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Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, Stockard Channing, Joan Cusack, James Frain ... see more see more... , Dylan Bruno , Keith David , Sally Field , Richard Jones , Dennis Letts , Laura House , Mackenzie Fitzgerald , Ray Prewitt

Pregnant 17-year-old Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman) runs away from her Tennessee home toward the bright lights of California, accompanied by her boyfriend, Willy Jack Pickens (Dylan Bruno). But Will... read more read more...y gets cold feet and abandons her at a Walmart in Sequoyah, OK. Novalee's life savings amount to $5.55, so she moves into the Walmart, sleeping there at night and venturing out during the day. With the help of the eccentric Sister Husband (Stockard Channing), and Lexie Coop (Ashley Judd), a nurses' aide, Novalee tries to get her life in order for the sake of her expected child, Americus Nation. Based on a novel by Billie Letts, Where the Heart Is also features Keith David, Joan Cusack, Richard Nance, and Heather Kafka. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

77% liked it

61,875 ratings

Critics

34% liked it

96 critics

PG-13, 2 hr.

Directed by: Matt Williams

Release Date: April 28, 2000

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DVD Release Date: September 26, 2000

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Stats: 3,442 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,442)

  • romy861
    November 18, 2011
    romy861
    An all time favourite - still as good 11 years later as the first time I watched it. This really is the ultimate girl movie - good story to it and great cast. This is one of those rare movies where the movie is better than the book. After seeing this, i got it, and I was really... read more bored by it. This movie really bought the story to life and the people they chose to play the characters are perfect. The only thing that constantly bugs me is the artwork - why has Ashley Judd got dark hair when she is blonde in this!!!
  • movieguru12
    June 22, 2011
    movieguru12
    A heart warming movie. I really enjoyed this movie & Natalie Portman was excellent in it. I love it :) Just a great movie :) Natalie Portman is just so adorable & sweet & so is James Frain :) A movie that I can watch over & over again :) Natalie Portman is an amazing actress :) :... read more) :)
  • FrizzDrop
    July 18, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    It starts off slow and steady, but suddenly gains momentum. Nice premise, and good acting.
  • hoganshero
    February 18, 2010
    hoganshero
    So very good!
  • bhobbs1985
    December 18, 2008
    bhobbs1985
    This movie is really good. While there is really no huge actors and it seems low budgeted at points, it's unique in the sense that it still can reach out to nearly everyone who watches it - most hollywood movies fail miserbly at that as they are aimed at one group.

    Positives: ... read moreActors are not so popular but there good actors, portman for some reason comes off as super-cute in this film too! The storyline while it skips around a little bit and does not really focus on one single concept, it's lifelike. That's what makes this movie so good. It's reality and it has the potential to reach out to any viewers.

    Negatives: The only real negative is it some of the less seen characters are really bad actors and typically there were some scenes that I seen no reason for beyond stretching the movie out.

    The positives out weigh the very minor negatives in this film by far and fun to watch actors with a life like plot makes a super good movie!
  • gatorgirl13
    June 25, 2007
    gatorgirl13
    This is definitely one of my favorite movies of all time. It tells a great story and Natalie Portman is brilliant as always.
  • newvogueravyn
    April 16, 2007
    newvogueravyn
    The usual fluff. A shame, since Portman is such a good actress.
  • ceWEBrity
    February 11, 2007
    ceWEBrity
    Occasionally clever, but a mountain of wretched sap.
  • mjgildea
    December 6, 2006
    mjgildea
    If I didn't get to look at Natalie Portman throughout this movie I'd have been really pissed. I was pissed off anyway when I watched it, but at least she was there.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 7, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Very well done by both Portman and Judd.

View All Where the Heart Is Reviews

Critic Reviews

Rick Groen
April 25, 2003
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Not possessing much in the way of a character arc, saints are boring to watch and impossible to act. Full Review

Jeff Strickler
November 6, 2002
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

The scenes feel forced, producing episodic plotting and calling attention to the characters' superficiality. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

The filmmakers have crafted a motion picture that should appeal to members of both sexes. Full Review

Jonathan Foreman
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Foreman, New York Post

A generic, below-par chick flick.

Jay Boyar
January 1, 2000
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

Watching Where the Heart Is, in fact, is a little like listening to the town gossip run her mouth about everyone she knows.

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Where the Heart Is has a screenplay like that, zigging and zagging and wildly careening from one melodramatic development to the next. Full Review

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

Where the Heart Is fails to build much emotional momentum. Full Review

Michael Atkinson
January 1, 2000
Michael Atkinson, Mr. Showbiz

A swamp of clichés, contrivances, and cheap ham-and-cheese hero sentimentality.

Todd McCarthy
January 1, 2000
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Banal and trite where it could have been insightful and emotionally truthful. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
January 1, 2000
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

Heart definitely lacks much of the earthy lyricism it's obviously striving for.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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    • Lexie Coop: Brownie! Brownie! Do not lasso your sister!
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Where the Heart Is Trivia

  • In what movie does Natalie Portman hate the number five?  Answer »
  • Which movie was based on the book by Billie Letts in 1996 and has a character named 'Forney' ?  Answer »
  • In 2000, James Frain played the loveable hero Forney Hull to Natalie Portman's Novalee Nation in "Where the Heart Is". Two years later he played the crooked prosecuter Villefort to Jim Caviezel's Edmund in what movie?  Answer »
  • In Which Movie Was The Number 5 Bad Luck For Actress Natalie Portman??  Answer »
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