This Helen will launch a thousand snores
The title figure of Raising Helen (Kate Hudson) lives in a tame version
of the fast lane. Executive assistant to the head of a successful modeling agency
(Helen Mirren), Helen is on her way to becoming an agent when her life is sidetracked
by a tragedy. After a cutesy birthday party for Helen’s oldest sister, Lindsay
(Felicity Huffman), both Lindsay and her husband are killed in a car accident.
Their will requests that young, irresponsible Helen take the kids, much to the
dismay of the middle and more motherly sister, Jenny (Joan Cusack). Helen may
not be ready for motherhood, as the title suggests, but she has little to fret
over: The three kids are hardly troublesome, and they aren’t particularly interesting.
Other than a prom date that surprisingly ends up at a motel, the situations
could have come from Brady Bunch episodes. An unfortunate blandness —
augmented by a drippy score — envelops the film. It took four writers to come
up with a plot that is more predictable than Titanic’s. Minor amusing
moments are sprinkled throughout, but no one will remember them long enough
to tell his or her friends.
The worldview of director Garry Marshall (creator of television’s Happy
Days and Laverne and Shirley) is so sugary, insulin shots should
be provided to the people who see his films. Has there ever been a sweeter prostitute
than the one played by Julia Roberts in his biggest hit, Pretty Woman?
Hudson’s Helen is equally sweet, but this actress is capable of so much more.
Her breakthrough role as the groupie Penny Lane in Almost Famous also
exuded sweetness, but as a mask for Penny’s inner sadness. Hudson can express
more with a look than most actresses can with pages of dialogue. Her charm makes
Raising Helen bearable, but unlike her mom, Goldie Hawn, she has the
range to go beyond light comedic roles. Raising Helen is a feel-good
movie, but only if you don’t put too much thought into it.
What other critics are saying. . .
The Ladykillers [R] A professor assembles a group of thieves for a
casino heist. After they hole up in a sweet old woman’s home, they find that
she’s the biggest threat to their plans. Tom Hanks stars. “The Coens’ remake
of a comedy classic flounders amid extreme caricatures and strained humor. (Kirk
Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter) Parkway Pointe
Laws of Attraction [PG-13] Two New York City divorce lawyers (Julianne
Moore and Pierce Brosnan) fall in love — after waking up married to one
another.“Brosnan is devilishly charming; Moore is equally appealing.
These two film veterans belong on the screen together just as their characters
belong in each other’s arms.” (Chuck Koplinski, Illinois Times) Parkway
Pointe
Man on Fire [R]A former Marine (Denzel Washington) swears
vengeance on those who committed an unspeakable act against the family he was
hired to protect. “Audiences need to be aware that the violence is intense,
but also very creative.” (Marc Sigoloff, Illinois Times) ShowPlace
East
Mean Girls [PG-13]Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the
A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling
for the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic. “You gotta love a film that poses the
vital question: ‘Is butter a carb?’ ” (Gregory Weinkauf, New Times newspapers)ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
My Architect [Not rated] Documentary explores the story of noted architect
Louis Kahn, who died bankrupt and alone 30 years ago. “A quiet, inspiring study
of the vagaries of genius, the blindness of commerce, the pain of family conflicts
and the almost sublime power of great architecture or great art.” (Michael Wilmington,
Chicago Tribune) Parkway Pointe Art
Shrek 2 [PG] Princess Fiona’s parents invite her and Shrek to dinner
to celebrate her marriage, not realizing that the newlyweds are green ogres.
ShowPlace West, ShowPlace EastÂ
Soul Plane [R] Things get funky on a black-owned airplane thanks to
some last-minute passengers. Tom Arnold, Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Kevin Hart,
and Monique star.Parkway Pointe
13 Going on 30 [PG-13] A 13-year-old girl plays a game on her 13th birthday and wakes up the next day as a 30-year-old woman (Jennifer Garner). “Jennifer Garner makes the transition from cult-fave TV action icon to full-fledged, ultra-charismatic feature lead in 13 Going on 30.” (Joe Leydon, Variety) Parkway Pointe
Troy [R] An adaption of Homer’s epic about the siege of Troy by the
Greeks. Brad Pitt stars as Achilles. Eric Bana is Hector. Orlando Bloom is Paris.”This is The Iliad as a WWE SmackDown: violent fights, snappy
insults and a connoisseur’s idolatry of beautiful brawn.” (Richard Corliss,
Time); “Troy, besides being tremendously entertaining, is the
best crib-sheet guide to Homer ever.” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone)
ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Van Helsing [PG-13] Legendary 19th century monster hunter Dr. Abraham
Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) heads to Eastern Europe to do battle with Count Dracula,
the Wolfman, and Frankenstein. “A noisy, 19th-century fantasy adventure that
goes nowhere.” (Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace
East
This article appears in May 27 – Jun 2, 2004.
