Introducing: Girls Gone Hallmark (Dating the Delaneys)

[00:00:00] Happy Friday, everybody. It's your good friend, Brand, here with you with another fun little crossover for you today. Every Friday in April, we are promoting one of our other shows. And today we are promoting our good friends at Girls Gone Hallmark. If you like Deck The Hallmark and you like the discussion about Hallmark movies, we think that you'd also really love Girls Gone Hallmark. They do a great job covering movies, many times doing stuff that we haven't covered before, which is really fun.

[00:00:28] And so we're so happy to have them on the network and so happy for you all to get to hear them. In case you have not checked them out yet, we're going to play an episode for you today. And you can go find them wherever you listen to podcasts. Just search for Girls Gone Hallmark. All right, here's today's episode of Girls Gone Hallmark. This is a Bramble Jam Podcast.

[00:01:10] Welcome to Girls Gone Hallmark, a Hallmark review podcast. I'm Megan and I'm a longtime Hallmark fan. I'm Wendy. I'm a former Hallmark hater.

[00:01:18] Our fan favorite month of OOE reviews continues. Today we are discussing Dating the Delaney's, which originally aired on August 20th, 2022 on Hallmark channel. And as you're listening, open up your phone, open up Instagram, type in Girls Gone Hallmark and follow us over there. Keep up with the podcast. Keep up with Hallmark news. We'd love to have you join us there.

[00:01:42] And if you feel like joining something else, come over to our Facebook group, Girls Gone Hallmark. You can find us if you just open up Facebook and go into the groups area. Man, I don't know. I haven't been on Facebook in a long time, but just type in Girls Gone Hallmark. You haven't been on Facebook in a long time? Like I haven't searched. You haven't looked up a group in a long time?

[00:02:07] No. Like when I go into Facebook, I just go into our group, which is like a saved thing on my left hand side of the screen. I know I sound 100 years old right now, but I don't use Facebook like I used to use Facebook and scrolling Facebook. I'm not poking around. I'm not looking for things. Yeah, exactly. You may have noticed that we are continuing our listener mailbag episodes. And so as you're listening and you're thinking, oh my gosh, I should email them to tell them this.

[00:02:35] You absolutely should email us girlsgonehallmark at gmail.com. You can talk to us about our reviews. You can talk to us about the movies. You can talk to us about the movies we're not watching. Anything you want Hallmark related, send us your emails and you just might hear it read in a future listener mailbag episode. Let's hop right in. Oh, let's hear a synopsis of Dating the Delaney.

[00:02:58] Three generations of Delaney women explore the highs and lows of modern day dating, learning that love and romance can be found at any age and sometimes where you least expect it. Alan Harmon directed Dating the Delaney. He has a total of 40 directing credits, including Fourth Down in Love, You're Baking Me Crazy and Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater. I'm pausing there. Every time I see Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater, I think, do we need to review that?

[00:03:29] Revisit that movie? Literally was just thinking the same thing. We need to rewatch it. We were so incredibly tough on that movie. Yeah, we were major haters. We were super haters in the beginning of Girls Gone Hallmark. And sometimes I go back and I look at our show notes, like just to update things. I'm like, woof, look at the things we wrote. So we've come a long way, you guys.

[00:03:51] Maybe, guys, if you think, if you liked Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater, which also starred Niall Mader. And do you remember, was it Ashley Williams? Yep. It can't be that bad. There's no way it could be that as bad as I think I remember it. I hear you. I agree. Email us. Tell us if we need to revisit that one. Jennifer Barrow wrote the screenplay.

[00:04:15] She has 12 writing credits, including An Unexpected Valentine from earlier this year, as well as Christmas on Call. And one of our favorites, Dater's Handbook. Rachel Boston stars as Maggie Delaney or Cool Mom MD. Rachel has 66 credits with a role in Debbie McCumber's Joyful Mrs. Miracle, Field Day, and A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe. Y'all should check out the Finding Mr. Christmas episodes where Rachel guest stars. She's fantastic. Isn't she? So good.

[00:04:45] Those were the episodes where I'm like, I think I'm a huge Rachel Boston fan. I know. And then now seeing this movie, spoiler alert, I'm like, do I need to watch more Rachel Boston movies? Totally. She's so fucking likable. I know. Paul Campbell. Oh, go ahead. What were you going to say? I was just going to say, also, really likable in person. Like, she was so lovely at the Hallmark experience. Yeah. You didn't get the chance to speak to her directly. No. But I did. And she was so nice.

[00:05:15] Yes. Awesome. Paul Campbell stars as Michael Taylor. Cool dad MT. I don't like how they did that. It just makes me feel embarrassed a little bit. Anyway. Yeah, but that's their whole vibe is cringy. Cringy puns. Yeah. With 57 acting credits under his belt, he recently co-starred in Three Wiser Men and a Boy and even portrayed a fictionalized version of himself in The Santa Class.

[00:05:44] He has been a steady presence on Hallmark since 2015. Zoe Christie plays daughter Emma, which is a handful of acting credits. This was her first project for Hallmark. She also appears in an episode of School Spirits during season one. Spencer McPherson. And total side note, have you finished the second season of School Spirits by chance? No, because we're cheap and we had unsubscribed to Paramount Plus, but we just resubscribed.

[00:06:14] So I can watch it. Got it. It's like death by a thousand streamers sometimes. Absolutely. Riley, did you finish it? No, I haven't even finished season one yet. But like I have so many friends who are like, that show's so good. You just start like unpeeling all the layers and how things all work together. And I'm like, really? Maybe I guess I need to pay closer attention to it. Because I thought it was okay the first couple episodes I saw.

[00:06:43] I really like the show. I do think it gets better throughout season one. And just as a side note, it is on Paramount Plus, but season one is on Netflix. So if you don't have Paramount Plus, you can watch season one. And Hallmark fans, it does star Spencer McPherson. Yes, I love him. Riley Davis plays lab partner John. Riley has 34 acting credits and is probably best known as Mason from the Curious Caterer franchise.

[00:07:11] Parmas Sahat plays friend and bakery employee Devin. Parmas has 26 acting credits and has appeared in shows like The Good Doctor, Designated Survivor, as well as Hallmark projects like Cross Country Christmas and A Very Merry Bridesmaid. Karen Kruper plays Mom Barb. I think Karen Kruper gets the mom treatment too from Hallmark, right? Her and Barbara Nevin. Barbara gets the majority of the roles. They're probably sisters in some second chance romance any day now. Totally.

[00:07:40] With 60 acting credits, Karen plays a lot of mom roles, as I just mentioned, including movies like To All A Good Night, The Wedding Veil Expectations, and Hashtag Xmas. Everett Andres plays son Gary. Everett's another up-and-coming actor for Hallmark. He's appeared in movies like Navigating Christmas and The Holiday Sitter. Barry Levy plays Barb's boyfriend Rick. Barry has 100 acting credits and recently appeared in the series Holidays, as Sam Hill.

[00:08:11] He's also co-starred in Leah's Perfect Gift, The Wedding Contract, and Wedding Veil's Expectations. Brendan Zub plays deadbeat dad David. With 46 acting credits, Brendan has been in movies like Sugar Plumbed, A Sprinkle of Deceit, A Hannah Swenson Mystery, and Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater. There it is again. Adil Zaddy. Zaddy? It's not Zaddy, but it works.

[00:08:43] Zaddy Adil Zaddy. Adil Zaddy. You know, he probably loves that. Adil Zaddy plays Isaac. We've seen him in several Hallmark movies, including Fourth Down in Love, The Wedding Contract, and A Winning Team. However, it appears he's taking a small break from Hallmark. He hasn't appeared in a role since 2023. I'm like, that was yesterday. But wow, that was two years ago. Let's take a quick break and we'll come right back with our first impressions.

[00:09:20] Hey, Wendy, what was your first impression of dating the Delanies? I like to think I'm pretty chill, but I'm definitely not showing up at my ex-husband's wedding. Oh, right? Would you? I was wondering the same thing. Like, if the kid, you know, if it's important to the kids to have you there. Ow, she obviously was hurt by the end of their relationship. Yeah, and they don't have a good co-parenting relationship. It's not like they've transitioned. Yeah, I hear you.

[00:09:49] I hear you. My first impression is, I know we've said we love a douchey Andrew Walker as our favorite Andrew Walker. I think an earnest Paul Campbell is my favorite Paul Campbell. Interesting. Interesting. Also, side note, for some reason, I cannot stop writing and saying Paul Walker in my notes for this movie. R.I.P.

[00:10:19] Multiple times. I loved Paul Walker. To the point that as I was saying Andrew Walker, I was like, is that the right name? Yeah. Okay. Let's talk what we liked about dating the Delanies. Well, I'm going to go first. I saw Rachel Boston and Paul Campbell as a friend turned couple. I thought they were so great. I thought they were natural. I love like kind of their easy chemistry, easy banter. I'm into it.

[00:10:49] I know a lot of our listeners don't like Paul. I get it. I understand. But I love Paul. I love Paul too. I think this was a standout role for him. Much like the movie he made with Kimberly Sustad, Wedding Every Weekend. I believe he plays a similar character with a similar vibe. Mm-hmm. Where I think sometimes his characters are real comedic and sarcastic. Like the Santa Summit.

[00:11:15] Like that one where he plays the mean curmudgeonly author. Sorry. Perimenopause brain is a real thing. I really like, as mentioned in my first impression, I like it when he's just this charming, sweet, kind of nerdy, good guy. Who is a little bit like, I'm going to tell you, I loved the punny through line. Now, I freaking hate a pun.

[00:11:44] I don't necessarily find them funny. That's not true. Not that I don't find them funny. I'm not good at them. My brain doesn't work that way. I don't come up with them. Every time someone does it, I'm like, whoa, look at that. But I just thought they were on the exact same nerdy, cringy level that I loved. Mm-hmm. I just thought they vibed so well. I agree with you. I'm going to talk more about the puns and my worst words. Okay, I figured you would. But I agree.

[00:12:12] I agree what you say about Paul. He was in that movie with Hilary Burton where he was like selling that twisted sea wood. He plays like a weird named guy, Grundy, or that's not his name. Yes. He's good in that movie. He was good in the Santa stakeout. Oh, yes. When he plays kind of these like earnest roles, I agree with you. I hold in case. He's great.

[00:12:39] Yes, but that one is a little bit different though. Don't you think so? Yeah, I agree. I agree. I agree. He's got range, people. He's got range. I like Paul. Okay. The other thing I liked about this movie. And as I was reading the synopsis out loud at the top of the episode, yes, this is sort

[00:13:05] of a story about three generations of women who are like dating in the modern world. But not really. Like, like that the main, it's not fully focused on that. No. No. But I liked it. I like that we have a teenager and we have a divorced mom and we have like a single sexy grandma. Like, I like that they could all relate to each other and support each other.

[00:13:35] But as a whole, I don't think like that's what this movie is about. No, I don't either. But I want to riff on that for just a second. One thing I've really liked about the fan favorite lineup of movies is that what we get, by and large, are several unique takes on the standard Hallmark fare. Every movie is super in line with what Hallmark does. They're not like, oh my gosh, this is an out of line movie. They're all very Hallmark-y.

[00:14:03] But with just enough of a different flavor to be interesting. And I think in this case, yes, this is straight Hallmark romance with the addition that the side characters, the supporting roles just happen to be the mom and the daughter also experiencing their own relationships. As opposed to, we still were going to get that mom and the daughter in there, but they would be dealing with other things. You know what I mean?

[00:14:30] The daughter might just be dealing with like, oh, school's hard or my friends are weird. And the mom's like, oh, I'm trying to find myself. I like that they were all kind of in line going through the same thing, even though obviously the focus is going to be on Michael and Maggie. Yeah. Yeah. I loved, with all that said, I did love the teenage romance. Yeah.

[00:14:55] I hated the jerk that she was like, Zach. What a piece of you know what. Yeah. I mean, I would have, you and I both have teenage daughters. And if a boy treated our daughter that way, I think heads would roll. We would be team heads would roll. Totally. I know. The mom never got to see them interact like that.

[00:15:25] But I can only imagine if, I don't think, right? They were never around the parents. I can only imagine like that kid at my house giving absolutely nothing and him leaving and me being like, he has got to go. Like, that dude does not like you. Yeah. Have some self-respect. For real. But I loved, I loved the lab partner. He was like so cute from go.

[00:15:51] Like, obviously he was interested in her and they had so much in common. And then when he shows up and he wants to take her to the dance, I wanted to cry. One of my very first notes is justice for baby Mason. I just, I mean, that's a curious caterer throwback for anybody who's not deep in Hallmark lore. But as soon as he was on screen, I was like, oh my, look at the baby. And I loved him. Like, he's, oh, I really liked that storyline.

[00:16:20] I was like, yes, find the guy who likes you. Yep. Yep. And specifically. Please. First of all, I loved her character. I just, she's, look, she's so warm. She cares about the people in her lives. Like when she's up in the morning, like making breakfast and encouraging her kids. I was like, oh, I wish I was that mom. I'm not that mom. I'm super grumpy in the morning.

[00:16:47] But, you know, like she just was great. I just thought she was great. Now, I do think she was a little naive to Michael's interest in her. Oh, for sure. Which I found to be a little bit frustrating. Like I was like, wake up. I was so glad she had the bakery friend to be like, that's a real date. There's no such thing as a practice date. Yeah.

[00:17:15] Um, when he's like, hey, maybe we could try it again. She's like, oh, another, what did they call it? Like, I don't know what they called it. I can't remember either. But she was like, oh, another practice date. And he was like, yeah. And I was like, come on, girl. Come on. Yeah. Yeah. I agree. How hard, though, did you laugh when her little bakery partner is like, do something fun for yourself? And she just cleans her house top to bottom. I mean, I loved it.

[00:17:43] I was like, girl, that is mean. Like, nobody's going to accuse me of being the cleanest person in the world ever, but I do love being alone and just like getting it done. Like getting the laundry running, vacuuming, clean sheets. I feel alive. Me too. This is so sad. But then it's also like, if I know, I'm just going to go into my own little dreamland here. If I'm going to have a weekend to myself, I would absolutely spend like the first

[00:18:12] couple hours of Friday cleaning so I can just sink in and order in on Friday night and do absolutely nothing because my space looks so great. Yeah. Enjoy the space that you just put so much work in. Yeah. Would you be going out with like your single friend and going to play pool? No, I'd be like, I'm staying home and enjoying my quiet house. I'm putting my red mask on and put my feet up. So that's what I'm doing. My dog's on the couch. Sounds like a dream.

[00:18:42] Hey guys, if you want to check out our new project, Midlife Bestie. Oh my gosh. I just, I need a reel. I need a video of you in your jammies, red light mask on, your dog's on the couch with Netflix. And just the caption just says the new Friday night. Please, I'm begging you. It's going to kill. All right. I will work on it. And your deer foam slippers.

[00:19:12] Okay. I will. I mean, that's the uniform. So, okay. I have been asked to go in a room and shut the door when I have the red light mask on. It scares people in the house. Even my dog one time like came upstairs and I had it on and they like stopped in their chair. Remember when sheet masks were all the rage? Anytime I would do one and my husband would walk out of the room, it was a jump scare every time. I can only imagine. Have you seen?

[00:19:39] There's a, like a TikTok of a person and they're like, everyone finds my red light mask so scary. And then it's, they show, they cut to them like dragging a dead body out to the trash can and it is like a mom in their robe. And then it's pretty funny. I love it. All right. Any more likes? Um, nothing specific. I just really liked it. I, I, to me, this movie, when I saw the movie poster and it's like dating the Delaney's,

[00:20:07] I thought that we were looking at like an established family. Like I didn't know what this movie was about. I, so I, I, this sounds like a wish. Um, the movie poster and the title did not reflect what this movie actually turned out to be to me. I think the title a hundred percent reflects it. They're all dating Delaney's. Yes.

[00:20:31] But like, really though, because they have this entire storyline about her wanting to like expand the bakery and their opportunity to be on this bakery show and so on and so forth. Dating the Delaney's. P.S. The one where Maggie's a boss babe. I don't know. You can't put the whole storyline in there. I don't know. But I did enjoy, I thought it was kind of a fresh concept.

[00:20:58] I don't think I have seen a movie that is along this storyline. Yeah, totally. Hasn't been done and redone and done and redone. So, yeah. Let's talk wishes. You got some pun wishes, I think. I don't, my only wish, there were a lot of puns and a lot of dad jokes to the point where I was like, eh, I'm uncomfortable. Like, it was like too much.

[00:21:26] Like, I was like, look, I like laughing. And I like jokes. Literally, you love that shit. You're like, I do love that shit. I love making puns myself. My daughter is so good at it too. So, I think she gets it from me. Anyway, but it went almost too far where I was like, I bet Megan's real uncomfortable watching this.

[00:21:56] And I felt uncomfortable. I was like, let's lean in. Let's lean into this. I mean, that's all. It just was a lot. I do wonder, though, because, you know, Paul is such a good writer. I wonder if there's any of that like on set stuff happening. Like, they're like, oh, wait, wait, let's throw this in here. Let's do that. Uh-huh. I don't know. Yeah. Just curious. Now, I want to go back to the bakery for a second. Yeah.

[00:22:23] Was the bakery storyline them being on make it, bake it, cake it, whatever it's called? Was this necessary? First of all, I don't understand what make it, bake it, cake it even is. The whole time I'm like, is it Diners, Drivers and Dyes? Is it Triple D? It absolutely is. For bakeries. Absolutely. That's exactly what it is. But I just feel like they didn't sell it to me enough. Maybe all I need to know is that it's, I guess, that is selling it to me.

[00:22:53] It's Triple D for bakeries. It's fine. Okay. I just felt like, I was like, I don't really know what's happening here. Yeah. And I felt like the storyline about her wanting to expand the bakery got a little bit lost. It was unnecessary. Especially because, I mean, I think it was a vehicle for a lot of other storylines. Like, it brought in her best friend, which, or assistant, and that helped, you know, she

[00:23:23] really needed to be present in her life in some way. Yes. Yes, absolutely. She also helped drive forward some of the ways in which her ex-husband was a complete ass when he comes and he's like, I own half this place. She's like, no, you don't. Oh, that scene was so great. She's like, you didn't do anything to make this place a success. So, I liked that part of it, but I did feel otherwise. I was like, I don't really understand. It feels a little bit like just a vehicle for driving all these other storylines forward. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

[00:23:52] Yeah, because, like, she needed time with Michael, and here he is, like, some PR guy or something. He's something. Like, I'm actually not even quite sure. Can't remember what his job was. But he's like, let me help you prep for it, right? Mm-hmm. How do you prep? Like, was he just prepping her for, like, being on camera? Like, for her elevator pitch, what she's going to say. I mean, I guess I can kind of understand that.

[00:24:21] Like, what are you going to say when they ask you, what are your goals for the bakery? Yeah. I mean, you've got to think about those things, I guess. Sure. I guess. Yes, yes. Yes, yes, yes. I have a couple more wishes, but what do you have? Okay. Well, you mentioned before that you thought Maggie was a little bit naive, and it is not shown any more, obviously, than in her first date, where she shows up and the guy's, like, on the phone. He's already ordered. I was like, look, you may have been out of the dating game, but you haven't been living

[00:24:50] on Mars. But if you're not going to be able to do it, you do understand what basic human decency and interaction should look like. Yes. And the fact that she needed the waiter to be like, yo, get out of here now. The whole restaurant wants you to go. And she's like, oh, is that okay? Get out. Yes. What are you doing? That guy sucked from go. Yes. Oh, my God. I would have been like, excuse me, I'm going to go to the bathroom and then walk out the door. No way. Or, like, when he had ordered, she'd be like, well, it looks like you're all set. Bye. No. I know. Why would you allow someone to treat you like that?

[00:25:20] Well, maybe her daughter. Like, that's why her daughter allows herself to be treated that way, too. Hey, there you go. I mean, it's not that explicit, but whatever. Yeah, I agree. Like, come on. You have a lot to offer. Don't be mistreated by this terrible date. For sure. Ugh.

[00:25:48] There's not a lot of conflict in this movie. No. Like, okay. So, like, Maggie and Michael don't have any real sort of, like, there's no, like, tension building between them in terms of, like, oh, it's growing great and then it goes terrible. Right? And then it is prepared. Yeah. Is the conflict just that she doesn't understand that he's interested in her? I think so. There's more conflict between, like, the teenage daughter and her piece of shit love interest. Uh-huh.

[00:26:17] And then Maggie's, like, ex-husband is, there's conflict there. Yeah. I kind of like it, though. Oh, me too. Okay. It's not like a super wish, but it's just, like, I think I expect, I have come to expect. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, storylines where things start out good or they start out terrible. Mm-hmm. And there's repair to it. Mm-hmm.

[00:26:47] Nobody can just be. Like, so, yes, okay. Well, maybe this was a like. I'm not sure. Let's talk. Did you see that? I have one and it's not great. Oh, neither is mine. Let's hear it. When Maggie's doing her make it, bake it, cake it show, they're like, hi, this is Maggie from whatever the bakery's name is. And she, like, waves at the camera. Like, she waves at the camera, like, three times. And I was like, would you?

[00:27:15] That's what Michael taught her, to wave at the camera. Oh, yeah. I just, why would you wave at the camera? It probably is, like, involuntary. Like, you can't help yourself but wave at the end of a Zoom call. Oh, fair. Super fair. Even though, at the end, I'm like, ugh, sit on your hands, Megan. Super fair. That's all I got. What about you? Okay, well, yeah. Did you see that department? It's on vacation this week for me. One was Justice for Baby Mason.

[00:27:44] I just really liked seeing that character on my screen. But also, Maggie and I have the same welcome mat on our homes. Oh, do you? It's a Target special. Purchased pre-2025, y'all, just FYI. Oh. Those who know, know. I do believe it's still available if you're still a Target shopper, but. What does it say? It says welcome. It's one of their oversized mats.

[00:28:13] I don't have a lot of those. So you know how, like, a lot of welcome mats are tiny and they need, like, a, like, you have, like, an extra layer to make them match the scale of your door? Yeah. This happens to be an extra wide one and they don't have a lot of options in that department. And your front door, you have this? I've been to your house a million times. I don't think I've ever really noticed it. I mean, it just says welcome. I know what yours says. I pay attention. Mine says I hope you like dogs. That's right. Because they'll jump all over it.

[00:28:43] Mine should say I hope you like dogs. Mine just fades into the background. It just, it's utilitarian. It's not memorable. Hmm. But it does match the scale of my door. I will take note next time I come over. All right. What did you rate dating the Delanies? I gave it four stars. Whoa. I gave it four and a half stars. I really loved this movie. Don't whoa me. It's not a bad rating. I know. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it a lot. I know. Hey, thank you for listening to this episode of Girls Gone Hallmark, a Bramble Jam podcast.

[00:29:13] If you love this podcast, we love your five star readings and reviews. You can leave reviews in the Apple Podcast app, even if, y'all, even if that's not where you listen to this podcast. You can also rate us in Spotify. And we will be back next time with more Hallmark reviews. Goodbye. Bye. All right, friends.

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