The Help- Movie Review

My children know that I have a rule, if you are going to read a book that has been made into a movie, you need to do it before you see the movie, otherwise it will be too hard to imagine the characters your own way and not see them as the actors from the film.  We regularly listen to audio books and read chapter books together, not this one of course but others, and they know the drill.  I did not let myself go see or rent this movie until I was done reading the book.  I finished the book on Sunday, so Monday I stopped by Redbox and picked up the movie.  I actually had to go to two different machines to find it as there were no copies available at the first one.

I thought they did a good job with with movie adaptation.  I was sorry to see some things glossed over or skipped, and of course the changes jumped out at me more since I had just finished the book, but to fit it within the time constraints of a movie, they did a good job.  That said, at times it felt a bit slow.  Some scenes dragged, while others went by way too fast.  I thought something would be done to make Emma Stone seem taller, since one of the big things in the movie was how she was too tall and plain looking with wild curly hair.  Emma as Skeeter seemed to be the same height as Hilly.

I am glad that I watched it and that I waited until after reading the book.  I don't mind at all that I missed seeing it in the theater, I think it was just fine at home.  The movie did not elicit as much of an emotional response as the book, I don't know if it was because I already knew what was going to happen or if it was because I did not get as involved with the characters. While both the book and the movie were good, I liked the book more than the movie.

Overview

A 1960s-era Mississippi debutante sends her community into an uproar by conducting a series of probing interviews with the black servants behind some of her community's most prominent families. Skeeter Emma Stone has just graduated from college, and she's eager to launch her career as a writer. In a moment of inspiration, Skeeter decides to focus her attention on the black female servants who work in her community. Her first subject is Aibileen Viola Davis, the devoted housekeeper who has been employed by Skeeter's best friend's family for years. By speaking with Aibileen, Skeeter becomes an object of scorn to the wealthy locals, who view her actions as directly challenging to the established social order. Before long, even more servants are coming forward to tell their stories, and Skeeter discovers that friendship can blossom under the most unlikely of circumstances. Bryce Dallas Howard co-stars in a touching tale of race relations based on author Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel of the same name. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Product Details

• Release Date: 12/6/2011
• UPC: 786936814309
• Original Release: 2011
• Rating:
• Source: Walt Disney Video