Family History Mysteries: Buried Past

Good movie!

Good movie!

Good movie!

Good movie!

Good movie!

source: Family History Mysteries: Buried Past

We're Niall Matter fans from back in his days on Eureka, and so we tend to give his vehicles a real chance. While we found this movie good enough to keep our attention, I did expect much more from it. It had quite a few cliches, such as the romantic leads only finding out years later they'd always been attracted to each other. That comes up so often in these movies they need to give that one a rest for 10 or 20 years. LOL The story itself was pretty predictable. When Niall's brother needed a match for a bone marrow transplant and a question came up as to whether his "missing and presumed dead" father might really be alive and the match they can't find with anyone else, the ending is obviously telegraphed.

Favorite scene with Sophie McClaren (Janel Parrish) - Jackson telling her that he Almost Kissed her at a Gas Station after a Bruce Springsteen Concert and why he didn't. She telling him that they're Better Off as Just Friends. Janel Parrish (Sophie McClaren) is one of my Favorite Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Hallmark Channel Movie Actresses Ever!!! BTW #1, I Loved this Movie! BTW #2, I Love, Love, Love Niall Matter (Jackson Ford)!!! He is So Dang Charming and So Dang Hot!!! He is one of my Favorite Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Hallmark Channel Movie Actors Ever!!! Set in New York and Massachusetts.

Whilst the premise is interesting, the script was terrible. The second half was better, but I found the dialogue to be stilted and awkward for the first. I'm hoping that they continue with the series with tighter writing. I'd give it another chance given the idea seems fresh. I'm required to write more to submit this review, so I'll tell you that I liked all of the actors and characters in this, especially Niall Matter. I don't recognize the actress in this, but she's likeable, and would probably seem to be a better actor with a better script. I know that the two were supposed to be awkward around each other as they hadn't seen each other in years, but not that awkward.

Ok the two leads did have chemistry...and I really love Niall Matter...and the concept of hunting down genealogical mysteries is fun (I would love that job!), but I felt like they didn't use as much "genealogy" as I would have liked. That aside, the story involved Sophie McClure tracking down the presumed dead biological father of her best friend Jonathan and his twin Jackson. Sophie is highly motivated as Jonathan has leukemia and his biological father may be the bone marrow match that could save his life. Meanwhile Sophie's assistant is working her first case of her own to return love letters found in some floorboards to their rightful owners (I would question what that has to do with genealogy?). Could be the start of a new hallmark mystery series, but I think they have a few kinks to work out before they get in to the same category as my favorites...Hannah Swensen's Murder She Baked, Aurora Teagarden and Mystery 101, but I am still hopeful.