A Little Help

Name: A Little Help
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: July 22, 2011
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 54

2011

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Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 4 Ratings

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4.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 4 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Freestyle Releasing | Release Date: July 22, 2011 | R

Summary: In the suburbs of Long Island, Laura Pehlke and Bob Pehlke are trapped in a loveless marriage as they struggle with the pervasive tension in the summer following 9/11. (Freestyle Releasing)

Director: Michael J. Weithorn

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 105 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

Jul 27, 2011

It's manipulative, yes, but clever and persuasive in its manipulations. Read full review

Calvin Wilson

Jul 28, 2011

Smith turns in a subtly layered performance that suggests the hurt behind Kathy's callousness. And O'Donnell gets to the heart of a man who realizes too late that he's made unfortunate choices. Read full review

Keith Staskiewicz

Jul 20, 2011

Fischer's performance is sweet and subtle, but the film can be so understated in tone and plot that it's hard to tell if it's actually saying anything. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine Pete Hammond

Jul 18, 2011

A highly entertaining and richly human movie experience with a gem of a performance from Jenna Fischer. Read full review

Amy Biancolli

Jul 28, 2011

Some of the film is imaginatively put together. But the melodrama feels forced - manipulated by filmmakers hell-bent on teaching its main character a lesson or two about life and the need to seize it. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Jul 20, 2011

The movie wants to be an exploration of family ties and the various ways in which the people we love respond in times of crisis, but the drama is unconvincing, the characters are ill-defined, and Fischer, so good on The Office, seems a bit incomplete without Jim at her side. Read full review

Wesley Morris

Jul 28, 2011

It's not that Jenna Fischer is miscast in A Little Help. It's that she's mis-everything else: misused, misdirected, misanthropic. Read full review

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RobinsNest

Nov 28, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Started slow but built up some steam. Dialogue is spot on, making me remember things I wished I had and had not done. The LIE is the biggest parking lot in the US. Mom & son (Fischer & Yelsky) acted perfectly although other characters a bit over the top. I was rooting for this little family to make it; the ending makes me hope they do. O'Donnell role silly and poorly done but I guess they wanted a name to help promote the film. Warren looks great, though underused, but smartly. Liebman looks ill. Smith character a stereotype but makes the point. Lastly Paul, (Benedict) is the dad I tried to be, with the same misgivings about my youth. Well worth a look.… Expand

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beingryanjude

Sep 1, 2014

Jenna Fischer is a wonderful actress. Nevertheless, A Little Help is a tad bit too depressing for the girl we know and love from The Office. There's little purpose surrounding the near-constant depression of the flick--how is that entertaining?

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