s like when Marilee misread the situation between Zachary and a woman who turned out to be the mayor’s wife and fled a holiday party in tears. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Outside, Marilee and Miles talk. He’s there to win her back but Marilee realizes the relationship has run its course. They want different things from life. He enjoys Miami and the hectic pace of their clinic there. She wants to move back to Oregon and take over the vet practice where she could set boundaries and spend more time with her family. They have an amicable parting and hug it out. Marilee returns to the party to find a nervous Jaclyn there. Jaclyn asks Marilee if she ever told Sierra that she and Miles broke up. Marilee figured Miles was hardly in her niece’s life that she didn’t have to. Jaclyn says they need to talk. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">We next see Marilee rushing down a street with her sister as she tries to call Zachary but it keeps going to voicemail. She wishes he would talk with her and that they wouldn’t repeat history. Marilee gets home and talks with Duchess, who pretty much throws her phone at her. Marilee decides to call Zachary one more time. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">At his house, Zachary plops down in a chair and talks with Ambrose, feeling foolish that he hadn’t considered that Marilee had moved on. Her call comes through and he’s determined not to answer it but Ambrose has other ideas. Zachary sits there silently as Marilee takes a chance and confesses that she still loves him and that Miles is her ex-boyfriend. She ends the call and Zachary thanks Ambrose. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Christmas Eve arrives and Jaclyn, Kyle and Marilee surprise Sierra with an early Christmas present – they’re adopting two of the kittens for her. Jaclyn says that she showed she was responsible enough to be a pet owner with how she took care of the kittens over the week and they are proud of her. That just leaves Rudolph to be adopted but Marilee assures her niece that he will go to a good home. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiXq5pqDXovIjMtX014TiRkHw0UI4IR4sVRc9quHiF5dePI_mBSGuDsv1hAK1uImeHGNkhg2BC7cWrIF2OiQ11S3wbvWgNT420QovxXYkWS5PtzcClhQGXVdXrhjbsy7DduEOAPGxmA8dCuo1DFBAs2oOnjJbFxqulqRGSGfPgm0oPqO7FwKxp-mu-=s2475" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="2475" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiXq5pqDXovIjMtX014TiRkHw0UI4IR4sVRc9quHiF5dePI_mBSGuDsv1hAK1uImeHGNkhg2BC7cWrIF2OiQ11S3wbvWgNT420QovxXYkWS5PtzcClhQGXVdXrhjbsy7DduEOAPGxmA8dCuo1DFBAs2oOnjJbFxqulqRGSGfPgm0oPqO7FwKxp-mu-=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">Zachary then pulls up in the old firetruck and says he found a family for Rudolph so he invites Marilee on a home inspection. She goes, cuddling Rudolph the entire time as she hints that she might be interested in adopting Rudolph. She asks Zach about the people adopting Rudolph and he says that they are couple without children…yet. He then pulls up to the house and she climbs out to realize they are at his house when he says the mailbox with “Stone” written on it and little cat paw prints on it. Confused, she turns to face him and he asks her to adopt Rudolph with him. He also gets down on one knee and proposes, which she accepts. They share a kiss in front of their house with Rudolph cuddled between them. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Aww. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA19urjQlGzW-c4GPIdQmYADMNVXsu0K9SNIEoqH9Xkv1h0p3pncFUqhK3MhXZEmRp2j2XoWcS3M3Fw3gr6W4kir5gK_ERpmrB49KE_7PHIIl-6JylGqwEiy1M9o1UGfHzqySkHbJr5ZI0pff96hvCG_FqG9PMRlsYb_YG1n_K-AWhphtHS01VnE2q=s512" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="512" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA19urjQlGzW-c4GPIdQmYADMNVXsu0K9SNIEoqH9Xkv1h0p3pncFUqhK3MhXZEmRp2j2XoWcS3M3Fw3gr6W4kir5gK_ERpmrB49KE_7PHIIl-6JylGqwEiy1M9o1UGfHzqySkHbJr5ZI0pff96hvCG_FqG9PMRlsYb_YG1n_K-AWhphtHS01VnE2q=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>So that was <em>The Nine Kittens of Christmas</em>. It was a lot of fun seeing Zachary and Marilee together again and it reminded me of how adorable they were the first time around. While I was bummed they started the movie broken up, I’m glad they found their way back to each other. I’m also glad we got to see more of Sam and his family as well as Jaclyn and hers. My only complaint was that there was not enough Ambrose or Duchess but there were cute kittens so I guess that makes up for it.</p></span><p></p> <p><font color="#00df70">There were a few scenes that were mostly there as callbacks to the first movie. Zachary and Marilee run into each other at the same grocery store where they first met in the first movie. And then they both go Christmas tree shopping and declare the same tree to be the perfect one. (Marilee wins it and makes a quip about Zachary acting faster to hold onto something he wanted). </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Anyway, I recommend having a double feature if you can and enjoy <em>The Nine Lives of Christmas</em> along with <em>The Nine Kittens of Christmas</em>. Or you can just enjoy this on its own. I don’t think you really need to watch The Nine Lives of Christmas to understand this. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">I hope you all have a great Christmas and a happy New Year! </font></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-48667461893337977152021-11-25T01:06:00.001-05:002021-12-16T13:46:20.559-05:00“The Christmas Carousel”: Art Can Bring Magic<p><font color="#00df70">It’s November, everyone! And I know this is coming out on Thanksgiving, so Happy Thanksgiving! </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">But we’re in the final countdown to Christmas. Hopefully you aren’t tired of Christmas movies by now since Hallmark has been playing them for almost a month. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">So we’re close to wrapping up our movie recaps/reviews for this year. And I hope you can look back and put together a good Christmas movie marathon now. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">And we’re going to add another one to that list – <em>The Christmas Carousel</em>! </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs017xhWZry8vJtYHWFkSzHoN5v9q3zdSBTJYmEJtqJ_q4PDT_iNNgLvBe-g_wCKBGcXctLet2hU68YbumsDjApIRx8YN9rcxlnCKNA138OrSkN1QM5Yy8wi5YuKPVEk8t1gIM3Lxkn4oqS4kK-Y1Ui-LcgeTEQEQxNqWMLOqJHWEzR1lbM9gVKBqA=s1265" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs017xhWZry8vJtYHWFkSzHoN5v9q3zdSBTJYmEJtqJ_q4PDT_iNNgLvBe-g_wCKBGcXctLet2hU68YbumsDjApIRx8YN9rcxlnCKNA138OrSkN1QM5Yy8wi5YuKPVEk8t1gIM3Lxkn4oqS4kK-Y1Ui-LcgeTEQEQxNqWMLOqJHWEzR1lbM9gVKBqA=s320" width="209" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Lullay, thou little child/Sleep well, lully, lullay/And smile in dreaming SPOILERS!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>Lila (Rachel Boston) works in the arts and is in line to run a center that would provide arts education opportunities for children. But she’s hesitant to accept it because it would mean moving away from her widowed father, Roy (Stuart Hughes). He tries to encourage her to take it and to spread her wings because he’ll be fine. She’s not so sure.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihnQZS2c7KmHodqGQt7en2-gZuOfTzjZpSqLbvqcSAYF2kQ4yN4IrVJoypzoQG75mCDPF54j_dIvLRJ2FzZRKtlxbg5LxbAKcTTJ_UnBbEYVlU6Ijg5UbxhUasRJ89XoSk0t0WWE9VGl8T7yBz-6KNNVYIELVC3r-eqA8DECJFZFXNbt_86LEQCJw8=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihnQZS2c7KmHodqGQt7en2-gZuOfTzjZpSqLbvqcSAYF2kQ4yN4IrVJoypzoQG75mCDPF54j_dIvLRJ2FzZRKtlxbg5LxbAKcTTJ_UnBbEYVlU6Ijg5UbxhUasRJ89XoSk0t0WWE9VGl8T7yBz-6KNNVYIELVC3r-eqA8DECJFZFXNbt_86LEQCJw8=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>But then her father is summoned to some small European country – because it’s always a small European country – to repair a carousel their family built many, many years ago. So it’s time for a trip. I’m sure there’s going to be a handsome prince looking for a bride over there.</p></span> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Said prince is Whitaker (Neal Bledsoe) AKA Whit. And his father, King Coventry (Tom Rooney), wants him to settle down like his brother did. But Whit is holding out for love and worries that being king would mean he would have to give up everything he loves, especially the arts. It’s pretty much your straightforward trope of being a responsible adults means never having fun ever again. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxoGyothsxA_9iEdhJS4TH54VDSFmP1A5Bpse6d1cianedB-MzCU9aGRNixgr6ahaK-F68zWyy5Fz972rJcTVY45l2EcNDIWmxvZwuvxXcFKBPB7D1XCINAbbPO2XiMv8EG_nDBcJEL7xrm05zO-yU5-GKKIPa6jBLr4Bq-gEbs8wKpT0UqMawsY5g=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxoGyothsxA_9iEdhJS4TH54VDSFmP1A5Bpse6d1cianedB-MzCU9aGRNixgr6ahaK-F68zWyy5Fz972rJcTVY45l2EcNDIWmxvZwuvxXcFKBPB7D1XCINAbbPO2XiMv8EG_nDBcJEL7xrm05zO-yU5-GKKIPa6jBLr4Bq-gEbs8wKpT0UqMawsY5g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">Anyway, Lila and her father meet the royal family, including Whit’s niece Princess Maya (Tessa Kozma). She is staying with her grandfather and uncle while her parents are on some diplomatic trip. So King Coventry wants the Christmas Carousel restored as a gift to her. He appoints Whit to oversee the restoration. Whit and Lila bond over their shared passion for the arts. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">In the process, we learn about a special horse on the carousel called the wishing horse. If someone rides that horse and makes a wish on the third rotation, it will come true. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaMzEs9zXU3xAC0VDN_pJxa6uWAS8f6IpBCapaPmt1BhIhOauCGGGN9VHxudv1kFroSdFXUSsMkMd6ES35aGaZ_MrIM1td2xHa69HcNUkziXHKQzaQT8O2UBDNHW-9AdSAXtIrOf5CH7AMSBjbNTICr9dbPHdbptKQW4KYB1niTQv2EcK4HBR9VpZP=s1328" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1328" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaMzEs9zXU3xAC0VDN_pJxa6uWAS8f6IpBCapaPmt1BhIhOauCGGGN9VHxudv1kFroSdFXUSsMkMd6ES35aGaZ_MrIM1td2xHa69HcNUkziXHKQzaQT8O2UBDNHW-9AdSAXtIrOf5CH7AMSBjbNTICr9dbPHdbptKQW4KYB1niTQv2EcK4HBR9VpZP=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Whit is determined to open a school focused on the arts and Lila helps him set up a festival that used the arts to celebrate Christmas. They work together and slowly start to fall in love. Princess Maya also really likes Lila and it seems she’s on her way to joining the royal family. They also work together to convince one particular noble, Duke Sterling (Michael Spencer-Davis), to let them use one of his castles for the school.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Of course, King Coventry wants his son to marry someone else and to be a serious king. However, the head of the staff, Heidi (Jennifer Vallance), gives Whit some advice and tells him to tell Lila how he really feels about her. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_4ZSKQe5_0ryu0sJUK5lTH7ZGd7uHw56MS_z93F0D6bNjFkEPCgRo9OYuIF8Xg4EQBS5hcSE4cUMJpZ99ub6io7YStX5vI5jq9G-7M97WfCo0-LDIgZ_oLn4SFDHNIz5h1WLs2LeVyWRQUtP-hoyZTa18pNVonNcD5SGRLmp1OVVHdtBsoeT8w8KE=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_4ZSKQe5_0ryu0sJUK5lTH7ZGd7uHw56MS_z93F0D6bNjFkEPCgRo9OYuIF8Xg4EQBS5hcSE4cUMJpZ99ub6io7YStX5vI5jq9G-7M97WfCo0-LDIgZ_oLn4SFDHNIz5h1WLs2LeVyWRQUtP-hoyZTa18pNVonNcD5SGRLmp1OVVHdtBsoeT8w8KE=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Naturally, he blows it and she assumes he’s telling her he just wants to be her friend so she says they are just friends. This breaks Whit’s heart and he decides to ask his father’s choice, Duke Sterling’s daughter Margaret (Kathryn Davis), to the Christmas ball.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Still, they push on through the art exhibit featuring paintings done by the local children all about Christmas. Whit finally starts taking Heidi’s and Lila’s advice and speaks from his heart, allowing the people to see his true self. King Coventry and Lila have a talk regarding Whit where she also speaks from the heart. Her words seem to have an affect on the king and his heart may have grown three sizes that day. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Okay, maybe not that. But he definitely softened toward his son. More on that in a bit. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">The Duke seems impressed by Whit’s and Lila’s work but tells them there’s another person interested in his castle. Whit and Lila decide they need to step it up and make it more personal for the Duke. Whit calls Margaret and asks what her father’s favorite Christmas carol is. She can’t recall much – just that it was very old. Lila and Whit thank her and hope they can find it. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Lila heads to bed for the night as Whit meets up with his father. King Coventry apologizes to Whit and says that his son is ready to be a leader. And he believes Lila is the right person for him. They share a sweet moment. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjh9yUjqu-Gz-Ns6SIJ33dLJqLQ-RPpr9dfADjMbuDoVAMrWfnzcOnyAZbn4fy8O5V2LsaalEE9zQq3E7XSiyaFb6RpKSzdLV0Pu6lRnDI0G4s5UsgRgCN68gQJ86EitzNKnAYnuNtyYjfZnXUBVEsLOU_ORUkjTd783u7_bp0TgDCg6Tdjqip_mGJ9=s1170" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="1170" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjh9yUjqu-Gz-Ns6SIJ33dLJqLQ-RPpr9dfADjMbuDoVAMrWfnzcOnyAZbn4fy8O5V2LsaalEE9zQq3E7XSiyaFb6RpKSzdLV0Pu6lRnDI0G4s5UsgRgCN68gQJ86EitzNKnAYnuNtyYjfZnXUBVEsLOU_ORUkjTd783u7_bp0TgDCg6Tdjqip_mGJ9=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Unfortunately, Margaret runs into Lila the next day and reveals that she is going to the ball with Whit. This causes a heartbroken Lila to accept to interview for the program position she’s been avoiding the entire movie – unaware that Margaret and Whit meet up and agree that they are really just meant to be friends.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Lila gives Maya a pep talk before she performs and stays long enough to watch most of it. Maya does forget the words but Duke Sterling jumps in and sings with her until the song is over. The ploy works and he agrees to give his castle to Whit for his school. Whit wants to tell Lila but Maya reveals she has left for home already. Margaret believes she knows why and Whit races to stop Lila but is too late. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Whit tries to call Lila but she refuses to answer. Her father gives her some advice that pretty much amounts to “follow your heart.” </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Unable to reach Lila, Whit decides to take drastic measures. He goes to the carousel and starts it up, sitting on the wishing horse. As it reaches the third rotation, he wishes that Lila would return to him but she’s still not there when he’s done. He returns to the party, dejected. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXYO_CjNdr8ww6hiUFwk1kmYyISKEcT7YjlWlOyH_SI26uvGl1vgXZF8a5DZZ2g3qz09HO170mBKI3a7-ZCa0-fLaURwozSmYaaCOshIVtmwXPzwc1E6moi9z5QLGtX4CiCvL0WNPp-_3jthlRREh5Cv4pp1s8IM7IFPww4UT9iwSkQXu8bhynV0oH=s900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXYO_CjNdr8ww6hiUFwk1kmYyISKEcT7YjlWlOyH_SI26uvGl1vgXZF8a5DZZ2g3qz09HO170mBKI3a7-ZCa0-fLaURwozSmYaaCOshIVtmwXPzwc1E6moi9z5QLGtX4CiCvL0WNPp-_3jthlRREh5Cv4pp1s8IM7IFPww4UT9iwSkQXu8bhynV0oH=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>But Lila has returned and they confess their feelings for each other. It ends with the reveal of the Christmas Carousel to Maya and with the promise of a happily ever after.</p></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZbGtFqzwymuiKjqSRVQ9DcNBKtqCtAZfwj8ksy_SrKLU-ggv12ka_-goma5-XAhN_m2bK7gVDIVSh3NNtTCcViTviaNO1QjEqovjh6cN4SLyU9Ee6fRvIc2MQca2ljU91vNFltvmfTjGuil7NjwQMi0Cd18UZtMQv3TCV9XfTX8YIJUMGeTTLz8Kl=s4009" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2673" data-original-width="4009" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZbGtFqzwymuiKjqSRVQ9DcNBKtqCtAZfwj8ksy_SrKLU-ggv12ka_-goma5-XAhN_m2bK7gVDIVSh3NNtTCcViTviaNO1QjEqovjh6cN4SLyU9Ee6fRvIc2MQca2ljU91vNFltvmfTjGuil7NjwQMi0Cd18UZtMQv3TCV9XfTX8YIJUMGeTTLz8Kl=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><font color="#00df70"><br /></font><p></p> <font color="#00df70"> <hr /></font> <p><font color="#00df70">So there it is – a sweet holiday movie that makes you feel all warm on a cold December night. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Is it a bit paint by numbers? Yes, but what Hallmark holiday movie isn’t? And isn’t that why we love them? Because given all the uncertainty in the world and some other shows trying to be “edgy” by throwing shocks at audiences, there’s some comfort in being predictable. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Give it a watch this December – I’m sure it will be on several times through the month. You’ll be able to catch it at least once. </font></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-38289535444619817122021-10-25T12:00:00.001-04:002021-11-15T04:11:54.914-05:00The Spirit of Christmas: A Ghost Story for Christmas!<p><font color="#00df70">Happy (almost) Halloween! </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Since it’s the spookiest month of the year, I thought this movie was appropriate. It’s a ghost story, you see. But it’s also a romantic movie because it’s a made-for-tv Christmas movie. Most of them are romances, let’s be real.</font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">(Speaking of which, Hallmark has already started to air their movies. How many have you seen already?) </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Anyway, let’s check out this ghostly yet romantic Christmas movie! </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-09b9gB1Pbmw/YYi42B9-_gI/AAAAAAAAirs/xC-CRS259PQjcZLZFxIwV9Dyl3MY2xd3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1458" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-09b9gB1Pbmw/YYi42B9-_gI/AAAAAAAAirs/xC-CRS259PQjcZLZFxIwV9Dyl3MY2xd3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B1.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>They’ll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glory of SPOILERS long ago! </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>We open in the 1920s. A lone man (Thomas Beaudoin) treks through snowy woods at night. He reaches an opening and looks at a brightly lit house with joy and relief. But when he sees a woman and a man embracing outside the house, his joy turns to dismay. He starts to walk away when someone hits him in the head. The man collapses and lays in the snow as blood seeps out from his head.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ir_3SpVvphQ/YYjKDUz5YxI/AAAAAAAAir8/rv8Qc5Dw5w8VbxrHagEHG8-pT-ztgZz6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s720/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="720" height="174" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ir_3SpVvphQ/YYjKDUz5YxI/AAAAAAAAir8/rv8Qc5Dw5w8VbxrHagEHG8-pT-ztgZz6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B7.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Everything then fades to black.</p></span> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">That was an unexpected beginning. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">But we are soon back on familiar ground as we meet our heroine, Kate (Jen Lilley), where she is on a date. However she and her latest boyfriend both agree to end the relationship, that it’s not going well. Apparently, Kate has never been in love and has a very high bar for love, which is hard for her previous boyfriends to meet. But she’s not too upset and she moves on. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eg_KsVwGjWw/YYjXGXbYOeI/AAAAAAAAisI/TIeRjHJ2ybYChw6AjrVDuTIOnl1nI9euACLcBGAsYHQ/s560/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="560" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eg_KsVwGjWw/YYjXGXbYOeI/AAAAAAAAisI/TIeRjHJ2ybYChw6AjrVDuTIOnl1nI9euACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">We learn that Kate is a lawyer and her boss Oliver (Christopher Tarjan) informs her that a client has passed away – but that’s good news. She has left behind a bed and breakfast in a historic mansion located near the Canadian border. However, they are having problems getting it inspected and so Oliver sends Kate to get it done so they can put the house on the market by Christmas. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Kate arrives and meets the current caretaker, Rafferty (Robert Walsh). The rest of the staff has left and he is on his way out himself, saying that the house always sits empty from December 12th to December 24th. Rafferty advises Kate to stay elsewhere but she insists on staying in the bed and breakfast while she gets it inspected. Rafferty gives her some instructions for staying in the house and then heads out. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">So Kate spends the night in the house. While she’s asleep, someone enters the house and turns off the security system. When Kate wakes up, she finds the man from the opening scene standing over her. He demands that she leaves and when she refuses, he picks her up and carries her out himself. Kate stands there, wrapped in a blanket, and waits for the sheriff to come. Sheriff Bell (Bates Wilder) searches the property but finds nobody there and tells Kate she needs to set the alarm. Kate is pretty sure she did it but figures maybe she forgot. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHOqQHrpZ5E/YYjeDcv1y6I/AAAAAAAAisQ/xkPcfo1_PnUz_oMGV8f-jClnAOtTC3dHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s809/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="809" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHOqQHrpZ5E/YYjeDcv1y6I/AAAAAAAAisQ/xkPcfo1_PnUz_oMGV8f-jClnAOtTC3dHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B8.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Except she runs into the man again and after a few more calls to the sheriff that end with nothing, Kate starts to question her sanity as the sheriff starts to lose his patience with her. Rafferty then returns, deciding that if Kate is determined to stay there, she was going to need some help making peace with Daniel.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Who is Daniel, you ask? Why he’s the ghost haunting the bed and breakfast! </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YcFL-g2BL9M/YYjkGVqukVI/AAAAAAAAisY/o6faoxLfqpYw6p53QQkM-KReIL4Yhwl0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s784/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="784" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YcFL-g2BL9M/YYjkGVqukVI/AAAAAAAAisY/o6faoxLfqpYw6p53QQkM-KReIL4Yhwl0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Except it’s a bit more complicated than that.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Rafferty explains that the reason the bed and breakfast is closed from December 12th to December 24th is that for those 12 days, Daniel comes back to life. But he’s trapped on the property, which he eventually proves to Kate. So the staff usually just leaves him to brood and come back when he’s a ghost again. Kate, though, is determined to get the inspection completed so she makes a deal with Daniel. They agree to figure out why he keeps coming back for these 12 days and how to free him from the curse. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlH1AAMdjKo/YYjmDqIltYI/AAAAAAAAisg/0TVPJd8njswSh8KVJfm4t7rAcFpY0KKjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlH1AAMdjKo/YYjmDqIltYI/AAAAAAAAisg/0TVPJd8njswSh8KVJfm4t7rAcFpY0KKjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>So Kate starts to learn more about Daniel as she also brings some Christmas cheer to the house. He tells her that he and his brother Charles (Steven A. Miller) inherited the house. Charles wanted to sell it but Daniel decided to turn it into an inn. He struggled financially but managed to keep it afloat.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Enter Lilly (Kati Salowsky). She and her father move to town and both brothers fall in love with her. Lilly ends up falling for Daniel rather than Charles. They start to plan a life together as the inn falls on hard times. With Prohibition going strong in the United States, Daniel’s cousin Harry (Brett Leigh) convinces Daniel to start rumrunning given how close they are to Canada. There’s a lot of money but he has to deal with shady characters. Daniel decides to do it and it helps him keep the inn running. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6J50mgtqUy4/YZB0yaydilI/AAAAAAAAivA/8BI_3pdv6OcrLFtue6gy3LRjpQvX85CcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s354/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="236" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6J50mgtqUy4/YZB0yaydilI/AAAAAAAAivA/8BI_3pdv6OcrLFtue6gy3LRjpQvX85CcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B5.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">Charles, though, tells Lilly about Daniel’s illegal activities and she’s naturally concerned. She asks him to stop immediately but he says he needs to do one last job, that it will allow them to get married and have a comfortable life. He promises to be back by the Christmas Eve party but Lilly is still upset with him. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Of course, as we know, he dies before he can keep his promise to Lilly. And he saw her hugging Charles, even knowing that she married his brother after his death thanks to him haunting the inn. Harry ran the inn for him and it was his daughter who passed away, leaving the inn to be sold. Kate believes they need to figure out who killed him in order to solve the curse and she sets out to get some answers. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Oliver is getting antsy but Kate promises him that she will get it ready in time. She continues to do some research and gets at least one answer for Daniel. Kate reveals that Lilly had been pregnant when Daniel died. It seems Charles married her to protect her reputation but Daniel was listed as the father on the baby’s birth certificate. Unfortunately, Lilly and the baby ultimately died. However Daniel realizes that Lilly was true to him and that his brother had at least some good intentions toward marrying her. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Though Charles could still have killed him and moved in on Lilly. No one knows. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Meanwhile, things get creepier at the house as our heroes realize there are more ghosts in the house than just Daniel. He starts seeing Lilly walking around the house while Kate is attacked a few times by a dark presence. Daniel starts to protect her as they realize the dark presence is likely the spirit that keeps chasing off the inspectors, not Daniel. They think everything is tied together and they really need to solve the mystery. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibh00Dve_lg/YZDRfT2d4yI/AAAAAAAAiwE/mRYRsnOsQrwo_rm_zCx2TQXgyT-9Adz6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1253/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B11.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1253" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibh00Dve_lg/YZDRfT2d4yI/AAAAAAAAiwE/mRYRsnOsQrwo_rm_zCx2TQXgyT-9Adz6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B11.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(We pause for some eye candy)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">A friend of Rafferty’s, Molly (Joanna Herrington), is embarking on a new venture now that she’s out of a relationship. She wants to open a restaurant and hosts a party at the inn to impress some investors. They decide to bring back the annual Christmas Eve party and start decorating for the holiday. It’s clear that there’s something between Rafferty and Molly, though her brother the sheriff is a bit concerned given how many times his sister has had her heart broken. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">As Christmas Eve draws closer, it’s also clear that Kate and Daniel have a connection as well. But they know it can’t work since he’s, you know, dead. But Kate still promises to visit him every year until they can figure out how to break the curse. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Kate gets called back to the city again but she manages to return in time for the Christmas Eve party. She and Daniel share a dance before he spots Lilly again, following her as she finally leads him to the answers he has been seeking. Daniel gets to relieve the night from her perspective and sees that she and Charles were worried about him. What he saw was his brother comforting her as she wishes that Daniel was with her, that they had spent the last twelve days together. It is then that he realizes why he keeps coming back for those twelve days – it is a chance to get the time back he lost due to his trip. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3SK5B4B8hnw/YZCLwsYKs8I/AAAAAAAAivI/ane0gdHl1rwFpWw7K68IZyJ3eylw2oDOACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3SK5B4B8hnw/YZCLwsYKs8I/AAAAAAAAivI/ane0gdHl1rwFpWw7K68IZyJ3eylw2oDOACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>So that answer one question. And it rules out Lilly and Charles as the dark mass. So who is it and did they kill Daniel?</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">With Kate’s help, Daniel realizes there was only one person who knew his route and schedule. The dark force materializes and becomes his cousin Harry, who killed Daniel on the orders of the mob boss they were working for. The boss didn’t trust Daniel not to blab about their operation and threatened Harry’s family. Harry felt guilty for what he did, which is why he took care of Daniel all those years. Daniel forgives Harry and everyone can move on to the afterlife. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Daniel meets with Lilly at the edge of the property. She gives him a choice – he can follow her to the afterlife or get a chance to live again. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPLDGXR-9d4/YZC20ZrnQ8I/AAAAAAAAiv8/tBvcpq_3XLwA062r7coUgy9fsCxOJcSegCLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPLDGXR-9d4/YZC20ZrnQ8I/AAAAAAAAiv8/tBvcpq_3XLwA062r7coUgy9fsCxOJcSegCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B9.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Kate wakes up on Christmas morning and Rafferty reveals that he has bought the inn. He promises to keep it just the way it is and Molly says she will help him as they continue with their relationship. Kate is happy for them but sad that Daniel is gone. She leaves the house and spots someone walking toward her. It is Daniel – he’s chosen to come back to life and spend the rest of it with Kate. They hug and share a kiss as the movie ends.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsG-NtsAJds/YZIhT93dMvI/AAAAAAAAiwg/FoG2MGTPnBYdVDwGFFGlkZhFXVtliXe-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="600" height="168" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsG-NtsAJds/YZIhT93dMvI/AAAAAAAAiwg/FoG2MGTPnBYdVDwGFFGlkZhFXVtliXe-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Spirit%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"> <hr /></font> <p><font color="#00df70">See? Both spooky yet sweet! </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">I really enjoyed this movie. I thought the mystery was very compelling and kept me guessing for the most part. The twist that it was the cousin did really surprise me but it all made sense once it was revealed. So kudos to the writers – you sometimes don’t expect that level from one of these holiday movies. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Lilley and Beaudoin have great chemistry together. And Beaudoin really makes a great leading man. We need him in more movies! He really made Daniel feel real and yet also like a real-life romantic novel hero. So bravo to him. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Definitely give this movie a watch – you’ll be enchanted by the romance as well as captivated by the mystery. </font></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-14189918819198807242021-10-22T20:00:00.001-04:002021-10-22T20:41:49.997-04:00Welcome Back, Phantom! <p><span style="color: #ffd966;">Raise the chandelier once more on Broadway's longest running musical - welcome back, Phantom of the Opera! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ogJQyhEGac/YXNaD10lL3I/AAAAAAAAijw/OueFYxnEt3AbImNUm4pveDf6RARRrAhsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s480/Phantom%2Bof%2Bthe%2BOpera.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="480" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ogJQyhEGac/YXNaD10lL3I/AAAAAAAAijw/OueFYxnEt3AbImNUm4pveDf6RARRrAhsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Phantom%2Bof%2Bthe%2BOpera.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="color: #ffd966;">Let the music of the night live on! </span></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-47687984014466255942021-10-03T19:00:00.001-04:002021-10-03T21:27:45.476-04:00Happy Opening Night, Six! <p><span style="color: #ff00fe;"> Best wishes to the Queens and crew of <i>Six the Musical </i>on their opening night! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctOlGRkAgd0/YVpX5uzbP4I/AAAAAAAAiGM/3ZPZVWXesKASI8M0lAfdpCwv2pkOhsiqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s480/six%2Bthe%2Bmusical.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="269" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctOlGRkAgd0/YVpX5uzbP4I/AAAAAAAAiGM/3ZPZVWXesKASI8M0lAfdpCwv2pkOhsiqwCLcBGAsYHQ/w478-h269/six%2Bthe%2Bmusical.gif" width="478" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="color: #ff00fe;">They were supposed to open on March 12, 2020 - the same day Broadway had to shut down due to COVID. But now they are back and ready to tell their stories! </span></p><p><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Can't wait to see the show! </span></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-52960499532728685482021-09-25T12:00:00.001-04:002021-10-24T22:41:07.070-04:00“On the Twelfth Day of Christmas”: Everyone Loves a Good Secret Santa<p><font color="#00df70">We’re three months to Christmas! </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">I should probably start shopping…</font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Anyway, my recaps of different made-for-TV Christmas movies continues with this classic from Hallmark. It combines a Secret Santa with the 12 Days of Christmas. And who doesn’t like that? </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">So let’s check this one out! </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QLePSL_al9c/YW0b3T4FJCI/AAAAAAAAiMk/80qnwynPqYc2wW8sR_e-NNZWi8GTmBQ-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1430/12th%2BDay%2Bof%2BChristmas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1430" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QLePSL_al9c/YW0b3T4FJCI/AAAAAAAAiMk/80qnwynPqYc2wW8sR_e-NNZWi8GTmBQ-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/12th%2BDay%2Bof%2BChristmas.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – a partridge in a SPOILER!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>We start at a college radio station before Christmas. There’s a storm coming and most students have already gone home for the holidays. All but Maggie Chalke (Brooke Nevin) and Mitch O’Grady (Robin Dunne), who continue running the studio until the end of their shift. When she’s unable to get transportation home, he offers to drive her on his way home and she agrees.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">But the weather starts to force road closures and it seems obvious that they aren’t going to make it home for Christmas. So Mitch helps Maggie celebrate, giving her their own version of the 12 Days of Christmas. They bond over this magical holiday. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3M6dwlcWDo/YXUCbTwdt5I/AAAAAAAAilk/J1NjDZvG9cg-y6J7V6EXf3DOWsU3m2VdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s740/12th%2BDay%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="740" height="176" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3M6dwlcWDo/YXUCbTwdt5I/AAAAAAAAilk/J1NjDZvG9cg-y6J7V6EXf3DOWsU3m2VdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/12th%2BDay%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Time for a time jump!</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Maggie works for her small town newspaper. The holidays are coming and the big news is that the radio station has a new DJ. But it turns out that he hates Christmas so refuses to play any Christmas music. Maggie is then surprised when she realizes that the new Christmas-hating DJ is her old Christmas-loving friend Mitch. He never returned after the Christmas they spent together and she wondered what happened to him. </font></p><p><span style="color: #00df70;">So Maggie goes to see him and he’s happy to see her. He reveals that right after the Christmas they spent together, his mother died. Mitch was unable to return to school and his love of Christmas died with her. So now he’s anti-Christmas and nothing can change his mind.</span></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Naturally, Maggie decides to restore his Christmas spirit and pay him back for the amazing Christmas he gave her years ago. She decides to give him 12 gifts that all tie back to that Christmas but does it anonymously. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">At first, Mitch tries to ignore it but his producer Rita (Geri Hall) loves the gift and makes him open it on air. She then posts a picture and makes a promotion of it – who is Mitch’s Secret Santa? He doesn’t want any part of it and she reminds him that it will be good publicity. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBAGm7ez_C4/YXUnm4eD7II/AAAAAAAAil4/mhrLHJttBbYjt5qIX8xkfNBqxeO0cEpFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/12th%2BDay%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBAGm7ez_C4/YXUnm4eD7II/AAAAAAAAil4/mhrLHJttBbYjt5qIX8xkfNBqxeO0cEpFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/12th%2BDay%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Rita isn’t alone. Maggie’s newspaper has just been sold to a bigger publishing company and people’s jobs are on the line. Her editor, Alan Kramer (A.C. Peterson), assigns her to write about Mitch’s Secret Santa. She’s torn – she knows she should disclose that she is the Secret Santa and would be writing about herself but she’s also not ready to reveal herself yet. So after talking it over with some loved ones, she decides to take the assignment.</p></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AW1xXNvptsI/YXUWYJxn0DI/AAAAAAAAils/GxJqjhwGc54NZOxRjeuKReZLcxJT9jk5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s720/12th%2BDay%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AW1xXNvptsI/YXUWYJxn0DI/AAAAAAAAils/GxJqjhwGc54NZOxRjeuKReZLcxJT9jk5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/12th%2BDay%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">Which means that Maggie and Mitch start spending a lot of time together. Much to his annoyance, the 12 gifts are really taking off and everyone wants to know who is sending them. And some people start pretending that they are the one, like local fitness instructor Brianna (Tess Degenstein). Mitch is into her, though, and Maggie starts to feel a little jealous.</font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pnozxalUNAc/YXXgyGR57eI/AAAAAAAAimc/5EXsxA0VCYovQH-jceNAOHv8DWY72CEQACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/12th%2BDay%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pnozxalUNAc/YXXgyGR57eI/AAAAAAAAimc/5EXsxA0VCYovQH-jceNAOHv8DWY72CEQACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/12th%2BDay%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>But it doesn’t work out with Brianna, especially as Maggie and Mitch continue to spend time together. They are clearly starting to fall in love. So it’s time to blow things up.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Pretty much, Mitch figures out that all the gifts connect back to the Christmas he spent with Maggie and he realizes that she’s his Secret Santa. But he assumes she did it so she could write the stories and get to move to a bigger paper. He is angry and betrayed and becomes bitter again as Maggie regrets covering the story while keeping her secret. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ff9blWjtl18/YXX7xWafoyI/AAAAAAAAimk/ULM1FiT9d1wqbP2mv7QbVLtTcaU60CpyACLcBGAsYHQ/s740/12th%2BDay%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="740" height="175" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ff9blWjtl18/YXX7xWafoyI/AAAAAAAAimk/ULM1FiT9d1wqbP2mv7QbVLtTcaU60CpyACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/12th%2BDay%2Bof%2BChristmas%2B5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>So Maggie writes one last piece outing herself as Mitch’s Secret Santa. She figures it will be her last story but the new owners like her and decide to offer her a job. Meanwhile, Mitch realizes that Maggie was just trying to be kind to him and everything just got out of hand. They reunite and he admits that he’s fallen for her.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Happy endings all around! </font></p> <font color="#00df70"> <hr /></font> <p><font color="#00df70">This was a cute movie. I’ve been watching Brooke Nevins since the mid-90s and I adore her. So I was more than happy to watch this just for her but the story was engaging enough as well. She had good chemistry with Dunne and I wouldn’t mind seeing them in another movie. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">So wrap yourself up in a warm blanket, dim the lights and let yourself enjoy this sweet movie this holiday season. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">See you next time! </font></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-51892226822442818692021-09-19T12:00:00.001-04:002021-09-19T12:00:00.242-04:00Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: We Need a Little Christmas<p><font color="#ffb7db">It’s official! Zoey Clarke and her family and friends are returning to The Roku Channel this holiday season for “</font><a href="https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-christmas-roku-tv-movie-1235058563/" target="_blank"><font color="#ffb7db">Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas</font></a><font color="#ffb7db">.” </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dYiG4PjlAoI/YT77X-20UuI/AAAAAAAAh44/TRLmTkfeNK4pkt14jcFfNO2DxC_h_deegCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/12.18.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dYiG4PjlAoI/YT77X-20UuI/AAAAAAAAh44/TRLmTkfeNK4pkt14jcFfNO2DxC_h_deegCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/12.18.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffb7db;"><p>Creator Austin Winsburg has confirmed the return of several cast members: Jane Levy (Zoey), Skylar Astin (Max), John Clarence Stewart (Simon), Alex Newell (Mo), Mary Steenburgen (Maggie), Michael Thomas Grant (Leif), Kapil Talwalkar (Tobin), Andrew Leeds (David) and Alice Lee (Emily). Also confirmed to be returning are Peter Gallagher (Mitch), David St. Louis (Haskins) and Bernadette Peters (Deb) – who is nominated for an Emmy for her role as Deb! No word yet about Morgan Taylor Campbell (Morgan) and Noah Weisburg (Danny Michael Davis) or if Lauren Graham (Joan) will also manage to stop by as well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kBG_KnDaQuA/YT8DiF02y5I/AAAAAAAAh5A/9TGsD8ZaTtcCe3dD7DqzlVQot_22z1rKACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.6.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kBG_KnDaQuA/YT8DiF02y5I/AAAAAAAAh5A/9TGsD8ZaTtcCe3dD7DqzlVQot_22z1rKACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.6.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p><font color="#ffb7db">(I do hope at least Campbell comes back. And I also hope the stars align for Harvey Guillen to return as George. He recently </font><a href="https://collider.com/zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-what-happened-to-george-harvey-guillen-interview/" target="_blank"><font color="#ffb7db">revealed</font></a><font color="#ffb7db"> that there had been plans for him to appear in Zoey’s Extraordinary Birthday where it would’ve been revealed that getting fired was the best thing for him. Unfortunately, COVID and scheduling conflicts kept him from appearing in that episode. I hope we can still see that and what better time than Christmas?)</font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-K8XAnatCY/YT8EZnS3qnI/AAAAAAAAh5I/ziO0Ah0QQHEFg8MCE97GWHLVnU79ZGpaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s480/4.12.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-K8XAnatCY/YT8EZnS3qnI/AAAAAAAAh5I/ziO0Ah0QQHEFg8MCE97GWHLVnU79ZGpaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/4.12.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p></span><p><font color="#ffb7db">It has also been confirmed that the movie will pick up where Season 2 left off, so the fact Max heard Zoey’s heartsong will be addressed. I’m not sure how soon after that moment the movie will be set. I assume some time has to pass because while the show never really confirmed seasons or dates, we do have something of a timeline for at least the last half of season 2: </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <ul> <li><font color="#ffb7db">While the meteor shower Zoey wanted to see in Zoey’s Extraordinary Memory was fictitious, it appeared to be based on a real shower that can usually be seen around mid-November</font></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9RkMkDQlrkE/YUbZC1caGYI/AAAAAAAAh-g/TvP4t6rzKy08tUhbdPvFfIZILOk1FtZhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/meteor%2Bshower.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9RkMkDQlrkE/YUbZC1caGYI/AAAAAAAAh-g/TvP4t6rzKy08tUhbdPvFfIZILOk1FtZhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/meteor%2Bshower.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><ul><li><font color="#ffb7db">Zoey’s Extraordinary Neighbor (Season 1) revealed that Zoey is a Capricorn, which means she was born between December 22nd and January 19th. This also tracks and I feel like her birthday is likely in January. </font></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p8udUQ1TO_Q/YUbv3EIvQsI/AAAAAAAAh-o/xRQtgrbg4kMIObVDDGaaE2ZLL2MhcGS2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/8.14.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p8udUQ1TO_Q/YUbv3EIvQsI/AAAAAAAAh-o/xRQtgrbg4kMIObVDDGaaE2ZLL2MhcGS2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/8.14.gif" width="320" /></a></div></div><ul><li><font color="#ffb7db">Zoey’s Extraordinary Double Date features the Bay to Breakers marathon, which is traditionally held in May. We know there were time jumps between Zoey’s Extraordinary Birthday and Zoey’s Extraordinary Mystery, so this could also track given that it followed Zoey’s Extraordinary Girls’ Night. </font></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DkNiJVmN5fI/YUY5DBuVR2I/AAAAAAAAh-Y/mxjJ1ZIGW183U6oMuXLNHZO5nMBw5of3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/11.9.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DkNiJVmN5fI/YUY5DBuVR2I/AAAAAAAAh-Y/mxjJ1ZIGW183U6oMuXLNHZO5nMBw5of3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/11.9.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffb7db;"><br /></span></div><ul> <li><font color="#ffb7db">So it’s likely Zoey’s Extraordinary Goodbye took place in June. And now we’re jumping to December? </font></li> </ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2I7qF4wYGGw/YUb-wtoB5pI/AAAAAAAAh-w/WKEDULqzP30HqjRNiT6pHbHj-39potcNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.19.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2I7qF4wYGGw/YUb-wtoB5pI/AAAAAAAAh-w/WKEDULqzP30HqjRNiT6pHbHj-39potcNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.19.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffb7db;"><br /></span></div> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Of course, I’m likely overthinking it. </font></p> <p><font color="#ffb7db">We’re getting more Zoey and we get to hear our favorites no doubt sing some great Christmas songs. Five bucks says there’s a performance of “All I Want For Christmas is You” involved. I’m pretty sure it’s law now. </font></p> <p><font color="#ffb7db">I can’t wait to watch this special this holiday season and I hope it gets us a third season! </font></p> <p><font color="#ffb7db">How are you feeling? Let me know in the comments! </font></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-41343570971299667352021-09-14T20:00:00.001-04:002021-09-14T22:04:20.653-04:00An'ther Op'ning, An'ther Show! <p><span style="color: #ffd966;">Four of the biggest shows on Broadway return to the Great White Way tonight! Wishing everyone at <i>The Lion King, Hamilton, Wicked</i> and <i>Chicago </i>a great show! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TylVIeTz0lA/YUFTi57yP-I/AAAAAAAAh74/Zfj_t6rGo_sE48NT6nmMrHmWOMpizGz0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s480/chicago.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TylVIeTz0lA/YUFTi57yP-I/AAAAAAAAh74/Zfj_t6rGo_sE48NT6nmMrHmWOMpizGz0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/chicago.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5z0yXQh2taI/YUFTiWj1SwI/AAAAAAAAh70/FilIlrzP_qk8MTFOLS5eNIwFixfP66qegCLcBGAsYHQ/s245/hamilton.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="245" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5z0yXQh2taI/YUFTiWj1SwI/AAAAAAAAh70/FilIlrzP_qk8MTFOLS5eNIwFixfP66qegCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/hamilton.gif" width="245" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZhxQNZZrs0/YUFTkCpTCvI/AAAAAAAAh8A/woVdmNen2iwcApAiJEwRvb19V2sUqCOYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s480/the%2Blion%2Bking.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZhxQNZZrs0/YUFTkCpTCvI/AAAAAAAAh8A/woVdmNen2iwcApAiJEwRvb19V2sUqCOYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/the%2Blion%2Bking.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EMYSvUOW5xs/YUFTjnrlxBI/AAAAAAAAh78/vgMSSTBmjc8ztPeC5nyxWssU9sEFeCZUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s480/wicked.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="480" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EMYSvUOW5xs/YUFTjnrlxBI/AAAAAAAAh78/vgMSSTBmjc8ztPeC5nyxWssU9sEFeCZUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/wicked.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="color: #ffd966;">And <i>Lackawanna Blues</i> opens tonight! Best wishes to the cast and crew! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PNtKAW0Z9ZI/YUFUZjUG5iI/AAAAAAAAh8M/VBFolyrs3lwZBlyq7t7VNqCBpaSrMUX0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s355/Lackawanna%2BBlues.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="230" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PNtKAW0Z9ZI/YUFUZjUG5iI/AAAAAAAAh8M/VBFolyrs3lwZBlyq7t7VNqCBpaSrMUX0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Lackawanna%2BBlues.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-43863682194464511622021-09-02T20:00:00.002-04:002021-09-03T21:29:03.571-04:00Curtains Up, Light the Lights<p><span style="color: #fcff01;"><i>Hadestown </i>and <i>Waitress the Musical</i> have returned to the Great White Way tonight. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-su0Magboq-E/YTGJhmNM8rI/AAAAAAAAhzo/KW3vV7KQ-hAuREPZ1fsjX87JWUo0s-LlACLcBGAsYHQ/s480/hadestown.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-su0Magboq-E/YTGJhmNM8rI/AAAAAAAAhzo/KW3vV7KQ-hAuREPZ1fsjX87JWUo0s-LlACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/hadestown.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23fci1o11Hk/YTGJjq5ejhI/AAAAAAAAhzs/EkOifz7fOPIub4pc8ElkWcfGbFUica40gCLcBGAsYHQ/s480/waitress.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23fci1o11Hk/YTGJjq5ejhI/AAAAAAAAhzs/EkOifz7fOPIub4pc8ElkWcfGbFUica40gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/waitress.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #fcff01;">Break a leg to the casts and welcome back to Broadway!</span></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-84420488932520516372021-08-25T12:00:00.001-04:002021-09-09T12:30:01.476-04:00The Christmas Waltz–Dancing Through Christmas<p><font color="#00df70">I caught this movie during the recent Christmas in July movie marathon on Hallmark. And I absolutely fell in love with it. So I’ve decided to recap/review it. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">So put down your lemonade and sun hate, don your Santa hat and grab some eggnog and enjoy a sweet little Christmas story. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BQRxChebNQg/YTLya01TgWI/AAAAAAAAh04/vJP9xVzeywg5wHB__FZ0IBIyfxuLS7gcACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="264" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BQRxChebNQg/YTLya01TgWI/AAAAAAAAh04/vJP9xVzeywg5wHB__FZ0IBIyfxuLS7gcACLcBGAsYHQ/w176-h264/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B1.jpg" width="176" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>It’s that time of year/When the world falls in love/Every song you hear seems to say/SPOILERS!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>We start with two shadowed figures dancing a gorgeous waltz in a winter setting. The camera pulls out and we are introduced to Avery (Lacey Chabert), who is watching the dance on her laptop. She says that is what she wants for her wedding so we quickly establish that Avery is a bride-to-be.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">This is confirmed when her assistant Darna (Beatrice King) comes in to hand her some paperwork and reminds Avery she has an appointment. Avery says she’s finalizing the wedding cake and Darna asks for a piece. We then also learn that Avery is a lawyer when her boss Bob (Lane Edwards) comes in to inquire about a client. Avery assures him it is done and then heads out to go try some cake. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9DeiFx6Dh3E/YTMH9OgzQhI/AAAAAAAAh1A/6tuMSfzwou8dy04pk8q6Jz9LIzybQ3ebwCLcBGAsYHQ/s494/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="494" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9DeiFx6Dh3E/YTMH9OgzQhI/AAAAAAAAh1A/6tuMSfzwou8dy04pk8q6Jz9LIzybQ3ebwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B2.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">At the bakery, Avery is trying to choose between three Christmas-themed cakes. It seems she has always wanted a Christmas wedding and so her wedding will be on the 20th, which is in about three weeks. But she’s having some difficulties finalizing things, especially with her fiance David (Jeremy Guilbaut) on the phone almost the entire time. She finally chooses the Nutcracker cake and asks for a slice to go. Avery and David leave and he comments that he wasn’t entirely fond of the cake. She offers to go change it but he says it’s okay. He seems distracted and says he needs to get back to work. Avery asks if he booked the dance lessons for their first dance but he’s been too busy. They part ways and Avery decides she will handle the dance lessons. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Avery finds a dance school but no one ever picks up the phone. So she drops by there after work and meets Nicky (JT Church), whose mother teaches there and who is also a student at the school. First, he tries to sell Avery tickets to their big Christmas show but it’s on December 20th, which is her wedding day, so she has to decline. Despite his young age, he manages to convince Avery to get ten lessons so she can have the perfect wedding dance – after all, it will be preserved on film forever. He gets some assistance from Roman (Will Kemp), one of the teachers, and Avery agrees before heading out to meet David for dinner. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWH63fgv3Os/YTMe6WOuUXI/AAAAAAAAh1I/TUt5XIJih7I9fXoCVq4et2K9bVbTxqz7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWH63fgv3Os/YTMe6WOuUXI/AAAAAAAAh1I/TUt5XIJih7I9fXoCVq4et2K9bVbTxqz7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>But once again, David is distracted. Avery asks him what is going on and he says his firm offered him a position in their new Boston branch. She says that their lives are in New York but then realizes that he already took the job without talking with her. He says it was too good to pass up and reveals he needs to head up there as soon as possible. She reminds him of their wedding and he asks if they can put a pin in it. Avery understandably gets upset and decides to end the engagement, leaving him.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">It does seem like something of a hasty decision but I have a feeling this was a pattern in their relationship, especially given that David spent most of their cake tasting appointment on the phone. I get the feeling that he tends to not make her a priority and she deserves someone who will do that. And someone who understands that they can’t make a major life decision without talking with her first. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">So, you go, Avery! Know what you deserve and don’t settle for anything less! </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Though it probably doesn’t feel so comforting as she arrives home to find bouquet options waiting for her. It just reminds her of what she’s now losing and she is understandably sad. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Darna is very understanding the next day when Avery comes in and reveals the wedding is off. She asks Darna to have a courier deliver her engagement ring to David’s office and she agrees. Avery then tosses a picture of her and David before realizing she needs to cancel her dance lessons. Once again, no one picks up so she has to go and cancel them in person. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Avery returns to the dance studio and meets up with Roman again. She says that she needs to cancel the lessons and he says that they usually require more notice. She reminds him that no one ever picks up the phone and he agrees, saying they can reschedule. But she says that she needs to cancel the whole series and he says that’s a whole different matter. He asks if he can get the reason and Avery sadly tells him it’s because the wedding isn’t happening anymore. Roman offers some sympathy and says he can cancel the lessons but encourages her to take them for herself. She doesn’t think that will work and excuses herself after thanking him. </font></p><p><span style="color: #00df70;">She then meets her parents for lunch another day. Evelyn (Laura Soltis) and Fergus (Fred Henderson) ask how their daughter is doing. She says she’s doing as well as can be expected and hopes her parents can get some deposits back. But they are in no rush to officially cancel the wedding. They think Avery and David have just hit a roadblock but will get over it. You can’t really get over one person making unilateral decisions that affect both people, Evelyn. Avery tries to convince her parents that it’s over for good but it doesn’t seem like she’s very successful.</span></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Avery then notices a little girl dancing nearby and asks her parents why she stopped dancing. They tell her that she wasn’t very good and that they believed her focus should then be on pursuits that she could succeed. And they said it’s all paid off as she’s done well academically and is now a successful lawyer. Avery does agree on that but asks about doing something just to have fun. That seems to be a foreign concept to her parents. But it gets Avery thinking, especially as all her plans have started to fail her with the collapse of her relationship with David. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">So Avery decides to take those lessons after all. She and Roman start with the waltz but she’s a mess. Roman is patient with her but she soon decides to give up, saying she doesn’t do failure. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">But her friend Molly (Katrina Reynolds) convinces her to give it another try, to find that failure can be helpful. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Avery returns to Roman’s school and meets his partner Elina (Julia Harnett), who is also Nicky’s mother. Avery says she is serious about her lessons and so Roman takes her as a student again, starting to figure out ways to get her to relax and learn the lessons. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvZ-g56v8Zo/YTMvZ6rOzeI/AAAAAAAAh1c/q7DO8TEzVqscQETu7kyTyHi5lTIvgwR1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1014/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1014" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvZ-g56v8Zo/YTMvZ6rOzeI/AAAAAAAAh1c/q7DO8TEzVqscQETu7kyTyHi5lTIvgwR1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B4.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>That includes a trip to a local skating rink. Avery is a little apprehensive and asks if Roman knows how to skate. He tells her that he’s Russian so of course he knows how to skate. But she points out that he has a British accent. He explains he studied in England and picked up the accent there. As she learns more about him, they have an accident and go down hard. Roman hits his head and Avery insists on medical care.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Roman is diagnosed with a concussion and the doctor gives Avery instructions on how to care for him since she lied that she was Roman’s wife to go into the examination room with him. He is released and Avery takes him home to Brooklyn. She asks if there’s anyone who can check on him and he asks if she’s trying to find out if he’s single. He is single and there’s no one else he can really call. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">(Which we later learn is a lie. Apparently his family also lives in Brooklyn). </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">The next day, Avery stops in again and checks on him. His balance looks good and he reports no other symptoms, so Avery is relieved. She makes him breakfast as they talk. Noting his () doll, he tells her about a time that he was seriously considering giving up dance and some advice his mother gave him. So he keeps the doll to remember that advice. Avery finds it sweet and then serves him breakfast, which isn’t the greatest. He appreciates the gesture and thanks her before she heads to work. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Apparently Avery is in charge of planning holiday things for the office. She is asked to pick out the office card and then puts together a little cocoa and cookies break for her colleagues. It’s a bit vague if she just did it to be nice or if she is really in charge of planning things for the office. But either way, it’s kind of a bad look to have Avery – who appears to be the only woman other than Darna we see in the company – do all of this . Thankfully, Bob then gives her a big client and makes it clear he respects her work. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Avery continues with her lessons and gets closer to Roman as well as Elina and Nicky. He then invites her to a family dinner in Brighton Beach because his mother wants to meet the woman who nursed him after his injury. Probably his mother realizes that Roman is halfway in love with Avery since he didn’t bother calling her to come take care of him. Avery at first says she needs to see while Molly reminds her that she has no plans. So Avery decides to go. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Roman’s family is a lively and musical bunch. He introduces her to the lot and Elina is there with Nicky. Avery meets his mother and she helps Roman make some cookies. While there, she asks if he teaches his relatives but he says that they live too faraway. So that’s why he wants to open another school in Brooklyn. Avery offers to help him and though he’s hesitant, he agrees. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">They continue to spend more time together and it’s clear that their bond is growing. And it’s also getting clearer that they have feelings for each other that go beyond student and teacher. Avery gets better as a dancer and agrees to go to the Christmas show since her wedding won’t be that day anymore. She also invites her parents and best friend, who all ultimately agree to go to support her. Her mother even apologizes for not really supporting her dancing earlier. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5O715sT2ZBg/YTQGq6GHMaI/AAAAAAAAh1k/hld09TxMX9QfXlguV8pjCmHHeI4o5SgEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1170/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1170" height="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5O715sT2ZBg/YTQGq6GHMaI/AAAAAAAAh1k/hld09TxMX9QfXlguV8pjCmHHeI4o5SgEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">Aww. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Things seem to be going well for Avery and Roman. Which means it is time to throw in a complication or two.</font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">First, there’s the job. Her boss comes in and tells her that the important client needs their paperwork by the end of the week. Avery promises that it will be done and he hopes so, saying that her life has gotten complicated outside of work. And this entire conversation just rubs me the wrong way. He doesn’t express any concern about the fact she had to call off her wedding and just hopes that she won’t be too distracted to finish her work. It’s just…Avery really can do a lot better. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Speaking of people Avery could do a lot better than, David returns to grovel and get her back. He fills Avery’s office with Poinsettias and asks her to take him back. Avery feels ambushed – because she was – and says she needs time. She reveals that she’s taking the dance lessons and that she’s helping her instructor Roman. Avery then asks David to leave since she is at work and he does respect that request. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">David then goes to Roman and tells him that he and Avery are getting back together so he should stop romancing her. Roman insists that he and Avery are just friends and that she is just helping him with a business proposal. But it’s clear he’s heartbroken. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Poor Roman! </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Avery goes to her lesson and reveals it’s her last. But she’s decided to pay for more lessons and hopes to take them with Roman. He’s cold to her, though, and says that he already booked her spot so she’ll have to take them with another instructor. They have a very awkward lesson where both are hurting and heartbroken but not talking about it. It ends early with Avery leaving while Roman stands there, being a complete idiot. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">The next day, Bob comes looking for the proposal and Avery has to admit she’s not done yet. She asks for a couple more hours and he says he can stall. Darna grabs her laptop and comes in to help Avery get it done before the end of the day. They have it done by the afternoon and Avery apologizes. Bob tells her not to let it happen again and then tells her to enjoy her holidays. He doesn’t reprimand her and seems to accept this was a one-time mistake, which is good. Almost makes up for how he handled her called off wedding. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Anyway, Avery then meets up with David for dinner. David reveals that he was able to set up the Boston office quicker than he thought so he came back and asked his boss to let him push back returning to Boston so he could spend time with Avery. But Avery reads through all that and realizes that David is still set on moving to Boston, expecting her to uproot her life just like that. He also reveals that he spoke to Roman, telling him they were getting back together. Avery, though, says they aren’t and says goodbye to him for good. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">It is now the day of the Christmas recital and Roman has a prospective investor for his second school coming. He and Nicky head out while Elina says she will meet them there. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">They arrive at a theater and Roman welcomes Nicky to the palace. I’m not sure if they really meant to reference the Palace Theater, which is a Broadway theater (that is currently empty even as the Great White Way prepares to emerge from the pandemic), or if the writers forgot it was an actual Broadway theater. But I guess everyone is going to perform on Broadway, so congrats to them. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">However, Elina is stuck in traffic. And I’m not entirely sure why anyone from New York would drive into Manhattan and not take mass transit so close to Christmas. We get gridlock alerts in Staten Island starting right before Thanksgiving – we all know it’s a mess. I guess maybe she couldn’t bring her costume on the train? </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Well, obvious set up is obvious. I’m sure you all see where this going, right? </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Meanwhile, Avery is home after deciding not to go to the recital. She hasn’t been able to speak to Roman and doesn’t want it to be awkward. Thankfully Molly stops by and knocks some sense into her. Avery quickly changes and they head out to the show. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Roman’s investor is pretty much on board but is still eager to see what happens at the show. And Elina is still not there. So Roman asks a stage manager to find Avery and ask her to come backstage. Out in the audience, Avery is with Molly and her parents and is surprised to be asked backstage. But she follows the stage manager, curious as to what waits for her. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cbp85zTjLLA/YTmailDMFaI/AAAAAAAAh2w/WtyoiKzmjsI25rGwXNp5uz7HH2obCoocACLcBGAsYHQ/s275/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cbp85zTjLLA/YTmailDMFaI/AAAAAAAAh2w/WtyoiKzmjsI25rGwXNp5uz7HH2obCoocACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B6.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><font color="#00df70"><br /></font><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Backstage, Roman and Avery reunite. Roman apologizes for being so cold to her while Avery explains that she is done with David for good. He then asks her to dance the waltz with him and she agrees. Nicky finishes his routine and wishes them luck when he finds out Avery is replacing his mother. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDBZ2Anu7xY/YTmwFoqp4OI/AAAAAAAAh3M/gIQHpCCxi70KjwLrYOlzrRW-I8Rr8YIagCLcBGAsYHQ/s1014/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1014" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDBZ2Anu7xY/YTmwFoqp4OI/AAAAAAAAh3M/gIQHpCCxi70KjwLrYOlzrRW-I8Rr8YIagCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>Roman and Avery dance together and they are flawless. Everyone is impressed and it is clear as the movie ends that Roman and Avery are heading for a happily ever after.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3jTRgwojvw/YTnEhlwc_sI/AAAAAAAAh3U/7cUeA0dXaBornd-d4lnFVHlNan5Ew4ZtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s594/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="594" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3jTRgwojvw/YTnEhlwc_sI/AAAAAAAAh3U/7cUeA0dXaBornd-d4lnFVHlNan5Ew4ZtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Christmas%2BWaltz%2B8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"> <hr /></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Yes, I loved this movie – even for some of the really obvious set ups (Roman has no one to look after him even though his family lives in the same borough as him! Elina decides to drive in Manhattan during Christmas so she’s stuck in traffic!). It was just a fun Christmas movie with a lot of heart behind it – and that’s usually all I want from my Christmas movies. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Chabert and Kemp had great chemistry and worked well off each other. It felt natural and like we watched a sweet friendship turned romance unfold before our eyes. Not a single scene with them dragged and I enjoyed watching them. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">The dancing was breathtakingly beautiful. Kemp handled all the choreography brilliantly and Chabert held her own as well. Each number drew me in even more and just added to the romance as well as the Christmassy feeling. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">So if you like some dancing and lots of heart, definitely check out this movie! </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">See you all next time! </font></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-49108661751190616172021-08-08T12:00:00.001-04:002021-08-12T00:53:29.661-04:00Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: A Savior Appears!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9bQL1qimLcU/YRSL5rjGbfI/AAAAAAAAhqE/lKEKqUWGqSAZSyzhPV4LNllFTmn3JWCCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s480/good%2Bnews.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9bQL1qimLcU/YRSL5rjGbfI/AAAAAAAAhqE/lKEKqUWGqSAZSyzhPV4LNllFTmn3JWCCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/good%2Bnews.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="color: #ffb7db;">Call it Zoey’s Extraordinary Revival!</span></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><a href="https://tvline.com/2021/08/05/zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-roku-season-3-movie-renewed/"><font color="#ffb7db">‘Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist’ Renewed at Roku for Season 3, Movie | TVLine</font></a></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Well, that season 3 isn’t a done deal so that headline is a bit misleading. Sorry, it’s not mine but TVLine’s. </font></p><p><span style="color: #ffb7db;">True to his word, creator Austin Winsburg and Lionsgate has continued to shop Zoey around to find a new home. And Roku seems to be the one who is willing to give it a chance to at least wrap up if not live on. They’ve ordered a movie to be released during the holiday season. If it does well, Roku may then order additional episodes and give us a Season 3 after all!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ji8A7oKC9g8/YRSMJZQtzFI/AAAAAAAAhqI/O0xO2qgKyKsvpGBBseR1RvtchAbGokZlACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ji8A7oKC9g8/YRSMJZQtzFI/AAAAAAAAhqI/O0xO2qgKyKsvpGBBseR1RvtchAbGokZlACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Cover.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">So if you don’t have access to Roku and want to watch more Zoey, go get access to it! I have a Roku, it’s how I watch my streaming services, so I’m good to go. And I do recommend it to anyone who is interested. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">There has been no official confirmation but it’s likely they are waiting to confirm the cast. They had all been released from their contracts a couple weeks ago so now the production company has to negotiate new ones for them. But I’m sure most will be willing to return, it’s just going to be hammering out the details – especially with the promise of new episodes hanging in the air. They will most likely have to figure out agreements for the movie as well as what happens if Roku does approve a third season. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">I must admit I’m excited! Even if all we get is a wrap up movie, at least that’s more than other shows have gotten and we can get some closure. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">But I really do hope we get a season 3 after all! </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">So what do I wish would happen? Well, I was thinking about this recently and I would like to share my thoughts. And since it’s my blog, I can! </font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPQSxtdaVQo/YRSMSQKwDII/AAAAAAAAhqQ/ANTQDLz-EUYLTVcjt-iYwArxp_qQQT_sQCLcBGAsYHQ/s268/sorry%2Bnot%2Bsorry.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="268" height="171" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPQSxtdaVQo/YRSMSQKwDII/AAAAAAAAhqQ/ANTQDLz-EUYLTVcjt-iYwArxp_qQQT_sQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/sorry%2Bnot%2Bsorry.gif" width="268" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(I miss <i>Galavant </i>too)</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">First, I hope we get answers on why Max heard Zoey’s heartsong in the finale. Did her powers transfer to him? Are they contagious and have spread to him? Or are her powers evolving and now she can let others hear her heartsongs?</font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">All three could lead to some great storylines – how does Zoey help Max adjust to powers while possibly having lost hers? Could Zoey “infect” someone else? Or will someone else find out Zoey’s secret because she sings to them? </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Personally, I would prefer option #3. I think it’s time another person learns Zoey’s secret. I thought they were heading toward Simon learning it during this past season but that didn’t happen. And since I still feel as if the finale served as a wrap-up to Simon’s character, I don’t think he’ll be the next one to learn her secret – unless it is a way to keep his character involved in the story. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">(Once again, I hope not. As much as I loved Simon and John Clarence Stewart, I think the finale was a suitable endpoint for him and if he comes back, it’s just as a guest star here or there). </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">So who do I want to find out next? At first, I wanted it to be Maggie but then I realize I want it to be Leif. I think that would be interesting. First, it would give him the answers about why Zoey knows what he’s thinking. Next, I think he would want to use Zoey has a way to commit corporate espionage without anyone knowing but Mo, Max and Zoey have to constantly explain her powers don’t work like that. I really think it would open up some good storylines – and I could see Mo and Max having some fun with Leif, like making him do some super embarrassing things and calling it a ritual to join the group of those who know about Zoey’s superpowers. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">(But then I want it revealed at the end that Maggie’s known for a while but thought she was going insane because David and Emily couldn’t hear Zoey sing). </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Anyway, I’m excited about this news and I’m so happy we’re getting more Zoey! </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AcgCSDLbfc/YRSMtVtpJ5I/AAAAAAAAhqc/cOnUaOu17L0JCe_FJtY49UYQPTdJa8odwCLcBGAsYHQ/s360/kermit%2Bflailing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="360" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AcgCSDLbfc/YRSMtVtpJ5I/AAAAAAAAhqc/cOnUaOu17L0JCe_FJtY49UYQPTdJa8odwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/kermit%2Bflailing.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffb7db;"><p>How about you? Are you excited for the Zoey movie? If so, what do you want to see? Let me know in the comments below!</p></span><p></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-39981325645708596632021-07-25T06:28:00.001-04:002021-08-01T23:32:30.527-04:00“The Christmas Calendar”: Even a Miracle Needs a Hand<p><font color="#00df70">It’s Christmas in July! Have you been watching the movies airing on Hallmark Channel? I know I’ve caught a few this month! </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">This movie, though, isn’t a Hallmark movie. I watched it on Hulu when it had its holiday hub going and I enjoyed it a good amount. And I didn’t see the twist coming until the end. So that was a plus. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Let’s take a look at <em>The Christmas Calendar</em>! </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aYat1H4U1xg/YQXQ5r0lImI/AAAAAAAAhW4/y74T9yExN_Mkrv2bUDXB2G3TC50qc7xvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Calendar%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aYat1H4U1xg/YQXQ5r0lImI/AAAAAAAAhW4/y74T9yExN_Mkrv2bUDXB2G3TC50qc7xvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Calendar%2B1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><div><span style="color: #00df70;"><br /></span></div>Fireside’s blazing bright/And we’re caroling through the night/And this Christmas will be/A very special SPOILERS!</span><p></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">It is the first Christmas Emily (Laura Bell Bundy) will spend without her believed grandmother, Nonna. She has given up her law career to take over her grandmother’s bakery, enjoying making the same recipes she used to make with Nonna as a child. Chey (Paloma Kwiatkowski) helps her and works the counter, though she more often than not eats the merchandise rather than sell it. </font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKlpVE4F-Zo/YQYe_pzDK1I/AAAAAAAAhXg/XWEXHZQO6ak3I20TXWCSx-WYxv7hVgZSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s451/Calendar%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="451" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKlpVE4F-Zo/YQYe_pzDK1I/AAAAAAAAhXg/XWEXHZQO6ak3I20TXWCSx-WYxv7hVgZSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Calendar%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #00df70;">Of course, it’s also easy for her to eat the goods because not many people are coming into the bakery. Emily finds herself dealing with competition when the manager, Adele (Johannah Newmarch), of the big chain grocery store in town decides to open a bakery in it. She even hires a French baker, Gerard (Brendon Zub), to work there. It starts drawing people in and Emily worries her grandmother’s bakery will have to close its doors for good.</span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-myrJ2LbE1JM/YQY_DcIADrI/AAAAAAAAhXw/vNErzxTCkZUdeVyXHRk_AWTd26dhkGpLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Calendar%2B5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-myrJ2LbE1JM/YQY_DcIADrI/AAAAAAAAhXw/vNErzxTCkZUdeVyXHRk_AWTd26dhkGpLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Calendar%2B5.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #00df70;">On top of this, lawyer James (Jordan Ninkovich) reveals to Emily that her grandmother died with a lot of debts. She borrowed heavily to pay for Emily’s tuition to law school and it needs to be paid off. Her two options are to either sell her grandmother’s house or sell the bakery. While Emily is not pleased with either option, she believes she will sell her grandmother’s house and keep the bakery. She does feel guilty that she’s given up on law and worries her grandmother’s sacrifices were for naught.</span> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Emily runs into Gerard, at first not knowing he’s the new baker at the super store. She gives him a few tips as he tries some of her samples. They also feel as if they know each other. And before he leaves, he points out that there’s a package for her. No one knows who left it and Emily opens it to find a replica of her grandmother’s house. It’s also an Advent Calendar and she opens the first door to find a little riddle inside. Emily doesn’t know what it all means but Chey is excited about the mystery. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Chey places the house by the register and it draws the attention of the town, starting with local busybodies Edna (Jacqueline Robbins) and Pearl (BJ Harrison). People start to stop by and Emily agrees to open each clue at the same time each day. She and Chey start posting them by the door for people to read and sales start to go up as people also buy things while in the bakery. Emily is pleased but baffled by who could be behind the riddles, especially once the town becomes convinced she has a secret admirer. There’s even a running pool at the local bar where people can guess who the admirer is. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycTF-NsYrzA/YQZV5brvJZI/AAAAAAAAhX4/KantRGN5j1gm7-VvleLcFB1oIohvwSw1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/Calendar%2B4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycTF-NsYrzA/YQZV5brvJZI/AAAAAAAAhX4/KantRGN5j1gm7-VvleLcFB1oIohvwSw1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Calendar%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #00df70;">However, Emily learns there are a few potential suitors in town and even she starts to try to figure out who is interested in her. First there’s James but Emily is pretty sure he has feelings for the local florist so he’s ruled out.</span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Then there’s Eddie (Curtis Tweedie), the local handyman. However, he’s a bit too young for Emily’s sake. It also becomes clear that Chey has feelings for him and that it’s very likely they are reciprocated, so it’s not him either. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Another possibility is Chuck (James Pizzinato), who runs the local Christmas tree lot. He makes his interest in Emily very well-known but he’s pretty boorish and crude. Emily has no interest in him and turns him down. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Meanwhile, others think there’s another candidate, especially once Gerard and Emily realize they had met each other in New York a few years earlier. It had been an embarrassing moment for her but Gerard seems enchanted by it. She is upset that he’s the one trying to put her out of business and that he used some of her tips to help advance that cause. He insists he was just hired for a job and doesn’t want to hurt her business. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6x-qeJEn0fY/YQZym9BnY6I/AAAAAAAAhYg/bEK2ZNhu9J4HZ-hlaA-WmjpfmZ352kN5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Calendar%2B6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6x-qeJEn0fY/YQZym9BnY6I/AAAAAAAAhYg/bEK2ZNhu9J4HZ-hlaA-WmjpfmZ352kN5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Calendar%2B6.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">Eventually, Emily and Gerard start to bond more. There are scenes of them sharing baking tips and recipes together. And they even end up on the same bowling team, where he asks her questions with each strike he rolls. They get closer and Emily starts to hope he is the one behind the calendar after all. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpBi8gnHZ0w/YQZsr6f0vrI/AAAAAAAAhYY/6NNbi5YJBhYDzyL1Gjrus0nHEQCof7xMACLcBGAsYHQ/s858/Calendar%2B8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="858" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpBi8gnHZ0w/YQZsr6f0vrI/AAAAAAAAhYY/6NNbi5YJBhYDzyL1Gjrus0nHEQCof7xMACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Calendar%2B8.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">Speaking of The Christmas Calendar, it gains fame after Wally (Greg Rogers) runs a story about it in the town paper. TV news picks it up and people start flocking to Emily’s bakery to see the calendar, read the riddles, make their guesses and buy some treats before heading home. This annoys Adele and she starts plotting to take Emily’s bakery down. Gerard and Emily’s burgeoning relationship gets caught in the middle and things look bleak for them. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">As Christmas Eve approaches, the rivalry between Emily’s bakery and the super store’s comes to a head when Adele calls in a report to the health inspector. Emily and Chey have to leave a party to handle a surprise inspection. But they pass with flying colors since their paperwork and permits were in order and they follow all the rules regarding maintaining a clean facility. Go Team Emily and Chey! </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D5BjG-pSILg/YQZ3WjchNwI/AAAAAAAAhYs/VxfPgf6aZbgV6XhKMoW5qudBljOp3gkiACLcBGAsYHQ/s596/Calendar%2B3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D5BjG-pSILg/YQZ3WjchNwI/AAAAAAAAhYs/VxfPgf6aZbgV6XhKMoW5qudBljOp3gkiACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Calendar%2B3.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><span style="color: #00df70;"><p>The inspector then realizes that there’s a bakery at the superstore and decides to pay them a surprise visit, no doubt suspicious that they may be trying to put the competition out of business through less than honest means. He approaches Gerard and while Gerard maintains a clean kitchen, he does not have all the applicable permits and paperwork required to operate a bakery. Adele was supposed to handle all of that and in her zeal, she overlooked it. The bakery gets shutdown by the health department.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">But Adele is not ready to give up just yet. She makes friends with Chuck, who steals Eddie’s big ring of keys and uses it to sneak into the bakery. Their plan is to steal The Christmas Calendar, open the last door and ruin the final reveal, stealing Emily’s thunder. It’s got to be the dumbest plan ever. And Chuck is not a very good thief as he ends up trapped in the bakery overnight. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">Christmas Eve arrives and Wally surprises Emily with a TV news crew who has come to do a story on the calendar. Emily lets them into the bakery and they start filming when they hear something in the background. As the film crew is filming, Emily discovers Chuck in the kitchen. He spills everything pretty easily and it seems Adele’s career is pretty much done. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">The big moment is here. Everyone packs into Emily’s bakery as she opens the last door and reveals who sent the Christmas Calendar. Turns out it was Nonna – she had it commissioned so she could spend one last Christmas with Emily. Which is so sweet and was pretty obvious from the get-go. I mean, why would a Secret Admirer create a calendar in the shape of her house? Anyway, some people are disappointed that they won’t get to see Emily find True Love but others are even more pleased with the outcome. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"></font> <p><font color="#00df70">It is then revealed that Gerard was the only one who guessed the right answer. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Emily celebrates Christmas with Chey’s family. Chey’s daughter Chloe (Cassidy Slingsby) looks out a window and spots a mysterious woman (Susan Wilkey) who has been lurking around town watching. She then walks away, disappearing.</font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r8VjT0lSqJE/YQcmb1FxEAI/AAAAAAAAhao/sqFERC6t9ec1iFWuZWkudYH79cBmK9ohwCLcBGAsYHQ/s829/Calendar%2B7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="829" height="217" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r8VjT0lSqJE/YQcmb1FxEAI/AAAAAAAAhao/sqFERC6t9ec1iFWuZWkudYH79cBmK9ohwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Calendar%2B7.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#00df70">But all’s well that ends well. After everything that happened, Adele is fired and leaves town with Chuck. The supermarket contracts with Emily to provide their baked goods and the money they give her allows her to save both her bakery and her grandmother’s house. And she gets to hire Gerard to help her in the store. She admits that she hoped he had sent her the calendar and they share a kiss. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">We then flashforward a year to see the two kissing in the bakery as the camera zooms in on a picture of Nonna. It’s the mysterious lady Chloe saw last Christmas! </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Looks like Nonna made sure Emily would have some merry Christmases for the rest of her life. </font></p> <font color="#00df70"> <hr /></font> <p><font color="#00df70">So how was it? </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">It was a cute movie if the “mystery” is pretty easy to solve. But I enjoyed the journey and watching Emily figure it out. Bundy and Zub had good chemistry that made you root for those two crazy kids to make it all work out. They probably added a few too many things to keep them apart than they needed but I guess they had to pad out the movie somehow, right? </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">The side romances were also sweet. They didn’t overwhelm the main storyline but played just the right role in the story. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">I did have to roll my eyes when the news crew became immediately disinterested in the story once it was discovered that her grandmother sent the calendar and not some secret admirer. But I think that would’ve been a better story – a grandmother celebrates Christmas with her beloved granddaughter from beyond the grave. Hearts – tugged. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">Bottom line – it’s a cute story with a sweet romance. Give it a watch with some hot chocolate and a plate of cookies to enjoy. And you’ll get to hear Laura Bell Bundy sing as well, so there’s a plus. </font></p> <p><font color="#00df70">See everyone next month! </font></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-694517636962729581.post-26019307550393406532021-07-18T12:00:00.001-04:002021-07-27T23:11:31.038-04:00Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Taking the Leap<p><font color="#ffb7db">Last time: Zoey recalled her first day at SPRQ Point and how she became friends with Max when Danny Michael Davis made the “prehires” go through a competition to see who would get the limited open positions at the company. Zoey and Leif ultimately won but Max was hired about a month later after he and Zoey made Danny’s assistant obsolete with their final project. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">As she was competing for her dream job, Zoey found out Mitch had rushed Maggie to the hospital with a possible heart attack. Maggie had to undergo surgery and the family rallied around her. David ran into Emily at the hospital, the spark of their relationship, and Mo was the driver who took Zoey from SPRQ Point to the hospital. Maggie pulled through but it was Zoey’s first brush with a possibly life-changing loss and she realized how fragile everything really was. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">After some words of wisdom from her therapist, Zoey headed home and had an awkward encounter with Max. She reminded him of their winning invention, which he still had. We learned that Max had really gotten the job but had given it up for Zoey, something she didn’t know. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LTaysVW3xzs/YPThzNUTprI/AAAAAAAAhPE/1DcXXasmVOQZSNaAJAs5LdAOsoKo6Fb3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/can%2527t%2Bwait.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LTaysVW3xzs/YPThzNUTprI/AAAAAAAAhPE/1DcXXasmVOQZSNaAJAs5LdAOsoKo6Fb3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/can%2527t%2Bwait.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="color: #ffb7db;">Here we are. The last episode of season 2. I really hope that this isn’t the last episode ever of </span><em style="color: #ffb7db;">Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist</em><span style="color: #ffb7db;"> and continue to pray someone else can pick it up, even if the cast has been released from their contracts. Keep supporting the show and showing it love – that does help in attracting other interest.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojlwlPpx4yg/YPUmF01cf5I/AAAAAAAAhPY/GGHweyaoJIE-V59mbfQoRa0sEXLBKegEACLcBGAsYHQ/s1260/13.0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojlwlPpx4yg/YPUmF01cf5I/AAAAAAAAhPY/GGHweyaoJIE-V59mbfQoRa0sEXLBKegEACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffb7db;"><p>Sing, sing a song/Let the world sing along/Sing of love there could be/Sing for you and for SPOILERS!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>We open with Zoey waking up in bed. Simon starts us off with “Sing,” that classic song from Sesame Street. Everyone joins in as Zoey goes about her day – Maggie, David, Emily, Tobin, Leif, Danny Michael Davis, Mo, Max and Rose. Everyone but Zoey sings as she goes to bed, looking numb and depressed while everyone sings such a bright, cheery and uplifting song around her. It’s quite the contrast but certainly illustrates Zoey’s mood. She complains about it the next to Mo, who makes a comment about Zoey’s therapy sessions.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRxcjiAoJQc/YPedtpi3X4I/AAAAAAAAhQQ/Pbq64be93lIgbMXCAcGLrUMymRmaVn71gCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.1.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRxcjiAoJQc/YPedtpi3X4I/AAAAAAAAhQQ/Pbq64be93lIgbMXCAcGLrUMymRmaVn71gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.1.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(How can you be glum when this song is playing?)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Zoey says that most of her sessions are about Max rather than her powers. But she’s starting to think that maybe she did the wrong thing about pausing their relationship. Mo asks about Simon and Zoey believes she needs to break up with him, that it’s not fair to him that she is still hung up on Max. Mo encourages her to tell Max how she feels before he leaves for New York but Zoey says it will only be a couple months. Mo then points out everything he’s doing for Max’s goodbye party – including making taxi cookies that Zoey is not doing the best at decorating. Zoey notes the guest list includes everyone possible, including Danny Michael Davis and her family, and Mo asks if that sounds like a see you later party or a party for someone who is going to New York for a lot longer than a few months. It certainly gives Zoey something to think about.</p></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bMHWsWff4qk/YPZfXqmSpPI/AAAAAAAAhPg/g8zxg3FBNf8zItHmSdQQxNUYYP4thPCugCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.2.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bMHWsWff4qk/YPZfXqmSpPI/AAAAAAAAhPg/g8zxg3FBNf8zItHmSdQQxNUYYP4thPCugCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.2.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffb7db;"><p>Zoey then asks about Perry but Mo is still ignoring him, saying he doesn’t have time for someone who has doubts about being with him. So he’s just focusing on Max’s party for now.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Zoey heads to SPRQ Point for a work meeting. Danny Michael Davis asks for an update on the drone phone and Leif says they are being held up by litigation. There’s a small start up that also designed a drone phone and they are suing SPRQ Point. Danny Michael Davis perks up and adjourns the meeting so he can sic his lawyers on the start up, saying that by the time they are done, phones will be obsolete and we’ll just communicate by blinking our eyes. He tries to demonstrate it before leaving. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Tobin and McKenzie then stand up to announce that they have notified HR that they are a couple, per company policy. So they are official and he says if they are making out in a stairway, it’s okay. McKenzie then clears her throat and Tobin clarifies that it will be unlikely as they respect each other’s boundaries. Everyone congratulates them and everyone leaves except for Zoey and Simon. They both agree they need to talk and Simon says that they should break up. Zoey sits there a moment before saying that was easy and we get our title card. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bxwd-RO-oqk/YPe8c4mqbiI/AAAAAAAAhQY/H8Y0qRzMrh83j5ipI3hHMWYYRxxEEo-xgCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.3.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bxwd-RO-oqk/YPe8c4mqbiI/AAAAAAAAhQY/H8Y0qRzMrh83j5ipI3hHMWYYRxxEEo-xgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.3.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Stunned)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="color: #ffb7db;">Simon and Zoey go for a walk by the harbor in a nice full circle moment. He says that he’s been thinking about their relationship and feels that they had essentially formed a trauma bond. And that while Zoey seems to understand him in a way no one has before, he never will do the same for her because there’s a part of her that is always kept hidden. Zoey says she’s been trying and he says that may be part of the problem – if they were meant to be together, she wouldn’t have to try. She agrees and says that their connection was real. He confirms it was and that he will be grateful for how she helped him get through his grief over his father. She says he helped her too and they agree to be friends going forward.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Al5J32hO074/YPjtkJbgLzI/AAAAAAAAhRU/MevTnnJKr6cV7jX43hTc_LCzSLvYIorAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.4.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Al5J32hO074/YPjtkJbgLzI/AAAAAAAAhRU/MevTnnJKr6cV7jX43hTc_LCzSLvYIorAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.4.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffb7db;"><p>At Max’s, he’s busy trying to pack everything in his closet into his suitcase. Rose teases him and says that he can leave somethings behind. She then pulls something from the mess of clothes on his bed and reveals that it is the coffee delivering device from the last episode. Rose asks about it and he insists it’s nothing. She says that he was going to pack it so it couldn’t be nothing and he says that it was something he and Zoey created during their SPRQ Point orientation. He puts it aside but it still gives Rose something to think about.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">David holds up two shirts that are different shades of blue and ask which one is more appropriate for a New York nightlife themed party. Emily tells him they both look alike to her so he picks one and goes to change. Maggie then laughs as she looks at her phone so Emily asks her what she’s looking at. Maggie explains that she went back on Facebook for the first time in forever and reconnected with her old high school boyfriend, Eric. They’ve been texting a lot lately and Maggie has been enjoying their exchanges. Emily thinks that’s great but David is worried that Eric may not really be Eric and may be some scammer or serial killer. Maggie tells him not to worry so much and Emily gives him a look that sends him to go change into the other shirt. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iw7bM66vm38/YPmz_saZyDI/AAAAAAAAhR0/3-1pd8FYbK4pzq0v_guulcT2vJtJtqlmACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.5.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iw7bM66vm38/YPmz_saZyDI/AAAAAAAAhR0/3-1pd8FYbK4pzq0v_guulcT2vJtJtqlmACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.5.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Look at how happy Maggie is!)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="color: #ffb7db;">Mo puts out a sign saying that Maximo’s is closed for a private event as Zoey helps Maggie finish handing out the taxi cookies. She explains that she and Simon broke up but it was amicable. Maggie is glad that it wasn’t painful but does feel bad for her daughter. Zoey, though, just wants to focus on Max and Rose that night. She and Simon even agree to that, promising not to talk about their breakup…but it’s then the first thing she says when they walk in.</span></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Awkward.</font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Rose definitely looks suspicious. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMIKy-ThIGA/YPm0K83lAFI/AAAAAAAAhR4/T_et1FalEAwwS_u22QgldKYzYpDyFMgBACLcBGAsYHQ/s1260/13.21.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMIKy-ThIGA/YPm0K83lAFI/AAAAAAAAhR4/T_et1FalEAwwS_u22QgldKYzYpDyFMgBACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Rose also looks amazing in that dress)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">Danny Michael Davis shows up and he’s bummed that more people found out about his late night hikes. With Mo still moping about Perry and the awkward moment Zoey created, she decides to remind everyone that they are there to celebrate Max and Rose and that everyone should take whatever’s bothering them and, well, shake it off. Which is the song everyone breaks out into while she’s making her announcement. Two group numbers in one episode? Nice! </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dgoYv0ewg7s/YPo77ulgpTI/AAAAAAAAhSE/9_qik8yG2wgKwRWTIC03xUOf04GETCskwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.6.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dgoYv0ewg7s/YPo77ulgpTI/AAAAAAAAhSE/9_qik8yG2wgKwRWTIC03xUOf04GETCskwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.6.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Shake it off! Shake it off!) </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">Zoey ends her little speech as the party really begins. She has a few conversations before excusing herself to help Mo, clearly anxious and on edge. Mo says that Zoey can restrain him as we see that Perry has crashed the party. He asks Mo for a second chance but Mo refuses to listen to him, heading up to the second floor. They even put Danny Michael Davis on “distract Perry duty” and it’s hilarious.</font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-drIVYWEV1SE/YPpZ65xC5sI/AAAAAAAAhSM/Ev7_xvA_tBYOaTXdNSOxioYgUSNIfJtYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.8.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-drIVYWEV1SE/YPpZ65xC5sI/AAAAAAAAhSM/Ev7_xvA_tBYOaTXdNSOxioYgUSNIfJtYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.8.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Oh, Danny Michael Davis)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">Zoey follows and we get to hear Perry and Mo duet on “We Can Work It Out” by the Beatles. And they sound amazing on it. We deserve a third season if just for more Perry and Mo duets. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxFo6jCE5RM/YPpunfYahYI/AAAAAAAAhSU/mhjei-X3QlQullVQcAvK-3NgZijETPp6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.7.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxFo6jCE5RM/YPpunfYahYI/AAAAAAAAhSU/mhjei-X3QlQullVQcAvK-3NgZijETPp6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.7.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Amazing)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">After the song ends, Zoey tells Mo that Perry really is interested in making things work with Mo. And that Mo really wants to make things work with him. So Mo lets Perry stay and gives him hope of reconciliation. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Leif meanwhile seeks out Simon. He tells Simon that the start up Danny Michael Davis wants to crus his a start up run by minorities. He feels guilty now for telling Danny about them and doesn’t think suing them out of existence is a good look for SPRQ Point’s new direction. Simon asks him to send over a link to the company and promises to take care of it. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Mo gives a little speech, thanking Max for convincing him to jump into the unknown and proving that friends can be partners. He also celebrates that they are franchising and exclaims he’s going to be rich. Maggie and Simon also give short speeches directed at Max before Zoey decides to give one as well. She talks about their first day at SPRQ Point and how they became best friends that day, even if she got the job and he originally didn’t. Tobin, Leif and Danny all have confused faces and Max gets nervous. Zoey finishes by wishing Max and Rose all the best in New York. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Leif starts to correct Zoey about how she got the job at SPRQ Point but Max stops him. Zoey is confused and she turns to Danny, asking him what’s going on. Danny reveals that she hadn’t gotten the job and that he had picked Max. But Max had turned it down and advocated for Zoey to get it instead so Danny hired her. She tells him that’s not what happened but Danny reminds her that he was there and that’s what happened. He then excuses himself, giving a short speech that’s all about him before leaving. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1oXkc0V9mHk/YPqAl2lrTOI/AAAAAAAAhSc/7TmtvywVW18VpOEIpHyWRdLOGMnVGfqywCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.9.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1oXkc0V9mHk/YPqAl2lrTOI/AAAAAAAAhSc/7TmtvywVW18VpOEIpHyWRdLOGMnVGfqywCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.9.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(They know something's off)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">Zoey confronts Max in the kitchen and he admits that it was true. She is angry and says that she thought she had gotten the job based on her own merits but now she’s learned it was all a lie. Max tells her that he gave up the job for her because he knew she deserved it, that she had the determination, passion and skills to be a great coder. It’s clear that Zoey wants to stay angry at him but can’t after that. She thanks him but says that was something she should’ve known years ago. He nods before heading back out to the party. Zoey stops him and says she’ll miss him. He doesn’t respond and just leaves the kitchen. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RP7T0FaFFDo/YPqDh7T2XCI/AAAAAAAAhSk/9paJsu0oMagbfb_sfju3N8yCfts3YdIBACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.10.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RP7T0FaFFDo/YPqDh7T2XCI/AAAAAAAAhSk/9paJsu0oMagbfb_sfju3N8yCfts3YdIBACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.10.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffb7db;"><p>Ouch.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">We next see Zoey at a meeting in SPRQ Point but she has no clue what it’s for. No one answers her when she asks so she just dismisses them and apologizes for not being prepared. She then turns off the screen behind her and she sees Mitch standing in her office. Zoey turns around slowly and is so happy to see him. He apologizes for taking so long to come see where she works and she takes him to her office. As they head toward it, she spots Max at his old desk. He greets Mitch and then turns back to his work. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Zoey shows Mitch her office and they talk for a bit before Max shows up with a suitcase. He tells her that he has to go and walks toward the elevator. A voice says that the flight to far away is boarding now and he looks back before getting on the elevator, the doors closing behind him. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">She then admits to her father that she messed up. Mitch asks her why she doesn’t tell Max how she feels and Zoey says that he is so happy with Rose and going to New York. Mitch realizes she’s also scared (though I thought it was going in the direction that she didn’t want to be the person trying to break him up) and is sorry that she feels so uncertain because of what happened to him. Zoey asks for some advice but he doesn’t have much to give her about Max. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V0_otImceYc/YPqDuALkWkI/AAAAAAAAhSo/dHdlMmjkUw4eHkBMtmtIgMnwcrvSJ3nuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.11.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V0_otImceYc/YPqDuALkWkI/AAAAAAAAhSo/dHdlMmjkUw4eHkBMtmtIgMnwcrvSJ3nuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.11.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">He does, however, have some advice in general. And because it would be criminal to have Peter Gallagher and not let him sing, he presents it in a song – “I Lived.” He and Zoey dance around the empty SPRQ Point set as an orchestra appears to play behind them. It is so sweet and a wonderful scene between father and daughter. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SKj5Dm5SYqk/YPyj2mF0QSI/AAAAAAAAhUc/gxMuAs_j98UxoOsQ-KscJo730xGkh5XxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.12.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SKj5Dm5SYqk/YPyj2mF0QSI/AAAAAAAAhUc/gxMuAs_j98UxoOsQ-KscJo730xGkh5XxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.12.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(A more joyful father-daughter dance)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">Zoey then sits up in bed and seems to be more at peace. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">She rushes across the hall to Mo’s and bangs on the door until Perry lets her in. Zoey greets him and he’s a little put out but Mo welcomes her in. Zoey tells Mo that she had a dream where she got to talk to her father and she realizes she needs to stop being afraid. That she needs to take the leap into the unknown. Mo is impressed that one dream did what several therapy sessions hadn’t yet. Zoey asks about Max’s flight and Mo says it’s in a couple hours so he’s already on the way to the airport. So Zoey says she needs to go to the airport so she can tell him how she feels. Mo says to give him a moment to get dressed – he’s been with her so far, he doesn’t want to miss the climax. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxZ6xSxzhEA/YP34qeE6KeI/AAAAAAAAhUo/fxmP6NxlnnclrB5dJOnrwAs9AQu1DRYEACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.13.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxZ6xSxzhEA/YP34qeE6KeI/AAAAAAAAhUo/fxmP6NxlnnclrB5dJOnrwAs9AQu1DRYEACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.13.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Mo? Mo? Mo?)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">At the Clarke house, Emily finds a forlorn Maggie. Emily asks her what is wrong and Maggie says she should be banned from social media. That surprises Emily and Maggie shows her a recent text from Eric, where he mentions watching TV with his wife. Emily is sympathetic but tells Maggie this is a good sign. Maggie is a bit confused until Emily says that if she is disappointed Eric is married, that means she’s getting ready to date again. Maggie is impressed and asks about this new Emily, who says the medicine she on makes her feel things, such as hope. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8T0gGgz_20M/YP4ZdbpCXfI/AAAAAAAAhUw/0j83-TXZ7ko8v-EJfZKIKiYkWan3se3vACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.15.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8T0gGgz_20M/YP4ZdbpCXfI/AAAAAAAAhUw/0j83-TXZ7ko8v-EJfZKIKiYkWan3se3vACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.15.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Maggie is still happy. Yay!) </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">Which does raise some questions about Emily before the postpartum. Was she struggling and never really realized it before? Or did she buy into the “emotionless lawyer” stereotype too much? </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Simon meets with Danny Michael Davis, who doesn’t realize it was time for their meeting due to no longer wearing a watch. Simon proposes a program where SPRQ Point mentors start ups with a focus on minority-owned ones. And he proposes the first one to be the start up they were going to sue. Danny is a little disappointed not to crush them legally but agrees and puts Simon in charge, though Danny has some concerns about Simon’s other duties. Simon asks to focus on this, saying it’s more in line with his passions and Danny agrees. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rkC4i0s1jh4/YP4-h_GTmsI/AAAAAAAAhU8/OKeeXJhaeVQ-EGjtQswhH9iud22P2pR6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.14.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rkC4i0s1jh4/YP4-h_GTmsI/AAAAAAAAhU8/OKeeXJhaeVQ-EGjtQswhH9iud22P2pR6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.14.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Hug it out!)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">Zoey arrives at the airport and spots Max getting out of a car with Rose. Mo asks her what she’s going to say and Zoey says she’s just going to wing it. Mo cheers her on as she gets out of the car. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TmpQwfHPIHk/YP6AdjnKxrI/AAAAAAAAhVE/b-Vvvfm-KC8gnbIVc1b1gXYwFSkpHtlLACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.16.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TmpQwfHPIHk/YP6AdjnKxrI/AAAAAAAAhVE/b-Vvvfm-KC8gnbIVc1b1gXYwFSkpHtlLACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.16.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">Zoey approaches the two but then she hears Max sing “When a Man Loves a Woman” and it appears he is singing it to Rose. Heartbroken, Zoey returns to the car. Mo asks what happened and Zoey says she heard Max sing a heart song to Rose and that he truly loves her. She says she’s too late and they head home. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">At SPRQ Point, McKenzie comes in to speak with Zoey. She says that she’s sorry about her relationship with Simon and asks Zoey if they ended it because they worked together. McKenzie is worried it might mean she and Tobin won’t work out because they are colleagues. Zoey starts to answer when she hears music. She excuses herself and crosses to Simon’s office where he starts off with a soft song that then bursts into one of happiness, singing “I’m Still Standing.” Zoey is pleased he’s doing well and returns to her office, assuring McKenzie that she and Simon broke up due to non-work factors. McKenzie and Tobin should be fine. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXyBSFIOVj0/YP7jfDEWaZI/AAAAAAAAhVQ/8inAtKaBV9kL_Md26SQXJrsmRdcojUeCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.17.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXyBSFIOVj0/YP7jfDEWaZI/AAAAAAAAhVQ/8inAtKaBV9kL_Md26SQXJrsmRdcojUeCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.17.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(He's still standing)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">Maggie calls for a family meeting with David, Emily and Zoey. David worries that his mother is having money troubles and needs to sell the house. He offers to buy it with Emily and that they could rent out Zoey’s room. Maggie says she’s fine but is glad David has a plan. She says that she wanted to let them know that she is considering dating again so that when she is ready to date, they would be prepared – especially after David’s reaction to Eric. Emily thinks it’s great and David says he’ll work on being okay. Zoey also thinks it’s great and says that Mitch would’ve wanted them all to keep living. </font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sq89s3vjImk/YP9_h8AIKSI/AAAAAAAAhV4/PVYn9k7d6JAw9I25_ZoVzjBY9lmqj2QDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.18.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sq89s3vjImk/YP9_h8AIKSI/AAAAAAAAhV4/PVYn9k7d6JAw9I25_ZoVzjBY9lmqj2QDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.18.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Nice call back to the season premiere)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">We then hear a musical reprise of “I Lived” as we get glimpses of our characters. Mo and Perry have dinner together as his children race around the apartment. Emily and David put Milo down for the night and watch him sleep, smiles on their faces. McKenzie and Tobin make out in one of the pod chairs at SPRQ Point. Simon mentors the start up team in his office. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">(No Leif though. Weird).</font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">It finishes with Zoey sitting in the park fiddling with the music note ring Max gave her in the season premiere. He tells her that it still won’t make her invisible and she looks up to find him standing by the bench. She’s surprised and asks why he’s not in New York. He replies that he and Rose broke up at the airport. She could tell that he was in love with someone else and he realized he couldn’t leave Zoey. Max says that he knows there will always be a power imbalance since Zoey’s powers give her an insight he won’t have but he’s willing to accept that to be with her. </font></p><p><span style="color: #ffb7db;">Zoey starts to give him a speech about her own feelings when music starts to play. She starts singing “Melt With You” and does a whole routine with the people in the park. It’s always a treat when Jane Levy gets to sing and this is no different.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zaw6DcgWbu0/YP-dvs93WVI/AAAAAAAAhWA/LYLVVD9SvwkMPj-8YSoslQlwtFV07kR8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.19.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zaw6DcgWbu0/YP-dvs93WVI/AAAAAAAAhWA/LYLVVD9SvwkMPj-8YSoslQlwtFV07kR8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.19.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Going out with a big number)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#ffb7db">The song ends and Zoey finishes telling Max that she wants to be with him. He blinks a few times before telling Zoey that he just heard her sing a heart song. They stare at each other before they both give a good “WTF?” </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtROd-i_Y-0/YQCvlnyaUVI/AAAAAAAAhWM/-_atPOhdPZAlGajU4ThOTIugqhMIJjf-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/13.20.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtROd-i_Y-0/YQCvlnyaUVI/AAAAAAAAhWM/-_atPOhdPZAlGajU4ThOTIugqhMIJjf-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13.20.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffb7db;"><p>And we end on the title card.</p></span><p></p> <font color="#ffb7db"> <hr /></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Wow. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">I have some thoughts so let me see if I can collect them. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">Creator Austin Winsburg has gone on the record as saying that he did not craft this to be a series finale. And for the most part, it did feel more like a season finale rather than a series finale. I’m not sure if it’s because I watched it after the cancellation but that montage of almost everyone shown living their lives felt a little bit like a montage out of a series finale to me. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">I also feel like this was also a goodbye to Simon as well. That even if the show gets picked up for a third season, John Clarence Stewart may not return (and even before they released the cast from their contracts). His relationship with Zoey ended and he was now pursuing something that really excited him. I think “I’m Still Standing” was really him coming full circle after his first song being “Mad World.” He survived the mad world and is still standing. He’s going to be fine and it feels like his story is done. And as much as I love Simon and Stewart, I would be okay if this was indeed the case. I’d rather the character go out on top rather than just peter out as the writers struggle to do something with him. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">I am also glad that Mo and Perry reconciled. I believe they are endgame but hope that we get a third season just to hear David St. Louis and Alex Newell sing more duets together! </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">I’m also glad Maggie is getting ready to move on to a new chapter in her life. I think that would open up some great storylines for the future (should the show get picked up elsewhere) and have the potential for some fun guest stars! </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">As for David and Emily, I’m not sure if they would remain regulars. I think going back to recurring would be good for them but I hope they continue to explore some storylines for them. Maybe David trying to figure out what to do as Milo gets older and Emily really delving into what being the Golden Child did to her. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">I would also like to see Leif get a very good storyline if we get a third season. Michael Thomas Grant is an absolute treasure and deserves to be used more. Does he feel like a third wheel with Tobin and McKenzie hooking up? Does it spurn him to find love as well? And what does happen with Tobin and McKenzie – happily ever after or do they move to Splitsville as well? </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">I’m going to miss Rose. I did like her. I hope Katie Findlay gets cast in something soon. Or maybe she can come back and possibly have something with Leif if we get a season 3. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">And now to Max and Zoey. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">I’ve never really shipped anyone on this show but I did realize this season I was rooting more for Simon and Zoey rather than Max and Zoey. But I am not upset that this was the direction the show went in because they did build a good path to it (though there were a few bumps I’ll go into in another post. This one is getting long enough). So it will be interesting to see where they take it if we get a season 3. </font></p> <font color="#ffb7db"></font> <p><font color="#ffb7db">The twist at the end would be amazing to explore in Season 3. I could see it going two way – Max somehow now shares Zoey’s powers and can hear heartsongs as well. Or Zoey’s powers have mutated so that now Max can hear her heartsongs but no one else’s. And if so, could it continue to mutate until more people hear her heartsongs as well? </font></p> <p><font color="#ffb7db">I think either would be great arcs and I think it’s time more people learn about Zoey’s secret. I thought it was leading to Simon learning about it but I guess not. So I hope we get a season 3 somewhere just so we can see what happens next for these characters. </font></p> <p><font color="#ffb7db">So this is it! I really do remain hopeful that we will somehow get a season 3, that someone somewhere will save our beloved Zoey, so I remain hopeful that I will recap the show again soon. But I want to thank everyone who has read my recaps for your support. I hope you enjoyed my recaps and views. </font></p> <p><font color="#ffb7db">I hope to see you all again soon! </font></p>Allie Brimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431579155004073251noreply@blogger.com0