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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)
Bubble View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 09 2006 03:17 AM

Time Out

splat
2/5

Liz Beardsworth

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: | comment Comment | Aug., 28 2004 10:40 PM

Empire Magazine

splat
1/5

Matthew Turner

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 28 2004 10:40 PM

ViewLondon

splat
2/5

Stella Papamichael

This isn't funny enough or dramatic enough.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 15 2004 08:15 AM

BBC

splat
2/5

Rich Cline

Shiny, undemanding and deeply fake.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 11 2004 08:16 AM

Shadows on the Wall

N/R

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 29 2009 03:16 AM

Cinema Crazed

N/R

Urban Cinefile Critics

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 07:58 AM

Urban Cinefile

splat
2/5

Jim Lane

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 07 2008 03:17 AM

Sacramento News & Review

splat
C-

Emanuel Levy

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: | comment Comment | Aug., 07 2007 09:28 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

tomato

Prairie Miller

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 21 2007 07:20 AM

Long Island Press

tomato
3.5/4

Kam Williams

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: | comment Comment | May., 02 2007 09:16 PM

Princeton Town Topics

tomato
3/4

CT Staff

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 01 2006 03:30 PM

Christianity Today

N/R

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 26 2006 03:17 AM

Combustible Celluloid

splat
2/5

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 06 2005 08:11 PM

Film Threat

splat
4/10

John J. Puccio

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 11 2004 09:05 AM

DVDTown.com

tomato
7/10

Tony Medley

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 07 2004 07:31 PM

tonymedley.com

splat
0.5/4

Mark Collette

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: | comment Comment | Sep., 16 2004 02:06 PM

Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

splat
2/5

Mark Sells

It's parenthood through rose-colored glasses.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 13 2004 08:50 AM

Oregon Herald

splat

Doris Toumarkine

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 08 2004 08:37 AM

Film Journal International

splat
2/4

Lori Hoffman

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 28 2004 11:53 AM

Atlantic City Weekly

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Raising Helen

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