A Little Help
Ever have one of those lives?
Jenna Fischer gives "a game-changing performance" (The New York Post) in this irresistible and offbeat award-winning comedy set in 2002. Laura, a Long Island dental hygienist, sneaks cigarettes and pounds back beers to cope with her unfaithful husband (Chris O'Donnell), overbearing family, and a brother-in-law (Rob Benedict) who's loved her since high school. Her life really spins out of control when her husband suddenly dies and her 12-year-old son (Daniel Yelsky) tells an outrageous lie at school to impress his new classmates. Laura's going to need a little help to settle into a normal life... or a lot more beer! Academy Award-nominee Lesley Ann Warren, Ron Leibman and Brooke Smith costar in this " highly entertaining and richly human movie experience" (Box Office) from the creator of The King of Queens.
Member Reviews
A little slow - cozoho
This is one of those movies that I kept checking to see when it was over. The film dragged on quite a bit. I will say the relationship between her son and her husband were very real and honest which is refreshing. There wasn't much of a plot and the ending seemed unfinished. I got to the end of it and thought "that's it?". I think Jenna Fischer's performance was wasted in this movie.two stars because I'm not sure - SkyHook
I think any movie deserves less than three stars if I'm not sure what it was about.
I'm going to speculate that anyone with children will identify with the ambiguity and moral slippery slope that comes with trying to be a good parent, while still getting on with life; that those types will appreciate this movie more for what it is at face value.
For myself, it seemed like a rambling drama (what joke count qualifies movies as comedies?) about the general ambguity of what it means to be an adult, or to take responsibility for your actions regardless of the context of parenting or your success at it. I didn't really think the mother childish by her behaviour until it hit me based on her actions. It happens that parenting provides an excellent source of examples that many can relate to, even if from a perspective as a child.
I think I'm on the right track due to some key plot thickening that was pushed in my face by the director instead of the storyline. Nothing like a close up make you pay attention. Make a decision, spend the next hour and a half showing the audience the consequences. Combine that with a half hour of regrets and an hour or so of hiding from reality, smushed together into a grey lump that makes nothing obvious and you have reached a point at the end where the characters seem to have reached clarity, while I felt like the ethical spectrum I was working with was obliterated in the name of entertainment.
Just big lessons learned, if telling the truth is considered a big lesson, but potentially a lesson to be true to yourself as the facades and regrets will come back to haunt you. Maybe a hint of live-for-today to emphasize it. Everyone in this movie is haunted by regrets and their kids haven't moved out yet.
I'll stick with two stars because I'm not sure if there was a happy ending or not, in a movie that seemed like it really needed a happy ending.
Member Reviews
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A little slow - cozoho
This is one of those movies that I kept checking to see when it was over. The film dragged on quite a bit. I will say the relationship between her son and her husband were very real and honest which is refreshing. There wasn't much of a plot and the ending ...two stars because I'm not sure - SkyHook
I think any movie deserves less than three stars if I'm not sure what it was about.
I'm going to speculate that anyone with children will identify with the ambiguity and moral slippery slope that comes with trying to be a good parent, while still ...