Ahoy, squirts. Quint here with Vanilla Christ's delicious review of the upcoming Gary Marshall flick RAISING HELEN, starring the jaw-dropping gorgeous Kate Hudson. Hudson captured my heart with her turn as Penny Lane in ALMOST FAMOUS, but I can't say I've loved her work since. From the looks of this review, the reason to see RAISING HELEN is Joan Cusack, but I'm sure the radiant beauty of Goldie's offspring doesn't hurt.
This flick just played at the world famous Tribeca Film Festival and Mr./Mrs./? Christ seems to be having a ball. Perhaps we'll be getting more reviews of the fine flicks playing. Click here for more info on the fest! Anyway, on with the review!
Hey Harry,
Last night I was able to attend the world premiere of Gary Marshall's new film "Raising Helen" at the Tribeca Film Festival. The screening was held at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center and was introduced by Robert DeNiro, Jane Rosenthall, and Gary Marshall, who pointed out the cast members in the audience, which included Kate Hudson, Jon Corbett, and Joan Cusack. Some other notable faces were Goldie Hawn, Mike Wallace, Lou Reed, Chazz Palminteri, Peter Boyle, Kevin Bacon, and Bo Derek. It was the official opening of the film festival, which runs until May 7th.
The film had its moments. While it felt a bit cliche on the whole, there are moments that produced enormous fits of laughter in the audience. Cusack, as always, is a gem here in her role as the "serious mom", and the supporting cast on the whole is superb. Hector Elizondo is hysterical as the owner of a used car lot who laments over his poorly produced commercials.
As a quasi-resident of Queens (one of my parents lives there), it was a pleasure to see a film made in some of the neighborhoods I've walked through. It was definitely the right movie to open the Tribeca Film Festival, as it possessed a very strong New York feel. The audience in that regard ate it up (especially when Hudson refers to not being "bridge and tunnel folk").
I had a few complaints. The film is too long, and as I said before, it comes off as very cliche and predictable in parts. Kate Hudson is good but it was more of a performance cushioned by the talents of her co-stars than anything else; it's hard to say if it would have been enjoyable without the likes of Cusack or Corbett to work off.
However, it's a definite improvement over Marshall's other recent films, like "Runaway Bride" and "The Princess Diaries". While this isn't the type of film that will necessarily attract a broad audience, it's an enjoyable romantic comedy with a little something for everyone to laugh at.
There was an afterparty at the Winter Garden which featured live African music and huge palm trees. The tiny, stuffed potatoes were tasty. Yeah... aside from them, the party was just an hour or so of walking around and attempting to mingle. Definitely a hip crowd, and I am not hip.
The Tribeca Film Festival, like it has been the last two years, promises to be very exciting. Spirits were high and the entire city seemed wrapped up in the celebration. If you're in the city next weekend, check out the street fair. Always a blast.
- Vanilla Christ
