Raising Helen

Name: Raising Helen
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: May 26, 2004
Duration: 119 min
Rating: 38
Cast: Joan Cusack, John Corbett, Kate Hudson

2004

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Generally unfavorable reviews based on 34 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: May 26, 2004 | PG-13

Starring: Joan Cusack, John Corbett, Kate Hudson

Summary: Helen Harris's carefree lifestyle comes to a screeching halt when she learns that she is now responsible for her sister's three children. She comes to realize that the choice she has to make is between the life she's always loved and the new loves of her life. (Touchstone Pictures)

Director: Garry Marshall

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 119 min

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Critic Reviews

Sheri Linden

Marshall's predilection for romantic fairy tales is much in evidence, though the comedy registers in a lower key than it did in such hits as "Pretty Woman" and "Runaway Bride." Read full review

Joe Leydon

An undemanding dramedy. Read full review

Premiere Laine Ewen

It's really rather dull, lacking in any originality or flair that might draw attention to the cause. It's lightly comedic, lightly dramatic, lightly tragic, and, therefore, lightly entertaining. Read full review

Mark Caro

You can take the director out of television, but sometimes you can't take television out of the director. Although Garry Marshall has been making movies for longer than he spent creating such series as "The Odd Couple," "Happy Days" and "Laverne and Shirley," his work retains the scent of the small screen. Read full review

Dallas Observer Robert Wilonsky

Sitting through Raising Helen is an exercise in frustration, because somewhere inside this big heap of Hollywood nothing is a something (someone, actually) worth saving and savoring. Her name is Joan Cusack. Read full review

Ty Burr

Works so hard to be inoffensive that you may well be offended. Read full review

Peter Travers

Despite Joan Cusack, whose comic spark earns the film its only star, Raising Helen is like tumbling into chick-flick hell. Read full review

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DawdlingPoet

Nov 28, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Raising Helen is a rather heart warming family story that offers a few laughs primarily in the form of sentimental 'aww, cute' type moments. Its quite 'bright and breezy' as it were, with likeable characters and a story that while not entirely gripping or fast as such, it moves at enough of a rate to keep you watching. I thought the story was in part rather predictable, especially with the romantic slant with the school pastor but then some people probably like that in movies such as this when you know roughly what your getting, with it being quite a girly movie, a light romantic comedy for the most part but otherwise mainly a movie about family for most of the family (it carries a PG rating although there's little to offend or scare children, thats probably due to the death related theme which could perhaps upset young children), sometimes its nice to sit down and watch a movie that you know won't offend and that won't tax your brain - its an easy watch basically. I guess you could say that its a movie about discovering strength, self doubt and re-adjustment, although all in quite a sentimental, light way, if that makes sense(?).

There's a good cast present with some big names apart from the lead character Helen played by Kate Hudson, including Joan Cusack who plays Helens sister Jennifer (aka Jenny), Helen Mirren as Dominique (another relative I think) and Hayden Paneittere (more well known as having played a key character in the first season of the cult drama series Heroes) as the eldest child, teenage daughter Audrey, who is reluctant and hesitant about aunt Helen taking over in mum role and thus acts out, distancing herself. Helen is tested by her behaviour, ultimately turning to Jenny for guidance as she doesn't feel it right for her to interfere in Audrey's life in some ways (feeling it would be somewhat hypocritical given her past), again re-inforcing the message about the importance of family supporting each other over all else and how family can come together in challenging times, 'family can conquer all' almost, I suppose (cheesy I know but I suppose thats roughly correct).

There are some noteably tender moments with the youngest daughter as well, when Helen has to learn to visualise their late mum and think what would she do? to show she can relate and take over in teaching some basic things.

Its also true to say that this is a movie about how things can change in a moment, which is highlighted by the scene in which Helen takes the phone call in which she's informed of the deaths, which was previously, until that moment, a fun, jovial social situation.

I found the scenes involving Helen flirting with the Lutheran school head pastor to be a bit too cheesy, or as I like to say cringeworthy. Its a bit 'airy fairy' as my mum would probably say but then thats not always such a bad thing I suppose. Its quite funny when she tries a bit too hard to convince him that her and the children are authentic Lutheran Christians, which is something British parents can no doubt relate to, trying to get their children enrolled in better private, often religious schools, preferring that than the rather more run down local public schools which may lead to children or teenagers mixing with what would be seen as the wrong crowd.

As a light comedy/drama movie, I suppose its alright, its not particularly awful or really good, its ok. I'm not sure if I would outrightly recommend it as such but its unlikely to be a movie that you'd walk away feeling seriously disappointed with, neither is it likely to stick in your mind or be seen as particularly clever, it doesn't cover any new ground and is if anything a bit predictable but then for the kind of movie it is, thats possibly seen as a good thing for a change (if you like a movie where you have a good idea of roughly what your going to see before you put it on, if you know what I mean?). Its alright but no great shakes as it were, so I'd probably say its only worth going out of your way to watch it if your a big fan of the cast and want to make an effort to see all their films, something like that, otherwise I'm not sure I'd say its worth paying to see.… Expand

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GarethC

Dec 24, 2006

What a load of bollocks. God, this is a very bad movie. The script is sooo cheesy! Wake up Hollywood, this C-rate attempt at film making is in dire need of originality.

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