April 30, 2000 -- Natalie Portman goes from being the queen of outer space in the last Star Wars film to queen of the soaps in her last two films, the latest being "Where the Heart Is."

This one is complete with two hospital scenes, southern accents, colorful characters, romance, heartache, abduction, a tornado, big bad momma, a very sick librarian, a two-timing country-western singer, in short, enough plot to keep a soap opera running for at least a decade. All that is lacking from the standard soap plot is amnesia, or was it?

Portman plays Novalee Nation. That is one great name. It reminds me of the old country-western song called "Son Don't Go Near the Indians" which ended with the words "Nobilee is Your Sister." I kept thinking there would be a similar revelation in the film, but it didn't come up.

Nation, who is pregnant, is abandoned at a Wal-Mart store by her no-good boyfriend, Willy Jack Pickens (played by Dylan Bruno of "Saving Private Ryan"). With no money, she starts camping out in the store. The security cameras, clearly visible in the ceiling, fail to detect her for six weeks, until she gives birth.

Nation is befriended by Sister Husband (played by Stockard Channing of "Practical Magic"), a kindly older woman. Nation goes to live with Sister Husband (aren't these names great?). She is also befriended by Forney Hull (James Frain of "Reindeer Games") the town genius, by Lexie Coop (Ashley Judd of "Double Jeopardy") an extremely fertile woman with no immediate prospects for a husband, Mr. Sprock (no relation to Leonard Nimoy; the part is acted by Richard Jones of "The Newton Boys") a friend of Sister's and Moses Whitecotton, the local photographer (Keith David).

This bunch of people all form a nice support group for Nation and her offspring, in fact they treat her better than her own family does. She begins to develop as a photographer (no pun intended) and grows as a person. She and her friends overcome much adversity and become stronger. This is one of those "Steel Magnolia" type of stories that is strictly formulaic. But at least in this one, nobody dies a lingering death from cancer.

The movie telegraphs its punches. You pretty well know what's coming, but I have to admit it did get to me, however. I got that "help, my emotions are being manipulated" feeling and I did cry at times. It is a tear-jerker. Parts of the plot, like the country-western singer story, were totally unnecessary. The plot also commits the one unforgivable sin. It puts children in jeopardy merely for effect. I would have liked to have seen more of Sister, Mr. Sprock and Lexie, those salt-of-the-earth types, who, along with Nation, make up the heart of the movie. I'd follow those characters anywhere. As it was, I think the plot was too loaded with distractions to be as effective as it could have been. I rate it a C+.

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