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Movies / On DVD / Raising Helen
Raising Helen

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Raising Helen (2004)

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Reviews Counted:124

Fresh:27

Rotten:97

Average Rating:4.6/10

Consensus: As shallow and formulaic as a sitcom.

Runtime: 1 hr 54 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: In this heartwarming comedy from director Garry Marshall ("Runaway Bride," "The Princess Diaries"), Helen Harris (Academy AwardŽ nominee KATE HUDSON) is living the life she always dreamed of. Her... In this heartwarming comedy from director Garry Marshall ("Runaway Bride," "The Princess Diaries"), Helen Harris (Academy AwardŽ nominee KATE HUDSON) is living the life she always dreamed of. Her career at a top Manhattan modeling agency is on the rise; she spends her days at fashion shows and her nights at the city's hottest clubs. But her carefree lifestyle comes to a screeching halt when one phone call changes everything. Helen soon finds herself responsible for her sister's children 15-year-old Audrey (HAYDEN PANETTIERE), 10-year-old Henry (SPENCER BRESLIN), and 5-year-old Sarah (ABIGAIL BRESLIN). No one doubts that Helen is the coolest aunt in New York, but what does this glamour girl know about raising kids? The fun begins as Helen goes through the transformation from super hip to super mom, but she quickly finds that dancing at 3 a.m. doesn't mix with getting kids to school on time advice that Helen's older sister, Jenny (JOAN CUSACK), is only too quick to dish out. Along the way, Helen finds support in the most unusual place with Dan Parker (JOHN CORBETT), the handsome young pastor and principal of the kids' new school and realizes the choice she has to make is between the life she's always loved and the new loves of her life. -- © Touchstone Pictures [More]

Starring: Kate Hudson, Hayden Panettiere, Abigail Breslin, Spencer Breslin

Starring: Kate Hudson, Hayden Panettiere, Abigail Breslin, Spencer Breslin, Joan Cusack, John Corbett, Helen Mirren, Hector Elizondo

Director: Garry Marshall

Director: Garry Marshall
Screenwriter: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler
Producer: David Hoberman, Ashok Amritraj, Mario Iscovich, Ellen H. Schwartz
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

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Reviews for Raising Helen

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The latest urban fairy tale from Pretty Woman's Marshall sees the director continue his descent into underwritten schmaltz at the expense of genuine wit and warmth.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
08/28/04
Liz Beardsworth
Liz Beardsworth
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
08/28/04
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

This isn't funny enough or dramatic enough.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
06/15/04
Stella Papamichael
Stella Papamichael
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Shiny, undemanding and deeply fake.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
05/11/04
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

Yet another social fable about women in distress from Gary Marshall with no foundation in any reality and a mannered, irritating performance from Kate Hudson.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
08/07/07
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

A sort of updated Pretty Woman into homework rather than hooking.

Full Review Source: Long Island Press | comment Comment
05/21/07
Prairie Miller
Prairie Miller
Long Island Press

Satisfying only because of Joan Cusack's sterling performance. Will somebody please give that actress a starring role in her own vehicle?

Full Review Source: Princeton Town Topics | comment Comment
05/02/07
Kam Williams
Kam Williams
Princeton Town Topics

As far as heartwarming comedies go, this one has all the parts necessary: the heart, the warmth, and the comedy.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
11/01/06
CT Staff
CT Staff
Christianity Today
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
05/26/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

...a drippy, maudlin, melodramatic, semi-romantic, sometimes comedy.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
10/11/04
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: tonymedley.com | comment Comment
10/07/04
Tony Medley
Tony Medley
tonymedley.com

Tries to tell in excruciating detail the stories of at least six characters, but succeeds in showing us they are only cardboard cutouts.

Full Review Source: Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) | comment Comment
09/16/04
Mark Collette
Mark Collette
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

It's parenthood through rose-colored glasses.

Full Review Source: Oregon Herald | comment Comment
08/13/04
Mark Sells
Mark Sells
Oregon Herald

Truly means well but, as box office goes, is too condescending and pre-fab to mean very much.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
08/08/04
Doris Toumarkine
Doris Toumarkine
Film Journal International

...sweet-as-Splenda Garry Marshall pipedream...

Full Review Source: Atlantic City Weekly | comment Comment
06/28/04
Lori Hoffman
Lori Hoffman
Atlantic City Weekly
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
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Latest News for Raising Helen

November 17, 2005: Oh It's Already Been Broughten (Part 3)
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