In “Raising Helen,” Helen Harris (Kate Hudson) is a career woman first and foremost. As the executive assistant to Dominique, owner of a huge modeling agency, she’s always on the go, on top of things, and very in demand. Her nightlife is also busy, as she entertains clients. She makes time for her family, whom she loves dearly, especially her sister Lindsay (Felicity Huffman). Her other sister, Abby (Joan Cusack) is also important to her, but they’ve never really clicked.
Tragedy strikes when Lindsay and her husband are killed in a car accident, leaving behind their three children. When it’s time to read the will, both Helen and Abby are shocked to learn that Lindsay chose Helen to take the children. Abby is a mother and devotes her life to it, while Helen has no clue how to parent. But, wanting to obey her sister’s wishes, Helen takes the children.
She can’t afford an apartment big enough for all four of them, so they move to Queens, into a much lower rent district. She enrolls them in school, selecting one run by a Lutheran church (the prices are better and the environment is so much safer than the other schools) and she feels as though she’ll be able to handle things. But when her home life starts interfering with her career, she loses her job.
The pastor of the church is a handsome guy who does everything he can to make Helen feel welcome in his parish. She’s shocked when he asks her out – she didn’t know that a Lutheran pastor could date. Soon, she’s dating Pastor Dan (John Corbett) and she thinks life is going well, until the oldest girl in her care, Audrey (Hayden Panettiere) decides to run off to a hotel on prom night. Helen realizes she’s in way over her head and can’t bring herself to administer the tough love that’s needed.
This movie was actually better than I expected it to be. I loved the interaction between Helen and Dan, how she chose to give up her dreams but then found new ones, and how she comes to learn that life isn’t about money or fame. I was a trifle annoyed by the film’s use of the song “Whip It,” which I’ve always hated, but in the story, it’s used as a motivational song and doesn’t have the other locker room implications. The film is rated PG-13.
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