Mystery Island

It isn't that hard to write a decent mystery. So, why did they give us this mess? Picking up evidence without gloves...Running around a jungle in high heels... "Stealthily" following a suspect wearing bright colors...sneaking around the open floor plan mansion in an over the top way.

The acting was over the top, the clothes were ugly and what little affinity you felt for some of the characters was wasted with the poor script.

While the idea had much promise...we can only hope there isn't a sequel. Or, maybe they scrap this mess and start over fresh with new writers, actors, set...new everything!

Consulting Psychologist for Scotland Yard, Dr. Emilia takes a much needed vacation with her friend, Baroness Jane Alcott, at an exclusive resort known as mystery island. Emilia is there to not only participate in this week's mystery (the murder mystery premise of Mystery Island), but to contemplate about her job with Scotland Yard.

Their week is interrupted when the show runner and head of the island ends up dead. Now with a real murder mystery to solve, the two girls meet detective Jason Trent. Emilia gets to show off her observation and profiling skills as she helps Jason get to the bottom of this very real mystery.

I think some of the acting was a bit rough in this film...especially at the beginning when there was some "campiness" to the delivery of lines. I did like the end which sets up a new consulting partnership to build future mysteries. I am not sure how that would work in terms of a series...also, if people do keep dying on the island...why would anyone go there?

The two leads were attractive, but there was little to no romance between the two. Also, if this series is going to continue the tropical background is decent as is the resort itself...but the wardrobe/costuming could use a little help.

I usually enjoy watching Elizabeth Henstridge. Agents of Shield was good. Her Christmas movie, Christmas at the Ritz on Hallmark, was lovely. This movie was a mess. Boring, no tension, no real character development, and the giggling by the two female leads was like nails on a chalkboard. Appropriate for teens and 20 something's but not grown women. Ridiculous chases, unbelievable switches in "who did it", weak plot, lack of real connection to anyone. Frankly, this movie put me to sleep. A lovely deep sleep. Beautiful scenery and the house was wonderful. I slept through the middle but watched the end and do not feel that I missed anything. I went back and ran it again just to be certain, but sleeping was a better idea. Hallmark clunker.

This movie was a perfect way to catch up on my sleep; 2 hours of total boredom! The whole premise was overwhelmingly ridiculous, and the acting was terrible, and totally unbelievable. I certainly hope that The Hallmark Channel doesn't have any plans to turn it into a regular series, because there's no way that they could make anything worse than this was. The setting was the only thing that made this even remotely watchable, but it was exceedingly difficult to stay awake long enough to watch this. I'm usually a fan of the Hallmark Channel films, but this one might make me swear off of them for a while.

Hmm did I like this... I'm not sure.

Negatives: It felt a bargain basement Knives Out II. And as with most Hallmark fodder the story wasn't fleshed out enough as such I didn't care enough about any of the suspects to want to know who the murderer was; could have done with being a bit longer if it meant better characterisation.

Positives: I really like the female lead. She brought an innocence to her role that made her endearing. So often Hallmark female sleuths are written as know it all/nosey characters.

I like seeing Kezia Burrows. I remember her from Apple Tree Yard and Dr. Foster. She brought the zany which you need when you have a mystery to solve. And major plus for me was the decor I love the doors in the mansion - the lattice work was divine.