Easter Land (2019)

Rated: NR

Genres: Animation, Fantasy

Starring: Ken Yung

Synopsis: When Bad Clyde casts an evil spell to banish Benny the Easter Bunny to the dreaded Land of the Holiday Misfits, Santa Claus and his trusty sidekick, Gargaff the Reindeer, spring into action and embark on an epic journey to rescue Benny and save the Easter holiday for children around the world.

Review: Young children may like it but really young children may find it a little scary.  I found it to be extremely annoying.  The graphics are slightly amateurish, the voices are often bad, and the story is ho hum.  Adults should skip it.

Scoring: 2

Easter Under Wraps
Rated: G
Genre: Romance 
Starring: Fiona Gubelmann and Brendan Penny
Synopsis: Erin Cavendish goes undercover at her family's chocolate plant to see why sales are down when she meets head chocolatier, Bryan, who has new ideas on how to update the Easter product line.
Review: I expected to be uncomfortable with Erin being dishonest with everyone but they managed to make her so genuine and caring I got it. She was there to save the company and help the people. It’s got the traditional old way of doing things versus modernization and finding the new happy medium. I especially loved the ending. No spoilers here. 
Scoring: 3
Hop
Rated: PG
Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy 
Starring: Russell Brand, James Marsden, Elizabeth Perkins and Kaley Cuoco
Synopsis: E.B., the Easter Bunny's teenage son, heads to Hollywood, determined to become a drummer in a rock 'n' roll band. In LA, he's taken in by Fred after the out-of-work slacker hits E.B. with his car.
Review: From the Easter Bunny living on Easter Island to so many other cute little touches, I was amused. Yes, it’s odd for a man and bunny to be friends but it works for them. This is an animated movie that kids will love and adults will find some humor in. 
Scoring: 3

Peter Rabbit (2018)

Rated: PG

Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Rose Byrne, James Corden, Sam Neill, Daisy Ridley, Margot Robbie, Sia 

Synopsis: Peter Rabbit and his three sisters enjoy spending their days in Mr. McGregor’s vegetable garden. A battle of wills soon breaks out as Mr. McGregor scheme after scheme to get rid of Peter-a rabbit who proves to be a worthy and wily opponent. 

Review: This is a wonderful family movie.  It’s really funny.  They manage to make the animals so relatable and interesting.  The special effects are tremendous.  Even the facial expressions are so good.  Through the artwork they share the images so many of us remember from childhood.  It’s enjoyable from start to finish.

Scoring: 4

Pieces of Easter (2013)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Family

Starring: Jefferson Moore and Christina Marie Karis

Synopsis: An arrogant young executive is forced to rely on the assistance of a grizzled, reclusive farmer to get her home in time for the upcoming Easter holiday with her estranged family.

Review: I found this movie to be incredibly boring.  I struggled to care about either character.  I know it was about two opposites coming together.  I just didn’t care by that point.  Their both so unlikable in the beginning.

Scoring: 1

Christmas On The Coast (2018)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Julie Ann Emery, Burgess Jenkins, and Bonnie Bedelia 

Synopsis: Hard-hearted New York novelist Dru Cassadine...known for her holiday romance stories (even though she is antilove and anti-Christmas)...is desperate to get her mojo back after a string of flops (and a not-so-subtle threat by her publisher that he'll drop her if she has another failure). She decides that a change of scenery might get her creative juices flowing and heads south for the winter, landing in a place known as Harbor Pointe. She doesn't quite get what she came for. She gets much more.

Review:  The first time I watched this movie I was quite bored.  The second time I enjoyed it a lot more.  I wish there was a little more focus on the relationship between Dru and her mother but I enjoyed watching her rediscover herself.  This isn't one I'd watch over and over again but it's worth  a view.

Scoring: 2

 

The Legend of 5 Mile Cave (2019)

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Drama, Family

Starring: Jill Wagner, Jet Jurgensmeyer, Adam Baldwin, and Jeremy Sumpter

Synopsis: A boy enchanted with the Old West unlocks a mystery that could save the family farm. A mysterious drifter arrives to rent a room, then forms a bond with the boy with breathtaking stories of a legendary gunslinger accused of a fabled stagecoach robbery. The truth is revealed when a crooked lawman appears, hot on the trail of the long-lost gold. 

Review: At first I was struggling to put the two stories together and figure out how Shooter Green connected them.  I loved the story of the mother and son and how they took care of each other following the loss of their husband/father.  This is a great movie for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day to celebrate the love of family.

Scoring: 4

Savannah Sunrise (2016)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Family

Starring:  Pamela Reed, Shawnee Smith, Shawn Christian, and Clare Carey

Synopsis: High-strung Joy Miles reluctantly drives her forgetful, free-spirited, yet opinionated mother-in-law, Loraine, from Kentucky to Georgia. As frustration and impatience give way to understanding and affection, the two women discover they need each other more than they know.

Review: I was completely engaged in this movie the whole time.  I was a little sad when it ended.  The ending was different than I expected but I didn’t care.  The relationship with these two women was so worth it.  Make sure to watch this one.

Scoring: 4

Chasing Leprechauns 

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Starring: Adrian Pasdar and Amy Huberman

Synopsis: Before an American company can build a smelting plant outside a small Irish village, they have to send their top troubleshooter to find a way around an antiquated law that protects the leprechauns supposedly living on the property.

Review: This is another movie I love.  Besides the beauty and culture of Ireland, we have one of the things that makes Ireland so amazing, their magical tradition of leprechauns.  As Michael tries to get Sarah to declare the land leprechaun free, he gets to experience all of Ireland from the people, the food, and the traditions.  He doesn’t just fall for her; he falls for all of it.  There’s a touch of magic in this movie.

Scoring: 5

Darby O’Gill and the Little People

Rated: NR

Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Sean Connery, Albert Sharpe, and Janet Munro

Synopsis: A wily old codger matches wits with the King of the Leprechauns and helps play matchmaker for his daughter and the strapping lad who has replaced him as caretaker.

Review: This movie truly captures the fun and fancy of Ireland.  The special effects aren’t bad for 1959.  It really transported me.  You get to see a fantastical land.  I will say I remember watching this countless times as a child so I think it also takes me back there and may be why I enjoy it so much.

Scoring: 4