The Help (2011) review

As an all-time film fanatic, I never rule out any genre of films. See, I'm a man who likes to experience just about everything there is instead of sticking to one specific genre. This way, I can view more films and have a broader view on the world of cinema. However, one genre that I have been avoiding these past couple of years is the chick flicks. It's not that I'm sexist, but rather that filmmakers tend to portray women in the wrong image. They portray them as kinky flirts who like to go to the mall, laugh at the sight of a bird, and chat it up about how their men never want to do what they (the women) want to do. I don't care if Easy A got an easy 85% on Rotten Tomatoes; it's not my kind of film! What I do like, however, are films that portray women as strong, independent, and thought-provoking. Case in point: The Help. Let's take a look!



The film, set up during the Civil Rights era in the 1960s, follows a recently hired journalist named Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, played by Lindsay Lohan..... I mean, Emma Stone (seriously, does anyone else get that mix-up?), who decides to write a novel of the testimonials by African American housemaids. The testimonials consist of stories of big incidents caused by said housemaids, whether they're dramatic or hilarious. The whole idea behind the novel is to send out the message that perhaps white people are being too harsh on the African Americans. The problem is that most housemaids are too scared to send out that kind of message, but as the incidents against African Americans start growing bigger and bigger, they decide to gain some courage and do what needs to be done.


The segregation era is a theme that never gets old for me. I've always been under the belief that all men are created equal, so when a film comes along with a story involving inequality among certain "races," I always find that very intriguing. Now, The Help isn't nearly as edgy as it could've been with this premise. It does take some dramatic risks, but even then, it feels a little too low-key for a message this important. Regardless, a lot of the set-ups are pretty dramatic, and the way it develops its characters is actually smoothly transitioned. It's a pleasant little cakewalk with adequately powerful performances and a luscious directorial style, and when it doesn't get into some amazingly hilarious moments, it can actually be pretty sad. It's a solid transition from the summer blockbuster season into the slower, more pleasant season that awaits us in the fall.


And.... That's about all I have to say. Check it out while you still can!