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.

I Hate Valentine's Day

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: April 11, 2009 (Brazil) / July 3, 2009 (USA)

DVD Release Date: August 20, 2009 (Australia)

Plot 411: Genevieve thinks she has love and dating all figured out until one guy has her questioning her rules.

Review: Nia Vardalos and John Corbett runite in this rom com that unfortunately fails at pretty much everything. Vardalos plays Genevieve, a florist who is the picture of happiness. She lives her life with one simple rule: never getting into a relationship. Of course, she dates plenty and enjoys being romanced, but her maximum date limit is five. She also has strict rules about what happens at each stage. These rules help ensure the highest levels of enjoyment and least amount of pain for both parties. Corbett plays Greg, a new restaurant owner who has recently been dumped. He thinks Genevieve's rules are interesting and may be just the thing to help him get over his dating failures. I didn't think this movie came together particularly well, even though Vardalos and Corbett were great in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Somehow they were just awkward in this movie and often made weird facial expressions or sounds that weren't all that humorous. Even their supporting cast was weak.

Watch It: Because it's possibly a master class at how not to do a rom com.

Skip It: And re-watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding intead.