Raising Helen

PG-13

Released May 1, 2004

1 hr. 59 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

25%

132 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Single and self-involved, Helen Harris (Kate Hudson) has a thriving fashion career and a lavish lifestyle in New York City. Helen is shocked to hear that her sister and brother-in-law have died in an accident, and alarmed that they have named her the guardian of their three kids (Hayden Panettiere, Spencer Breslin, Abigail Breslin). As the children struggle with the change, Helen has to decide whether she'll cling to her old ways or come to terms with her new family role.

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Critics Consensus

As shallow and formulaic as a sitcom.

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Barabas B

lovely and heartwarming

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Pure & a product of a more wholesome time surrounded with family, which explains why pretentious critics dislike it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Brandon M

Great movie, Kate Hudson is amazing in this move. The fact the experts gave it 25% because they are pretentious whores.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's not a family masterpiece - but it's a decent family value film where Hudson goes from her high-powered exec career to one of taking care of her nieces and nephew when her sister dies suddenly.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

shelby s

I don't watch movies to cry. I cried a lot. I recognize that was the intention. I wouldn't unwatch it. But the level of dehydration I might reach if I were to ever watch it again might be fatal. Wasn't my thing. I like to like movies.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie was very disappointing. The story, or plot is interesting and it could have been a really good movie, especially with Kate Hudson in the lead, but it's not good at all. There was no real drama, or emotion. Even the parts that were meant to be funny fell flat. It was actually hard for me to make it to the end and I kept thinking that maybe it would get better and it just didn't.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

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Garry Marshall

Director

Kate Hudson

Helen Harris

John Corbett

Pastor Dan

Joan Cusack

Jenny

Héctor Elizondo

Mickey Massey

Helen Mirren

Dominique

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Light drama with some appealing moments.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

Liz Moody

Empire Magazine

The latest urban fairy tale from Pretty Woman's Marshall sees the director continue his descent into underwritten schmaltz at the expense of genuine wit and warmth.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 28, 2004

Full Review

Stella Papamichael

BBC.com

This isn't funny enough or dramatic enough.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 15, 2004

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

The entire film is pretty much saved by Cusack, who seems to add so much to even the most stereotypical role.

Rated: 2.5/4.0

Sep 20, 2020

Full Review

Megan Basham

National Review

Helen recognizes what the audience has known all along: "Holy can be hot!"

Feb 6, 2018

Full Review

Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

Marshall does a decent job with this film, keeping everything 'nice' as you find in most of his movies.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 17, 2016

Full Review

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Synopsis

Single and self-involved, Helen Harris (Kate Hudson) has a thriving fashion career and a lavish lifestyle in New York City. Helen is shocked to hear that her sister and brother-in-law have died in an accident, and alarmed that they have named her the guardian of their three kids (Hayden Panettiere, Spencer Breslin, Abigail Breslin). As the children struggle with the change, Helen has to decide whether she'll cling to her old ways or come to terms with her new family role.

Director: Garry Marshall
Executive Producer: Mario Iscovich, Ellen H. Schwartz
Screenwriter: Patrick J. Clifton, Jack Amiel, Michael Begler
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures, Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, High Arc Productions, Beacon Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 1, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.5M
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby SRD, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)