March Movie Madness

In March I watched a total of 24 movies, with 23 of them being produced by Hallmark. The only exception was the 2021 release of "West Side Story", which I felt was average.

I wanted to finish watching all of the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries that have aired to date, and I did. I recently reviewed the first two books in the series (click here to read my review) and now I'll share a little about the movies.

This is a rare exception where I felt the movies were much better than the two books in the series that I read. Whereas the books focus primarily on Roe's day-to-day life, the movies really have well-developed mysteries. The movies are also more cozy than the books. There is an ongoing storyline throughout the movies, which ties it all together, but each movie is a separate mystery. The secondary ongoing plot is just a minor part of the movies and it does not overpower the mysteries.

Candace Cameron Bure makes a fantastic on screen Roe, although very different than in the books. However, it's really the supporting cast that takes this series of movies to a higher level. I liked seeing the same familiar faces each time. Most of them were on Roe's side and they worked with her to solve the mysteries. I found this comforting, like coming home to old friends each time. Others saw her as a nuisance, but deep down even they knew she was observant and smart.

On the rare occasion when one or more of the supporting cast was absent from a movie, they were dearly missed. The entire cast had amazing chemistry. My favorite character was Roe's best friend, Sally. I enjoyed seeing her quirky personality. 

I definitely had a least favorite in this movie series, "A Bundle of Trouble", but even that was a great movie. Later in the series, I was often able to figure out whodunnit almost as soon as that character was introduced. Still, the movies held my attention and I was curious to see how it would unfold.

Another Hallmark mystery I watched in March was one that was just released this year, "Cut, Color, Murder". (Is it weird that I intentionally watched this one the week Qandi and I both got our hair done?) I am hoping this becomes a series. I really enjoyed it. I can definitely see myself watching it again even though I know how it ends. Knowing the ending does not always ruin it for me. It's like seeing what a jigsaw puzzle is supposed to look like when it's done, but still enjoying putting the pieces together.

The other movies I watched were spring-themed romcoms. My favorite of those was "It Was Always You". To my delight, there were several scenes involving the consumption of popcorn. But beyond that, I also enjoyed watching the plot unfold. None of them measured up the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, though.

Here's the full list, with the date I watched them to the left. They could earn a total of five cherry blossoms. The heart means it's a favorite of mine.

1   "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Julius House"🌸🌸🌸🌸

2   "West Side Story" (2021)🌸🌸🌸

3   "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Dead Over Heels"🌸🌸🌸🌸

8   "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Bundle of Trouble"🌸🌸🌸

9   "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Last Scene Alive"🌸🌸🌸🌸💖

10 "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Reap What You Sew"🌸🌸🌸½

11  "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game"🌸🌸🌸🌸

14  "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Game of Cat and Mouse"🌸🌸🌸🌸½💖

15  "Forever in My Heart"🌸🌸🌸

15  "Cut, Color, Murder"🌸🌸🌸🌸💖

16  "It Was Always You"🌸🌸🌸🌸💖

17  "Royally Ever After"🌸🌸½

17  "As Luck Would Have It"🌸🌸🌸

21  "Hearts of Spring"🌸🌸🌸

22  "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: An Inheritance to Die For"🌸🌸🌸🌸½💖

23  "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Very Foul Play"🌸🌸🌸🌸½

24  "Fashionably Yours"🌸🌸🌸🌸💖

25  "A Brush With Love"🌸🌸½

27  "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Heist and Seek"🌸🌸🌸🌸½💖

28  "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Reunited and it Feels So Deadly"🌸🌸🌸🌸½💖

28  "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: How to Con a Con"🌸🌸🌸🌸

29  "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Til Death Do Us Part"🌸🌸🌸🌸½💖

30  "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Honeymoon, Honeymurder"🌸🌸🌸🌸

31  "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Haunted By Murder"🌸🌸🌸🌸½💖