(rated PG-13 120 mins.)
Based upon the bestseller by Bilie Letts and Oprah Book of the Month Club, the movie tells the story of Novalee Nation, a pregnant 17 year old, whose selfish wanna-be musician boyfriend Willy Jack Pickens, abandons her in an Oklahoman Wal-Mart. With just ten dollars, a Polaroid camera, and clothes on her back, Novalee stakes out a secret “home” in a corner of the store and soon finds a host of colorful new friends willing to help her and her new baby affectionately dubbed ‘the Wall Mart baby’ since the child is born between the shelves. Somehow I think the writer should have had the boyfriend dump her off at a Home Depot. She’d have a better chance finding a suitable dad for the unborn child. Natalie Portman as the young mom who eventually turns into a strong, independent woman thanks to the help of a few friends, namely Ashley Judd as a mother of four. Also starring Stockard Channing and Sally Field as a couple of eccentric pals. The first half of the flick deals with growing up. The second half about emotions. The entire movie is missing something and actually manages to feel like two separate movies. And, the movie would have had a better chance for success as a Made For TV movie with guess what? Wall Mart or perhaps Rosie’s Kmart commercials.