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Raising Helen More at IMDbPro »

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101 reviews in total

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36 out of 44 people found the following review useful:
Better than I expected, 28 May 2004

Author: ArizWldcat from United States

When I first saw the trailers for this movie, I thought it might be cute, but I had reservations because everything I've seen Kate Hudson in since "Almost Famous" has been quite disappointing. This one, she finally picked a winner. It didn't hurt that her costar is John Corbett. The two of them actually have pretty good chemistry, and the three kids are cute without being annoying. There were lots of tears in this one...more tears than laughs, maybe. It is a great "chick flick". I will have to wait for the DVD to see the end credits because the theater flubbed up and cut off the film right after the final music crescendoed and you could tell the credits were coming. How annoying. Anyway, I digress. Not sure why this is rated PG13, because I don't remember anything blatantly offensive. Again, I wonder why filmmakers can't just be a little more "delicate" and get those PG ratings. There are so few movies we can enjoy as a family...this one I will probably allow my 9 year old to see. Many people won't because of the rating. Too bad. I recommend this one.

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27 out of 32 people found the following review useful:
Bridge and tunnel, 30 May 2006

Author: jotix100 from New York

New Yorkers that happen not to live in the island of Manhattan are seen as "Bridge and tunnel", a derisive term used by residents of the island to indicate their superiority to their less sophisticated, or perhaps less affluent neighbors. Never mind that most Manhattanites are transplants from other places themselves!

Imagine Helen Harris' reaction when she is given custody of her three nephews and has to give up her Village apartment because it's too small and has to relocate to Astoria! Garry Marshall, a director with a lot of films under him, is at the helm of this comedy that follows the adventures of a woman trying to cope with what destiny had in store for her, even though she never set out to be in the position she has to face. The screen play is by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler, two men that has dealt in cuteness in previous works.

Helen, who works for a modeling agency in Manhattan, finds herself in a predicament when her sister Lindsay and her husband die tragically. She has been picked to raise two girls and a boy and she is ill prepared to deal with the situation. Instead of naming the more domestic sister, Jenny, as the guardian, Lindsay knew something that the other two siblings didn't know in trusting her three children to Helen.

"Raising Helen" deals with the trials and tribulations of Helen as she comes to terms with her new situation. She must give up her fabulous job, with all its perks, and seek employment in a "previously owned" car lot where she is able to prove her worth. At the same time, she has to deal with her new family in ways she didn't expect. She also finds a good man in the Lutheran pastor who falls in love with her from the moment she enrolls the kids in his school.

Kate Hudson is a beautiful woman with an angelic face that keeps the viewer recalling her mother, Goldie Hawn. She is as good a comedienne, as her mother was in her prime. The best thing in the film, or in any other film where she is cast, is Joan Cusack. She steals the film with her Jenny, a well meaning person who feels bypassed for a role she was meant to play all along. Ms. Cusack is a treasure in this movie. John Corbett, is the hunky Lutheran pastor who falls in love with Helen. Helen Mirren and Felicity Huffman has small roles as Helen's boss Dominique and her sister Lindsay.

"Raising Helen" while predictable was targeted for a certain viewer who loves this type of comedy. Under the sure hand of Garry Marshall it makes for a pleasant time at the movies.

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25 out of 35 people found the following review useful:
Funny; good family film, some tender moments., 29 November 2004

Author: John Abraham from Calgary, AB

I loved Kate Hudson in Almost Famous, and a few people told me this film was good, so we rented it.

We did enjoy it. It had some very funny moments, and some very tender moments. Kate Hudson was good, but don't expect "Almost Famous" style brilliance out of her in this one. The rest of the cast performs about the same -- good performances, nothing stellar. Except perhaps Joan Cusack; her performance was very good.

If you have kids, say, about ten years old and older this is a good film to watch together with them -- it introduces them to a few teen and adult issues (dating, death, etc.) and shows the sorts of tough decisions that parents sometimes have to make. And you'll have lots of fun laughing together too.

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31 out of 50 people found the following review useful:
Raising Helen, 15 May 2005

Author: mhb_0250 from U.S. Virgin Islands

This movie was a nice surprise. It speaks to the young, single career women who think they have it all.

It has a lesson, and not all movies do. We learn the importance of family and how hard it is to raise children. But the resounding message that is sent is that sometimes we think we know what we want, then when a life-altering experience happens, we rethink what we originally thought.

I loved the script writing in this movie-- very entertaining and intelligent. I thought the acting was superb.

I think kate hudson was so natural and endearing. A dumb-blonde? No... this woman is the woman to watch for... move over Nicole Kidman...you have serious competition here.

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12 out of 16 people found the following review useful:
utterly artificial slice-of-life comedy, 17 January 2006

Author: Roland E. Zwick (magneteach@aol.com) from United States

"Raising Helen" is a formulaic romantic comedy that makes you wonder when Kate Hudson will again find a role that will actually allow her to stretch herself as an actress, fulfilling the promise she made half a decade ago in "Almost Famous." Since then it's been mostly downhill for Hudson, and the ironically titled "Raising Helen" does nothing to help arrest or reverse that slide.

Hudson plays Helen Harris, a young woman whose budding career in the fashion industry is suddenly cut short when her sister and brother-in-law are killed in a car accident, leaving Helen to raise their three children. Things go from bad to worse, as the once carefree Helen struggles with the trials and tribulations and life-changing vicissitudes of unplanned motherhood.

This is a typical Garry Marshall film in that, even when it tries to deal with "real world" issues such as death, loss, grief, sibling rivalry, teenage angst etc., it does so in only the most superficial, glossy and unconvincing of terms. Heck, there's even a hunky, hockey-playing Lutheran minister on hand - the kind one can only find in movies - to provide spiritual as well as romantic comfort for those times when the going gets to be just a bit too tough for the harried guardian.

The performances are uniformly uninteresting, but I choose to blame the shallow writing rather than the actors in this case. It's particularly painful to see actresses of the caliber of Felicity Huffman and Joan Cusack cast adrift in this sea of "chick flick" platitudes and feel-good movie clichés - but everyone in this film suffers a similar fate.

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10 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Very predictable. Fine for families with pre-teens. As much as I hate to use the term it is a chick flick, 6 July 2006

Author: spockwillow from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Without Joan Cusak, this film is a 3. Kate is cute but that is not enough. The concept is almost absurd. The only conflict is that who gets the kids. No tragedy or difficult conflict beyond the deaths at the beginning. This movie really should have been rated PG as nothing remotely offensive occurs that an 8 year old could not view. The whole script was predictable from the 20 minute mark. This movie is a waste of three talented actors as the script is very lacking, and even when it hits on some salient points it flounders. For example the scene at the hotel on prom night was a serious miss. Unless you have young children and want to have the conversation about what happens if mommy and daddy die then I recommend saving the 2 hours and find something else to do.

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16 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
Heartwarming and cute comedy, 21 May 2004
Author: Douglas Young (the-movie-guy) from Memphis, Tennessee

Helen Harris (Kate Hudson) is living the high life in New York City and working for a top-modeling agency, when her sister and brother-in-law die in an auto accident. Her good times are over when she gets a letter from her sister's attorney. Helen has been given custody of her sister's three children. Helen has never raised any children, and she thinks her older sister, Jenny (Joan Cusack) is better qualified to raise the children. Helen accepts the custody of the three children, and they move to a new apartment in Queens. Helen loved staying out late and going to nightclubs, but she now has to take care of the children. Helen is forced to change her lifestyle and become a real mom, which in turn gets her fired from her glamorous job. In the end, Helen learns what is really important in life. This is a heartwarming and cute comedy that will make you tear up. It is the type of movie that your girlfriend or wife will drag her mate to see. In other words, it will appeal more to women than men. (Touchstone Pictures, Run time 1:59, Rated PG-13) (6/10)

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10 out of 15 people found the following review useful:
old script...new refreshing movie, 16 February 2005

Author: tnkcool from India

The story of three kids being given to an unqualified relative has been repeated countless number of times. This time however, Raising Helen gives the story a nice turn. The story is predictable...and yet..thoroughly refreshing. Kate Hudson has done a fantastic job and John Corbett looks dashing as usual. The child actors are really good and the story pretty funny. It's an honest attempt to make a good feel-good movie. Joan Cusack is her usual great self...and adds a touch of reality to her character. All in all...this movie's worth a watch, especially for those who like watching a feel-good romantic comedy!The Asian neighbour and Kate's boss at the modelling agency have done justice to their characters. Kate Hudson is definitely someone to watch out for...she's going places!

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18 out of 31 people found the following review useful:
A fun, sweet movie, with real values, 23 October 2004

Author: bruce-281

This is a must see movie! The whole family will enjoy it. Kate Hudson is enjoyable to watch. John Corbett was a good leading man for her. Good writing, directing, acting. Joan Cusack makes it a complete sweet dramatic comedy. The kids were well chosen for this, they are all good actors! Abigail Breslin is such a cutie in this. I liked the Pastor being portrayed as a regular guy, a real person, with normal desires, Yet he was still a good pastor, a spiritual leader that could be trusted. This movie reminds us that getting back to the things in life that are important is what makes our lives rich & happy.

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19 out of 33 people found the following review useful:
Absurd and Corny Hollywoodian Tale, 27 February 2006

Author: Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The single and successful executive of the fashion world, Helen Harris (Kate Hudson), becomes the guardian of her two nieces and one nephew after the death of her sister and her brother-in-law. She moves from Manhattan to Queens, and faces difficulties trying to raise the children.

"Raising Helen" is another absurd and corny Hollywoodian tale, or fairytale, or s**t tale. There are some few funny moments, but the story has an absolute lack of logic and coherence. The changing of the character of Helen, from a fashionable independent single woman of Manhattan developing her successful career in the fashion world into a suburban mother of stepson and stepdaughters is one of the most ridiculous and corny I have ever seen. I like Joan Cusack, Hector Elizondo, Kate Hudson and John Corbett, I tried to like this movie, but the screenplay is a shallow unbelievable crap. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Um Presente Para Helen" ("A Gift For Helen")

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