The cute animated film Migration available to stream on Peacock beginning April 19, 2024. With the voice talent of Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Keegan-Michael Key, Awkwafina and Danny DeVito, the story of a fun feathered family who leave the comfort of their little pond and travel to Jamaica is filled with some cute scenes as well as a few scenes of peril. But rest assured, they all make it to the island safely and the family is stronger and closer than ever before. This is truly a story about family.
For the entire review and parental guide, check out our page.
And, for more, visit the Peacock site.
Alison Sweeney returns as Hannah Swensen in a new Hannah Swensen Mystery on Hallmark Mystery (formerly Hallmark Movies and Mysteries). Sweeney has said, “The fans have been so vocal in their love of these characters and it’s exciting to be bringing them back to life and to return to the Hannah’s bakery where it all began.”
In the latest movie, written and produced by Sweeney, Hannah’s fiancé Mike (Cameron Mathison) has left so she is a single woman. But will that status last for long? There are several men who could step into her life on a personal level. Fans will have to wait to see what happens.
In the meantime, in this latest movie, One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, Hannah is teaching a baking class at the local college and enjoying it and the interaction with the students, who, incidentally, thoroughly love the delicious treats they are learning to create. Between her bakery and teaching, she is a busy woman. But so is her mother Delores (Barbara Niven) who has just started her own private investigation business.
When an explosion in her classroom occurs, Hannah is not sure it was an accident. And when a professor is found dead, well, that’s enough for this amateur sleuth to put two and two together. Something is definitely amiss at that college. Between her friend Norman (Gabriel Hogan), her sisters and mother, not to mention Mike’s replacement Lonie Murphy (Daylin Willis), they investigate the murder by eliminating the suspects one by one. But can the amateurs get to the bottom of the mystery before the professionals?
As viewers of this series know, Hannah is intuitive and very astute. And now, enter the prosecuting attorney Chad Norton (Victor Webster), and the investigation grows.
Besides the drama in this series, viewers are treated to some of the most attractive and mouth watering desserts from Hannah. She is definitely a great baker as well as a great detective.
With her mother providing some comic relief to this situation, and the potential budding personal relationship between Hannah and Chad, things are starting to heat up, and that’s not referring to the ovens. Fans are also waiting to see if perhaps Norman might be more than just a good friend down the road.
Previously titled the “Murder, She Baked” series, Sweeney’s Hannah mysteries are now “A Hannah Swensen Mystery” movies on Hallmark Mystery channel. Hannah is a delightful character and her mother adds some fun and additional entertainment to the stories.
One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery is now showing on Hallmark Mystery. This is the first film written by Sweeney. As of now there is no announcement on the next movie in this enjoyable and delicious series.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.
Image courtesy: Hallmark
The lovable little Blue Heeler dog named Bluey lives with her Mom, Dad, and little sister, Bingo. This adorable dog has an over abundance of energy and with all of that energy she manages to provide plenty of fun for her family and friends, not to mention viewers.
In January and February,2024 the Nielsen report listed Bluey as the number one most-streamed series across all audiences and the number one series for preschoolers and kids ages 2-11 in the U.S.
“The Sign,” is the first extended-length special of the hit series Bluey. It premieres April 14, 2024. Check out the trailer below:
Bluey airs on Disney Junior, Disney Channel, and streams on Disney+. Kids – and families – will delight in this new longer episode of the fun and fabulous Bluey.
Image: Courtesy Disney
Chloe (Nina Kiri) is an aspiring music producer. She has worked at a recording studio for several years but her boss never gives her a chance to be anything more than a glorified secretary even though she has talent. Country singer Dustin (Connor McMahon) had one big album but since then has failed to make a hit record. Put them together and it’s kismet, or in this case, kiss-met when Writing a Love Song premieres on UP TV.
Dustin has writer’s block. He cannot write music or lyrics, and if he does not come up with a hit song in a week, his record label will drop him. Enter Chloe, whose boss is out of town and through chance, passes herself off as a producer when Dustin’s manager comes into the studio. Soon she is working closely with Dustin to create the hit song both of them need. Chloe is smart and intuitive, but Dustin is definitely blocked. Can she unblock his creativity and bring out another hit song?
Chloe uses various techniques to help Dustin write the music she knows is buried inside him. He is a great songwriter, but since his last flop he has lost his confidence. She is able to gradually open him up and reignite the music. And, besides their great working relationship, there is a personal connection building between the two.
Chuck (Kent Sheridan), Chloe’s father, was a famous country singer, and her sister Hannah (Brit MacRae) is a wonderful singer but instead of using her talent to make music she owns a coffeehouse/record store, combining her favorite things – coffee and music. Somehow it works.
When Dustin’s old recording partner and girlfriend comes back into the picture, he finally realizes how to create his new song. He knows he has to let go of the past and look to the future. Hence, the theme of his new song. Voila.
Dustin’s road to his big hit is a roller coaster ride as he and Chloe experience good times and bad. But with the help of her family, they manage to succeed. It’s a family affair. Some might say it takes a village, but in this case it takes a family.
This is a cute feel-good movie everyone can enjoy. Writing a Love Song premieres March 31, 2024 on UP TV.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.
Image courtesy UP TV
Jules is a combination of ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Cocoon. It’s a cute story with many sentimental and emotional elements.
Milton (Ben Kingsley) lives alone and hardly has anything to do except garden. He attends every city council meeting to air his grievances – mainly that the town’s motto should be changed and he wants a crosswalk on a busy street. His daughter Denise (Zoe Winters) helps with his bookkeeping and visits when she can. Her brother does not have anything to do with his dad. Denise is getting worried that Milton is getting senile, perhaps too senile to continue living in his house.
One night a spaceship crashes into Milton’s backyard and a little alien gets out, bruised and stunned. Milton helps this little guy. He feeds him and keeps him company, realizing how difficult it must be to be alone in a strange world.
Two fellow seniors, Joyce (Jane Curtin) and Sandy (Harriet Sansom Harris), discover Milton’s secret and soon the three of them are best buddies with this little guy they name Jules. Well, one of them names him Jules and the other prefers Gary. But Jules it is.
Jules does not talk. He listens. And he feels. He and his three earthling friends are united, and as he starts to repair his spaceship they all spend their days together. What the trio come to realize is that Jules needs dead cats to repair his ship. Where will they get all those dead cats?
As the three continue to help Jules, the government is on their trail. The officials realize a spaceship has landed somewhere in the vicinity, and as time goes by they pinpoint it to Milton’s location. It is a race against time for the three friends to help Jules repair his ship before he is apprehended by the officials.
The story involves several themes. The main one is that being older and estranged, or partially estranged from family, is no fun. Getting old is no fun. Beginning to lose memory is no fun. The three seniors are very lonely people, but with Jules they find a purpose in their lives. And Jules helps them in many ways. His powers are amazing as he, at one time, helps save Sandy’s life through his thoughts and he helps Joyce’s ailing cat die in peace.
The story takes elements of ET, as Jules is just as well-meaning as ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, because Jules offers to take his new friends with him in his spaceship, and Cocoon, because it shows the wonders that aliens can do for aging and aged seniors.
In the end, Jules sets off for his home alone, but will he return to visit Milton? Spoiler alert: yes.
Jules is rated PG-13 for strong language.
The movie is now available through many streaming platforms.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.
courtesy image
May the force be with you at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland Resort this spring. From April 5-June 2, 2024, the Star Wars celebration SEASON OF THE FORCE is a must for fans of the characters and shows. There are plenty of new things to do, see, buy, and taste this year.
Join little Grogu and all the characters as the magic continues for Star Wars fans this spring at Disneyland Resort. With the music, fireworks, special food and fun, this is an event all fans of the shows will enjoy and remember.
For a more detailed look at this year’s Season of the Force, check out the Disney Parks Blog.
About the Reviewer
Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites.
The beloved character of Harold, the little boy who experiences a world of wonder with the help of his magic purple crayon, will have a completely new experience this summer.
This time Harold is not limited by his special world. He takes a step into the real world. Zachary Levi takes on the role of the lovable little boy but as a real person, will he be as lovable? Find out when Harold and the Purple Crayon hits theaters August 2, 2024.
Image courtesy Sony
Check out this new animated series for preschoolers.
“Morphle and the Magic Pets” follows Mila and her stepbrother, Jordie, as they leap into a world of adventure with the help of Morphle, Mila’s magical and loyal pet who has the power to morph into whatever she imagines. The trio will use their skills and smarts to keep magic pets out of mischief, solve problems and find “magic matches” for each of the hilarious and unique newcomers. Magic and comedy fuel their adventures, but in the end, it’s the power of friendship that turns Mila, Jordie, and Morphle into an unbeatable team.
Olivia Chausson, General Manager of Morphle at Moonbug Entertainment said, “We are very excited to expand Morphle’s fantastical world in close partnership with Disney. We have big aspirations for the franchise, fueled by Morphle’s transformational powers and the richness of the magic pet universe. This year we are supercharging growth across new audience touchpoints, and are delighted to share “Morphle and the Magic Pets” with families across the globe.”
Get your motor running. That’s the goal of the competition on the new Hallmark Channel movie Shifting Gears. It is all about cars, engines, paint jobs, and lost loves.
Jess (Katherine Barrell) is an amazing mechanic and she also excels at painting car bodies. Her passion is restoring the old classic cars – the ones that took families to drive-ins, weekend jaunts, and picnics. Jess works in her father’s garage and is happy working on cars and forgoing any romantic life. After all, cars won’t let you down the way her old flame Luke (Tyler Hynes) did many years ago.
Luke is also a genius mechanic and now works with his father in a business where he doesn’t wear overalls and, as Jess says, looks like he should be selling bonds. The two have gone their separate ways, but have their hearts?
Jess is offered a spot on a car restoration TV program, which she initially turns down. But when she discovers they might lose their business due to a rent hike, Jess joins the show in hopes of winning the prize money to save her father’s business.
It is a daunting idea, going in front of a television audience, however Jess knows she has to win the prize money to save the shop. But guess who else is among the contestants. Luke shows up on the set and the two discover they are pitted against each other in the competition of their lives.
As the days go by and they each undertake the daily challenges, it is anyone’s guess as to who will be the winner. Of course, with others also involved, it might not be either Jess or Luke. But, yes, you guessed it, it comes down to them and one other contestant.
So, as the deadline looms, things get a little more heated off the set as Jess and Luke rediscover their true feelings about each other. It is a Hallmark movie, after all, and this is why we all tune in. Viewers love to see their Hallmark characters find, or rediscover, love, and in this story it doesn’t take long for Jess and Luke to see that they make a great team – both on and off the TV set. This story has the two dealing with the competition as well as their personal history.
Then a wrench is thrown into the story, no pun intended. Has Luke been honest with Jess or is there a secret he’s keeping from her?
One of the themes running through this story is that of following one’s dreams and heart. And with work and dedication, those dreams can become a reality, as it did for Jess. She did not let the fact that most mechanics are men deter her from her dream of restoring old cars. She jumped into the drivers seat, again no pun intended, and took off. Her abilities were only matched by her dedication and love of her job.
Shifting Gears premieres Saturday, March 23, 2024 on Hallmark Channel.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.