Raising Helen (2004)

After her sister and brother-in-law die in a car accident, a young woman becomes the guardian of their three children.

Director:

Garry Marshall

Writers:

Patrick J. Clifton (story), Beth Rigazio (story)

Stars:

Kate Hudson, John Corbett, Joan Cusack

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kate Hudson	...	Helen Harris
John Corbett	...	Pastor Dan Parker
Joan Cusack	...	Jenny Portman
Hayden Panettiere	...	Audrey Davis
Spencer Breslin	...	Henry Davis
Abigail Breslin	...	Sarah Davis
Helen Mirren	...	Dominique
Sakina Jaffrey	...	Nilma Prasad
Kevin Kilner	...	Ed Portman
Felicity Huffman	...	Lindsay Davis
Sean O'Bryan	...	Paul Davis
Amber Valletta	...	Martina
Ethan Browne	...	Devon
Michael Esparza	...	BZ
Katie Carr	...	Caitlin

Storyline

Helen Harris (Kate Hudson) is living the life she's always dreamed of: her career at a top modelling 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: fifteen-year-old Audrey (Hayden Panettiere), ten-year-old Henry (Spencer Breslin), and five-year-old Sarah (Abigail Breslin). No one doubts that Helen is the coolest aunt in New York City, but what does this glamor 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 3a.m. doesn't mix with getting kids to school on time, advice that Helen's older sister, Jenny Portman (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...

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Plot Keywords:

girl in school uniform | knee socks | love | fashion show | pastor | 

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Taglines:

Helen help us.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic issues involving teens

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 May 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Raising Helen

Filming Locations:

Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,985,597, 30 May 2004

Gross USA:

$37,486,512

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$49,718,611

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Beacon Pictures, Mandeville Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Erinn Bartlett, who played one of the models in the fashion show, is the sister-in-law of Kate Hudson.

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Goofs

Pastor Dan at the Lutheran school agrees that "heaven, hell, purgatory, everything" (paraphrased) is part of Lutheran (a protestant denomination) belief, but purgatory is particular to Catholicism, and one of the larger points of difference between Catholic and Protestant churches.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Club Doorman: What we got here; 1,2,3,4 - 4 beautiful ladies. Come on. Cesar let them in. Nice. Not you, too random.

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Crazy Credits

On the first half of the end credits, Helen and Dan were on a Zamboni in the dark.

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Connections

Featured in Best! Movies! Ever!: Fashion (2007)

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Soundtracks

Tribal Dance
Written by Phil Wilde (as Filip DeWilde), Filip 'No Angel' Martens (as Filip Martens), Ray Slijngaard (as Raymond Slijngaard), and Xavier De Clayton
Performed by 2 Unlimited
Courtesy of Byte Records

User Reviews

Heartwarming and cute comedy

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)