Anywhere but Here

Movie review by Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Anywhere but Here Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Solid story of independence for teens.

PG-13 1999 114 minutes
Rate movie

Parents say

age 11+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

No reviews yet.

Add your rating

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate movie

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the movie deals with parent-teen relationships, sex, and issues of single motherhood.

Community Reviews

dvdgirl
dvdgirl Adult
January 29, 2019
age 10+

Cute

A mother and daughter movie.

This title has:

Great messages
mamafatness
mamafatness Adult
March 7, 2014
age 12+

Great Movie

Great Movie! There are no sexual intercourses although there are implacations about sex,In one scene Adele (The Mother) asks if Ann (Her Daughter) if shes been having sex.Then in another scene Ann has a boy come over and tells him to take everything but his underwear off, sex is implied but not shown.The movie has som good messages but not very much positive role models. This is the plot of the movie. When living in Beverly Hills, Adele improvises from day to day, often unable to pay the bills. She wants her daughter to become an actress, but Ann is much more interested in going away to Brown University. After Adele fails in many respects, she accepts her daughter's plans and decides to help her. Anns Plans are obviously to get away from her mother.Ann still loves her mother and soon realizes that her mother would do anything for her. I rate this iffy for 12 and under because of the things that are implied This is from a christian perspective if that helps Great Messages, A Little Too Much Sex Implied for Younger Children Although Younger Children May Not Notice / Understand. 13 And Up

This title has:

Great messages
Too much sex
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Adele (Susan Sarandon), a free-spirited teacher, takes her 14-year-old daughter Ann (Natalie Portman) to Los Angeles in a gold-colored Mercedes. Ann resents her mother for taking her away from everything she knows, and she misses her family and friends in Wisconsin. Adele dreams of a more glamorous life and wider opportunities for Ann. They struggle with each other and take care of each other until Ann leaves for college. Once Ann is ready to be on her own, she can admit to herself and to Adele how much she loves her.

Is It Any Good?

ANYWHERE BUT HERE does a good job of portraying adolescence from both the teen's and the parent's perspectives. It's a stage of life that begins with an avalanche of mortifying self-awareness: All of a sudden, everything is embarrassing, especially parents, in whose eyes teens can see their past more easily than their future. Adele's relish for more than she can find in Wisconsin is unsettling to Anne. Adele says, "I wish someone had kidnapped me back when I was your age," and Ann responds, "So do I!"

Throughout the movie, Ann and Adele do a sort of relationship minuet, stepping toward each other, and then away. Ann imitates Adele in an acting audition, and Adele sees that she appears self-deluding and foolish to her daughter. Adele often acts more like Ann's sister or even daughter than her mother. But when she needs to be the adult, to make the sacrifices necessary to help her child, she comes through.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Ann's decision to have sex with a boy who has a crush on her, which is more a reaction to a cool reception from the father who abandoned her than a reflection of a mature and intimate relationship. When she invites him over and tells him to take off his clothes, her words are tough, even cold, but when he walks over to her she throws her arms around him and holds him as though she is desperate for human contact.

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

  • Tumbleweeds Poster Image

    Tumbleweeds

    Touching look at tough mom-daughter relationship.

    age 14+

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate