The Help’ … could have used some

I was in the minority view when we taped “Movies 101” today. Not the first time. I doubt it will be the last.

We were discussing ‘The Help,” Tate Taylor’s adaptation of Kathryn Stockett ‘s novel about 1963 Mississippi. Mary Pat Treuthart (who, yes, just happens to be married to me) and Nathan Weinbender both liked it, specifically noting the performance of Viola Davis (“Doubt”).

I, too, thought Davis was great. In fact, she was far better than the movie itself, which was one of those old-fashioned, ensemble-cast explorations of a serious issue (in this case, southern racism) that bathes itself in melodrama and an inevitable attempt to find some sort of happy ending — or, at least, to tie matters up neatly.

My feeling is that the movie is just another variation on “Steel Magnolias,” that 1989 exploration of many of the same kinds of issues — if not in terms of actual plot then certainly theme and tone.

But as I say, I was in the minority.

Below : The trailer for “The Help,” which just from the music tells you all you need to know.