I watched the movie The Help before I ever read the book. I know that may be frowned upon by some people but sometimes that’s how it worked out. To be honest, I had only a vague idea of what the movie was about when I walked into the theater. The only thing I knew was that it was set in a time after slavery but before some people realized how prejudice they were being. I had no idea if I would like it or not but I went anyways, and I'm glad I did. I later read the book and realized how well the movie followed what the author originally intended. The story was great, the humor was entertaining, the characters were very relatable, and the lesson was inspiring.

The Help was a story like I'd never heard before. Set in Jackson, Mississippi during the mid-1960's, most--if not all-- families had "help", or people who worked for them, all of them being black. This story does an amazing job of showing how rude and ungrateful the families could be, going as far as having separate bathrooms built outside of the house just so the "diseases" the helpers had would not spread to them or their children. Some people did not care to act like this, though. Instead they cared for the health and well-being of their helpers. Although these people were very rare in Jackson, Mississippi.

The humor in this movie will keep you on your toes, throwing unexpected jokes here and there. Some take a couple times to catch, while others are right there in your face, making sure you laugh at them and appreciate the effort put in to make such a serious yet funny movie. Such as when one particularly mouthy maid tries to teach her boss how to cook. I will remember this movie as enjoyable knowledge which I'm not sure I could get in another form. Again the director did a great job of portraying the same humor that was in the book, into the movie.

Characters in The Help are unforgettable. They all have their unique personalities that add so much to the movie. For example, the main character, Eugenia Phelan or "Skeeter" (as most people call her), is a woman just graduated from college who wants to be a serious writer. Although she has many friends, she is always a little out of place, not being married at her age (23 years young) was just odd. She is friends with Hilly Holbrook, the "queen bee" of Jackson. In the story, Miss Hilly is the one who sets all the standards for the other young wives. Her maid, Minny Jackson, is the best cook in the area, but this sassy woman is starting to get very tired of all Miss Hilly's new rules. Only her good friend, Aibileen Clark, and her children seem to keep her sane. Aibileen is a big hearted woman who specializes in caring for children. The range of personalities is very wide and you're bound to at least find something in common with one of them.

This movie's lesson has great meaning. It shows you not to be afraid to do what you believe is right, even if no one else has the courage to do so themselves. The overall theme was so happy yet frustrating at the same time, but not so much to make it unbearable. It really helps to let you know what you might be doing that could hurt others, even if it is just one short exchange of words.

The Help easily be one of my favorite movies for a long time. It was so well done that we ended up buying it so we could watch it at home anytime we wanted. I hope you enjoy or enjoyed it as much as my family and I did. When and if you do watch it, make sure to appreciate the full meaning of the movie. I know I did.