The Help – a film review

The Help – a film review

The second thing I thought when best blogging buddy, Richmond Mummy, invited me to be her plus one to a special mummy blogger screening of ‘The Help’ at the swanky Covent Garden Hotel was ‘WOW, yes please RM!’.

The first thing was ‘Why wasn’t I invited?!  Humph’

But I got over myself and promptly typed back ‘would love to RM, count me in!’

We arranged to meet opposite Covent Garden tube at 6.30pm.  I had spent all day sitting at work in a grey silk dress with smoky eyes and poker straight hair, which I may or may not have ironed out at my desk.

Over the other side of London, Richmond Mummy had darted out of the house so fast that she had not time to apply make-up.

Luckily, there was an M&S enroute to the screening room.

We arrived at The Covent Garden Hotel and were shown to a private function room where a small group of big name bloggers were already enjoying a glass of wine and tucking into the nibbles.

Straight off, we spotted Jen from Jenography.  You know, the Times’s former Alpha Mummy blogger and co-founder of BritMums and BritMums Live!  In the bloggy world, she’s quite the rock star.

She came over to say hi, obviously mistaking me for a proper blogger.  Thankfully, RM is a blogger of status and I felt no shame riding her coattails.

We were offered a glass of wine and given a copy of ‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett, the best-selling book that the film is based on.  We then set up camp by the nibbles until the film started.

The film stars Emma Stone as Skeeter, Academy Award®–nominated Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s,  who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk.  From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed—even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times.

I do not wish to spoil the story for you by revealing too much of the plot, but this trailer should give you an idea of what it is all about.

The Help Trailer

It is easily the best film I have seen in a very long time.  I cried, I laughed out loud and I did not want it to end.  It is warm and funny and moving and important and just gorgeous… and I cannot wait to watch it all over again.  All the performances were stand out fantastic and there was even an appearance from Layfayette (True Blood) and the male midwife/receptionist in Private Practice.

“I love True Blood” admitted RM as we excitedly discovered another thing in common aside from sharing the same birthday, matching engagement rings, mutual friends, glamorous sisters and a love of Mulberry.

Only in a room of mummy bloggers would people pop out midway through to fetch more wine for everyone.  RM missed the funniest scene on her wine & nut run – the scene they then referred to throughout the last 30 minutes of the film.  She definitely took one for the team.

After the credits rolled, we agreed that the night was still young so went to the bar for dim sum and cocktails.

Orange Mulberry clutch, I WANT YOU

“I don’t know how I ended up on that invite list” confessed RM over a martini (or four) as we watched the blogging heavyweights depart.

She does not give herself enough credit, that RM.

The Help is released on 26th October in the UK.

Have you read the book or seen the film?  What did you think?

15 Comments

  1. richmondmummy
    October 12, 2011 / 10:58 AM

    It was such a fun night, but I still have no idea how/why I got invited – but I’m very pleased I did and that you could come too. And thank you for calling me “a blogger of status” – slightly untrue, but I’m happy to accept the compliment. I agree that the film was really really fantastic and recommend everyone should go see it, but they may not have as much fun as we did! x

  2. Noo
    October 12, 2011 / 2:30 PM

    I LOVED this book. I devoured it and bawled my eyes out. Can’t wait to see the film. I hope it does the book justice (I admit I am bit of a purist about these things!!) xx

    • Grenglish
      Author
      October 13, 2011 / 7:28 AM

      I have not read the book yet so I can’t say but the film was AMAZING. Loved it. Want to go again. Speaking of books into films though, We Need to Talk About Kevin is out soon – fancy it?! xx

  3. October 12, 2011 / 3:04 PM

    I had started to read the book but put it down now after your review can’t wait to see the movie!

    • Grenglish
      Author
      October 13, 2011 / 7:27 AM

      Seriously good movie – I am now going to read the book after seeing it. Wrong way around, I know!

      xx

  4. October 12, 2011 / 4:33 PM

    That was the second time I was seeing the film and it was as good if not better the second time round. It was so nice to chat with y’all. (And thanks for calling me a rock star. *poses with her daughter’s plastic guitar*.)

    Next time let’s all go for dim sum and cocktails!

    • Grenglish
      Author
      October 13, 2011 / 7:27 AM

      We will hold you to that Jen! Loved the film too, I can’t wait to see it again.

  5. October 13, 2011 / 12:53 AM

    Nooooo! Not you too! I was there and missed chatting to so many people. Jen? What day were you there – I was there last friday, don’t remember seeing Jen, but missed a couple of people I regularly tweet with. We should have had name badges 🙁 Going to Britmums?

    • Grenglish
      Author
      October 13, 2011 / 7:26 AM

      Oh no, I can’t believe you were there and we didn’t meet!!! I am GUTTED. Yes of course going to Britmums, would not miss it 🙂 Will have to arrange a rendezvous there xx

  6. Pingback: Review: The Help | Richmond Mummy
  7. October 20, 2011 / 7:53 PM

    I don’t think we got the opp to meet – such a shame. I was probably too busy eating cheese & onion crisps. I’ve got 2 more free tickets to watch it at my local cinema on Sat but don’t think I can handle all that crying again 🙂 Amezzin film!

    • Grenglish
      Author
      October 20, 2011 / 8:00 PM

      I was lurking in the corner with Richmond Mummy. We were not very sociable, I have to say! Usually, we are much more so 🙂
      Next time I will make sure to seek you out and say hi.
      I really want to see the film again but you are right, all that crying…
      Brilliant film, loved it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.