Where the Heart Is (1990)

11% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
55% of users liked it
(1,939 ratings)

In this comedy from writer-director John Boorman, wealthy real estate mogul Stewart McBain (Dabney Coleman) owns a demolition firm which specializes in blowing up old buildings to make way for upscale new ones. When neighbors protest his plans to raze a dilapidated old building to make way for a new… More In this comedy from writer-director John Boorman, wealthy real estate mogul Stewart McBain (Dabney Coleman) owns a demolition firm which specializes in blowing up old buildings to make way for upscale new ones. When neighbors protest his plans to raze a dilapidated old building to make way for a new Brooklyn subdivision, television crews film the confrontation, and McBain comes off like a fool. His three spoiled children ridicule him. Tired of their carping, McBain gives them each 750 dollars and drops them off at the old building, known as the Dutch House. Daphne (Uma Thurman), Chloe (Suzy Amis), and Jimmy (David Hewlett) are at first completely lost, because they have no idea how to live in the real world. As McBain and his wife, Jean (Joanna Cassidy), monitor their children's progress, the three youngsters learn to get along with the neighborhood people and eventually set up a commune of sorts, into which they invite their friends and various homeless people. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: John Boorman
Genres: Comedy

On DVD: Jun 3, 2003

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Well intentioned but failed attempt at morality story about homelessness
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Misses the mark by a mile.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Well-intentioned hunk of trash.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Fascinating, overlooked reworking of Leo the Last.
James Sanford, rec.arts.movies.reviews
The screenplay could have been lifted from any random night of idiotic TV sitcoms and the Boormans dress it up with some of the most precious and highfalutin dialogue this side of a college theater party. It's a groan a minute.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

One of my favourite movies where a bunch of rich young adults are forced by their folks to live out on their own. The actors are great, and it's funny as well. I loved this movie.
Lafe F

A miserable Dabney Coleman comedy with he and his artistic children living in a rundown apartment building. I didn't realize a younger Uma Thurman was in this one.
Bruce B

Got this movie for one reason Suzy Amis. And its a crazy movie, about a rich dysfunctional family. And when the father goes to see the daughter perform at school, he snaps because of her body painting, so he throws his kids out into a city apartment house to let them fend for there… More
Got this movie for one reason Suzy Amis. And its a crazy movie, about a rich dysfunctional family. And when the father goes to see the daughter perform at school, he snaps because of her body painting, so he throws his kids out into a city apartment house to let them fend for there own way, so begins the story and about the only thing I found interesting was the Body Art, it was so cool and its worth watching the movie for, and I also like the homeless magician shitty, he was such a good actor, reminded me a little of cannery row. but still with all this the movie only gets 3 stars, the art work 5 stars, but its the movie we are to grade here.
Byron B

Strange movie with colorful characters. I liked the artist sister the most and her project of photographing murals with live people blended into the art.

Cast

            Dabney Coleman as Stewart McBain

            Uma Thurman as Daphne McBain

            Joanna Cassidy as Jean McBain

            Crispin Glover as Lionel

            David Hewlett as Jimmy McBain

            Suzy Amis as Chloe McBain

            Christopher Plummer as Homeless Gent

            Maury Chaykin as Harry

            Dylan Walsh as Tom

            Ken Pogue as Hamilton

            Sheila Kelley as Sheryl

            David Bronstein as Stock Exchange Dealer

            Ida Carnevali as Mrs. Jose

            Robbie Coltrane
            
            Frances Flanagan as TV Reporter (Dutch House)

            Prabha Gandhi as Mya

            Paulina Gillis as Secretary

            Michael Kirby as Lionel's Father

            Gary Krawford as Presidential Aide

            Howard Lende as Wall Street Man

            Sandi Ross as Woman Speaking in Tongues

            Juan Aro Sanchez as Jose

            Albert Schultz as Edgar

            George Seremba as Preacher

            Ralph Small as Eviction Man

            Timothy Stickney as Marcus

            Dennis Strong as Marvin X

            Najma Uddin as Porna

            Philip Williams as Man with Writ

            Emma Woollard as Olivia

            Maurice Godin as Stock Exchange Dealer

            Christine Kossak as Runway Model

            Ric Sarabia as NYC Unemployment Clerk

            Catherine Blythe as Runway Model

            Anne-Marie MacDonald as TV Reporter (Stock Exchange)
See full cast