Gourmet Detective

First of all I like Dylan Neal in almost anything. He's a cool actor and in this is perfect for the part. He says more with his looks than words could tell. But Brooke Burns is no match. She comes off snippy and bitchy. Has a real attitude in this film. Put them together and he comes off the winner in this mystery/comedy.

Everyone is under suspicion in this cooking/killer text. It does take a while to figure who is who and such. Can be confusing. But maybe they are trying to make that happen in this film.

But Neal makes the film work. He is subtle and charming in his approach to his character. Sort of a modern day Thin Man type. But Burns is no Myrna Loy. I just feel she has an edge that doesn't mix with this type of film. She has one look - that of disgust. With everyone else in the movie. And her mouth bothered me. Strange looking and like a tight jaw.

There is also an array of assorted character actors representing chefs and police that mingle in and out the plot. But the two leads are the main focus and solving the crime. And Dylan Neal wins my focus and applause.

I forgot how much I enjoyed the start of this mystery series. The Gourmet detective Henry and the real detective Maggie had a very contentious start. They initially meet at a cooking class where Henry is the guest instructor and she takes umbrage at his "detective" title, then they meet later at a murder. Henry was attending a banquet with the local food industry when the murder occurs. The police captain pairs Maggie and Henry together...and the rest is a lot of great bantering and History.

Great series which is filled with great mysteries, even better banter and some interesting food facts.

I've watched many of the light mysteries on HMM, including all 17 Aurora Teagardens, and all five of these. While Aurora's gang has proven most entertaining, it's not really 3.5 times better than this series. I realize the food premise limits the number of possible story lines, but Brooke Burns is terrific, and the way Dylan Neal depends on her toughness, while yearning for more than a partners-in-crime-solving relationship, makes them the most appealing duo the network has offered.

As Oliver Twist said at mealtime, "Please, sir, I want some more."

I decided to watch this movie because of Dylan Neal; I've seen him in a few other movies and always enjoyed his performances. It started off great; he's charming, and the movie seemed like a fun little whodunnit with a twist.

And then Brooke Burns (aka the sour-faced dragon lady from hell) opened her freaky lips and spewed unwarranted aggressive bitchiness (and I say opened her lips because I've never seen anyone so clenched and uptight that their jaw couldn't move when they spoke). And she didn't stop until about 3/4 of the way through the movie, when she actually seemed human for the first time. Seriously, dial it down, lady! I nearly packed it in after ten minutes because she was so intolerably annoying.

But hey, I've watched far worse and this did turn out to be an okay little time waster. Not especially taxing on the intellect in terms of working out who did what, but still a bit of fun. Worth a watch if you come across it.

Hallmark is missing the boat. They keep forcing series that don't flow and miss this one. I think it's one of the two best on all hallmark. I agre3 Brooke isn't Candace but her repertoire with her lead is better. Candace may be better actress but I like this better. Give me more of these hallmark.