Review

"Legend of the Lost Locket: A Treasure Hunt So Predictable, Even the Locket Saw It Coming"

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a Hallmark movie and a low-budget Indiana Jones knockoff had a baby, Legend of the Lost Locket is here to answer that question. And by "answer," I mean it will leave you questioning your life choices for 90 minutes straight. Released in 2024, this film is the cinematic equivalent of finding a $5 bill in your winter coat pocket—mildly exciting, but ultimately forgettable.

The plot revolves around a plucky small-town librarian (because of course it does) who discovers a mysterious locket in her late grandmother’s attic. Cue the dramatic music, the overly enthusiastic best friend, and a love interest who looks like he was plucked straight from the Hallmark holiday movies casting couch. Together, they embark on a treasure hunt that involves cryptic riddles, suspiciously convenient clues, and a villain so cartoonishly evil, he might as well twirl a mustache.

The locket, by the way, is the real star of the movie. It’s shiny, it’s magical, and it has more screen presence than the entire supporting cast combined. If Hallmark movies gave out Oscars, this locket would sweep Best Supporting Jewelry. Meanwhile, the human characters deliver lines with the enthusiasm of someone reading a grocery list. “We have to find the treasure before it’s too late!” says our heroine, as if she’s reminding herself to pick up milk on the way home.

The film’s pacing is slower than a Hallmark holiday movie marathon on a snowy Sunday. Just when you think the plot might actually go somewhere, it takes a detour to show us a montage of the characters bonding over hot cocoa and solving a riddle that a fifth-grader could crack. And don’t even get me started on the “twist” ending. Spoiler alert: the treasure was friendship all along. Shocking, I know.

In conclusion, Legend of the Lost Locket is the kind of movie you watch when you’ve already seen every Hallmark movie twice and need something to fill the void. It’s not good, but it’s not not entertaining. If you’re looking for a cinematic masterpiece, keep looking. But if you’re in the mood for a treasure hunt with more cheese than a Wisconsin dairy farm, this one’s for you. Just don’t blame me if you start rooting for the locket to win.