The film opens with mom Adele August (Susan Sarandon, Stepmom) and daughter Ann (Natalie Portman, Episode One) halfway through a trip across the country. The trip isn’t a vacation – the two are in the process of moving from Bay City, Wisconsin to Southern California. Adele, who plans to land a teaching job in a Beverly Hills high school, wants her daughter to become a child actor. Ann couldn’t care less about acting and just wants to stay in Wisconsin with her grandmother (Eileen Ryan) and best friend/cousin, Benny (Shawn Hatosy, Outside Providence).

Like any mother and teenager, Adele and Ann frequently butt heads. Often overbearing, Adele describes her daughter as a hostile, withdrawn loner, often interjecting the line "I know what’s good for you because I’m your mother and that’s my job." Conversely, Ann sees herself as a good student who is neat and pretty; a girl struggling with the fact that her biological father ditched the family many Christmas Eves ago. With a mother that wears too much makeup and pants that are a little too tight, Ann often seems to be the more mature person in the relationship.

When the Augusts hit Beverly Hills, they find a shabby apartment on the fringes of the school district (FYI, their realtor is Sharona, from The Knack’s 1979 song). They furnish their new abode by harvesting perfectly useable furniture out of the trash of wealthy neighbors. Adele gets a job teaching history at school in a very bad neighborhood, while Ann tries to fit in with her new snobby classmates. They even buy a gaudy Mercedes in an attempt to blend into their new surroundings, even though Adele often can’t afford to pay the utility bills.

The story, based on Mona Simpson’s novel, proceeds as expected through Adele’s many dates and Ann’s attempt to contact her biological dad, to the critical crossroads where Ann must select a college to attend. Her dream is to escape to an East Coast school, a hope that is also Adele’s greatest fear. The novel, adapted by double Oscar-winner Alvin Sargent (Julia and Ordinary People), will likely tug on the heartstrings of single mothers and their daughters.

Anywhere But Here has an amazing look and feel, softly lensed by Roger Deakins (The Big Lebowski) and scored by Danny Elfman (Sleepy Hollow). There is also a lovely funeral scene, punctuated by Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You." Sarandon is quite believable as the overbearing mom that wants only the best for her daughter, while the comely Portman gives one of the more realistic temperamental teen performances of recent memory. Despite the fact that the two principals really seemed like mother and daughter, the linear film seems to struggle a bit to go anywhere.

Anyone that enjoys Anywhere But Here should also check out a film called Tumbleweeds that will be opening theatrically in the coming weeks. The stories are practically identical, but Tumbleweeds smaller budget, cheaper film stock and choice of acting leads (Janet McTeer and Kimberly Brown) make for a grittier, more convincing film. Go out of your way to find it – it will be worth your while.

1:54 - for some minor adult situations and mild adult language