The Help

4 stars

Rating: PG
Stars: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard

­­­­­An emotional story about life in the 1960s, and three women who challenge what is expected of them.

What's the story?
It’s Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s, and Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan (Stone) wants to write a book about the help. Fresh out of college, Skeeter aspires to be a writer, and this idea could be her start. She manages to befriend first Aibileen (Davis), then Minny (Spencer), and convinces them to help her with her book of interviews about what it’s really like to work as a white woman’s maid. However racial tensions are high in Jackson as well as across the United States. Writing their book could put Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny in a dangerous position.

Why see it?
This movie has really great balance. It deals with multiple topics from the '60s which are pretty heavy, like racial tensions in the southern United States, women’s roles, and social status. But it still manages to feel light. There is just enough comedy and fun in this film to highlight the really intense moments, yet it doesn’t make light of the topics presented. It’s that contrast that keeps the film believable, and makes the nearly two and a half hours spent in the theatre feel like far less time.
           
The leading ladies of the film are also a great reason to go see it. Between the writers and the actresses, they have created protagonists that the audience roots for. In the novel the film is based on, the characters are vibrant and real. Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard (who plays Hilly Holbrook) do an incredible job of bringing to life characters who are so complex and so life-like on the page.

Problems?
While the pacing of the film overall was good, the progression of the friendships between Skeeter and Aibileen, and Skeeter and Minny felt like they went a little too fast. It seemed like Skeeter gained the two women’s trust too easily and too quickly for the setting.

All in all:
The Help is a movie that is both heart-warming, and heart-wrenching. I will be very surprised if it is left out of this year’s awards season.