This isn't meant to unduly blast television directors in general, as many of them are capable of doing very nice work. See my review of Frequency for thoughts on a TV director who made the jump to the big screen correctly. Nonetheless, there are a few redeeming qualities to the film, though few moments which justify it being a full-fledged feature film. There are moments of occasional involvement and suspense, which, the affects of which are often undermined by trite and manipulative plot structuring. Her on-screen time lasts approximately five minutes.
Predictability pulls Where the Heart Is down in a big way.
There is poignancy in this notion, but it's a flimsy device for sustained storytelling, as it places many of the film's characters in a re active state, rather than a pro active state. But evaluating the kind of messages a movie sends is my bag. And I have serious issues with a movie that so pointedly dismisses the notions of personal accountability and responsibility. And, somehow, she stumbles her way through a big, bad reality. Having her be more PROactive might have enabled audiences to respect her more, and made Novalee come across as less weak.