“Raising Helen” is without doubt one of those movies that women are likely to pick up and men likely to groan at: fluffy storylines, cute kids and a little bit of romance. But don’t despair yet, men amongst you, it also has some good looking women and comedy moments. There are worse things ... Read review
The hit-making director of Runaway Bride and Pretty Woman (Garry Marshall) now brings you ... more
another hilarious all-star comedy! Sexy Kate Hudson (Almost Famous) is Helen Harris a glamorous big-city fashion executive whose life of late nights and bright ...
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The hit-making director of Runaway Bride and Pretty Woman (Garry Marshall) now brings you ... more
another hilarious all-star comedy. Sexy Kate Hudson (Almost Famous) is Helen Harris, a glamorous big-city fashion executive whose life of late nights and bright l...
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Christopher Ettridge, Victor McGuire, Emma Amos, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Elizabeth Carling
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Advantages: cute, funny in parts, there are worse movies to watch Disadvantages: long, predictable, stereotypes
...Jenny accept that Helen is raising these children? Who will help Helen along the way? I won’t give this away, as it would be revealing too much of the plot. I will say, however, that she is helped along the way by some lovely people – including Pastor Dan Parker (John Corbett) and a lovely neighbour and mother Nilma (Sakina Jaffrey).
And maybe, just maybe, you will find out why Helen has ben entrusted with the children instead of ... ...opinion ♦♦♦
►Plot◄
The plot, as in many chick flicks, is simple and predictable from start to finish. There is simply nothing original to it. In addition, I found it to be a little stereotypical and discouraging. It seems to suggest to the viewers that the woman’s place is truly in the home and that a proper career and children simply do not fit together.
“Raising Helen” is without doubt one of those movies that women are likely to pick up and men likely to groan at: fluffy storylines, cute kids and a little bit of romance. But don’t despair yet, men amongst you, it also has some good looking women and comedy moments. There are worse things you could be doing with your time - if you are bored. And look at the brownie points you may gain with the lady in your life if you give in to watching this chick flick that has recently been released on DVD.
♦♦♦ The plot ♦♦♦
The movie starts with a glimpse into the life of Helen Harris (Kate Hudson), a successful career woman at the model agency ‘Dominique’ in Manhattan. She’s got it all – the Manhattan flat, the boss’ admiration, the charme and standing to get into the most prestigious clubs in Manhattan – and the possibility of having fun with gorgeous male models.
Helen also has two sisters, who live a much less glamourous life. Out in New Jersey live her sisters Lindsay (Felicity Huffman) and Jenny (Joan Cusack), who have settled down, found themselves husbands and started a family. In a heart warming scene of a birthday party, we are introduced to all these characters and immediately notice the contrast between the three sisters. Helen is the party-girl. At the end of the spectrum is Jenny, the up-tight and strict mother. And somewhere inbetween is Lindsay, who used to be a party-girl of sorts, but then succumbed to the quieter life.
The contrast of personalities is quite important to the story line that follows. A little while after the birthday party, Helen receives a phone call at a working lunch and is informed that her sister Lindsay and her husband were killed in a car crash – leaving behind three children: Audrey, Henry and Sarah. The viewer immediately knows where this is going – who will take care of these children?
After the funeral, the will is read to Helen and Jenny. In any normal world, one would expect that responsibility for the children will be left to Jenny, the responsible mother. All the more is the (predictable) “surprise” when the sisters are informed that the children have been left to Helen instead.
This background sets up the remainder of the movie – which revolves around the struggles of Helen trying to deal with her new-found responsibilities. Can she work in a model agency and still raise three kids in her one-bedroom flat in Manhattan? Find them schools and make sure they are alright? Deal with the problems of little girls and troublesome teenagers? Will Jenny accept that Helen is raising these children? Who will help Helen along the way? I won’t give this away, as it would be revealing too much of the plot. I will say, however, that she is helped along the way by some lovely people – including Pastor Dan Parker (John Corbett) and a lovely neighbour and mother Nilma (Sakina Jaffrey).
And maybe, just maybe, you will find out why Helen has ben entrusted with the children instead of "perfect" Jenny.
♦♦♦ My opinion ♦♦♦
►Plot◄
The plot, as in many chick flicks, is simple and predictable from start to finish. There is simply nothing original to it. In addition, I found it to be a little stereotypical and discouraging. It seems to suggest to the viewers that the woman’s place is truly in the home and that a proper career and children simply do not fit together.
If you wanted me to give this movie a categorisation, I could only call it ‘cute’ It’s not quite a romance: Although it has romantic elements to it, it is never nauseatingly cheesy. And it is not quite a comedy, even though we had a few chuckles here and there.
I thought that the movie was just a little bit too long, but when I thought about it again, I simply could not find any scenes that could have been cut to make it shorter. In some movies, the viewer will simply say, “Just get on with it!”. I never once felt like that.
►Characters/acting◄
The casting was very well done – all the characters had great on-screen chemistry. I especially enjoyed the chemistry between Helen and her sister Jenny. I must compliment Joan Cusack for playing an excellent mother and acting out the jealousy and disapproval she has towards “Helen” in such a believable way. In my opinion, she did the best acting in the movie.
The chemistry between Helen and Pastor Dan Parker is perhaps not the best we have ever seen in Hollywood, but it is alright. John Corbett to me is a little bit of a wooden actor, not much going for him in that department – but one can’t help liking him. He just has such an honest and caring face. However, I never was able to form a bond with his performace that would make me care about what happened to his character.
One of the most enjoyable performances in this movie came from a very minor character, Helen’s neighbour Nilma, who was played by Sakina Jaffrey. I cannot recall having seen her in anything else, but would hope very much to see her in more movies in the future.
►Soundtrack◄
The soundtrack to this movie was certainly well chosen for this movie. Songs featured include: Whip it (Devo), Feels like Rain (John Hiatt), Fashion (David Bowie), Stand Back (Joan Osborne), Love like this (Mark McGrath). I would not rush out to buy it, but have to compliment the producers on having captured the moods of the movie in the music chosen.
♦♦♦ The verdict ♦♦♦
I would definitely say it is worth watching, perhaps when shattered after a long week of work or on a Sunday afternoon. It’s good enough, even though it would not blow you away. I also think that it is the type of chick flick that a man could just about survive. Not worth buying the DVD, though!
♦♦♦ A man’s perspective ♦♦♦
My boyfriend kindly suffered through this movie with me, so I naturally asked him what he thought. He sais he would give it a two-star rating. When I asked him whether or not he would recommend the movie, he said that there are “worse movies to watch”. In essence, he does not heartily recommend it, but he said it would make for alright viewing if you have nothing better to do.
Advantages: Certificate PG so it's suitable for nearly everyone Disadvantages: The cinema is expensive and this film is very average
This film is due on general release in the UK shortly but I thought I'd write about it as I had a sneak preview.
This PG film directed by Garry Marshall stars Kate Hudson as Helen Harris, a woman who "inherits" guardianship of her nieces and nephew when her sister and brother-in-law die in an accident. Joan Cusack and John Corbett co-star. The children are played rather well by Hayden Panettiere (Audrey), Spencer Breslin (Henry) and Abigail Breslin ... ...upside down as she tries to be a parent. Her sister Jenny already has children and can't resist interfering. Gradually the two women come to an understanding, as they also come to terms with the loss of their other sister. Jenny doesn't work and she's rather self-righteous but she's actually quite jealous of her sister.
The film is strange in that it can't decide what it wants to be - is it comedy or drama? It feels like a lame US sit-com, with ...
Mel27 20.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Raising Helen (DVD)
Advantages: great film great price Disadvantages: n/a
...love a chick flick and raising helen is another one that i loved.
Starring Kate Hudson, Joan Cusack and Helen Mirren, this film is about Helen Harris a smart city women who works hard and plays harder and her life is turned upside down when her sister is killed and she is made guardian of her three children who are anything but perfect angels. Helen has to buy a new apartment, move out of the city and in the end also has to change her job as well. ... ...transition of Helen from the cool aunt to the mum figure where she struggles to make the right decision which is not necessarily the fun decision that the children had hope for. But as all good chick flicks she finds love in in the end and everything ends happily ever after.
Overall a great film it will have you in tears one moment and laughing the next well worth a watch and at around a fiver its a bargin. ...
jo_field26 21.04.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Raising Helen (DVD)
Advantages: funny in parts, a good film to watch if you like chick flicks Disadvantages: after a while it seems to drag
As this movie is a chick flick i guess in some ways the story line is pretty predictable. Like many other chick flicks it has the cute guys the girly problem and the solving of the problem at the end, ending with the main female character falling in love with the main male interest.
*** The Plot ***
At the start of the movie you get a tiny glimse of the party going Helen Harris. Helen Harris's life is pretty much based upon Helen going to work, ... ...of late nights and bright lights, in Manhattan.
As the film progresses ( in some ways it is qutie predictable) Lindsay and her husband pass away an a car crash, leaving behind Audrey, Henry and Sarah. As Lindsay's will is told to Helen and jenny ( Helen and Lindsay's sister. Helen is the party girl, Linsay was into the part life but settled down for the quieter life and Jenny has always been up for the quiet life.) Helen is made the guardian of ...
rockieanna 07.03.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Raising Helen (DVD)
Advantages: Something for everyone. Disadvantages: I has some mildly sad bits, but that make the story.
First of all, just to say i absolutley loved this film. It has so many elements of funniness to it, bits of sadness, and general drama. It stars Kate hudson, a great actor and is set in the Heart of New York city. Basically Helen (kate), is a very glamorous buisness woman, with no kids, and no intention of having kids as much as she loves them. She's about to get a big time promotion. Her sister dies, and instead or her other sister taking care of ... ...absolutley clueless of what to do. Her apartment wouldn't be big enough for the three of them, and how can she look after all those kids with her demanding job? Find out by watching this great, heart-warming film. You'll love it.
It has quite a few out-takes, i love them all. They are so funny, and they would of been great in the film. The deleted scenes are tinka and the paparazzi, making breakfast ( ilove that one), Freinds stop by ( a classsic ...
xxconnorxx 04.10.2006 (07.10.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Raising Helen (DVD)
Advantages: comedy, drama, family and romance Disadvantages: just another typical romantic film
This films stars Kate Hudson as a dedicated follower of fashion and is about to get promoted to modelling agent.
Rolling income and nothing to spend it on life is average for Helen until her sister is the unfortunate victim of a car accident and Helen is left to take care of her three kids.
Very much like Big Daddy and Baby Boom I'd say this film is an average chick flick. Its a sweet film and enjoyable to watch, Hudson plays her character well ... ...this film are the scenes between Helen and Joan Cusack but i have to say those are the only real highlights of this film if you really enjoy your chick flicks then go out and get this film otherwise i think its nice to watch once.
Director: Garry Marshall
Starring:Kate Hudson, John Corbett, Joan Cusack, Paris Hilton
Running Time: 119 minutes ...
raabiahyasin 16.01.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Raising Helen (DVD)
Helen's life is the one she's always dreamed of - she is at the top of her profession by day, and spends her nights in the hottest clubs. One day she receives a phone call that changes her life - her sister and brother-in-law have been killed in a car accident and she is left to bring up three children.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
Touchstone Home Video; Technicolor Distribution Services
Release date
27/12/2004
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
BED 881491
Barcode
5017188814911
Languages
Main Language
English
Professional reviews
Review
It'll Leave You Feeling Great (Bliss, )
Must See Movie Of The Month (Cosmopolitan, )
DVD Description
Helen Harris (Kate Hudson) is a rising star in the New York City fashion world, just on the brink of being promoted to agent at a premiere modeling agency. The sudden death of her older sister (Felicity Huffman) and her brother-in-law shocks Helen from her exciting life of photo shoots, nightclubs, and hot dates. It brings her back to reality, a reality that includes custody of two nieces (ages 15 and five) and a 10-year-old nephew. Free-spirited Helen suddenly finds her life turned upside down. She is not only learning how to be a mother to three children, but she is also mourning the loss of her sister and brother-in-law, moving to a different borough, looking for a new career, and attracting the romantic interest of Pastor Dan (John Corbett), the principal of the kids' new Lutheran school. To complicate matters more, her surviving sister Jenny (Joan Cusack) is a Supermom in her own right who can't understand why their late sister entrusted carefree Helen with custody of the children. Garry Marshall (THE PRINCESS BRIDE, PRETTY WOMAN) directs this story about a woman who discovers what is really important when her life changes overnight.
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