gee-15

Minori discovers that her beloved husband and father of her child is having an affair with a woman who has a teen-aged son from a prior relationship. She also finds out that her husband and mother-in-law plotted to marry her knowing that she would eventually come into a large sum of money. Her entire romantic world is upended, and the now emotionally damaged Minori embarks on a scheme of revenge to destroy the lives of her husband and his "other" family. The other woman's teenaged son becomes a key part in her plan. But she discovers nearly too late that vengeance can create collateral damage.

The mise-en-scene of this high strung domestic drama is borderline gothic. From background music that belongs in a horror movie to Minori's crazed expressions when she confronts those who have betrayed her, it's melodrama with a capital M. Never have I encountered a group of characters in a series with less impulse control: tearful screaming, maniacal laughing, cheek slapping, head holding , picture tearing...let's just say that there is much suffering and none of it is silent. And it's all supremely entertaining. If you've been betrayed by a loved one, this series is the ultimate in wish fulfillment.

P. S. The actors are all terrifically over the top but particular kudos to the actor playing the teenager who sounds the one note of sweet sincerity in this series' emotional cacophony.

Jean White, an antiques expert, finds herself in France when her husband dies under mysterious circumstances and her efforts to solve the mystery of his death leads her to establishing herself permanently in Sainte Victoire. Her knowledge of antiques helps her solve several mysteries and she becomes a consultant to local policeman Caron. She also becomes friendly with a few fellow expats: Dom (a friendly cab driver who becomes Watson to her Sherlocking), wealthy married Judith (pleasantly snooty) and Jeremy (pleasantly extroverted) as well as local female mechanic Gloria.

Sally Lindsay is quite good as the brilliant antiquer from Manchester. She easily carries the series with her warmth and charisma (I like her wardrobe too). She has great chemistry with Steven Edge as Dom, whose character you'd expect to be a bit boring but Edge makes him so congenial you'd wish he'd drive cab in your neighborhood. All the performances are good but the mysteries are just not that intriguing. I tune in for an opportunity to see these pleasant people in lovely surroundings, learn a bit about antiques but not for the plots The death of the rock star in the sealed room was the only mystery thus far I found at all interesting. It would be nice if the other mysteries had that same kind of snap.

While watching this film I realized that individual elements of the film were actually interesting (a character whose world has been restricted by circumstances, religious groups at odds with one another) amusing (a sheriff with an endless supply of traffic cones, a Mormon who accidentally drinks vodka on a Sunday morning, a quilt obsessed old maid and a half a church) and even compelling (a mountain that mysteriously hums and a loser who finds redemption). But it just doesn't come together well and I'm reminded as to how challenging it can be to pull together elements and establish the right performances, musical cues and rhythms to make a movie watchable and enjoyable. The potential is here with this story of an innocent forest ranger trying to expand his world while bringing baptists and Mormons together and get the girl of his dreams but it just doesn't gel. The plot is almost incoherent at times, characters act eccentric without motivation (though the slushy guy is fairly funny) and the romantic storyline is not very compelling (though the two leads are pleasant to look at). I can't really recommend the film but I would give it an E for effort.