Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans movie review

MOVIE TITLE:   Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans

This Hallmark Mystery is now available on the Hallmark channel.

RATING:   TV-PG

LENGTH: 1 hour 30 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE:  B+

SPONSOR of Today’s movie review:

In honor of the yummy-looking scones we see featured in the movie…

Scone Mix: https://amzn.to/3WZkwVG

IN A NUTSHELL:

The fun story is about Goldy Berry, who is a caterer with a sharp mind that can work out clues to a murder and look beautiful while doing it.  She teams up with her love interest, the handsome Detective Schultz, to solve a murder mystery at a medieval feast at Hyde Castle.

The movie is based on a book series by Diane Mott.  What makes this mystery series unique is that the romance doesn’t instantly flame bright right away.  The Caterer series takes its time unfolding the relationship at a realistic, slow pace.

The film was directed by Paul Ziller.  Screenwriting credits go to Diane Mott Davidson, Julie Kim, and Karine Marwood.

THINGS I LIKED:

• The title is clever on a couple of levels.  The foil refers to catering because it’s used to cover food items, as well as to the sport of fencing.
• I really like the leading couple played by Nikki Deloach and Andrew W. Walker. I was amazed at how many times the couple could have kissed during their quiet moments together but didn’t.  This mystery series isn’t a sloppy romance that rushes from a chance encounter to marriage.  I appreciate that the focus on the movie is the mystery with a touch of a slowly budding romance.
• Riley Davis plays an awkward guy who has a crush on Britt Good’s character, which provides some comic relief.
• I loved the creative evidence board.  Cute.
• Great costumes!
• It’s fun spending time in a real castle.  The movie was filmed at Hatley Castle on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.  It’s a popular setting for films, having been used in the 2016 Deadpool movie, Descendants in 2015, and X-Men First Class in 2011.
• Fun fact: Millhaven is the name of a real prison in Canada, where the movie was filmed.  Tom’s father escaped from Millhaven, even though the US doesn’t have a prison with that name.
• All of the plot twists will keep you guessing until the very end in this romantic whodunnit.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

• There are a lot of character names and backstories to remember.
• There are some bad acting moments, but overall, the entire cast did a great job.
• Hallmark movies that feature culinary themes often show a lot of delicious food, but we only see some scones and cookies with hot chocolate.  That’s disappointing since the event in the castle is supposed to be an entire medieval feast.
• There isn’t very much humor.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

• Kids will probably be bored unless they’re older and really into Medieval settings, mysteries, fencing, and drama.
• Someone dies a bloody death.  Other people die bloodless deaths or are wounded.
• Some fighting

THEMES:

• Legacy
• Making Amends
• Greed
• Critical thinking skills
• Truth
• Relationships

FUNNY LINES:

• “This place would be a nightmare to childproof.” – Goldy Berry (Nikki Deloach)

INTERESTING LINES:

• “Everyone has to bend the rules every once in a while.” – Gerard  (Eric Breker)

MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

• Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate (2022):  https://amzn.to/4c3v3n9
• Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows (2023): https://amzn.to/3Kp22X7
• Sweeter Than Chocolate: https://moviereviewmom.com/sweeter-than-chocolate-movie-review/

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