Raising Helen (2004)

Jan.23, 2005 by Heather in Reviews, Reviews: DVD, Trailers

Directed by:
Garry Marshall

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic issues involving teens
Theatrical Release: May 28, 2004
DVD Release: October 12, 2004
Runtime: 119 min.

I saw this movie trailer for Raising Helen and thought it looked kind of interesting. Of course, it’s been done before - not on film, but there was a TV series called “Summerland” - but what the heck I’ll try to sit through it. I asked around to see if anybody had seen or heard anything about the film, and nobody had. So, would I be disappointed or would it be a nice surprise?

Kate Hudson…not much to say about her previous roles, as I’ve only really seen one of her films. This film wasn’t her best performance. It didn’t help that the dialogue had already been done. Her lines seemed forced and she didn’t seem really into the film at all.

Joan Cusack, on the other hand, has had many good films (I’ve seen many of them). She did a good job in this film, due to the fact no matter what role she plays, she always really gets into it. Her previous roles in School of Rock and Runaway Bride also proved that. Cusack did the best in this film, better than any of the other actors. Cusack does good in any type of role - she’s done the funny, comforting best friend, the mean strict dean and now she does the motherly sister. Her role was great.

The plot of the film, as I said earlier, was NOT original. It was the same storyline as a short-running TV series, “Summerland”. I only switched on the show once and couldn’t even sit through the entire show. I was able to sit through the movie to see what happens next, but the dialogue was REALLY easy to follow. I could’ve told you what was going to happen in the end, long before it happened.

I thought Raising Helen was going to be better than it was. Some of the acting was okay but the dialogue was pathetic. I think that is what hurt the film - the story has been done before. I would recommend the movie to someone who didn’t watch the series “Summerland,” as they haven’t seen the story yet (It would have been a good film to me if I hadn’t already seen it). It would be a good movie for a rainy Sunday afternoon. But it’s not a film I’ll add to my collection.

Hopefully you’ll enjoy it more than I did.