padawanmovies *Spoilers?* this is one of the 1st movies I watched with my new best friend in college. That was 10 yrs ago, pretty sure I fell asleep while we watched it, too much Chinese takeout lol. I liked the idea of this movie and I thought it was trying to deliver a good message, albeit, slightly misguided attempt. I thought the acting was pretty good given the scattered material. I jus don't understand how Lexie, a nurse, didn't understand how birth control works. I mean 6 kids by 5 different dudes?? I mean even a person who doesn't believe in birth control would find this CA-RAZY. I also feel Willie's whole storyline was completely disjointed from the rest of the movie; he was garbage so there was no reason to continue following his storyline (minus Cusack who was really good). If the content had been tweaked this could've been way better; instead we got a step up (barely) version of a Lifetime TV movie

SnoopyStyle 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.

symantha-cousins This movie is a perfect example of what a good movie should be. While some parts of it are sad and suspenseful and some make you want to jump through the TV and strangle the character (ex. Willy Jack)for being a jerk or doing something really stupid or horrible, It is a really good and inspiring movie that I can watch over and over again. This is a wonderful "chick flick" that my boyfriend would be comfortable watching. I love the fact that Novalee and her daughter get their happy ending after they have gone through so much together. Novalee gets a husband and a best friend. Americus gets a father figure with her Mother's marriage, even though she had him throughout her life. Forney finds his happiness. Willy Jack, the jerk, comes to a realization that haunts him for the rest of his life as well as what he deserved for treating Novalee the way he did. Lexie and her kids get to have a somewhat normal life after tragedy strikes. While there is tragedy, there is also happiness and comedy in this movie. Thats why I gave it 10 out of 10.

gradyharp Novalee Nation Natalie Portman) is a very pregnant 17-year-old from Tennessee heading to California with her boyfriend Willie Jack (Dylan Bruno), but is abandoned by him at a Wal-Mart store in Sequoyah, Oklahoma where she takes up a homeless existence - no job, no skills and only $5.55 in her pocket, so she secretly lives in the Wal-Mart. Locked in one evening six weeks later she goes into labor and her new friend Forney (James Frain), who's life was in jeopardy because of his alcohol addiction and his choice to dropout of college, delivers her daughter Americus. The situation's so bizarre that Novalee becomes a small town celebrity: she is a strong woman of many talents and she decides to raise her daughter and rebuild her life in Sequoyah, with the help of eccentric but kind strangers. 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. All manner of freaky friends and strange characters populate this story, giving some fine roles for Ashley Judd, Stockard Channing , Joan Cusack, among others. It is a funky story that somehow rings very true. Grady Harp