Megan and Wendy are back with a new episode of Girls Gone Hallmark, where they dive into Hallmark’s latest movie, Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement. In this lively review, they chat about mischievous moments that feel straight out of a Scooby-Doo episode, the quirkiness of Nelly, and the undeniable on-screen chemistry between Pascal Hutton and Kavan Smith.

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About Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement – (Hallmark Mysteries – 2024)

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• Directed by David I. Strasser. David has 31 directing credits including Coyote Creek Christmas, Christmas at the Golden Dragon and Campfire Christmas. 
  
• The screenplay was written by Katherine Wagner. This is Katherine’s very first writing credit!
  
• Pascale Hutton plays Nelly Parker. Pascale has 61 credits including appearances on Once Upon a Time and Royal Pains. For Hallmark she has been seen in Fourth Down and Love, Notes of Autumn, We Wish You a Married Christmas and You Had Me at Aloha. Of course When Calls the Heart fans are delighted to see their beloved Rosemary appear outside of Hope Valley. 
  
• Kavan Smith plays Michael Hogan. Kavan has 78 acting credits. Prior to working with Hallmark his resume was sci-fi heavy with roles on The 4400, Stargate Atlantis, and Eureka. For Hallmark he has been in The Irresistible Blueberry Farm, You Had Me at Aloha, and the Big Sky Franchise. He’s currently playing Lee Coulter on When Calls the Heart.
  
• Sarah Grey plays Dahlia Chatters. Sarah has 33 acting credits and has appeared in three Wedding March movies as well as When Calls the Heart for Hallmark. 
  
• Kendall Cross plays Zinnia Chatters. Kendall has 104 acting credits and is no stranger to Hallmark mysteries having appeared in: Family Practice Mysteries, Curious Caterer, Aurora Teagarden, Hannah Swensen Mysteries, Crossword Mysteries, and Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries. (Also, she ticks the Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce box on your News and Notes bingo cards!)
  
• Jill Morrison plays Helen Howard. We know Jill from her recurring role as Hazel in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series. She has 104 acting credits and while she does a ton of work for Hallmark, she is equally as busy on projects outside of the network appearing on Project Blue Book, To All the Boys: PS I love you, The Good Doctor and Mommy Meanest. 
  
• Veronica Long plays Fiona Veracruz, Nelly’s work bestie. Veronica has 37 acting credits, recently appearing in the Billy the Kid TV series. For Hallmark she has also appeared in Wild Cards, Christmas on Cherry Lane, A Winning Team and Lights, Camera, Christmas!
  
• Aaron Craven plays Connor Wooley. Aaron has 67 acting credits, but just a handful for Hallmark including: Harvest Love, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: From the Heart, and Dashing Through the Snow.
  
• The role of the town of Babbleton was played by towns in and around Vancouver Canada. Filming took place from mid-May to early June. 
  

Watch the Trailer for Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement

Our Thoughts on Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement

This is a synopsis of the ideas we discuss in greater detail on “Girls Gone Hallmark.” We invite you to become listeners of our show for more in-depth analysis and fun discussions. Now, let’s dive into our review of “Nellie Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement.”

What We Liked

First off, we really enjoyed the overall vibe of “Nellie Knows Mysteries.” The plot follows a local advice columnist, Nellie Parker, who gets mixed up in a murder investigation. We especially loved the quirkiness of Nellie’s character, reminiscent of Lorelai Gilmore from “Gilmore Girls.” The rapid pacing and witty dialogue kept us engaged the entire time.

Pascale Hutton, who plays Nellie, brought her character to life with so much charm. We found her wardrobe delightful, especially those blue floral pants, and her convertible BMW, which added to the film’s quirky aesthetic. The film’s setting in and around Vancouver, Canada was also spectacular, with lush green yards and mature trees—a sight rarely seen in Southern California.

The supporting cast was also noteworthy. We were thrilled to see Jill Morrison, who we know and love as Hazel, playing Helen Howard.

What We Wished For

While we enjoyed the movie, we had a few wishes for improvement. Firstly, there were simply too many supporting characters to keep track of. At times, it felt like a “murder board” was required just to understand how everyone was connected. This made some parts of the plot a bit confusing.

Another thing that bothered us was Nellie’s hands-on approach at the crime scene. She was literally all over the victim, poking through his pockets and handling potential evidence. We felt this was highly unrealistic and should’ve been addressed more seriously in the plot.

Finally, two small annoyances: we wished the text messages displayed on screen were in a larger font as it was hard to read, and we found the front license plate on Nellie’s car to be clunky and out of place.

Did You See That?

Every rose has its thorn! One of our favorite moments was when Nellie mentioned listening to Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” while reminiscing about her past. It added a fun nostalgic touch.

We also noticed a naming inconsistency. The detective’s nameplate at the end read “Detective Mickey Mick Hogan,” but we thought his name was Michael. It was a small detail but certainly noticeable.

Lastly, we found it amusing that Dahlia’s mom’s name was Zinnia. Both are flower names, which we thought was a cute, if slightly quirky, detail.

Our Rating

We’re giving “Nellie Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement” a solid four stars. Yes, it had its minor flaws, but the movie’s charm, engaging characters, and unique vibe made it an enjoyable watch. We’d definitely be down to watch another movie with these two leads.

So, if you haven’t already, tune into “Girls Gone Hallmark” for our full discussion on this film and more. We love bringing you our reviews and hearing your thoughts too. And remember, if you enjoy our podcast, leave us a five-star rating and review on the Apple Podcast app! We’ll see you next time!

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Hi, we’re Megan and Wendy! Join us for Hallmark movie reviews every Tuesday and Thursday! We review the new Hallmark Original movies, Hallmark Mysteries, Countdown to Christmas movies, and fan-favorite Hallmark movies – all year long.

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