Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: A soldier, Tommy, returns home to his wife, Rose, but has obvious signs of PTSD. He surprises Rose on Halloween by offering to take her to a haunted hayride event. However, he soon begins acting strangely then disappears completely. Waiting at home for him, Rose suddenly finds her life in danger from a masked assailant. She assumes it's Tommy but soon learns she may be wrong. Who's in it? The movie stars Emily Van Raay , Andrew Creer , Stephanie Moran , Bradley Hamilton and Michelle Treacy. Review: I came across this movie yesterday morning and, since the description made it sound like an interesting slasher flick, added it to my library. My wife and I decided to watch it last night and, 90 minutes later, regretted the decision. I think the movie's premise had potential. Since Tommy (Creer) had some serious mental health issues, the film had the flexibility to go a number of different directions ranging from him being a reluctant hero to him becoming the bad g...

  My wife came across this product a few weeks ago and, since I was able to find it for a reasonable price, I decided to buy it as a family Christmas gift.  We got quite a bit of use out of our toaster oven, but it took up quite a bit of counter space and my wife and I both agreed there were times when we wished we just had a plain toaster. This seemed like a good alternative and so far, at least, it seemed like a good decision. While it doesn't hold as much as our other toaster oven, it does seem to be a lot more convenient. When we make things like toast, frozen waffles and bagels (which is the majority of what we make in a toaster oven), we can use this just like a regular toaster. The settings are easy to understand, and everything has turned out toasted perfectly. The one time we used it as an oven, for chicken nuggets, they came out perfectly baked without taking nearly as long as the other oven. I also like the flip technology as a space-saving feature. When it's not in...

Synopsis: This non-fiction book talks about Jack Welch, who took over as CEO of General Electric in 1981 and fundamentally changed the company by creating a policy that maximized investor profits at the expense of the employees, a model the author argues destroyed capitalism when other companies followed suit. Review: I came across this book at my local library a few days ago and, while it isn't something I probably wouldn't normally read, decided to give it a try. Overall, I have to say it was an interesting book. I always read books like this with a bit of a grain of salt because you don't always know the author's motivations. However, in this case, I do think Gelles made some fundamentally sound arguments regarding General Electric's policies in the 1980s, effectively changing both that company and similar companies by getting away from being a place where people could expect life-long employment and top-level compensation and benefits to being at risk of a lay...

Synopsis: Actor Nicolas Cage is facing financial hardship, is in the middle of a divorce and is struggling to connect with his teenage daughter. After getting turned down for a coveted movie role, he reluctantly accepts $1 million to attend a superfan's birthday party on the island nation of Majorca only to have the CIA enlist his help because his host, Javi, is a suspected arms dealer who may have kidnapped a politician's daughter. Who's in it? The movie stars Nicolas Cage , Pedro Pascal , Tiffany Haddish , Sharon Horgan and Lily Mo Sheen. Review: Since my wife is a big Nick Cage fan, I added this movie to our library when it first became available. However, both of us were a bit undecided about it and ultimately didn't get around to watching it until this evening. After seeing it, I have to admit it was a lot better than I was expecting. I've been trying to think of a good way to describe this movie but have finally admitted to myself I just don't know how ...

Synopsis: After stabbing her abusive husband, who is also a police officer, Katie takes a bus from Boston to Southport, North Carolina, starts a new life and falls for a widowed store owner, Alex, and his two kids. However, just as she is starting to feel safe, her past catches up to her and puts both her life and the lives of her new family at risk. Who's in it? The movie stars Julianne Hough , Josh Duhamel, Cobie Smulders , David Lyons and Irene Ziegler. Review: My wife has the book this movie is based off of but has never gotten around to reading it. So, when I came across the movie this afternoon, I decided to watch it with her. I wasn't expecting much but enjoyed the film as much as she did. I think the thing I liked most about this movie was the fact it wasn't as predictable as most romantic films are. The movie does a good job of withholding important details regarding what happened in Boston and that, in turn, made it harder to predict what would end up happeni...

Synopsis: Struggling to come up with a new sound for the Foo Fighters' 10th album, Dave Grohl convinces the band to move into an Encino mansion with a checkered history. He is eventually possessed by an evil spirit that wants his band to complete a lengthy song with the ability to release a demon. The band continues to follow his instructions but notice his odd behavior, which includes eating raw meat and murder. Who's in it? The movie stars Dave Grohl , Nate Mendel , Pat Smear , Taylor Hawkins , Rami Jaffee and Chris Shiflett . Review: I came across this movie a few weeks ago and added it to my library because it sounded interesting or, as I told my wife, sounded like a really bad Scooby Doo! episode. We got around to watching it yesterday evening and my opinion of it was mixed. I will give the movie some points for uniqueness. The whole haunted house/possession thing has been done before but this is the first time I've seen a movie take it to a different level by usin...

Synopsis: A year after a serious car accident left her traumatized and depressed, a pregnant woman moves to a vineyard with her husband in the hopes of starting a new life. However, shortly after arriving, she begins to experience a series of hallucinations. Are they supernatural? Or are they being caused by her decision to stop taking her pills? Who's in it?  The movie stars  Isla Fisher ,  Anson Mount ,  Gillian Jacobs , Jim Parsons ,  and  Eva Longoria . Review: After watching several Christmas movies in a row, my wife and I were in the mood for something different and, even though I sort of remembered watching this film a few years ago, put it on. Even though there were a few things that felt familiar about it, I couldn't remember much about the movie and rewatching it turned out to be a good decision. At first, this seems like your typical haunted house movie. Eveleigh (Fisher) sees and experiences strange things inside the house and on the property bu...

Synopsis: When still a teenager, Darcy found fame and fortune as a world-known pop singer. Now in her 40s, she is struggling to remain relevant in the music industry with an ever-shrinking fan base. When her widowed sister invites her to spend Christmas with her and her teenage niece, Megan, she accepts and returns to her hometown.  Then, when Megan becomes upset over not gaining a spot on a prestigious caroling team, she decides to create a competing team to show up the teacher who rejected her niece, her former high school rival, Adam. However, at the kids' insistence, teams up with him instead. Who's in it? The movie stars Patti Murin , Brendan Penny , Jennifer Robertson , Cassidy Reichman and Garfield Wilson . Review: After spending most of Christmas Day with family, my wife and I settled down yesterday evening with one more Hallmark Christmas movie. Since none of the newer ones we hadn't seen before stood out, we picked this one and, unfortunately, it wasn't an...

Synopsis: After a long absence and plenty of scandals, Prince Edmond tries to win his mother's approval by bringing her another corgi. However, the dog, Mistletoe, instead ruins a holiday event by getting into the food and videos of the incident go viral, embarrass the royal family and raise questions about Edmond's ability to take over as king. He ends up hiring an American dog trainer, Cecily, who is hoping to receive financial backing for a new charity but as they work together to train Mistletoe, sparks begin to fly. Who's in it? The movie stars Hunter King , Jordan Renzo , Julie Lamberton , Frank Smith and Shane Lennon. Review: My wife and I haven't had time to watch as many Hallmark Christmas movies as we normally would and with it now being Christmas, we are squeezing in the final couple before going back to regular films. I picked this one out last night, not really knowing what to expect from it, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. Like some other ...

Synopsis: Elle has been successful at just about everything she has tried. However, after a disastrous incident at her senior classes holiday dance 15 years ago, everything the former class president has tried to organize for the class of 2007 has been a failure, giving the class the reputation of being cursed. Elle hopes to break the curse with the 15th class reunion, but everything seems to be going wrong with that too. Fortunately, she has help from her former friends, especially Devin, her former class vice president who is now a single dad and owner of a holiday event company. Who's in it? The movie stars Aimee Teegarden , Tanner Novlan , Dejan Loyola , Maya Ford and Stephanie Bennett . Review: After a long day of driving my daughter home from college during the gap between two winter storms, I was happy to just spend the rest of yesterday on the couch in front of the electric fireplace and leave any snow shoveling for today. My wife and I decided to watch another Christmas...

Synopsis: Agitated by a lack of sleep from his neighbor's howling dog, Arthur Cartwright pays Perry Mason $10,000 to represent him against Clinton Foley. A day later, he sends Mason a letter both changing his will to leave Bessie Foley all his assets and instructing the attorney to represent her instead. When Cartwright apparently runs off with Clinton Foley's mistress (Cartwright's wife, who Foley was having an affair with) and Foley is found murdered, all evidence points to Bessie as the killer. Who's in it? The movie stars Warren William , Mary Astor , Allen Jenkins , Dorothy Tree and Helen Trenholme. Review: I've enjoyed other movies starring Warren William as Perry Mason and, since I had some free time this evening while staying in a hotel, decided to finally get around to watching this movie (which I held off on watching until I couldn't remember how the book turned out). Overall, I have to say I was pleased with it. I think the mystery in this one is...

Synopsis: Michelle, an optometrist and widowed mother, learns her daughter's science teacher, Ryan, is colorblind and encourages him to participate in a trial and try on a pair of glasses that can correct the problem. Ryan is resistant to the idea at first but, with help from her daughter, is convinced to do it, opening up a whole new world for him. Who's in it? The movie stars Katrina Bowden , Christopher Russell , Ava Weiss , Joanna Douglas and Holly Jade Balmer. Review: This is a movie my wife wanted to watch after seeing some previews for it, so I added it to our library, and we watched it yesterday evening (trying out the homemade Hallmark movie bingo cards I created). Unfortunately, this movie just wasn't as good as some of the other Hallmark holiday films that have come out this year. I spent a chunk of the night trying to think of a word that described this movie. After much consideration, I think "disjointed" comes closest. As I was watching this, I g...

Synopsis: After quitting on her dream of a career in fashion design, Kerry Devine now runs a struggling boutique in her hometown and is on the verge of financial ruin. When a film crew comes to her town to make a holiday movie, she is less than interested. However, a chance encounter with the movie's stars results in a large sale from her boutique, an opportunity to be the movie's costume person and a romantic relationship with the film's leading man, Brad Baxter. Who's in it? The movie stars Kimberley Sustad , John Brotherton , Laura Soltis , Matthew Kevin Anderson and Leila Harrison . Review: This film has been on my Christmas movie list for a couple weeks and my wife and I finally had a chance to watch it last night. I wasn't sure what to expect from it at first, but it ended up being one of my favorites from 2022. There are a couple things I really liked about this movie. One of them was the fun way it sort of gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a Hallmark ...

I picked these up yesterday while I was at the grocery store because they were on sale for $5.99 and thought they'd make a good option for breakfast (both for my wife and me). I took a couple with me to the office this morning and, overall, thought they exceeded my expectations. As far as preparing them goes, they were very convenient. All I had to do was put them in the microwave for a little over a minute and they were warmed up and ready to be eaten. Compared to some other "convenient" breakfast items I've purchased that turned out not to be, that was definitely something that scored this one some points. Unlike a lot of other similar foods, these didn't make a big mess when I picked them up to eat them. This, again, was a plus for this product because I hate making a mess on my desk and could see this as something that could be eaten in the car. The roll-ups proved to be more filling than expected too. I made two of them and thought I would wind up needing som...

Synopsis: In the 1990s, Matthew Perry's star was rising by being part of the number one show on television and offers to start in multiple movies. However, he had a secret drug and alcohol addiction that threatened to derail his career, cost him various relationships and nearly killed him. This autobiography tells the story from his perspective. Review: I am a big fan of autobiographies and my wife and I are fans of the show Friends . So, when I saw Matthew Perry was publishing a book about his well-publicized drug and alcohol addiction, I made sure to add myself to the waiting list at my local library. I finally had an opportunity to read the book and it exceeded my expectations. I think the best thing I can say about this book is it did a great job debunking my preconceived notions about drug addiction. This probably shouldn't be the case, but whenever I think about drug addicts, I think of people who lie around the house all day, unable to hold a job and spending most of ...

Synopsis: A year after her husband was killed while trying to climb a mountain, Becky Connor's friend, Shiloh Hunter, convinces her to move on with her life by spreading his ashes from an abandoned 2,000-foot radio tower. They succeed in doing that but, as they try to descend, the ladder breaks away, leaving them stranded at the top with limited supplies and no cell phone service. Who's in it? The movie stars  Grace Caroline Currey ,  Virginia Gardner , Jeffrey Dean Morgan , Mason Gooding and Jasper Cole . Review: My 13-year-old daughter asked us to get this movie and my wife rented it from Redbox earlier today. We watched it while eating dinner and I have to admit, it was a lot better than expected. I think the setting of the movie is what made it memorable. I'm not a big fan of heights and seeing them climb that tall, narrow and rusted tower had my anxiety acting up a bit, especially when they were doing some very stupid things, like hanging from the side of the tower...

Synopsis: An already friendless Barney feels even more alone when he is the only kid at his middle school without a new B-bot, a robotic "buddy" created by the tech company Bubble that keeps the kids connected via social media. His dad buys him one that fell off the back of a truck but the unregistered B-bot, Ron, is unable to connect to Bubble's database and doesn't function properly as a result. While Barney tries to teach the robot how to be his friend, Bubble learns about Ron and tries to reclaim it so it can be destroyed. Who's in it? The animated movie uses voices from  Jack Dylan Grazer ,  Zach Galifianakis , Ed Helms , Olivia Colman and Rob Delaney . Review: I had honestly never even heard of this movie until my 13-year-old daughter convinced my wife to rent it from Redbox earlier today. I had some doubts when we watched it while eating lunch, but it turned out to be an entertaining movie. I think the thing I liked best about this movie is it wasn'...

Synopsis: Several days before Christmas, a newly divorced single mom, Noel, meets and falls in love with Jeremy, an orchestra conductor and composer who is recovering from a stroke he suffered on Christmas morning three years earlier that cost him the use of one arm and his marriage. What Noel doesn't know is Jeremy lives in the same condo as her and is the neighbor everyone, including her sister and her 12-year-old son, describes as an unfriendly "Scrooge." Who's in it? The movie stars Natalie Hall , Corey Sevier ,  Callum Shoniker ,  Joanna Douglas and  Adrian Falconer. Review: My wife and I continued our Hallmark Christmas movie tradition last night with a bit of hesitation after the first two movies we watched were somewhat disappointing. However, while I had some doubts, this one turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I am always going to give points to a movie that at least tries to be somewhat unique, and this film does manage that. From the description, I t...

Synopsis: Hoping for a promotion, real estate executive Erika McNicoll travels to a small town in Alaska to purchase an inn on behalf of her boss. The inn is owned by her ex-boyfriend, Andy, who is struggling financially but is reluctant to sell and, as Erika gets a chance to learn more about the inn and the community, she has second thoughts about her mission. Who's in it? The movie stars Jodie Sweetin , David O'Donnell , Vivica A. Fox , Peter Jacobson and Brian Doyle-Murray. Review: Since we didn't have much else going on, I thought lunch would be a good opportunity for my wife and I to get caught up on some of our Christmas movie watching. I picked this one at random and, overall, it was an OK but not very memorable film. There were some things about the movie that I did like, such as some of the charming townspeople and a solid performance by Fox as Erika's (Sweetin) Scrooge-like boss. The setting, like most Hallmark movies, was also very beautiful, though it wa...

Synopsis: The university is interested in Sheldon's ( Iain Armitage ) database idea, but his parents are upset to find out President Hagemeyer ( Wendie Malick ) wants 90% of the profits. The church threatens to make trouble for Connie ( Annie Potts ) if her new video store continues to rent movies they find offensive. My Thoughts: The percentage might have been a little high, but I don't think President Hagemeyer was out of line. The university is giving Sheldon a free education and essentially making an investment in him. It would also be covering the costs of building the database. It's no different than when the university wanted the lion's share of the guidance system he and his friends developed in The Big Bang Theory .  Dr. Linkletter ( Ed Begley Jr. ), on the other hand, is just trying to get money he doesn't deserve. I'm not even sure how he proves he is entitled to money. I'm not surprised by the church's reaction to the movies in Connie's ...

Synopsis: Emily finally ends things with her jerk of a boyfriend only to discover he changed the lease on their apartment, so it was under just his name. Needing a place to stay, she visits her parents, who live in a Christmas-obsessed community, only to discover they are going to Florida to look for a new home. She stays at their house anyway, hoping to at least get a chance to rest and reset following her breakup. However, her former childhood friend and current homeowner's association president, Jared, insists she live up to her parents' HOA obligations regarding the holiday. Who's in it? The movie stars Lacey Chabert , Wes Brown , Melissa Peterman , Peter Jacobson and Eliza Hayes Maher. Review: It's not the Christmas season unless my wife and I take the time to watch the latest Lacey Chabert Hallmark Christmas movie and, since we had some free time yesterday evening, we finally did. Unfortunately, while we do enjoy most Hallmark Christmas films, even ones that do...

Synopsis: A group of toy store employees expected to work Thanksgiving night because of corporate's big Black Friday sale are forced to fight for their lives when aliens possess the shoppers. They later learn it is a full-scale invasion and help isn't on the way. Who's in it? The movie stars Devon Sawa , Bruce Campbell , Ivana Baquero , Ryan Lee and Stephen Peck. Review: My wife and daughter skipped martial arts classes last night, giving my wife and I an opportunity to watch a holiday movie. I came across this one a few days ago and was intrigued so we gave it a shot. Overall, it wasn't too terrible. First, I thought the premise was a decent one. The idea of an alien (or aliens) turning a group of already angry shoppers into unkillable zombies made the movie interesting. I also liked how the film too some not-so-subtle jabs at the whole Black Friday concept in general with things like showing a divorced dad (Sawa) having to have "Thanksgiving breakfast" w...

Synopsis: This non-fiction book tells the story of the bald eagle and how the bird intertwined with America's history and became part of American culture. Review: I saw this book in the new books section of our library a few days ago and, since I didn't have any books I planned to check out, decided to give a try. It ended up being a good choice. At first, I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book. However, it turned out to be an entertaining and informative narrative about the bald eagle and its influence both on ancient North American civilizations and the fledgling United States, even becoming part of the nation's seal following the Revolutionary War. The book also delves into the things that put the bald eagle on the endangered species list and the efforts that were made to revive the population. I think the thing that I enjoyed most were the bits and pieces of information throughout the book that really surprised me. For example, I never knew the bald ea...

I was a big fan of the show Night Court , when I was younger and have watched every episode of the series that ran from 1984 until 1992 at least once. Now that a reboot of the series is scheduled for next year, I decided to rewatch the original one more time and, while I have enjoyed it so far, like many sitcoms from the 80s and early 90s, there are some things that haven't aged well. The casual sexual harassment. This comes into play quite a bit after Markie Post joined the cast in the third season as Christine Sullivan and becomes the object of affection both for Judge Harry Stone ( Harry Anderson ) and ADA Dan Fielding ( John Larroquette ) but there was some mixed in prior to that as well. Stone's repeated attempts at romantic relationships with the various women who worked in his courtroom were borderline sketchy on their own. Fielding's inappropriate comments and sexual advances are cringe worthy today. The portrayal of prostitutes. Ah, the innocence of the 80s, when ...

Synopsis: Frustrated by her English homework, Judy dreams of abolishing the alphabet with the help of the Mad Hatter and the Jabberwock. However, Dr. Linguistics changes her mind. Who's in it? The movie stars Cheryl Callaway , Hans Conried , Frank Baxter , Cactus Mack and Daws Butler. Review: I came across this short movie last night while waiting for my wife and daughter to get back from martial arts classes. Since I had dinner already prepped, I decided to give it a try and it ended up being surprisingly good. I won't lie, parts of this movie are about as dated as you would expect, especially when referencing "primitive" cultures. There are also some scenes, like the one with the dancing letters, that seem a bit drug induced. However, there was also a lot to like about this film. I think the thing that impressed me was how the movie gives a fairly sound (albeit maybe missing more modern interpretations) explanation of language, including how it started, how huma...

  Everyone loves a backup but while some (including me) have clamored to see Jordan Love replace long-time and injured starter Aaron Rogers this season, arguing the team is wasting their former first round pick by leaving him on the bench, it is time to reflect on what transpired this season and be thankful for Rodgers' return. I'm not saying there wasn't a legitimate argument for trading Rodgers during the last offseason, both to take advantage of his 2021 MVP run and get generous compensation and to save money under the salary cap. And with the Packers being, at best, a long shot to even get into the playoffs as the 7th seed, it is easy to use this likely lost season as evidence of that argument. From a big picture standpoint, however, Rodgers' return, even if it just ends up being for this season, will ultimately benefit Love. There are a couple things that really stand out for me about this past offseason. One of the big ones was the loss of Davante Adams and Marque...

Synopsis: A 12-year-old, Luke, has a crush on his 17-year-old babysitter, Ashley, but she only sees him as her little buddy. Determined to get her to fall in love with him too, he and his friend Garrett stage a fake armed intrusion so he could be a hero. However, when Ashley figures out what is happening, belittles Luke and threatens to call his parents, the preteen takes things up a notch by taking Ashley and her boyfriend, Ricky, hostage. Who's in it? The movie stars Olivia DeJonge , Levi Miller , Ed Oxenbould ,  Aleks Mikic and  Patrick Warburton. Review: I wasn't aware this movie existed until I came across an article about it that described the film as a horror movie version of Home Alone . I was intrigued and, when I found it on Peacock, put it on top of our movie list. My wife and I watched it last night and weren't disappointed. I think the thing that impressed me most about this movie was the way Luke (Miller) was portrayed. At first, his crush on Ashley (DeJon...

  When I saw Aaron Rodgers exit the game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday with a rib injury I, like a lot of fans, assumed the Jordan Love era was about to begin in Green Bay, even if it was just for the remainder of the season. I was majorly surprised when Rodgers announced he intended to start this weekend's game against the Chicago Bears and Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that was the plan. While I still think it's a bad idea and Green Bay should force the face of the franchise to sit one out and get healthy over next weeks' bye week, from both the ribs and a thumb injury, I have to admit Rodgers' desire to play is inspiring. There are plenty of NFL players who make "business decisions" regarding their bodies, whether it's not throwing themselves into a scrum of players or not putting up a fight when the team doctor tells them they need to take a week or two off. Rodgers is not only doing the exact opposite, but he is also choosing to do it when ...