The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death Is Listening

Probably a bit weaker than best Hallmarky mysteries - mystery wise. But I enjoyed this film a lot because of two leads and super cozy setting.

We meet Birdie and Aldon again, they are true crime fans, and have a chance to meet their hero. Except they don't: the author of a well-known true crime podcast is killed. Officer Air Quotes is on it, but even the Cases are helpful.

I'm not gonna ask why Birdie is allowed to skip work and go helping police. Or how does a mouse make a hole in one single page of a newspaper. Or why a police officer outsources most important tasks to a couple of civilians... Anyways I really enjoyed this installment. Love mysteries that don't revolve around the female lead and a police officer and the whole will they - won't they thing.

Listen I am not expecting Masterpiece Mystery quality from Hallmark, but I have rewound this movie more times than I can count since attempting to follow the plot. In addition to the putative murder mystery, there are about 5 subplots going on: each spouse is hiding a significant secret, there is some crazy tempestuous mother- daughter dynamics, and then some sort of frenemies situation. Hands down however the MOST annoying part of this movie is the MAN CHILD male lead, followed quickly behind by the incessant beating of the HEY WE ARE NERDS drum by both leads. I really wish Hallmark mysteries would return to adapting successful mysteries series rather than attempting to produce original scripts.

I liked the first one and was glad to see another. However, I am not sure why the writers decided to make the husband sillier and made the wife silly. I think the writers wanted to make them a cute couple but did not pull it off for me. And if I were taking a swig every time I heard babe I would have been falling over drunk by the end of the movie. I am guessing there will be another and I am hoping they haven't started on the script yet. Lose the Babe calling and lose the silliness and the over acting. Give the detective a more realistic role and don't make him silly. Better script writing and directing is much needed.

First things first, a little diatribe: Paul Campbell used to regularly be in films where his comedic chops were allowed to flourish. Look at his earlier Hallmark films circa 2013. These days, he's in seemingly a half dozen movies a year and is only funny in maybe one of them. Let Paul Campbell be funny again! Like this film!

He and his co-lead have great chemistry, just like the first film. Not to say that it's perfect - some gags and dialogue fall flat, in my opinion. But overall they are great together and you can tell they think so too. They also present sort of a unique romantic dynamic I haven't seen elsewhere. The story never puts them at odds relationship wise, and while this might be unrealistic, for these films it is endearing.

They support and love each other. The drama in this film focuses almost wholly on the mystery at hand. Which is frankly a bit refreshing.

The mystery itself - which I won't get into here - wasn't as intriguing as the first film's mystery was. That being said, there was quite a bit of charming quirkiness and twists. Which is to say that it still was pretty good.

Silly, a little over the top - and delightfully entertaining!

Good to see that Hallmark will be continuing with this one. There have been a couple that have tried my patience.

The crazy detective couple, Birdie and Aiden, portrayed by Aimee Garcia and Paul Campbell, are adorable as they enjoy snickerdoodles at a suspect's home, build elaborate mousetraps, salsa dance through a nursing home, and drive the officer in charge of the latest murder case (Matt Hamilton) insane.

Lots of fun and so superior to some of Hallmark's offerings. Right up there with Hannah Swenson, a series I also enjoy in its various incarnations.

Light entertainment.