My Favorite Things: April
My Favorite Things is a monthly segment where I share my personal and current favorites in seasonal products, health & beauty, food, decor, movies, TV, and more. I hope you enjoy these personal picks!
Movies
Queenpins
A frustrated suburban housewife and her best friend hatch an illegal coupon-club scheme that scams millions from corporations and delivers deals to legions of fellow coupon clippers. Hot on their trail is an unlikely duo — a hapless loss-prevention officer and a determined U.S. postal inspector — both looking to end their criminal enterprise.
Since this film is based on a true story, I feel like it blends true crime along with comedy. It’s funny, action-packed, and shocking (seeing as someone was able to get away with such a huge coupon scheme). It’s lighthearted for the most part making it an easy watch and very enjoyable (despite what Rotten Tomatoes says). It’s also a bit ironic considering the women the movie were only doing the same exact things that giant corporate companies who practice all kinds of illegal activities. The performance of the roles were done well and even though some parts were dramatized it added to the entertainment factor of the film.
The Cases of Mystery Lane
Alden and Birdie Case find a new way to keep the mystery in their marriage alive. Alden takes classes to become a private investigator, and Birdie may hold the key to solving one of his mysteries.
I love movies that give me a cozy mystery feel and this one absolutely delivered on that. It feel refreshing and new from other mystery Hallmark movies because of how realistic the couple seemed, plus watching the mystery unravel was intriguing. I really hope they turn this into a series of films because I would love to watch more of this duo onscreen (the second film has now been confirmed!) I appreciated that this film breaks the Hallmark mold and created these layered main characters that the audience really wants to get to know. It’s funny, suspenseful, and I felt the plot was well written.
TV
Miss Truth
The story follows a forensic examiner Ran Yan, as she investigates the truth around her mother’s suicide and solves murder cases one at a time. Ran Yan is an eighteen-year-old destitute noblewoman who grew up learning about autopsies and finding clues through corpses. She encounters a judicial official and an assassin by chance and finds true love through the course of searching for the truth.
I really like Chinese historical dramas and this one caught my eye particularly because the main character is a forensic examiner. She’s skillful, intelligent, and determined to solve her mother’s untimely passing as well as find justice for the victims through each autopsy. The drama teeters between romance and suspense as the mysteries entangle with an overarching plot of politics, betrayals, and hidden secrets. Each episode I watched left me wanting more. The second half to be honest, falls apart a bit but as a whole this drama is worth the watch if you like historical/period shows!
YouTube
The Death of Common Courtesy
As a former retail worker I agree that over the years that there is a lack of common courtesy not just when in shopping, but also in day to day life. I think the pandemic has some effect on this phenomenon but also the changing generations too. Harland goes into trying to figure out what happened to us and why there is such a lack of compassion, personal space, being polite, and so on and so forth.
The Death of Live Music
While there is the ongoing conversation of Ticketmaster and Live Nation’s monopoly on concert tickets, I think this video focusing on the importance of live music speaks to the conversation as well. Mary discusses the pandemic’s effect and ticket monopoly has on smaller venues which has a heavy impact on singers and musicians. This video speaks to why supporting the arts is so important.
Music
Thing You Do by Tori Kelly
This is such a funky song with powerful vocals and a melody that will have you moving in no time. The sound brings me back to a 90s R&B vibe that fits Tori’s voice well. I’m so excited to listen to rest of this album. Tori’s music always delivers!
Worth It by RAYE
My co-worker introduced me to this singer and I can’t believe I’ve never heard of her before. She is incredibly talented and I love the richness and soul in her vocals. The strings and brass in this song matches the warm and hopeful feelings in the lyrics.
Matsuri by Fujii Kaze
Kaze is one of my newer favorite artists and I love how he mixes R&B with traditional Japanese melodies. He says this song is is like a celebration of good and bad things in life\ which I feel is reflected in the song’s lyrics and MV’s cinematography.
What are some of your favorite things from April? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
I spent time in Toronto in April, now that the snow’s melted, which was lovely (and warm! everything was blooming there), but I haven’t been feeling well for much of May, so there’s that. A tricky seasonal allergy season is my guess. I’m just catching up now. (More on that another time!) For shows, I’ve been watching Hacks which is entertaining for the relationship across generations, and for books I’ve been reading the new Tommy Orange novel, a follow-up to There There. But everything (except for work) has been moving very slowly. Hope you’ve been enjoying May so far!