Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

An action-packed slog

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Released in 2010, "A Little Help" stars Jenna Fischer as a nearing-middle-age mother from Long Island whose marriage is troubled and her family overbearing. She turns to smoking, drinking and worse to cope and fill the void. Chris O'Donnell plays her husband (in a small role), Ron Leibman & Lesley Ann Warren play her father and mother, Brooke Smith & Rob Benedict her sister and brother-in-law, and Daniel Yelsky her son. Some people complain that this movie is depressing because it deals with heavy issues, like adultery, premature death, lawsuits, alcoholism, rebellious children and the like. While this is true, the tone is too quirky and light to regard with dismal seriousness. Some complain that the son is a little too disrespectful and it's infuriating. This is also true, but it's intrinsic to the plot. The film's all about Jenna's character escaping the manipulations of those who take advantage of her and try to control her. Jim Florentine from That Metal Show appears in an amusing sequence that reveals the emptiness of casual sex. The movie's not great, but it's good enough and, despite the amusing aspects, it smacks of real life, not to mention the subtexts are great and Jenna's a cutie. The film runs 109 minutes and was shot on Long Island, NY. GRADE: B

Ms. Fischer is, in an extremely limited way, talented. Her deadpan served "The Office" well. However, in a dramedy requiring acting chops, such as "A Little Help," she falls flat on her cutish face.Striving for slice-of-life befouled in in a web of lies, Ms. Fischer's flat affect singular expression spoils the fun. She's a TV actress, period. (See also "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" for that same expressionless facade.) It's not so much Ms. Fischer phones in her performance, she doesn't even have a phone. Drunk? Same as sober. Angry? Same as calm except something is thrown. Someone should really tell her as she seems clueless (as to why more film roles aren't offered).That said (and it's plenty when the lead can't pull off a simple role - this isn't Shakespeare), the rest of the cast looks embarrassed and bored. And why not. They're mostly hacks (Leibman and O'Donnell??) who never really had great careers. They were bought on the cheap for this poorly written Indie flop. Kim Coates buoys the proceedings and stands out, but it ain't sayin' much when you're surrounded by talentless actors."A Little Help" is unwatchable. Save your time and instead watch paint drying. The entertainment value is identical.

No real morality issue here, this is a story of people like Jenna Fisher ("The Office") who loses her husband (brief performance by Chris O'Donnell as handsome but cheating spouse), and has to re-think her life.Look for Brooke Smith as Jenna's resentful sister, she is jealous her sister was the prettier one and leads a "charmed life being lucky" according to her. Again, never judge a person by their externals, the same goes for the lies her son uses to pretend his dad died as a hero during 9/11, and there are some good scenes of their L.I. neighborhood.Overall good film with some stereotypes, nothing deep but good sardonic real-life humor, which I prefer to the usual drivel offered as comedy by Hollywood mainstream. 8/10.

"What's a cooler way to die, 9/11 or a arrhythmia thing?" Laura (Fischer) and Bob (O'Donnell) have a strained marriage. Bob works all the time and Laura drinks a lot. Their 12 year old son is stuck in the middle but prefers the dad. After an argument leads to Bob's death, Laura is left to figure out how to raise her son and support her family. This is a movie that is very different from the preview. The preview makes it look like a comedy, while there are some funny parts this is more of a drama. That said this is one fantastic movie. Watching each character deal with the situation is great to watch. There are parts that you laugh at that you feel like you shouldn't. This is also one of the best mother-son bonding movies I have ever seen, and there are scenes with her family that will make you mad. The fact that you have these feeling marks the sign of a good movie. This is one of the biggest surprise movies of the year. You expect one thing, it's another, but an absolutely fantastic movie to watch. Overall, an extremely entertaining and enjoyable movie to watch that won't disappoint. I give it an A.