Raising Helen (Full Screen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Lowering Expectations
Review: It seems hard to believe that Garry Marshall - creator of some really fine work (The Flamingo Kid, Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries, Beaches) and a creative workhorse dating back as far as 'The Danny Thomas Show' - would release something as lazy and formulaic as 'Raising Helen.'

There were stories during the production that Marshall consistently addressed star Kate Hudson as 'Goldie' (we should be so lucky). That's about the level of attention we get here.

I'll give Hudson the benefit of the doubt and assume it's the material that makes her character so unlikable. I figured Felicity Huffman and Joan Cusack could 'raise' "Helen" but Huffman isn't on the screen enough to make an impression and Cusack is handed a role and directed to a performance that makes her look frumpy, unfunny and unpleasant, which is a shame. Check out Richard Linklater's 'School of Rock' - there's a guy who understands how to employ Joan Cusack's comedic skills to maximum effect.

Rating:
Summary: Kate Fails!
Review: Kate Hudson has starred in "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days" which I liked. "Alex and Emma" which I like. "Le Divorce" which I hated. "Almost Famous" which I loved. Now she stars in "Raising Helen" which is directly in between. It is an only "ok," mainly because the story has been done to death. A week after this movie was released, a tv show called "Summerland" debuted on the WB and I was shocked to find that it has the same exact premise as "Raising Helen." Kate Hudson stars, and she was good as the title character. Joan Cusack was very funny, as usual, in this movie, but everybody else falls short. The young Spencer Breslin, who is a talented young actor, doesn't do as good, and his sister, who plays his sister in the movie, doesn't seem to have a future. "Raising Helen" has slight good acting, and a few funny lines, but it is overlong, and dull in parts. I could have waited for the video, and wouldn't have minded at all.

The movie has Kate Hudson as Helen Harris. Helen has the "perfect" life(how many people start off having the perfect life in movies.) She enjoys a social life where nothing is expected of her and she has a great job in the fashion business as a personal assistant to Dominique. What could go wrong? Alot, actually, and this is proven when her sister Lindsey AND her brother in law are killed in a car crash. No, no, no, that's not all. She has also been in her sisters will as the new legal owner of her three children, something that she thought her pregnant, and already a mother, sister Jenny and her husband Ed would get. The three kids are Audrey, the older one who is in the final stages of being a teenager, Henry, the middle child who is weird in some way, and Sarah, the younger five year old who is supposed to be the comical one to make us all smile. Sadly, that doesn't work. Helen has to leave her home in Manhattan for one in Queens, among other things, causing her life to change completly. She enrolls the kids in a Mormon school, and becomes involved with Pastor Dan, who runs the school. Helen has to decide what is better. Her new life with the children, or her old life where nothing was going wrong.

"Raising Helen" has been done before. Simply as that. There is nothing new, and it tries to blend comedy and drama, but doesn't work at that. The movie was also too long. It was almost two hours, and there was too much stuff going on. The best part had to be Joan Cusack, because she just has the natural ability to be funny. Kate Hudson was alright, but I have seen her in better roles. This role didn't seem suited for her. I could see many different people playing the part, like Reese Witherspoon, and Lisa Kudrow. I would like to see Kate Hudson in a drama, because it would be a different fare for her. "Raising Helen" is more of a rental, but it is entertaining in most parts.

ENJOY!

Rated PG-13 for thematic issues involving teens.

Rating:
Summary: BEST CHICK FLICK I'VE EVER SEEN!
Review: Like most red-blooded American males, this reviewer doesn't usually go for this kind of show, but I thought it was one my wife would really enjoy so I took her out to see it. To my utmost surprise, "Raising Helen" was a hit with both of us and one I can readily recommend to any prospective watcher.

"Raising Helen" is the story of a carefree New York fashion agent played perfectly by Kate Hudson whose life is turned upside down when her sister and brother-in-law are tragically killed in a car accident, leaving behind three stunned children in need of a parent. Helen expects the children to go to her big sister Jenny, Supermom, but to everyone's shock the will makes the inexperienced and flighty Helen the kids' guardian. Totally unprepared, Helen must learn what it takes to be a mom in a hurry--and ultimately if it's all really even worth it.

Three-fifths light family fare and two-fifths bittersweet drama, "Raising Helen" is a touching, funny, and poignant portrayal of maturation and self-discovery. Hudson is perfectly cast and shines throughout, and John Corbett is likewise excellent as a fully-realized pastor at the kids' school whose unexpected attentions throw yet another monkey wrench--ableit a positive one--into Helen's spinning world. Combining romance, comedy, and drama in a suprisingly effective mix, "Raising Helen" is worth seeing at least once by anybody. Go see it and remember how important love and family are to your own life!

Rating:
Summary: (3 1/2) A Likeable Cast, Lots of Smiles but a Weak Script
Review: This is an enjoyable movie based on an interesting premise that unfortunately does not live up to the potential of a talented cast and director (Garry Marshall). Kate Hudson stars as Helen Harris, a dynamo living the charmed life of an assistant to Dominque (Helen Mirren), the head of a leading NYC fashion agency. She parties and enjoys life in the midst of the Manhattan singles scene while her married older sisters Lindsay Davis (Felicity Huffman) and Jenny Portman (Joan Cusack) raise their children in suburban New Jersey. However, suddenly Helen's life is turned upside down when Lindsay and her husband are killed in an automoblie crash and much to the surprise of everyone, Lindsay's will unexpectedly includes the request that single Helen rather than superqualified Jenny raise her three children. The children range in age from kindergartener Sarah (Abigail Breslin) to rebellious teenager Audrey (Hayden Panettiere), who never seem to relate to each other or their brother Henry (Spencer Breslin), who will no longer play basketball and whose primary interest in life seems to be his pet turtle.

In utterly predictable fashion, Dominque soon decides that Helen's new role as an instant mother is incompatible with the demands (time and travel) of a job in a high pressure agency and Helen is out of work until she is hired by Hector Elizondo in a wonderful cameo as the head of a used car dealership. Miraculously, Helen and the kids find an underwhelming apartment in Queens which fortunately has two key attributes, suportive neighbors and a wonderful neighborhood Lutheran school. And even more amazingly, the principal is Pastor Dan (John Corbett), fantastically simpatico with the children and handsome and single to boot. (Although given her apparently Catholic background, Kate has trouble coming to terms with the fact that lutheran "priests" can date and marry.) So the movie proceeds as the children, Pastor Dan and Jenny take turns RAISING HELEN, or at least helping her deal with the prepackaged family which has been thrust upon her.

While there are many difficult moments to overcome, the only real prolonged tension results from two sources. First, Helen's unpreparedness to deal with Audrey's teenage sulkiness and the acting out that results from her grief concerning her mother's death combined with her understandable teenage tendency to want to be accepted by the kids at her new school. Second, Jenny's repressed anger concerning Lindsay's decision to overlok her obvious qualifications in favor of choosing a totally inexperienced Helen to raise the kids. And in fact the climax of the movie comes in a scene which culminates in Helen seeking out Jenny to deal with a crisis which is beyond her coping skills.

There are many thoughtful moments throughout this film, and they are nicely interspersed with frequent opportunities to smile (but only occasional laugh out loud moments). However, while that mix could have been its greatest strength, the problem is that it would be much better as either a comedy with enough of a storyline to keep the moviegoer interested (e.g. RUNAWAY BRIDE, a wonderful film also directed by Garry Marshall) or a drama with enough laughs to lighten the story (e.g. the underappreciated MOONLIGHT MILE). Given the bewitching smile and likeabilty of Kate Hudson and the talents of Joan Cusack and John Portman, I think that with a little tighter editing, it probably could have been a blockbuster comedy that still achieved its apparent goal of reassuring families dealing with unexpected tragedy and the stress of single parenthood that life not only goes on but can be worthwhile. (And the fact that it is two hours long indicates that it was intended to be - take your pick - either a comedy with a message or light drama. Unfortunately, the drama is more sitcom quality than real world in nature.)

I do not regret attending the movie; in fact, it about lived up to my expectations based on the early reviews. Just be sure to see it when you are in the mood for light entertainment; you will then find it quite enjoyable, especially if you are fans of the members of the cast (whose potential is unfortunately not optimized). The final positive is that this is good wholesome family entertainment - no profanity, no violence, a good movie for kids to enjoy. In fact, it could even provoke a discussion regarding your children finding themselves in the same situation and how they would react and who they would like as their guardian. So, better than three stars, but not worth four.

Tucker Andersen

Rating:
Summary: GREAT!!! (My rating for this movie is actually 3 1/2 stars)
Review: This movie was far above my expectations. This story surrounds Helen (Kate Hudson) who works at a modeling agency. Everything is going well for her until she finds out her sister and her husband died in a car crash and they left in their will custody of their three children to Helen. Helen first thinks this is absurd because her older sister has children and is more mother like than she, but she ends up taking them in. She learns how to be a mom and things go wrong. She has never had to take care of kids ever. Kate Hudson does another fantastic performance. She fits the part perfectly. When I went in to see this movie, I knew it was going to be sad, but not so sad. I almost cried. I think everyone should go see this movie, especially moms. It has a few inappropriate parts, but not very bad at all. It just has some issues about growing up. This movie was excellent!! I am so impressed. Go see it everyone!!

Rating:
Summary: Leave Helen where she is
Review: Where to start?
If you're a fan of movies that will throw you into depression and leave you pining for that seven dollars you just spent on the movie, then this is the dvd for you.

The movie is about Helen Harris, a gorgeous women with a wonderful job and a ride of a boyfriend. How could it all go so wrong? I'll tell you how: Her sister and her brother-in-law were killed in a car accident and they left their children to Helen, instead of the other sister, an uptight mother personality. Cue millions of highly unrealistic situation, some-not funny jokes, enough morals to write a book about and several cameo apperances by Paris Hilton.

Now, if you're into that sort of thing, then this is your sort of movie. I don't happen to be. And if you're wondering why I gave this two stars instead of one, it's because Joan Cusack is funny. Happy viewing.