Movie Review: The Help

I normally am quite underwhelmed when a book gets made into a movie. It’s not that the adaptation is bad, it’s just you simply can not capture the full spectrum of a character or storyline in such a short time. Well I just have to say that I was more than happy with The Help. Honestly, there were some characters that came alive more on screen and scenes that were funnier. I have never been so bipolar watching a movie. One second I was crying and the next I was laughing while wiping my tears.
The casting was spot-on. Aibileen was just exactly like I imagined. Minny had us rolling in nearly every scene she was in. Mae Mobley was just the sweetest little thing. I think we got to see more of her in the movie and she was just a delight and broke your heart all at the same time. Hilly was just perfectly proper and nasty all at the same time. Her facial features were simply perfection. Stewart was a handsome jerk. Skeeter’s mom was much more likable in the movie but still weak and ridiculous at moments. Other characters I didn’t think much about in the book included the newspaper editor in chief. He got just as many laughs from Minny. Constantine surprisingly made two appearances and delivered two of the most moving scenes. Hilly’s mother was insanely funny and delivered the sharpest line of the entire movie. I never gush about so many characters on screen but truly, the love you felt for them in the book was not lost on screen.
They were fantastic at delivering every important plot point and scene. The Terrible Awful was simply outstanding and I laughed harder about it than I did in the book. Even Scott was rolling. In fact, I found Scott laughing at quite a few scenes. The only scene that was not covered, and frankly, I was grateful was the man that visited Celia and Minny one day at the house that they had to attack. I’d rather not see that on film, thankyouverymuch.
I think for me one of the most moving scenes of the whole movie was seeing Skeeter walk into Aibileen’s house with it full of women willing to help her write the book. So much courage and fortitude in those women.
I asked in my giveaway who your favorite character was but never told mine. I love Aibileen. I love her quiet strength. Her courage. Her willingness to bare herself as she writes. Espcially at this season of my life, I can so relate to her fear of writing but courage to do so. Ever since reading the book I’ve started writing out my prayers. It’s been such a freeing, peaceful practice. I can honestly say in a little way she changed my life.

You just HAVE to see this movie. If you haven’t read the book, I’d highly recommend you read it first. You’ll really fall in love with the story and then be able to enjoy a fabulous rendition of it on screen.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway, it’s open until tomorrow!