Tagline: Helen Help Us
Raising Helen movie storyline. Helen Harris (Kate Hudson) is living the life she always dreamed of. Her career at a top Manhattan modeling agency, working for Dominique (Helen Mirren), 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 – 15- year-old Audrey (Hayden Panettiere), 10- year-old Henry (Spencer Breslin), and 5- year-old Sarah (Abigail Breslin).
The fun begins as Helen goes through the transformation from super hip to super mom. No one doubts that Helen is the coolest aunt in New York, but what does this glamour girl know about raising kids? She quickly finds that dancing at 3 a.m. doesn’t mix with getting kids to school on time – advice that Helen’s older sister, Jenny (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 and principal of the kids’ new school – and realizes the choice she has to make is between the life she’s always loved and the new loves of her life.
Raising Helen is a 2004 American comedy-drama film directed by Garry Marshall and written by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler. It stars Kate Hudson, John Corbett, Joan Cusack, Hayden Panettiere, siblings Spencer and Abigail Breslin, and Helen Mirren. It grossed $37,486,138 at the U.S. box office. The film opened at the number 4 on opening weekend, making $10.9 million. In North America, the film made $37,486,512 overall. In foreign countries, it made $12,232,099. The film made $49,718,611 in its entire run, on a $50 million budget, making the film a box office flop.
About the Story
Helen Harris (Kate Hudson) and Lindsay (Felicity Huffman) were raised by their oldest sister, Jenny (Joan Cusack), after their mother died when Helen was seven. Now Helen is very successful in the fashion industry, working as the executive assistant to the CEO of one of Manhattan’s most prestigious modeling agencies, and has a nice Manhattan lifestyle which keeps her extremely occupied and content. But Helen’s world suddenly changes when Lindsay and brother-in-law Paul (Sean O’Bryan) die in a car accident, leaving behind three children, turning everyone’s life upside down.
Helen and Jenny are in shock when they hear Lindsay and Paul left Helen in charge of their three kids: 15-year-old Audrey (Hayden Panettiere), 10-year-old Henry (Spencer Breslin), and five-year-old Sarah (Abigail Breslin). Nobody expected Helen to be named guardian of the children especially since Jenny was already a super mom with two children and a third on the way. But a letter left to Helen by Lindsay convinces her that she can take care of the children. And Helen decides to do it on her own terms, which means raising the children and maintaining her already fast-paced schedule. But as work and children begin to interfere, Helen quickly finds herself burnt out and disheartened by her responsibilities and Jenny’s lack of faith in her parenting.
Despite her already hectic schedule, Helen finds the time to develop a genuine affection for her new dependents, as well as an equally genuine attraction to Dan Parker (John Corbett), the kids’ school principal and local Lutheran pastor. Busy trying to appease the children and adjust to suddenly being a mom, Helen’s concentration on her job begins to slip and she is fired from Dominique (Helen Mirren). Stuck between a rock and a hard place, she is forced to become a receptionist at a car dealership.
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Raising Helen (2004)
Directed by: Garry Marshall
Starring: Kate Hudson, John Corbett, Joan Cusack, Amber Valletta, Hayden Panettiere, Helen Mirren, Spencer Breslin, Abigail Breslin, Sakina Jaffrey, Felicity Huffman
Screenplay by: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler
Production Design by: Steven J. Jordan
Cinematography by: Charles Minsky
Film Editing by: Bruce Green, Tara Timpone
Costume Design by: Gary Jones
Set Decoration by: Suzette Sheets
Art Direction by: William Hiney
Music by: John Debney, Mark Vogel
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic issues involving teens
Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures
Release Date: May 28, 2004
Views: 95
