'The Heiress and the Handyman' Reviews: Film "has a lot of heart and a couple of laughs, but mostly it’s just an ensemble of cozy characters in the movie equivalent of a cup of hot apple cider sipped around a fire"

         On September 14, 2024, 'The Heiress and the Handyman' premiered on Hallmark Channel, earning predominantly positive reviews from critics. In the film, "After losing her fortune, an heiress moves to a rural farm where she mistakes her handsome neighbor for the handyman. To live up to her family's legacy, he helps her compete." The ensemble cast includes Jodie Sweetin and Corey Sevier. Read the full review round-up below.

        Liz Kocan of Decider writes, "The Heiress and the Handyman is filled with stereotypes of vapid rich people (private jets and Fashion Week and not understanding how to exist in the world!) as well as country folk who couldn’t possibly have been to cosmopolitan cities and such. But per usual in a Hallmark joint, all of these stereotypes exist just to be broken down and allowing the characters to realize that people’s experiences in general are more universal than we assume. The Heiress and the Handyman‘s version of that parable is fairly generic, but I found myself invested in the movies and rooting for the characters who felt fleshed out and genuinely seemed to be having fun, rather than coming off as overly earnest or moralistic. These movies can run a fine line between charming and saccharine, and this one is the former." Adding, "STREAM IT! The Heiress and the Handyman is what you might call “classic Hallmark.” Sure, it has a lot of heart and a couple of laughs, but mostly it’s just an ensemble of cozy characters in the movie equivalent of a cup of hot apple cider sipped around a fire."

Image Courtesy of Brain Power Studio and Hallmark Media

        Chuck Duncan of Hotchka says, "Sweetin is fine as June, but her performance is almost overshadowed by her terrible wig that is over-sprayed in the opening scenes and seems to just be wilting as the movie goes on. But she’s sweet, she’s bubbly and, gosh darn it, you want her to bake that pie and stick it to Dotty (you also can’t help but root for Julian the pig as well). Later in the movie when she invites Bart on a date and reveals some big news to him, you actually feel your heart drop a bit for her when his reaction is less than positive, but you still want to see her make things work with him. It is a good performance but … that wig (or is it extensions?). Corey Sevier is also good. He has to at first put up with her assumption that he’s ‘the help’ but he quickly becomes that good neighbor who tries to help June find her footing in town, and he encourages her to go for it with the contests at the fair. He also makes us feel that Bart is firmly rooted in Greenville, that his home is where he wants to be and never intends to leave, but Sevier also allows us to see just a bit that even as he tries to deny it, Bart is developing feelings for June. But can these people from two different worlds make it?"

        Erin E. Gross of Fangirlish notes, "Growth is a strange thing. A lot of people have their opinions on what it means to grow and evolve. Personally, seeing June do something as simple as step out of her designer duds and get in the chicken coop — I was like yay growth. She was being loved and embraced because of who she is and not for her money. June was learning about what she could make it through. And maybe that’s the lesson here. That you can make it through anything. Life is going to throw twists and turns at you, but it’s about how at the end of the day, you persevere. Surviving isn’t always going to be easy and a lot of the time you are going to want to give up, but don’t. For June, we don’t see her doing chores or anything like that. The representation of her growth was learning to bake a pie. An apple pie to be exact. This apple pie is the recipe that Birdie won the blue ribbon with each and every year. For June, it was a matter of keeping Birdies legacy alive. I took it as finding her own legacy."

'The Jane Mysteries: A Deadly Prescription' Divides the Critics

         On September 10, 2024, Hallmark+ released 'The Jane Mysteries: A Deadly Prescription', which has received a mixed reception from critics. In the film, "Jane seeks justice for a teenager who's wrongfully imprisoned for murder. She and Detective John work together to prove the teen's innocence and help reunite him with his mother." The ensemble cast includes Jodie Sweetin, Paris Jefferson, and Stephen Huszar. But what did the critics say? 

Photo by Jadon Johnson on Unsplash

        Rupali Manohar Chauhan of Meaww.com says, "The film wastes no time, and action happens immediately as we watch a pharmacist being murdered. Soon after, Jane Da Silva (Jodie Sweetin) enters the story, and she is doing what she does best: singing, and her talent is no joke. From then on, we have a hint of romance as Detective John Cameron (Stephen Huszar) flirts with Jane. Later, we meet spunky Sadie Da Silva (Paris Jefferson) and learn about the once-famous detective family, which is now left with just Saddie and Jane. So, after the introductions of the characters, we are introduced to the mystery, which is that of a teenage boy Ryan Shea (Colin McLeod) who is accused of murdering Phyllis Collins (Shakura S'Aida). Jane and John go on a perilous journey to discover the truth. As the narrative unfolds, you can see how wonderfully the script is written. With each new revelation, you feel like you're getting closer to the answers, yet the mystery grows more and more. Different twists along the way keep you engaged till the very end." Adding, "A common complaint I've heard about the 'Jane Mysteries' franchise is that we see very little of Jane demonstrating her investigative talents, but this time you won't be disappointed since you'll see her in action, more or less all the time."

        Girls Gone Hallmark notes, Stephen brought a serious and business-like demeanor to his role, which suited the mystery genre better than his previous romantic leads." Adding, "Jodie Sweetin as Jane DaSilva: Although we were not always convinced by her performance, she definitely found a niche in this series. We appreciated seeing her take on a more dramatic role."

Photo Courtesy of Hallmark Media and Brain Power Studio