Plot: What’s it about?
Laura (Jenna Fischer) is married to a handsome, successful man, has a good job and a loving son, but her life is not as perfect as it sounds. Her husband has become distant, focusing on Laura’s drinking and little else. She turns to alcohol in order to cope with the emotional void in her marriage, not to mention pressure from her family. Laura is able to maintain a happy facade, but beneath it is deep, intense sadness. When her husband suddenly dies, her life is thrown into chaos, as she must begin a new life for herself and her son, as well as cope with her own inner demons. As her family rails on her and tells her she won’t be able to make it on her own, she moves and tries to start over. But when her son tells a massive lie at school, things really start to sink in and Laura realizes that if she wants a normal life, she’ll need some help.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from A Little Help, as I am not a fan of Jenna Fischer and reviews were inconsistent. As it turns out, this movie is quite good, with Fischer’s finest work to this point. While I dislike Fischer’s approach to most comedic roles, she handles this more grounded role quite well. A nice blend of humor and dramatic presence, Fischer’s performance is controlled and effective, so great work from her here. The film itself is rock solid as well, with a sense of realism you don’t see that often. The writing isn’t remarkable, but it is grounded and has some universal elements. So this isn’t some wild adventure, instead it is a down to earth story that is easy to relate to. That attention to realism is what helps the movie rise above its rather mundane elements, which in turn is why it works so well. A Little Help is not a great movie, but it does deliver the kind of film we don’t get to see often, a real life story that doesn’t snowball into farce. So if you enjoy more grounded cinema or just want to see Fischer’s impressive performance, A Little Help is well recommended.
Video: How does it look?
A Little Help is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen. This transfer looks terrific, with a natural, crystal clear image. The film is very basic in terms of visual design, but the movie still looks great here. The image shows impressive detail, even in mid-level shots, while colors and contrast perform as expected. Not the kind of movie that dazzles the visual senses, but it looks quite good here and that’s what counts.
Audio: How does it sound?
This DTS HD 5.1 soundtrack isn’t given many chances to shine, but it covers all the film’s needs. The music adds some life to the surrounds, but little else escapes the front channels. That isn’t a concern however, as the film is fueled by dialogue. And since the vocals are clear and suffer from no woes, all is well here. This disc also includes English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some actor interviews, a television spot, a Jakob Dylan music video, and the film’s trailer.
