The Blessing Bracelet

First, Amanda's flat wig was a cross between Nicole Kidman and Veronica Lake, and looked old fashioned for 2024. The U. S have always been a bit behind in the fashion stakes, with some lead ladies looking like 1960s country singers.

The storyline was different, but whereas we know that Hallmark scriptwriters love lines that include "listen to your heart" and ""follow your heart" - (do people actually talk like that ? They do in Hallmarkland apparently), I found that the constant referrals to faith, God and community, a bit OTT. Maybe it's because here in the UK we don't "do" faith films we're just not that preachy. We go to whichever church our God dictates - if we go, but we're pretty much low key in our faith so yes, I do find this film a bit cheesy.

The two leads were well matched, and it was an OK watch. I've seen much worse.

I came to this film because it stars Amanda Schull, a delightful actress whose career I have followed since she first appeared in film, playing Jody in "Center Stage". Here, she plays Dawn, a divorced mother with a son, who is facing foreclosure on the family home. She is desperately looking for a second job, hoping to pull herself out of the financial morass that her ex-husband left her.

This Hallmark film leaves little doubt about its main theme. The word "believe" runs all through the dialogue. It leans heavily on a faith-based approach to life, as symbolized by the church. But the primary lesson Dawn learns is to believe in herself; and that belief allows her to stop dwelling on the past and doubting her future.

The story is good for the Easter season-another religious aspect of the film. But the holiday of Easter arose from pagan traditions that celebrated the vernal equinox and the renewals of Spring, the hope for rebirth and fertility.

There is a romance within this story. It develops rather routinely, along Hallmarkian lines. It even includes the eleventh hour conflict that threatens the romance. Does anyone else think many of these conflicts are dubious at best?

Besides the theme of "belief", there are other reminders to celebrate and give small gifts. That, in itself, is another good reason to enjoy this touching film.

This Hallmark movie is just a little different from the run of the mill Hallmark movie. There is a mother who has been betrayed by her (now ex) husband and her son who misses his Dad who he has not seen in 3 years. The Mom has been (unsuccessfully) struggling to get herself caught up on all the debt that's been accumulating since the hubby walked away. Thankfully she has great friends who are willing to help. On the way to an annual Valentine dinner with her friends, she finds a "Blessing Bracelet" she and her friends used to make in high school. She wears it to the dinner and the blessings start. Of course, a romance begins and a complication arises, but the "Blessing Bracelet" she wears is a reminder that faith and hope can work miracles.

8.0 stars.

As it got underway I could see this was going to be a special film. It's nice to have a story that is not totally outrageous with the miracles and the fluffy Christianity from a ridiculous perspective. A lot of Hallmark movies overstate these "miracles", making them out to be modern fairy tales. Yes, I believe in miracles, but how can we rightly believe that God will answer every little question or request by sending a fantastical set of signs and wonders? I would be in the majority who find those sorts of movies to be unconvincing.

'The Blessing Bracelet' is an understated version of an inspirational film, a tale of a woman who resorts to prayer to reconstruct a devastated life. Her husband disappeared 3 years ago leaving her and their son alone with massive debts. She is about to lose the house and she's in a very grim state trying to pick up the pieces of her life and learn to gain trust in men and life in general. God answers her prayers in a subtle yet undeniable way, and she builds her life once again until she is now in a better place than she was before. It's quite an endearing story of redemption, community and charity.

What year is the wig that the actress playing the mother was designed in? This wig looks ridiculous for a 2023 movie. These hairdos reflect movies going back to Humphrey Bogart, Grace Kelly, and other deceased actresses. I do not know if I'm gonna continue watching it but PLEASE design WIGS that give the actress or actor some kind of style and allure for 2023! I have a lot of experience with hairdos and hairstyles, esthetics, wardrobe. You make-up and wardrobe artists need to realize that what you think is the new thing is old and passé. Use your creative juices to see beauty and also realism in whatever you create be at wigs, costumes or anything else.