Betty, la chance de sa vie

"Betty's Bad Luck in Love" (2024) Hallmark

I had not seen Laci J Mailey in a movie before this one, I'd only seen her in "Chesapeake Shores." I'm a fan of hers from that, and I really liked her here too. I had seen Marco Grazzini in "Right in Front of Me," where he costarred with Janel Parrish. I really liked that movie, and he didn't disappoint in this film either.

I read other reviews where people psychoanalyzed Mailey's character and tried to compare a Hallmark fantasy romance with real life. I don't do that. I tend to watch movies, especially romance movies, for entertainment. I found "Betty's..." to be a lot of fun. The curse thing just added to the fun. Whoever thought of that and wrote it into the script came up with a new twist for a Hallmark story. There were a lot of fun and admittedly goofy--but entertaining--scenes in this movie.

I'm not going to spoil the story, so I'll just say that if you are looking for a fun romance that will take your mind off real life--if you let it--here is another one from Hallmark that should do the trick.

I really appreciate how Hallmark tries to come up with new and different variations of their successful romance formula. But this story (about a bad luck childhood curse) was just annoying. It reminded me of "Just My Luck" with Lindsay Lohan, and that's not a good thing.

Laci J Mailey (from "Chesapeake Shores") and Marco Grazzini (from "Virgin River") are good looking and engaging leads. Grazzini had the easy aasignment of being smooth and charming and then understandably befuddled by Mailey's character. But Mailey was given the thankless task of being completely neurotic and unhinged throughout much of the movie "... because all the men in her life will have horrible things happen to them if they get too close."

I just didn't like the premise. I kept hoping she'd realize the curse was nonsense. But, instead, poor Mailey is constantly forced to act like her character is having a series of panic attacks (in an elevator, at a rugby match, on a camping trip, at a fire, etc.). And they're played for laughs that weren't funny.

I also wasn't amused by the MANY scenes involving Felix, the well meaning but socially inept and frankly intrusive office nerd. Fortunately, Mailey's character wasn't unkind, but the moviemakers clearly intended viewers to see him as an object of derision.

I was also appalled at the multiple loud talking scenes during yoga classes. It was extremely disrespectful behavior that did not reflect well on the characters.

Perhaps the biggest problem with this "love story" is the lack of focus on the love story itself. The lovers were kept apart from each other throughout because of Betty's fear that harm would come to Alex if they were together. Instead of watching these two spend time together and fall in love, we are constantly bombarded with Betty saying she can't be with him.

Ugh. I'd like to see the two leads in a different and better movie.

Betty's Bad Luck in Love shows the story of a woman who believes her love life is doomed after a curse is put on her earlier in her life. This movie goes into detail on two woman who are self-centered and focused on their predicaments. While I think the movie's theme is to remind viewers not to take ourselves to seriously all the time, the plot seems to reinforce their inward focus and selfish point of view.

While most Hallmark movies have unrealistic plots and storylines, most have some interesting characters and unique situations to explore. However, Betty's Bad Luck in Love is movie which is doomed - not just her love life. My wife and I made it halfway through this creepy drivel before we switched to watching something more interesting.

This is a bit of an unusual premise with the curse and all. Some of the adventures are a little quirky too. But what strikes me most is how uncomfortable everything is around Betty. As is often the case, our heroine is just that in her job. Extremely competent at least. But even in that I was holding my breath through much of the movie. By the time I let it out, I should have still been wary. And Betty is so neurotic that it makes me cringe. I just don't see how someone like her who jumps at absolutely everything can hold down a job much less be great at it.

Laci J Mailey and Marco Grazzini were OK together but the story just didn't sell how they reached the point of being in love. The acting was OK and the dialogue was OK, maybe better if you like quirkiness.

There was a nice role reversal in the awkward date scene.

I liked the movie. Premise didn't seem great and hadn't seen luci in anything butChesapeake Shores, but she played her part well. I think the blue contacts are too blue but her face sparkles and shows emotion. She did a really good job and probably needs more chances as hallmark needs new leading ladies. Marco was always okay but he was great here and it worked. They had chemistry , the other characters worked somewhat. I watched it twice already and say it's really good for hallmark and not bad for a regular non hallmark watch.

I don't get the review lengthrequirement from IMDb at the large number. I prefer shorter reads as most people do especially when I do t post spoilers.