Liebe auf Umwegen

New Yorkers that happen not to live in the island of Manhattan are seen as "Bridge and tunnel", a derisive term used by residents of the island to indicate their superiority to their less sophisticated, or perhaps less affluent neighbors. Never mind that most Manhattanites are transplants from other places themselves!

Imagine Helen Harris' reaction when she is given custody of her three nephews and has to give up her Village apartment because it's too small and has to relocate to Astoria! Garry Marshall, a director with a lot of films under him, is at the helm of this comedy that follows the adventures of a woman trying to cope with what destiny had in store for her, even though she never set out to be in the position she has to face. The screen play is by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler, two men that has dealt in cuteness in previous works.

Helen, who works for a modeling agency in Manhattan, finds herself in a predicament when her sister Lindsay and her husband die tragically. She has been picked to raise two girls and a boy and she is ill prepared to deal with the situation. Instead of naming the more domestic sister, Jenny, as the guardian, Lindsay knew something that the other two siblings didn't know in trusting her three children to Helen.

"Raising Helen" deals with the trials and tribulations of Helen as she comes to terms with her new situation. She must give up her fabulous job, with all its perks, and seek employment in a "previously owned" car lot where she is able to prove her worth. At the same time, she has to deal with her new family in ways she didn't expect. She also finds a good man in the Lutheran pastor who falls in love with her from the moment she enrolls the kids in his school.

Kate Hudson is a beautiful woman with an angelic face that keeps the viewer recalling her mother, Goldie Hawn. She is as good a comedienne, as her mother was in her prime. The best thing in the film, or in any other film where she is cast, is Joan Cusack. She steals the film with her Jenny, a well meaning person who feels bypassed for a role she was meant to play all along. Ms. Cusack is a treasure in this movie. John Corbett, is the hunky Lutheran pastor who falls in love with Helen. Helen Mirren and Felicity Huffman has small roles as Helen's boss Dominique and her sister Lindsay.

"Raising Helen" while predictable was targeted for a certain viewer who loves this type of comedy. Under the sure hand of Garry Marshall it makes for a pleasant time at the movies.

Helen Harris (Kate Hudson) is living the high life in New York City and working for a top-modeling agency, when her sister and brother-in-law die in an auto accident. Her good times are over when she gets a letter from her sister's attorney. Helen has been given custody of her sister's three children. Helen has never raised any children, and she thinks her older sister, Jenny (Joan Cusack) is better qualified to raise the children. Helen accepts the custody of the three children, and they move to a new apartment in Queens. Helen loved staying out late and going to nightclubs, but she now has to take care of the children. Helen is forced to change her lifestyle and become a real mom, which in turn gets her fired from her glamorous job. In the end, Helen learns what is really important in life. This is a heartwarming and cute comedy that will make you tear up. It is the type of movie that your girlfriend or wife will drag her mate to see. In other words, it will appeal more to women than men. (Touchstone Pictures, Run time 1:59, Rated PG-13) (6/10)

This film is about a young woman unexpectedly becoming a mother of three because her sister died in a traffic accident.

I find the script weak and unconvincing. The script tries to examine the difficulty of transition from singlehood to motherhood, family tension, trust and childcare issues. The end result is that the film lack direction and wander around aimlessly. It fails to be funny, romantic or dramatic.

Acting has to be applauded though. Joan Cusack does a good job to convey a spectrum of emotions, especially envy. Hayden Panettiere is also very convincing as a rebellious young girl.

Overall, I find this film boring and lacklustre.

When I first saw the trailers for this movie, I thought it might be cute, but I had reservations because everything I've seen Kate Hudson in since "Almost Famous" has been quite disappointing. This one, she finally picked a winner. It didn't hurt that her costar is John Corbett. The two of them actually have pretty good chemistry, and the three kids are cute without being annoying. There were lots of tears in this one...more tears than laughs, maybe. It is a great "chick flick". I will have to wait for the DVD to see the end credits because the theater flubbed up and cut off the film right after the final music crescendoed and you could tell the credits were coming. How annoying. Anyway, I digress. Not sure why this is rated PG13, because I don't remember anything blatantly offensive. Again, I wonder why filmmakers can't just be a little more "delicate" and get those PG ratings. There are so few movies we can enjoy as a family...this one I will probably allow my 9 year old to see. Many people won't because of the rating. Too bad. I recommend this one.

This is an atrocious piece of formulaic Hollywood cinema that insults the intelligence and sophistication of everyone.

There are no laughs in it whatsoever and nothing believable about the story, characters, etc.

You don't care about the characters at all..no development at all..in fact I still can't remember who actually was supposed to have died after the embarrassing 'Devo dance / bonding scene' that's supposed to endear you to the character who is dead 5 minutes later. I kept asking myself "Who died?"

I got up and left this turkey about an hour into it.