Raising Helen

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Raising Helen

PG-13

2004

1h 59m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

25%

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130 Reviews

61%

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100,000+ Ratings

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.

Critics Consensus

As shallow and formulaic as a sitcom.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Light drama with some appealing moments.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 28, 2010

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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

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Stella Papamichael

BBC.com

This isn't funny enough or dramatic enough.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 15, 2004

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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

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Tim M

Without the tools to pull off both family comedy and grounded drama, Raising Helen lacks conviction.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/06/25

Full Review

Cleveland E

An insipid, uninspiring movie without so much as a single plot twist. Joan Cusak was the only saving Grace, but even with her talent, she couldn’t save the predictable and boring plot and dialogue.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/09/24

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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

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

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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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
Producer: Ashok Amritraj, David Hoberman
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
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby SRD, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)