Nice effects though.

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Blistering performances.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

In this movie, and believe me, I watch this movie every chance I get even though I own the book and the DVD. Ashley Judd is great in her role of Lexie Coop, but in her character, she is so nosy and insists on reading everything Novalee Nation has to read. For example: 1. When Novalee is sitting on the hospital bed after having Americus. Lexie opens all the envelops and reading the letters and doesn't even ask permission from Novalee to read them. 2. Then, after the tornado, Sister Husband has died and Ray delivers Sister's estate envelope to Novalee. She grabs the envelope from Novalee and again opens the envelope without Novalees's permission 3. And finally, when Novalee reads the newspaper about Willie J. Pickens having his wheelchair stolen she grabs the newspaper away from her. To me, that shows just how nosy and wanting to get into Novalee's business all the time. I can understand having a friend accompany her for emotional support, but Lexie Coop seems to dig deep into her business. In the actual book, Lexie is not nosy at all, but the movie really does point it out.

Pregnant Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman) leaves the trailer park headed for Bakersfield with her inconsiderate boyfriend Willie Jack. She has a fear of the unlucky number 5. He abandons her at a Wal-Mart in Sequoyah, Oklahoma with $5.55 in her pocket. She is mistaken by eccentric local Sister Husband (Stockard Channing) for somebody else. She is befriended by photographer Moses Whitecotton (Keith David) and Forney Hull (James Frain). She starts living in the Wal-Mart and her daughter Americus is born in the aisles. She becomes an instant celebrity and befriends her nurse Lexie Coop (Ashley Judd). Her mother Mama Lil (Sally Field) comes to steal her money and abandon her a second time. She finds shelter with Sister Husband and a job at Wal-Mart. Meanwhile Willie Jack is arrested with a minor and writes a hit song. He becomes a music sensation until it all crashes down.Natalie Portman is adorable but this movie is overloaded with random quirky characters and wacky incidents. This movie needs a great deal of simplification and my first cut would be Willie Jack's story. There are some endearing moments. I love Lexie's story about her new boyfriend Ernie who gave up his 1967 Chevy Camaro to gain custody of his stepdaughter. It's a simple story that tells so much. This is one movie where a cold-hearted hand needed to take control of the novel's conversion onto the big screen. It's trying to squeeze too much into the movie.

Life is full of challenges that are thrown at us every day. "Where the Heart Is" explores what we do as individuals when faced with these challenges with two impending truths, to accept fate or to grow from our setbacks. Set against the backdrop of the countryside Oklahoma the movie follows the story of Novalee a pregnant teenager (played by Natalie Portman) who's life seems to go from bad to worse when her boyfriend abandons her at a Wal-Mart. With no one to turn to for help she seeks refuge at the department store for several weeks, ultimately becoming a local celebrity when she gives birth inside.Novalee is constantly overcoming the harsh cards of fate as she tries to give herself and her child the best in life she can. We meet many characters that come into her life along the way, each with a lesson to share and a story of their own looming set backs in life to tell. Ashley Judd gives an amazing performance as Novalee's best friend Lexie, a single mother of five who struggles to juggle motherhood, work and finding Mr Right. Novalee's love interest a mysterious and reserved librarian Forney (Played my James Frain) is also an admirable character who's life has been put on hold to be a full time care giver for his gravely ill sister. All the characters in this film are well written, with interesting back-stories and admirable features that make you care about them all the way to the end.Much of the story plays upon fate and chance. We see some very depressing stories unfold and you may find yourself asking; What would you have done in their situation?

Where the Heart Is is definitely one of the sadder movies I've seen and it's also one of the more "true to life stories". Emotionally effective teen girls, teen pregnancy, lost hope, and lack of parental support is sadly a part of today's society and this movie shows life isn't A-OK all the time. There are downsides, upsides, and even a zig-zagging path that comes along in life. This movie shows that something good can lead to something bad in a heartbeat, and while tragic, the movie sometimes eases up, but you can tell simultaneously really wants to have a good story and scenes that stay true to life's unpredictable set up.Natalie Portman is amazing in this. No other female actress could portray a role of gratitude, emotion, and bring life to the character in a way she did on screen in this. Her acting skills flow fluently throughout this movie and it makes you cringe at points when stuff goes unexpectedly. Its a sad movie. But it's a beautiful sad movie, not like a movie that is so miserable its unenjoyable. Where the Heart Is also doesn't establish a droning effect which most movies include now. Its fluent and highly realistic.Novalee Nation (Portman) is a pregnant 17 year old fleeing with her boyfriend from Tennessee to California. When Novalee stops at Wal-Mart, her boyfriend abandons her and leaves her stranded. Novalee makes Wal-Mart her shelter after being locked in after closing when going in the bathroom because of sickness due to her pregnancy. She lives undetected for an unbelievable six weeks. Novalee meets a young man named Forney (James Frain) who's life was in jeopardy because of his alcohol addiction and his choice to dropout of college.Novalee goes into labor and gives birth in the Wal-Mart and becomes a celebrity for her actions of sheltering in the store. Novalee wakes up in the hospital where she names her baby Americus showing she is a strong women of many talents. Much to her surprised, Novalee gets an unexpected visit from her mother (Sally Field) who agrees to hold to the $500 given to Novalee from the president of Wal-Mart and to have them both share an apartment. However after agreeing to pick her up the next day, the mother flees with the $500 leaving Novalee and Americus stranded.The events go on and on to the point that its hard to leave off on just one without spoiling something else. Its definitely a movie with twists and turns of the many, but the twists and turns never go the way you'd expect. For an underrated, solemn drama it has great potential which it lives up too. It also goes on the record for being one of the saddest movies I've seen next to Bicentennial Man and My Girl. Where the Heart Is has a heart and it's not afraid to use it at all in this film.Starring: Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, Stockard Channing, Sally Field, and Joan Cusack.