Anywhere But Here

Earlier this year we moved into our dream home in The Woodlands. Since that time, approximately half of the houses in the neighborhood have gone up for sale (nothing to do with us, I hope). I often wonder what becomes of the children of these families as they move elsewhere around the country, leaving behind their friends and memories.

Anywhere But Here takes a look at that scenario. Susan Sarandon plays middle-aged Adele August, a wacky, cigar-smoking divorcee who leaves Bay City, Wisconsin for the bright lights of Beverly Hills. She literally drags along her pouting 14 year-old daughter, Ann (Natalie Portman), who just as soon stay behind with her family and friends.

Adele is not a very likable character. Not only does she leave behind a second husband, a skating instructor, she impulsively cashes in her teacher pension to buy a used gold Mercedes. Adele dreams about living the good life in LaLa Land while her daughter pursues an acting career. Meanwhile, trivial matters like paying electrics bill seem to escape her attention.

When they arrive, Adele and Ann settle for living in a rundown apartment on the outskirts of town. It’s all they can afford. Adele takes a job as a speech therapist in an inner city school, while Ann has to adjust to her new school and make new friends. With each little episode, the audience wonders whether they’ve actually moved forward in life or taken giant steps backwards.

The core of the movie is the strained relationship between mother and daughter. As if growing up isn’t tough enough already, we feel sorry for Ann having to make all of these adjustments just so her mother can play out her far flung dreams. As for Adele, you feel a smidgen of sympathy for her when she’s dumped by a divorced orthodontist.

Both Sarandon and Portman give excellent performances, making Anywhere But Here a worthwhile trip to the theater.