'Falling Together' Reviews "If, like me, you rarely watch Hallmark movies outside of Christmas, let this one be an exception. It’s worth it"

         On September 21, 2024, Hallmark Channel premiered 'Falling Together', which has received a positive reception from critics. In the film, "Natalie tries to bring feuding neighbors together in her new condo building. Her unexpected ally is the building's super who prefers to avoid getting involved." The ensemble cast includes Paul Campbell, Linda Kash, Ashley Williams, Rryla McIntoxh, and Paul McGillion. Read the full review round-up below.

       Rebekah's Readings and Watchings says, "No one does cheerful and energetic like Ashley Williams and boy oh boy they picked the right girl for this role.  She plays Natalie who is moving from Miami to Pittsburgh to manage admissions at Carnegie Mellon University. Natalie loves to “get involved”  and fix things. In other people’s lives. She finds fertile ground in her new digs, a condominium of 25 units in the heart of the city. It seems that half of the residents are either at each other’s throats and the other half don’t give a rat’s derriere about what’s going on around them unless it affects their lives. Natalie isn’t having any of that. She is all about community, making friends with the neighbors, and helping. She lives for it." Adding, "It is a good message and kudos to Hallmark for basing their movie around such a worthy cause. Unfortunately, they tried to pack in too much to do it with any depth or complexity. More time was needed to develop Natalie and Mark’s relationship and their individual arcs, the neighbors’ subplots and their characters’ journeys and arcs, and of course Linda’s. The romance was blah. Ashley Williams has managed to rein in her smiley ebullience in the last few movies she has starred in and I have really liked her. It all burst forth in this one and it was way too much. Hopefully, she’s gotten it all out of her system for a while."

        Marvelous Geeks Media notes, "I’m a simple girl. Give me a movie that takes place during autumn with leads who have chemistry, and I’ll be a happy camper. Hallmark’s Falling Together is, thankfully, one of those movies. Starring Ashley Williams and Paul Campbell, while elements of the film are a bit much at times, the relationship between Natalie and Mark progresses in a way that’s easy to appreciate." Continuing, "Centering the story around Alzheimer’s awareness, however, is a lovely and hopeful approach. It’s often in tragedies where people come together and show their support, so the walk and Natalie’s team coming out to support the cause makes the story more wholesome and sweet. Linda Payne’s (Linda Kash) arc devasted me, but how she and Natalie grew close during the film was a bonus. There’s also the detail of how the film is personal to Williams, who’s opened up about her own mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s. Even without this knowledge, it’s effortless to tell that Williams’ approach to this film is authentic and vulnerable, so much so that when you learn this, it becomes evident why you were crying alongside her character. Falling Together takes every glorious little thing about autumn and includes it in the film, which is something I’ll personally never complain about. Pumpkin spice lattes and pies? Let’s go. The words “crisp autumn air” coming out of a character’s mouth? Yes. Leave peeping? Please and thank you. It’s a delightful little joy ride with a gorgeous romance at the center and a significant film to release on World Alzheimer’s Day. If, like me, you rarely watch Hallmark movies outside of Christmas, let this one be an exception. It’s worth it."

Photo Courtesy of Hallmark Media via Bettina Strauss

        Erin E. Gross of Fangirlish praises the film, stating, "Nothing with Hallmark is ever simple – even though it’s a simple escape. Falling Together was a reminder of giving to others and also taking time for yourself. It was a reminder to pay attention to the world around you, but also to pay attention to yourself. And it was a reminder that life is too short to do anything but live." Concluding, "On a personal level, Williams is heavily involved with the Alzheimer’s Foundation. It’s a cause close to her heart. She’s written essays that I have read about her personal connection to the disease – her Mom’s battle with the disease. I knew that if there was anyone who would do justice to a story and shine a light onto the disease – it would be Williams. She knows the importance of finding a cure and that is part of the reason that I knew that watching this movie would be okay. If you’re worried that you will see the affects of Alzheimers – you will see some. But mostly what you are going to see is the importance of volunteering and helping to find a cure. You’re going to learn a bit about the walk and what it does. You’ll see the importance of making a difference."

'A Very Royal Scandal' Reviews: "A Very Royal Scandal does Andrew no favours" as "Michael Sheen is able to embody his characters is a masterclass in acting"

         On September 19, 2024, Prime Video released 'A Very Royal Scandal', which has earned predominantly positive reviews from critics, currently holding at 71% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the limited series, Following journalist Emily Maitlis' jounrey to the infamous  journey leading up to her interview with Prince Andrew is examined. The ensemble cast includes Michael Sheen, Ruth Wilson, Claire Rushbrook, and Eanna Hardwicke. Read the full review round-up below.

       Anne Brodie of What She Said notes, "It wasn’t that long ago that Netflix released Scoop on the same topic – one night, one interview, shockwaves, etc. …Prime focuses on the landmark event from the points of view of BBC reporterEmily Maitlis, who served as an executive producer, and Netflix on a BBC booker who put everything out there to get the interview; she’s almost invisible in Prime’s version.  Another significant difference in Prime’s series is its depiction of Andrew’s close, loving and fun-filled relationships with his daughters and ex-wife Fergie.  Andrew is shown as deeply spoiled, having lived a Royal “frictionless life”, foul-mouthed, disdainful and thoroughly unlikeable.  His advisors bear the brunt of his constant anger and fear and refuses their advice not to do the interview.  His alleged victim Virginia Giuffre had come forward as an adult to tell her story with photos proving she’d been with the Prince; she claims they’d slept together on three occasions, all via his friendship with Epstein.  She was on a media tour, so he felt he had to fight back to defend himself.  A Very Royal Scandal does Andrew no favours – nor did Scoop – and scenes of Andrew and his friends gleefully killing 336 birds on a weekend shoot are awful, shot to emphasize the violent reality.  Not sure I’d watch if not to review because of the subject matter and Andrew’s deficient (seen here at least) character."

Photo by Megan Watson on Unsplash

        Romey Norton of Film Focus Online says, "The story is simple and offers more about what went on behind the scenes in the lead-up to the interview, rather than just re-enacting the event. The way Michael Sheen is able to embody his characters is a masterclass in acting."

       Kieran Burt of Ready Steady Cut writes, "The three episodes offer a broad look at the build up to the interview, the interview itself and the firestorm that followed, and let viewers get engrossed in what’s happening. While the show is based on the events themselves and not anything else, it offers a sense of authenticity, as Emily Maitlis herself is an executive producer. Maitlis’ perspective gets shown in-depth, allowing audiences in on the life of the journalist that managed to bring down a Royal. Amazon’s version of the infamous Prince Andrew interview is split into three parts, with the first episode dealing with the build-up and preparation of the interview, the second part showing the interview being filmed, and the third part showing the immense fallout that occurred for Prince Andrew but also Maitlis, which isn’t something that’s typically given much thought."

       Dan Einav of Financial Times praises the drama, stating, "While some scenes play out almost exactly as before... a shift in focus from Newsnight guest booker Sam McAlister to Maitlis herself here gives a richer sense of being in the extraordinary position of having the power to challenge a prince."

'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story' Reviews: "an ominous retelling of the infamous crime"

         On September 19, 2024, Netflix released 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story', which has received a mixed reception from critics. In the limited series, viewers are re-introduced to "the Menendez brothers, convicted of the brutal 1989 murders of their parents in Beverly Hills." The ensemble cast includes Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Cooper Koch, Nathan Lane, Javier Bardem, Chloë Sevigny, Leslie Grossman, Ari Graynor, and Dallas Roberts. But what did the critics say?

        Jonathan Wilson of Ready Steady Cut notes, "I didn’t find Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story to be aggressively off-putting like its predecessor, but I did occasionally find it tone-deaf, clunky, and a bit silly." Adding, "Nicholas Alexander Chavez (Lyle) and Cooper Koch (Erik) are excellent here all the same. They’re awful by design; preening rich boys whose obnoxiously flamboyant lifestyle hides a laundry list of insecurities and traumatic incidents. Some of these are obvious – they murder their parents with shotguns in the first episode, and it’s such a dementedly violent scene that you can barely look at them as people afterward – but some are less so, like a more understated and faintly comical moment when Lyle’s mother rips his hairpiece off his head at the dinner table, revealing his baldness to his brother for the first time."

       Archi Sengupta of LeisureByte.com was less impressed, stating, "Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch make for two very creepy brothers in this retelling of a very bloody incident that leaves us feeling… a bit all over the place. The thing with Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is that it grips you from the first episode and keeps you captive within the narrative of the story, taking us through the atrocities that Dahmer dished out against his unsuspecting victims, making us feel like we were almost looking in from the outside. The thing, however, with the second season is that it misses out on that tense action from the first season." Continuing, "The second season is kinda goofy, with us following the Menendez brothers through their minds’ maze and understanding the stark contrast between what they are thinking and imagining to the reality of their situations. Although the first episode is thrilling and showcases the unemotional way in which the brothers murdered their parents, the next few showcase them exorbitantly spending money and living the high life, oblivious to how vulnerable they are in reality. There’s a drama in the series that feels a bit off-putting, taking away from the thrill in the eventual episodes."

Photo by Pete Alexopoulos on Unsplash

        Aramide Tinubu of Variety says, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” is an ominous retelling of the infamous crime. Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the second in their “Monster” anthology for Netflix follows brothers Lyle (an incredible Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (an outstanding Cooper Koch). Having endured emotional, physical and sexual abuse — the series argues — at the hands of their father, José (Javier Bardem) and mother, Mary Louise, aka “Kitty” (Chloë Sevigny), the pair murder their parents in cold blood. Chronicling the brothers’ upbringing, the murders and everything thereafter, the series is overlong and exhausting. The show attempts to unpack the circumstances that led to the crime while highlighting Erik and Lyle’s trauma. But in the end, the narrative feels futile and bizarre. "

'The Penguin' Reviews: "A must-watch! A thrilling expansion & exploration of Oswald Cobblepot & Matt Reeves' corrupt & violent Gotham City"

         On September 19, 2024, Max premiered 'The Penguin', which has earned rave reviews and currently holds at 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. "The next chapter in The Batman saga, this crime drama follows Oz Cobb’s quest for power and control in Gotham City." The Critics Consensus reads, "Depicting Gotham through bone-breaking punches rather than popping onomatopoeia, The Penguin is a grounded crime saga given gravitas by Colin Farrell and a scene-stealing Cristin Milioti." The ensemble cast includes Berto Colon, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Myles Humphus. But what did the critics say?

        Daniel Fienberg of Hollywood Reporter was less impressed, stating, "I’m not saying HBO’s The Penguin is derivative, but it’s the second TV show in less than six months in which Colin Farrell plays a character obsessed with the glamour of black-and-white Old Hollywood movies — specifically using clips from Gilda to evoke nostalgia for a period that our hero is too young to have experienced firsthand, a poignant yearning for a world with mystique and morality that no longer exist."

        Christian Holub of Entertainment Weekly notes, "It manages to tell an entertaining crime saga without leaning too much on the absent Dark Knight -- although it still ends up falling prey to some of the weaknesses inherent in Batman adaptations."    

        Fico Cangiano of CineXpress praises the limited series, stating, "A must-watch! A thrilling expansion & exploration of Oswald Cobblepot & Matt Reeves' corrupt & violent Gotham City. A highly entertaining street-level gangster drama that delivers. Colin Farrell is phenomenal. Perfect before TB2."

       Aramide Tinubu of Variety writes, “The Penguin” is set one week after the events of Matt Reeves’ 2022 movie “The Batman,” but it would be too simplistic to call it a villain origin story. Instead, HBO’s limited series — created by Lauren LeFranc — revolves around the rise of Oz “the Penguin” Cobb (an unrecognizable Colin Farrell), whose fixation on power blossoms into something so grotesque it becomes uncontainable. A masterful examination of criminality, the show is twisted, disturbing and deeply enthralling. LeFranc’s robust narrative picks up after the Riddler’s attack on Gotham in the film. With the most vulnerable and underprivileged neighborhoods in the city decimated, and Oz’s boss Carmine Falcone dead, Oz decides this is the perfect time to strike. Quickly piecing together a risky, poorly thought-out plan, he begins seizing control of the underworld while the Falcones scramble to restructure and maintain their decades-long hold on Gotham. Though sinister in his thinking and boasting a gift for gab, Oz fails to anticipate two things as he works feverishly to propel himself to the top. The first is an encounter with Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz), a teenager displaced by the floods, whom Oz initially intends to scare but instead takes under his wing. The second is the return of Sofia Falcone (a mesmerizing Cristin Milioti), whom Oz used to drive when he worked for Carmine. Sofia’s release from Arkham Asylum on the eve of her father’s murder isn’t something that even Oz could have prepared for." Adding, "Despite losing so much in the Riddler’s attack, Vic is gentle-hearted and fearful, and has a stutter. Yet Oz senses something in his new protégé that once brewed inside him — a desire to fit in somewhere. Oz uses Vic’s vulnerability to build a bond with him. Across eight episodes, their father-son relationship showcases glimmers of who Oz could have been if Gotham and his mother, Francis (a fantastic performance by Tony winner Deirdre O’Connell), hadn’t hardened him long before he reached manhood. Feliz brings such tenderness to Vic that in spite of the heinous activities he participates in, the viewer can readily forget how diabolical Oz’s plans are."

Photo by Jordan McDonald on Unsplash

'Disclaimer' Reviews: Limited Series "finishes strong, Cuarón making a powerful statement"

         On October 11, 2024, Apple TV+ releases 'Disclaimer', which has earned predominantly positive reviews from critics, currently holding at 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the miniseries, "Acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft (Cate Blanchett) built her reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realize she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets. As Catherine races to uncover the writer's true identity, she is forced to confront her past before it destroys her life and her relationships with her husband Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen) and their son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee)." The ensemble cast includes Kevin Kline, and Lesley Manville. But what did the critics say?

       Dominic Patten of Deadline Hollywood Daily writes, "If you are expecting a work of towering originality, Disclaimer will disappoint. However, if you want a compelling and disturbing story within a comfort zone of discomforting tropes, Apple TV+ has the follow-up for you to its Presumed Innocent revival."

Photo Courtesy of Apple TV+

        Rodrigo Perez of The Playlist praises the drama, stating, "Ultimately, “Disclaimer” finishes strong, Cuarón making a powerful statement—not anti cancel-culture so much—but about the need for compassion, restraint, and how over-zealous condemnations all make us complicit in a slippery slope culture of spiteful and ungenerous castigation. There’s also a holding-up-a-mirror element of “He who is without sin should cast the first stone” confrontation to its painful conclusion. It’s not a censure from Cuarón, but perhaps a plea for more tolerance and charity between human beings. Where does forgiveness fit in all of this? “Disclaimer” doesn’t quite say, but it does end with an ellipsis suggesting that mercy and kindness are the only viable paths to healing."

       Sean Boelman of FandomWire says, "Alfonso Cuarón is one of the few auteur directors who has conquered the worlds of both prestige and blockbuster filmmaking. His latest project, the Apple TV+ miniseries Disclaimer, falls firmly into the former category, suffering from inaccessible storytelling, but is made worth watching by the committed efforts of its excellent cast and stunning production values." Adding, "Despite the talent in front of and behind the camera, Disclaimer ends up being somewhat underwhelming."

       Daniel Fienberg of Hollywood Reporter notes, "Disclaimer is, then, like one of those Penn & Teller magic tricks in which they tell you exactly what they’re doing and, if they spin their meta-yarn enthusiastically enough, you know you’re being manipulated and you’re still amazed." Continuing, "Adding nuance, even when the story spins its wheels, is the cast. Blanchett is icy and then brittle as Catherine’s life begins to crumble, supplying an aloofness that plays into different interpretations and judgments of her character. Cohen — worthy of recognition for never falling into a single “my wife” punchline — supplies the wishy-washy credulousness that any good story requires, that the audience is meant to emulate or critique. And Smit-McPhee is heartbreaking as a young man doomed to be a supporting player in other people’s tales. It’s a deep enough and good enough cast that it took me multiple episodes to even realize that Catherine’s assistant — assistant in who knows what, since her profession is only relevant to the theme and not the story — is played by HoYeon Jung, so wonderful in her Emmy nominated Squid Game role."

'High Potential' Reviews: "Olson is quite funny and has strong comedic chemistry with Sunjata"

         On September 17, 2024, ABC premiered 'High Potential', which has received predominantly positive reviews from critics and a score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the series, "Morgan, a single mom with three kids and an exceptional mind, helps solve an unsolvable crime when she rearranges some evidence during her shift as a cleaner for the police department. When they discover she has a knack for putting things in order because of her high intellectual potential, she is brought on as a consultant to work with a by-the-book seasoned detective, Karadec. Together they form an unusual and unstoppable team." The ensemble cast includes Kaitlin Olson, Daniel Sunjata, Javicia Leslie, and Deniz Akdeniz. Read the full review round-up below.

        Carly Lane of Collider says, "Procedural shows are a dime a dozen on television these days. You can't throw the proverbial rock without hitting one — whether it's a series where various members of law enforcement team up to bring offenders to justice, or one that revolves around first responders arriving on the scene to save those in peril. In recent years, however, a new subgenre has emerged within the procedural, in which a citizen — typically one with no previous law enforcement experience — teams up with the police as a special consultant to assist them in solving the kind of cases that have perplexed most investigators. Said citizen, for the most part, also happens to possess a unique set of skills, enabling them to study crime scenes through a lens that allows new clues to emerge. CBS recently cracked this very formula with Elsbeth, starring Carrie Preston as an atypical, brightly-clad attorney who just so happens to have this unorthodox way of thinking about each case — and now, ABC seems to have its own answer in High Potential (created by Drew Goddard and based on the French crime series HPI) starring Kaitlin Olson as an atypical, brightly-clad single mother who's brought in to assist the LAPD on their investigations." Adding, "Olson's Morgan might be learning the ins and outs of becoming a proper detective, but she's going to do it her way, right down to the loud animal prints and high-heeled boots she wears to every new crime scene. It's a distinct aesthetic that calls back to the 2021 French series on which High Potential is based, but Olson is the type of actor who can absolutely pull off her character's unflinchingly bold style. Beyond the outerwear, though, the ABC procedural allows Olson to show off the full breadth of her talents instead of forcing her to rest on mostly comedic laurels, as her long-running role in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia so often has. High Potential's Morgan might seem like a more straightforward character next to Sweet Dee, especially when paired with the kind of expositional monologuing that needs to be delivered every episode, but her quick-witted and sharp mind give Olson the opportunity to flex different acting muscles for a change. The scenes in which she gets to go toe-to-toe with Sunjata are some of the series' best out of the three episodes provided for review. For his part, Sunjata, as a longtime veteran of the procedural genre (including this critic's personal favorite, Graceland), plays an excellent straight man, giving Karadec a resigned weariness opposite Morgan's perspicacious energy."

        Tim Stevens of The Spool notes, "As you might expect, Olson is quite funny and has strong comedic chemistry with Sunjata (although, thankfully, not romantic). She also nicely underplays Morgan’s struggle to process the absence of Ava’s dad and the ongoing tragic deaths her new job as a police consultant exposes her to. Network “quirky consultant” shows tended to lean more toward drama over time, while their basic cable cousins would become increasingly comedic. It’s too early to say which way Potential will tip. In terms of the talent on-screen, though, it feels whatever direction it pursues."

Photo Courtesy of ABC

Dave Nemetz of TV Line praises the series, stating, "Another fall TV season is upon us, which means a fresh batch of network procedurals that can roughly be described as The ____ Who Solves Crimes. (Lucifer, The Devil Who Solves Crimes! Sleepy Hollow, The Ichabod Crane Who Solves Crimes!) ABC‘s latest entry in the genre, High Potential — premiering Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 10/9c; I’ve seen the first three episodes — is basically The Genius Single Mom Who Solves Crimes, and it honestly doesn’t do much to reinvent the procedural wheel. But it’s still a satisfying underdog tale with a sly sense of humor, thanks to a fantastic lead performance from Kaitlin Olson." Continuing, "With a pilot script from Lost and Daredevil alum Drew Goddard (and based on a French series), High Potential is more lighthearted than grim, closer to Monk or Psych than Criminal Minds. Morgan is a walking Wikipedia, citing local meteorological patterns and ancient history to help nail each week’s culprit. (We get to peek inside her complex thought process through crisp crime-scene reenactments.) She’s also blunt, arrogant and stubborn, rubbing the cops the wrong way at almost every turn — she’s annoyed, actually, that everybody else doesn’t see the solution as quickly as she does — but she gets results. And seeing her run intellectual circles around a room full of veteran detectives without breaking a sweat is a fun, fizzy treat."

'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."