Pros: Good mystery with characters we love
Cons: One character gone, usual Hallmark cheese
The Bottom Line:
Old friend is murdered
Starts confusing mystery
Light, satisfying
Poppy Comes to Die
I suspected that change was in the air for the Aurora
Teagarden movies after the last one aired back in January, but it was confirmed
with Reap What You Sew, the latest
entry in the movie franchise.
This movie finds Aurora (Candace Cameron Bure) thrilled that
her childhood friend Poppy has moved back to town. Her mother Aida (Marilu Henner) and Poppy’s
mother were good friends, although Poppy and her father moved away after
Poppy’s mother died. Poppy is beginning
to make a name for herself with her YouTube channel devoted to needlework, and
she has a book coming soon.
All that changes when Poppy fails to show up for a dinner,
and Aurora and her friend Sally (Lexa Doig) go to investigate. The friends find Poppy’s body on the floor of
the condo she was renting. What happened
to her?
Wondering about the changes I mentioned in my opening
paragraph? Warning: Minor spoilers not related to this mystery ahead. The opening few minutes of the movie confirm
that Martin, Aurora’s boyfriend for the last few movies, has been written out
of the franchise. This does and doesn’t
surprise me. I haven’t read the books,
but I knew that Martin was gone by this point in the book series, but when they
kept him around longer than he lasted in the books, I wasn’t expecting them to
write him out. End minor spoilers.
Setting that aside, this is another fun movie in the
franchise. Because Aurora was friends
with the victim, we do feel the loss here more than in some of the other
movies. We are provided with several
viable suspects, and I had a hard time figuring out who the killer might be
until the very end. Yet everything made
sense when we got there.
The emphasis is on the mystery over characters, which is
nothing new for the franchise. Having said
that, there are little moments among the regulars that allow us to get to know
them a little better.
My usual warning about the writing and acting applies here –
this is a Hallmark movie. However, I
find that, as long as I remember this going into the movie, I’m fine with the
Hallmark cheese factor.
Those who have been enjoying the Aurora Teagarden movies
will enjoy watching Reap What You Sew
since it’s a great next step for the characters. Anyone looking for a light mystery will enjoy
it as well.
This movie is part of the Aurora Teagarden DVD Collection Two.
This movie is part of the Aurora Teagarden DVD Collection Two.
It has never been shown again. Does anyone know why the two times it was supposed to be aired again, it was pulled? I never got to see it.
ReplyDeleteIt’s on 9/11/18 @ 9 pm pacific time ��
DeleteI'm a few movies behind on this series but I've really enjoyed them though they only loosely connect with the books. I'm really looking forward to this one. I do love a good Hallmark movie mystery even with the cheese!
ReplyDeleteDreary show and a dreary CCB. Trite has found a home!
ReplyDeleteI want Martin back!
ReplyDeleteI agree! I was upset shortly have this one started and he was gone!
DeleteDidn't like it. I like candace Cameron Bure but without martin she just seems like a know it all busybody. Very disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI think this is by far the worst movie of this series. And seeing how Aurora's personality develops over them I applaud Martin for getting the heck out of town. Its easy to see why she is still single. Says it all.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like this one as well as the others. There needs to be a love interest for Aurora, and I thought Martin was a perfect fit.
ReplyDeleteIn the book series she marries Martin and then he dies of an heart attack. It is a difficult time for Aurora and I can see why they didn't go that way for the movies. There are only two more books with significant changes in her life.
ReplyDeleteGreat review!! Glad to hear what came of Martin, as he seemed to be absent in this installment.
ReplyDelete