Dead Over Diamonds

While typically I cannot watch a Carlos PenaVega movie (as nice as he is, his acting can be way over the top), this was much better from him. He often in my opinion has acted over the top, and in this movie it started out that way, but his cop character is actually a good fit for him and he settled down after the first couple of scenes. When he is being serious in a role he does a good job. I also can appreciate Alexa more here than in some of her other movies.

I don't know if this is the case, but it seems like they would bring their kid/teen Nickelodeon personas to their movies in the past. Maybe the challenge has been how to transition out of that. This movie however is more toned down for them and I was really able to enjoy it so much more.

Allie, Noah, Maya, Sam and Nick are all back in the second episode in the Picture Perfect Mystery series. Mystery is afoot in Willow Haven.

Allie is photographing a gallery show, put on by Noah's mom, Camille. It was a who's who of the elite in town. During the art owner's speech, the lights go out and a very valuable diamond necklace is stolen. This could ruin Noah's mom's reputation...so he enlists Allie to help him find the necklace and figure out what happened.

"We're trying to catch a thief."-Allie

Uncle Luis, Sam's chess partner, has been called in from his island retirement to help with the renovation. Uncle Luis is played by none other that Chips star Erik Estrada.

A fair bit of comedy is added in to this episode, like with the three card Monty chase scene.

"Well, I married well and divorced better."-Mr. Baxter

Enter a pushy reporter for the Gazette named James...maybe a romantic rival for Sam?

"She has this infuriating habit of just showing up at crime scenes. It's like she can't just leave well enough alone. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was actively seeking out trouble."-Sam

Allie and Sam go on their first coffee date...or do they?

"Luis! Get off that couch! Get out of the house!"-Luis (channeling his diseased wife)

The mystery was complex and well put together, the show is still being built and it is not up to par yet with my three Hallmark favorites...Hannah Swensen's Murder She Baked, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries and Mysteries 101...but I have hope for this sweet couple!

This is the worst of any Hallmark series. The wife isn't too bad but the husband can't act to save his life. Won't watch this series again.

These two really can't act and combined with weak scripts this series is one of the worst in the Hallmark Mystery collection. I just watched the preview for the next episode and even the preview is painful to watch. I don't think I have ever made it through more than 20 minutes of one of these before pulling the plug.

Hallmark has a couple new promising mystery series. Wish they would crank out a few more of those instead of wasting resources on guaranteed duds.

The real mystery here is not who killed who, or who stole what. The mystery is how anyone in their right mind would cast Carlos in a movie. He is absolutely void of talent.