Movie Review: A Deadly Prescription - A Jane Mystery

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Good mystery, fun elements

Cons: One aspect of plot under resolved

The Bottom Line:

Is teen a killer?

Jane must reopen the case

Overall, it’s fun

Missing Jane?  I’ve Got Your Cure Right Here

I enjoyed the first Jane Mystery Hallmark gave us back in 2023, but then they premiered the next three movies on their new streaming service, Hallmark+.  Since I didn’t want to get another new streaming service (coming from the guy who has very few of them anyway), I waited until the movie made its way to one of their cable stations.  That patience was finally rewarded, and I got to see A Deadly Prescription.

Once again, we find our three main characters working together to find out what really happened on a case that has supposedly been solved.  This time around, a teen confessed to trying to rob a pharmacy and killing the female pharmacist/owner in the process.  However, now, he’s saying that, yes, he took a gun to the pharmacy, but it was only to steal the medicine his mother needed.  And he never shot anyone.

This was the last case that Jane’s uncle took on before he died.  So now, Jane (Jodie Sweetin), Detective John (Stephen Huszar), and Jane’s aunt Sadie (Paris Jefferson) have to start from the beginning to figure out what really happened.  Can they clear the teen?  Or is he really guilty?

The mystery was intriguing, with several different things going on that pulled me in.  While most of the questions got answered, I didn’t feel like one aspect was properly wrapped up.  Maybe it’s something that carries over into the next movie (or the one after that).  It wouldn’t be the first time Hallmark did something like that with their mystery franchises, especially if they were filmed and released close together.

But again, the main part of the mystery was satisfying, at least for me.

Maybe it’s knowing star Jodie Sweetin’s political leanings, but I did feel like this movie tries to straddle the line with some messaging on insurance/prescription issues and on police tactics.  Yes, they were both definitely part of the case, so a legitimate thing to bring up.  So maybe it was just me reading into something that wasn’t really there.

What I did enjoy again was the sense of fun the first movie had.  Jane is a singer, so we get several chances to hear Jodie Sweetin sing.  She could have had a career as a singer if she hadn’t been an actress.  Since Aunt Sadie is an actress, we get to see some of her fun costumes in action as well.  Those touches help set this franchise apart and make it lots of fun.

The acting is good as well.  I did find some low budget cheese moments, but most of them felt like script issues rather than acting issues to me.

Overall, I was glad to see Jane back in action with A Deadly Prescription.  I hope we get to see the other two movies soon on cable.

March 2nd's Sunday/Monday Post

Welcome to this week's Sunday/Monday Post.  As usual, I will be linking up to:

Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday (reminder, it's back!)
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

We had warm weather most of the week here in So Cal.  And yes, I'm bragging.  However, it is cooling off Saturday and supposed to be even cooler on Sunday.  We're supposed to be getting a little bit of rain as well.  I think most of it will be overnight, but we will see how much we get and when.  Plus some rain on Wednesday.  I hope we get rain both of those days.  We could use some.

Friday, I got my TV fixed!  The part was in, so the repairman came back.  It's nice not to be sitting on my bedroom floor to watch TV again.  And to have access to my main DVR as well.  I was able to watch stuff that I recorded, but I couldn't set any new recordings without turning on my living room TV.  Fortunately, I only had to do that a couple of times in the last two weeks.

Saturday, I spent time at the Huntington Library in Pasadena.  Okay, so it was really in the gardens.  I had some friends in from out of state, and I met up with them.  It was nice to hang out and get to see them.  It's been a couple of years since the last time they were in the area.

Pun of the Week:

I started a band called 999 Megabytes.  We haven’t gotten a gig yet.

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Book Review: Termination Dust by Sue Henry

Tuesday - Movie Review: A Carpenter Christmas Romance

Wednesday - Book Review: Something's Guava Give by Carrie Doyle

Thursday - Ornament Review: Clear for Launch

Friday - Monthly Reading Summary

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Movie Review: A Deadly Prescription - A Jane Mystery

Tuesday - Book Review: Silent as the Grave by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles

Wednesday - Movie Review: Man of La Mancha

Thursday - Book Review: Running on Empty by Karin Fitz Sanford

Friday - Friday Post

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

At the beginning of the week, I knew I had a pre-order coming, but I wasn't sure if I'd have anything else to talk about.  Ironically, I didn't get the pre-order yet (looking like it will arrive Monday), but I have five books to talk about.  The ebook deals were on point for me.  And all are still on sale as of my typing this.

Let's start with the one that was free.  And I just spotted this on Saturday.  Basil Rathbone and the Sundays of the Dead is a mystery set in the Hollywood of the 1940's from author J. H. Cotton.  I have a feeling I will either love it or hate it.  But free?  How can I pass that up?

Jumping way up in price, I snagged The Man Who Died Laughing by David Handler for 99 cents.  Don't know much about the book or the author, but it sounded like something I might enjoy, so I took a chance on it.  Hard not to for that price, right?

I'm back to old Hollywood for Hounds of the Hollywood Baskerville by Elizabeth Crowens.  I've been eyeing this book for a while, so when it went on sale for $2.99, I jumped at this.  It involves some young PIs and the search for a dog movie star.  At least, that's what kicks things off.

I've enjoyed the Dana Mentink books I've read, so when I saw one of her romantic suspense books was on sale, I snagged it.  Endless Night is set up in Alaska.  Looks like one of her early books, so it will be interesting to see what I think of it.

Finally, I snagged an ARC of Murder Italian Style, the next Samantha Kidd Mystery from Diane Vallere.  If you pay attention to my blog, you've seen her name pop up a lot because I enjoy your books and I've been trying to catch up.  Well, believe it or not, I will be caught up by the time this book comes out in June.  (For the record, I'm in the can't believe I'll be caught up camp.)

What I'm Currently Reading:

I'm working on an ARC of Snowy with a Chance of Murder, the newest Murder, She Wrote novel.  This is the first time that author Barbara Early is writing a book for the series.  I've enjoyed her books in the past.  I'm only about a third of the way in, but I'm enjoying it so far.  I needed to get more read on
Saturday, but that just didn't happen.  Frankly, I'm behind on all my blog work at the moment.

And, on that note, I'm going to sign off.  Have a great week!

March 1st Weekly TV Thoughts

Tracker – That’s a rare episode with some good collateral damage along the way.  Yes, I get that not everyone is going to survive these situations, but usually they do.  Still, it was an overall good episode.  I figured something like that was going on, but it was nice when it was confirmed.  And it was nice to see the sheriff wasn’t corrupt.

Suits LA – That was a pretty rough start.  It took me half the episode to figure out who all the characters are.  I think I have it down now, but I’m not sure.  Granted, it’s been a long time since I watched the pilot of Suits, but I felt like it was a better pilot than that.  But I’m intrigued enough to watch more and see how it goes for the next couple of episodes, at least.  Mostly, it’s the murder case with Marshall from Alias.  The personal infighting?  I’m already over that.

Poppa’s House – That was actually a fun episode.  Okay, so it was ridiculous with how neither saw what the other was doing, but it was still lots of fun.  I’m wondering why they didn’t have the wife in it for more.  Seemed kind of crazy.  And what was the point of the cameo?

Rescue: HI Surf – I keep expecting the rescues to take up more of the show than they do.  Instead, they are a blip in the soap opera time.  You’d think I’d stop expecting that.  Liked what they did with Em in this one.  Interesting to see if her mom is back next week or not.  Curious where they are going with the housing storyline.

Night Court – Both storylines had the potential to be great.  Both had some pretty fun and funny moments.  And both fizzled out by the end.

Deal or No Deal Island – As soon as the one person point out they were due for someone to not beat the banker, I figured she was going to lose.  As much as I usually don’t like Parvarti, she really was in a no-win situation.  And it was the rest of the group’s fault since they made that deal as to who was on the bottom.  They were trying to get the family and it backfired on them.

Shifting Gears – I definitely could have done without that subplot.  That was full cringe.  But I was excited to finally have Jenna Elfman show up (I’d heard about her casting weeks ago).  Nice to see her in something again.  Looking forward to more since she’s supposed to be a recurring character.  Got to be soon since I don’t think they have much of this season left.

Survivor – I was really hoping for the woman who found the idol to be blindsided.  I kind of liked the woman who was voted out, and I’d like to see a more laid back approach work.  At least at the beginning of a season.

Wild Cards – Lots of Rear Window storylines in my mysteries in the last few months.  I liked their take on it, especially since they had two mysteries going.  Both were good, and I liked them switching up the partners.  That added some fun to things.

The Challenge – As soon as they started talking about how tight the two were outside the game, I knew there would be a betrayal.  The editing on these shows is so predictable.  Sorry to see Devon go since he’s one of the few people I really knew in the house.  Be interesting to see how the star is determined.  I’m guessing whoever wins the next game, but we’ll find out.