A gift-wrapped view of pathos -- so sanitized it’s almost creepy.
Raising Helen (2004)
Tomatometer
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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 Award® 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 Award® 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
Reviews for Raising Helen
All the adorability in the world can't save Hudson from another plug-ugly comedy.
Rich with clichés, predictability, and happily ever afters, the story never ever leaves its comfort zone to challenge the characters and their relationships, to create tension or conflict, or to throw in the proverbial plot twist.
[Garry Marshall] piles on the cornball touches with the sledgehammer effect of a bad sitcom director.
Raising Helen can best be described as Jersey Girl with better acting. The idea isn’t that interesting, but at least the people involved seem more committed.
Although Raising Helen boasts a charming cast with a cute factor that's off the cinematic Richter scale, typical Hollywood predictability rears its ugly head too often.
Marshall pulls off some delicately serious moments. Problem is, most of this movie is supposed to be funny, and more often than not, it isn’t.
...marshmallow material...has the formulaic flakiness of a tepid situation comedy begging to be renewed for the fall season...a pseudo-sympathetic familial farce
Chills abound in Raising Helen, a macabre tale of three plucky orphans placed in the care of their loving but undead aunt.
You know those scenes in Shrek 2 in which Puss in Boots stops and makes cutesy, goo-goo kitty eyes at people? Well, this movie is like that look.
...a mediocre movie, content with a contrived screenplay, indifferent direction and lazy performances by most of the cast.
The film’s trio of kids show virtually no grief other than the occasional pout, a reaction that is more akin to being grounded than having your family torn apart.
Makes the erroneous suggestion that a woman can't possibly create a life of beauty and meaning without the patter of little feet.
Latest News for Raising Helen
November 17, 2005:
Oh It's Already Been Broughten (Part 3)
A fresh press release from Universal informs us that there will soon be a "Bring It On 3" to enjoy, but also reminds us that, hey yeah, there WAS a direct-to-video... More...
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