The Meghan Markle story is not quite Hallmark -- she is an actress who falls for a royal, not some average sort -- but it is definitely made for t.v. This includes her mixed family background and early signs of being a feminist voice. And, the Lifetime movie as well as the DVD put out of the wedding itself were both very good. I also liked one of the books that went back and forth covering their story. I talked about some of this in the past.
She was in various things though her major role was on the television show Suits as a paralegal/lawyer. I know a couple people who like that show though did not really get into when checking out the first season. Her character, however, seemed to be appealing as was the person imitating a lawyer. The other lawyer was more blah and did not find it worth my time to watch more episodes. The plots did not seem that interesting though they had some flavor at times. Still, I can see why people like the show.
This entry was a result of checking out a Hallmark DVD featuring her with a royal themed movie tossed it to complete the "royal" theme. She herself was not in royal movies, but they called it the "Royal Wedding Collection" for obvious reasons. In each movie, she has white parents (Dater's Handbook has her dad dead, so it isn't clear about him -- in real life her mother is black -- though her sister and mom is white; if a picture of the dad was around, didn't see it). I have noted my concern about lack of diversity in these movies (we have the usual non-white supporting players here too). (I saw part of the third movie on Hallmark and it was okay.)
Given her real life experiences (including a lifestyle blog), it a bit ironic both movies portray her as a down to earth type whose doomed boyfriend options are the ones more classy about things. Both are probably best seen as middle of the road Hallmark movies; she is the best thing in both of them. She is particularly cute in Dater's Handbook, doing things like playfully taking food off her date's plates. Markle realistically gets into both of her characters, including the serious moments. She is an appealing actress. The men are a bit boring in both. The moms in both are nice. And, the best friend in When Sparks Fly adds some interest as well.
I like Dater's Handbook in part because she runs a marketing business and does so well. It's a nice touch and not just a cutesy type thing (like a family fireworks business). She has problems with dating so decides to follow a self-help book, needing to decide between two guys (obvious choice: the fun one). Pleasant enough but somewhat forced. The second one has her leaving her small town to be a reporter in Chicago, coming back to do an article and be the maid of honor for her best friend. Who decided to marry the guy she broke off with when she left seven years earlier. She has a July Fourth fetish. That won't go well. The family biz is also in trouble. I would say the same if more busy.
Hallmark often has a theme where someone reunites with a past love, who were separated often because someone left a small town to try success in the big city. And, somehow, they usually come back and find small town life better. The complicated here was the best friend relationship and it is not surprising -- he's a nice guy, she's pleasant enough and they both have a connection to a third person. Plus, in real life, that can work. People move on and all that. OTOH, sometimes, it can cause problems, I gather. The other movie was more about being true to yourself. Good theme.
She tells more than one guy not for her in the first movie just that. In the second, her best friend admits that she was more into the idea of the wedding than the guy. That fit the plot, but we don't see enough of the relationship to know how true it is. Other movies did a better job showing an expected wedding breaking up being not the best path while the losing partner comes off as a decent person. Markle's boyfriend here himself breaks it off with her when he sees what is happening, letting her know that he realized they were different and didn't see their own relationship as too serious anyway. And, again, real life is like that sometimes.
Hallmark is not meant to be serious business most of the time though there are some serious touches in some flicks. But, the content still can have charm. These two had some though again were mild overall. If one is in the mood.
She was in various things though her major role was on the television show Suits as a paralegal/lawyer. I know a couple people who like that show though did not really get into when checking out the first season. Her character, however, seemed to be appealing as was the person imitating a lawyer. The other lawyer was more blah and did not find it worth my time to watch more episodes. The plots did not seem that interesting though they had some flavor at times. Still, I can see why people like the show.
This entry was a result of checking out a Hallmark DVD featuring her with a royal themed movie tossed it to complete the "royal" theme. She herself was not in royal movies, but they called it the "Royal Wedding Collection" for obvious reasons. In each movie, she has white parents (Dater's Handbook has her dad dead, so it isn't clear about him -- in real life her mother is black -- though her sister and mom is white; if a picture of the dad was around, didn't see it). I have noted my concern about lack of diversity in these movies (we have the usual non-white supporting players here too). (I saw part of the third movie on Hallmark and it was okay.)
Given her real life experiences (including a lifestyle blog), it a bit ironic both movies portray her as a down to earth type whose doomed boyfriend options are the ones more classy about things. Both are probably best seen as middle of the road Hallmark movies; she is the best thing in both of them. She is particularly cute in Dater's Handbook, doing things like playfully taking food off her date's plates. Markle realistically gets into both of her characters, including the serious moments. She is an appealing actress. The men are a bit boring in both. The moms in both are nice. And, the best friend in When Sparks Fly adds some interest as well.
I like Dater's Handbook in part because she runs a marketing business and does so well. It's a nice touch and not just a cutesy type thing (like a family fireworks business). She has problems with dating so decides to follow a self-help book, needing to decide between two guys (obvious choice: the fun one). Pleasant enough but somewhat forced. The second one has her leaving her small town to be a reporter in Chicago, coming back to do an article and be the maid of honor for her best friend. Who decided to marry the guy she broke off with when she left seven years earlier. She has a July Fourth fetish. That won't go well. The family biz is also in trouble. I would say the same if more busy.
Hallmark often has a theme where someone reunites with a past love, who were separated often because someone left a small town to try success in the big city. And, somehow, they usually come back and find small town life better. The complicated here was the best friend relationship and it is not surprising -- he's a nice guy, she's pleasant enough and they both have a connection to a third person. Plus, in real life, that can work. People move on and all that. OTOH, sometimes, it can cause problems, I gather. The other movie was more about being true to yourself. Good theme.
She tells more than one guy not for her in the first movie just that. In the second, her best friend admits that she was more into the idea of the wedding than the guy. That fit the plot, but we don't see enough of the relationship to know how true it is. Other movies did a better job showing an expected wedding breaking up being not the best path while the losing partner comes off as a decent person. Markle's boyfriend here himself breaks it off with her when he sees what is happening, letting her know that he realized they were different and didn't see their own relationship as too serious anyway. And, again, real life is like that sometimes.
Hallmark is not meant to be serious business most of the time though there are some serious touches in some flicks. But, the content still can have charm. These two had some though again were mild overall. If one is in the mood.
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