Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate

I had just unpacked my books from storage, excited to sign one of my faves - Diane Mott Davidson on my shelf again - and the there it is, an ad for this movie!

I watched the movie with an open mind, because we all know the screen writers make changes and the directors need more of this & that (don't they know the books made a killing on their own?! AND it's Hallmark.... So Goldy wasn't Goldy - not in my mind - she wasn't short, chubby, curly red bouncy hair, hopping from the stove to the espresso machine, all while displaying her cooking talents. No, but Nikki Deloach made me like her. She was thin & beautiful - NOT my Goldy, but she pulled it off. She is a good actress and if they make more of these movies, I know we will grow to know her as Goldy. She wasn't corny or hallmarky (sorry), just played the part and made it seem natural.

Now her ex - I knew right away when he was SO nice, charming even, that they had him all wrong. I kept telling myself, it's Hallmark, they put their own happy spin on things. I really like Lochlyn Munro - he is such a good actor. He will contribute so much to each movie. But maybe tone down the 'I'm the best ex' because we know him as such a different person. It will be easier for the fans of the books if you get him a little closer to how Diane wrote him in book after book.

No Arch? Missed him right away. Changes, okay, I get it. So Goldy has a daughter. I didn't mind. But Arch sometimes helps Goldy, takes out the trash even helps in the kitchen. I hope the girl gets a better attitude like Arch and we'll be fine there.

I love Tom in the books. Love him. I really like the actor, Andrew Walker!! I didn't feel his true acting was shining in this movie. Sometimes you only have one chance, and if this was it, well, he was on the fence. He has a gorgeous face, so lose the stubble - we don't need to see that on every man these days, it's just not realistic. Is it my imagination or has he gotten thinner? Would love to see some meat on his face. If they make more of these, I can see him courting Goldy & becoming our beloved Tom. He can get it right, I am sure.

Marla - in the Chopping Spree, it clearly states that she had a heart attack from being overweight & you push another skinny person on us? Please get out more! Casting directors - there are chubby or even slightly chubby women out there who can act!! I do like the actor, she is funny & her chemistry with Goldy is spot-on. But I beg you please stop making us think every woman has to be stick-thin.

I liked the story and all actors did a great job. Overall, I was happy with the movie. Make more, please. And add more of the cooking, please. I don't cook, sad but true. I've always enjoyed Goldy's cooking in each book with recipes included!

It was ok. I usually love Andrew Walker but in this case he didn't seem over enthused in playing the role and always looked miserable. Also what's with men and the scruff on their faces. They just look untidy and too lazy to shave. In Andrew's case it made him look old. Sorry, Mystery 101 is still my favourite.

While it didn't go strictly by the book, the curious caterer mysteries for more than a few things right. The storyline was well developed and not entirely predictable. Leads had good chemistry. Ending was abrupt, I'll be needing a sequel.

The first movie in a mystery series is all about getting to know the characters and their interaction with each other, and this did that well. To be honest I would have been surprised if it didn't work considering a good cast led by two of my favourite Hallmark actors. Good family entertainment, and hope to see plenty more.

The movie is fine on its own. Maybe i'm biased because i like andrew walker. Normally, i like nikki deloach as well but not so much here. Not that she was bad, she just didn't feel like she was owning the role. It's a typical hallmark mystery with a few more suspects than usual so not an obvious solution. My main complaint is why'd they bother tying it into the book series? Granted, the series was/is popular but the book of the same name was written in the 80s; surely there are more recent properties you could use to get a ready-made audience? Or were they hoping no one who saw the movie had read the book? The similarities were minimal. Yes, movie and book goldys are both divorced caterers with children but thats as far as the similarities go. Book goldy has an established business at the time of this story, her ex-husband was (and still is) abusive, their divorce is contentious to say the least, her child is a son, and that's just some of the character differences. As far as plot goes, the victim dies in a car accident and the common ground ends there. So my question remains - why bother with the tie-in?