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 Skeleton Key

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: August 12, 2005

DVD Release Date: November 15, 2005

Plot 411: Nurse Caroline cares for a man in an old Louisiana home filled with secrets and hoodoo.

Review: Caroline (Kate Hudson) takes a position at a plantation home to care for an elderly man named Ben (John Hurt) who has recently had a stroke. His wife Violet (Gena Rowlands) is unable to care for him alone. After her initial hesitation, Caroline is convinced by Ben and Violet's lawyer Luke (Peter Sarsgaard) to take the job. While at the home, Caroline experiences weird occurrences and learns of the folk religion of hoodoo. She believes that Ben's illness can be cured if he can only convince himself he is well. She contacts a witch doctor and learns a spell to help cure him. The weird happenings continue and soon Caroline finds herself wondering whether or not hoodoo is real. I enjoyed this movie a lot and thought Hudson did a pretty good job. Usually she's firmly stuck in the rom com genre, but this time she branched out into a thriller/suspense/horror movie. Well, not really horrror but supernatural. It was a nice change of pace. Rowland does an excellent job in this role. How she transforms into this scary woman from the confused lady in The Notebook is beyond me. Guess that's what great actors can do. This movie had me on the edge of my seat and I liked where the movie led me. The sound design was great and really added to the tension. Without it, the movie wouldn't be half as scary.

Watch It: For the great twist ending.

Skip It: If you're really looking for a supernatural horror movie. This one just kind of threads the line and is more of a thriller.

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 7, 2003

DVD Release Date: July 1, 2003

Plot 411: A journalist goes undercover as the worst girlfriend in the world to write a column with steps for getting rid of your dude.

Review: This is undoubtably my favorite Kate Hudson flick. Hudson plays Andie, a budding magazine writer with dreams of covering hard news one day. Until then, she is stuck with writing a "How To" column. In her most recent assignment, she must go undercover and commit all the crazy girlfriend acts that many women do in a relationship, such as intruding on poker night, becoming overly possessive and sharing secrets with the guy's mom. She will use her experiences to fuel her article. Ad executive Ben (Matthew McConaughey), in an effort to win an account that would normally be handled by his co-workers Judy and Judy, boasts that he can make any woman fall in love with him. The Judys set him up with Andie and sit back to watch a disaster in the making. Hudson and McConaughey have great chemistry together and create memorable scenes during which you'll find yourself laughing at the absurdity. You grow to love them and root for them to work out despite all the underhanded things they do to each another. Some of the best lines in the movie come from supporting actors Adam Goldberg and Thomas Lennon, who play Ben's co-workers and overall cheerleaders. Bebe Neuwirth also does a great job at portraying Andie's editor. She carries herself in the same manner as Meryl Streep did in The Devil Wears Prada, but Neuwirth doesn't have as much of a bite.

Watch It: For what I assume is the first game of Bullshit (the card game) ever filmed.

Skip It: If McConaughey's machismo annoys you as this is an integral part of his character in this movie.

My Best Friend's Girl

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: September 19, 2008

DVD Release Date: January 13, 2009

Plot 411: A guy hires his best friend to play the total jerk so that his love interest will think he is a catch only to have his plans backfire on him.

Review: This movie was really bad. Everything was so predictable! I was so disappointed because I normally love Kate Hudson flicks. However, her recent movies have been complete junk. Jason Biggs plays his cliche nice guy role. I mean, he's the same character in every single show. Why can't he expand his horizons a bit? Dane Cook had some funny lines but overall wasn't too impressive. I just can't seem to get into him at all. I can't figure out why he's such a hit with some people. Overall, the movie tanked as a romantic comedy and didn't have enough guts to pull off a full-on comedy.

Watch It: If you really think Cook is the shit.

Skip It: If you have anything better to do with 101 minutes.

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