The Sweeter Side of Life (2013)

Through the first 5/8ths of the movie, Desiree was totally unlikable, even ditsy. She was arrogant and rude. In the name of humor, too many of the characters were exaggerated, almost buffoon-like. And how does an MBA from Columbia sign a prenup, against her lawyer's advice, that leaves her with nothing, not even her ring. Her snooty friends dump her harder than her husband did. Her lawyer shows up for a meeting with her husband's attorney drunk, or high. Then Desiree kicks into high gear and what she does next with the bakery is a little ridiculous even in a Hallmark movie. And somehow despite her rejecting him twice, Benny still wants to date her. And on the first date, which includes her Dad and his friends, he falls madly in love with her, or is it lust. Finally she does the 180 degree character change that is so common in romance movies and no longer wants to live on Fifth Avenue or even associate with her rich ex-friends. I was waiting for the enjoyable part to kick in and it never did.

Good family movies are all too rare; we need more like this! At first, I thought the "ditzy blonde" scenes were a little much, a little corny and overdone. That is, until I watched with grandchildren who thought they were hilarious. Then I realized that those things MAKE the movie family fare... something to appeal to all ages. The acting was perfection, itself; I was very impressed with the personality characterizations. In fact, I admit that I even had to wonder if James Best still "had it". Yes, he certainly does; he was just the right guy for the part. Don't hang up your acting hat yet, Jimmy!Hats off to the Damians for another great movie!

Her whole entire life collapses suddenly when her doctor husband wants a divorce so that he can marry his pregnant acupuncture lady.Our heroine's life goes upside down. With a pre-marital nuptial agreement, there is no money for her, her friends disown her and she returns to plain existence in New Jersey, to be with her baker father.There she comes back to regular, ordinary people and does baking for her father. When one of her new products is a hit, a group wants to build a franchise around it, but without her father. Our lady has learned her lesson well. It's still about people and not the luxuries of material successes. This point driven home made the film so good.

Oh, dear, where to start. First, a squealer (as well as a spoiler) warning.The heroine does a LOT of shrieking and squealing, usually accompanying pratfalls like sparking curling irons, runaway mixers, and cans of flour (who keeps an open can of flour on a top shelf?)falling on her head. There is the requisite bumbling but good-hearted father who helpfully washes a dress and it shrinks to the size of a doll costume. Who didn't see that coming? Then, of course there is the handsome, rich, available neighbor who is miraculously drawn to this dizzy blonde.There is nothing new here, nothing appealing, nothing interesting. Same formulaic drivel from Hallmark.