
A Little Help
Seen it?2010 | 109 min | Drama, Comedy
Why it’s a Weeknight Watch
With almost no lasting buzz and middling reviews (41% on Rotten Tomatoes), it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Parenthood, start here.
- The mood
- Funny with heart.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 49 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
It's a movie for everyone whose life has been thrown off-course, out of whack, or simply not turned out the way they planned it. In other words, it's a movie for everyone, period. Set in suburban Long Island in the summer of 2002, with the psychic wounds of 9/11 still fresh, A Little Help is a story that takes a comic, searching and profoundly empathetic look at a few pivotal months in the life of dental hygienist Laura Pehlke (Jenna Fischer)-an ordinary woman whose life suddenly flies off the rails-and her heroic efforts to re-establish a sense of security and normalcy for herself and her son.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
41% on Rotten Tomatoes, 54 on Metacritic
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$97K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 9K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by Michael J. Weithorn
- Jenna FischerLaura
- Chris O'DonnellBob
- Kim CoatesMel Kaminsky
- Lesley Ann WarrenJoan
- Sara KapnerWendy Helms
- Brooke SmithKathy Helms
- Daniel YelskyDennis Pehlke
- Jay KlaitzPatient
- Rob BenedictPaul Helms
- Zach PageKyle Helms