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Movies / On DVD / Raising Helen
Raising Helen

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Raising Helen (2004)

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22 %
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Reviews Counted: 124

Fresh: 27

Rotten:97

Average Rating: 4.6/10

Consensus: As shallow and formulaic as a sitcom.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for thematic issues involving teens

Runtime: 1 hr 54 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:May 28, 2004 Wide

Box Office: $37,379,556

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

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Release:

Oct 12, 2004

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Raising Helen
  • Academy Award(R) nominee Kate Hudson (Best Supporting Actress, ALMOST FAMOUS, 2000; HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS) lights up the screen with John Corbett (MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING) in this hit romantic comedy from the director of THE PRINCESS DIARIES and PRETTY WOMAN! Helen Harris (Hudson) has a glamorous, big-city life ... working for one of New York's hottest modeling agencies. But suddenly her free-spirited life gets turned upside down when she must chose between the life she?s always loved ... and the new loves of her life! Also starring Joan Cusack (IN & OUT), RAISING HELEN is a laugh-filled treat you're sure to fall in love with!
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Raising Helen

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    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
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    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
    04/29/09
    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

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
    08/07/08
    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
    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
    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
    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
    Christianity Today
    N/R

    Click to read the article

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

    Click to read the article

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

    Click to read the article

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

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

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

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: tonymedley.com | comment Comment
    10/07/04
    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
    Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

    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
    Empire Magazine

    Click to read the article

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

    It's parenthood through rose-colored glasses.

    Full Review Source: Oregon Herald | comment Comment
    08/13/04
    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
    Film Journal International

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

    Full Review Source: Atlantic City Weekly | comment Comment
    06/28/04
    Lori Hoffman
    Atlantic City Weekly

    A gift-wrapped view of pathos -- so sanitized it’s almost creepy.

    Full Review Source: Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) | comment Comment
    06/16/04
    Mark Palermo
    Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

    This isn't funny enough or dramatic enough.

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