Raising Helen

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: May 28, 2004

DVD Release Date: October 12, 2004

Plot 411: Helen is living the SATC high life and loving it until her sister and brother-in-lawe die and she must care for their kids.

Review: Kate Hudson is perfect in this role as Helen, a modeling agent who is living it up in NYC. She's single and carefree, knows the hippest clubs and always gets VIP treatment. Her world crashes around her though when she must take in her orphaned nieces (Hayden Panettiere and Abigail Breslin) and nephew (Spencer Breslin). Suddenly she finds herself going to school instead of parties and chasing boys away from her niece instead of fighting off the boys herself. Another kink in the plan is that her sister Jenny (Joan Cusack) is already the perfect mother. Why didn't their sister pick her instead of Helen to serve as the children's guardian? Hudson is in top form in this movie, even if it is sentimental and predictable, and seems most like her mother Goldie Hawn. She is sweet and likable, which fits Helen's character. I liked how they address a more serious issue (death of a loved one) in this rom com in addition to the common theme of growing up. Also in this movie is John Corbett, Helen Mirren, Felicity Huffman and Amber Valletta.

Watch It: And find hints of your own family.

Skip It: Because it definitely leans toward being a tear jerker.

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: April 28, 2005 (UK) / September 29, 2005 (USA)

DVD Release Date: September 13, 2005

Plot 411: This is a space comedy based on a book of the same name that incorporates humor, space travel, aliens and destruction.

Review: Before Earth is destroyed, best friends Arthur (Martin Freeman) and Ford (Mos Def) leave the planet by hitching a ride on the destroying spaceship. Ford is an alien who has been writing a hitchhiking guide. The two friends are discovered and forced into space without any oxygen. Luckily, they are saved by Ford's half brother Zaphod (Sam Rockwell). Arthur and Ford's journey only gets weirder and weirder as they travel to distant planets with Zaphod, who is searching for the ultimate question. I swear it's better than I'm making it sound. I'm not really sure how to describe this quirky jumble of sci-fi and British humor, adventure and geekiness. All I can cay is that I loved it. Also in this film are Zooey Deschanel, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, Helen Mirren and Stephen Fry. If those names don't get you to watch this one, then it's probably not a movie for you.

Watch It: Because it's smarter and funnier than you expect.

Skip It: And it's roundabout logic that only sci-fi fanboys can untangle.