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Raising Helen | Description: Kate Hudson has to play mother Year: 2004 Classification: Comedy Directed: - Gary Marshall - Garry Marshall Actors/Actresses: - Kate Hudson as Helen Harris - Helen Mirren as Dominique - Joan Cusack as Jenny - John Corbett Following in Mom's footsteps Kate Hudson is in danger of becoming typecast as the heroine of cute and unobjectionable comedies such as those that made her mother, Goldie Hawn, famous. In RAISING HELEN, Hudson plays Helen Harris, a young single employed as the personal assistant to Dominique (Helen Mirren), the stuffy head of a top modeling agency. Both of Helen's older sisters, Jenny (Joan Cusack) and Lindsay (Felicity Huffman), are married with children. Indeed, Jenny is pregnant yet again. When Lindsay and her husband are killed in a road accident, Lindsay's will assigns guardianship of her three children to Helen, much to Jenny's hurt and disbelief. If you're looking to see yet another film where an immature adult is given the opportunity to grow up via the experience of raising difficult children, then RAISING HELEN will not disappoint. Kate is cute. The kids are cute. The plot is cute. The film is too cute. Only the effervescence of Hudson makes it worth watching. Mirren's talent is wasted. John Corbett as Pastor Dan, the headmaster of the private Lutheran school in which Harris enrolls her new charges, is totally colorless and ineffectual as Helen's potential love interest. (He's a squeaky-clean minister, for crissakes!) There are several watchable supporting roles. First, Cusack as the second eldest sister whose been nurturing all her life - initially as surrogate mother to Helen when their own Mom died prematurely, and now with her own expanding brood. Jenny deeply resents the fact that she never had the chance to be footloose and fancy-free like her young sibling. And then there's Helen's feisty next-door neighbor, Nilma (Sakina Jaffrey), a veteran mother in her own right, who's literally willing to take up a baseball bat to put some backbone in Helen's spine when it comes to disciplinary problems. Lastly, there's Hector Elizondo as Mickey Massey, the owner of a "pre-owned vehicle" dealership with (gasp!) a conscience. As ALMOST FAMOUS (2000) demonstrated, Hudson has the talent to be a fine dramatic actress. RAISING HELEN is harmless enough, especially if you only pay the matinee price. But, c'mon Kate, you can do better! BEST CHICK FLICK I'VE EVER SEEN! 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! Lowering Expectations 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. Buy Raising Helen at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Raising Helen Search with the Priority Search Engine on Raising Helen This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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