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Cast: Jenna Fischer, Chris O’Donnell, Rob Benedict, Jim Florentine, Kim Coates, Lesley Ann Warren
Laura, a Long Island dental hygienist, sneaks cigarettes and pounds back beers to cope with her unfaithful husband (Chris O'Donnell, Scent of a Woman), overbearing family, and a brother-in-law (Rob Benedict, Supernatural), who’s loved her since high school. Her life really spins out of control when her husband suddenly dies and her 12-year-old son (Daniel Yelsky) tells an outrageous lie at school to impress his new classmates. Laura’s going to need a little help to settle into a normal life…or a lot more beer!
Jenna Fischer gives an amazing performance here as Laura, a woman who is doing her best to deal with her job, a son she is not very close with and a husband she thinks is being unfaithful. Then her life really gets turned upside down when her husband suddenly dies, her son tells a lie at school about his father dying in 9/11 and a family who is just plain over-bearing when all she really needs is just a little help.
I try to never read about the films I review too much before watching them so as I sat down to look at "A Little Help" I was expecting a straight forward comedy and it does have plenty of humor to it but it also has a touching, human story to it as well about a woman who just wants to make a good life with her son while trying to come to grips with not only her husband's sudden death but his infidelity as well all the while having to deal with a family that thinks they know what is best for her.
It's times like this when not reading into movies before watching them really pays off, I wasn't expecting anything special here but what I got was a very engaging story with well developed characters and a perfect mix of comedy and drama.
I already mentioned how good Jenna Fischer is as Laura but even though she is the lead she is not alone, the supporting cast including, Brooke Smith, Rob Benedict, Kim Coates and Chris O'Donnell all give terrific performances. I also must mention Academy Award-nominee Lesley Ann Warren and Ron Leibman own are both amazing as the parents as well.
Writer/director Michael J. Weithorn, a television sitcom veteran, makes his feature film debut with "A Little Help." You can see a bit of sitcom humor in place here but it fits perfectly within the story. The writing and performances here will not only have you laughing throughout but they also provide some sober and touching moments as well. A perfect blend makes this dramedy a great little film that really surprised me. I highly recommend it to all fans of the genre.
Available on DVD and Blu-ray "A Little Help' comes with Special Features that include:
Cast interviews
Jakob Dylan music video
Trailer
TV spot
You can order the DVD HERE and the Blu-ray HERE
Released by Image Entertainment
**** Out Of *****