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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.

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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    21 - 40 (sorted by date)
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    ...a warm fuzzy...

    Full Review Source: Talking Pictures (U.S.) | comment Comment
    06/09/04
    Tony Toscano
    Tony Toscano
    Talking Pictures (U.S.)

    All the adorability in the world can't save Hudson from another plug-ugly comedy.

    Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
    06/09/04
    Thomas Delapa
    Thomas Delapa
    Boulder Weekly

    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.

    Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
    06/08/04
    Mark Sells
    Mark Sells
    Film Threat

    [Garry Marshall] piles on the cornball touches with the sledgehammer effect of a bad sitcom director.

    Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment Comment
    06/07/04
    Richard Roeper
    Richard Roeper
    Ebert & Roeper
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Sunday Times (Australia) | comment Comment
    06/07/04
    Sunday Times (Australia)

    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.

    Full Review Source: Nitrate Online | comment Comment
    06/07/04
    Dan Lybarger
    Dan Lybarger
    Nitrate Online

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: FilmJerk.com | comment Comment
    06/05/04
    Brian Orndorf
    Brian Orndorf
    FilmJerk.com

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
    06/05/04
    Kimberly Jones
    Kimberly Jones
    Austin Chronicle

    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.

    Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
    06/05/04
    Tyler Hanley
    Tyler Hanley
    Palo Alto Weekly

    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.

    Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
    06/04/04
    Bruce Bennett
    Bruce Bennett
    Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

    ...marshmallow material...has the formulaic flakiness of a tepid situation comedy begging to be renewed for the fall season...a pseudo-sympathetic familial farce

    Full Review Source: Movie Eye | comment Comment
    06/03/04
    Frank Ochieng
    Frank Ochieng
    Movie Eye

    Chills abound in Raising Helen, a macabre tale of three plucky orphans placed in the care of their loving but undead aunt.

    Full Review Source: Mixed Reviews | comment Comment
    06/02/04
    Martin Scribbs
    Martin Scribbs
    Mixed Reviews

    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.

    Full Review Source: Aisle Seat | comment Comment
    06/02/04
    Mike McGranaghan
    Mike McGranaghan
    Aisle Seat

    ...a mediocre movie, content with a contrived screenplay, indifferent direction and lazy performances by most of the cast.

    Full Review Source: Sean the Movie Guy | comment Comment
    06/01/04
    Sean McBride
    Sean McBride
    Sean the Movie Guy

    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.

    Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
    06/01/04
    Susan Michals
    Susan Michals
    FilmStew.com

    Sugar is sweet, but not as sweet as "Raising Helen."

    Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment Comment
    05/31/04
    Linda Cook
    Linda Cook
    Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

    Makes the erroneous suggestion that a woman can't possibly create a life of beauty and meaning without the patter of little feet.

    Full Review Source: Roanoke Times (Virginia) | comment Comment
    05/31/04
    Beth Jones
    Beth Jones
    Roanoke Times (Virginia)

    Kate Hudson is sweetly charming, but the movie is almost too sweet.

    Full Review Source: jackiekcooper.com | comment Comment
    05/30/04
    Jackie K. Cooper
    Jackie K. Cooper
    jackiekcooper.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
    05/29/04
    Boston Phoenix

    This ode to the most stifling aspects of family and motherhood make you feel like the hicks have all uprooted themselves and moved into the front office at Touchstone.

    Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
    05/29/04
    Charles Taylor
    Charles Taylor
    Salon.com
     
     
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