Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) is an up-and-coming actor who struggles with an undiagnosed mental illness. When his mother passes away he is forced to return home to the Garden State to participate in her funeral services, facing the world and the people he left behind--including his father, Gideon (Ian Holm). As he journeys through New Jersey he comes in contact with some old friends and acquaintances, and he makes a new friend along the way. The eccentric Sam (Natalie Portman) squeezes her way into Andrew’s life and, while they seem to have very little in common, the two balance each other out nicely. With a world of problems between Sam and Andrew, they find solace in one another, changing their lives forever.
I know very little of Braff’s accomplishments. I was unaware, until the moment Garden State began, that he directed anything at all. Garden State is Braff’s first step toward directorial success and audiences find this romantic comedy brilliantly endearing. Romantic comedies often follow the same path toward ultimate failure. A guy meets a girl, they fall in love, they begin to hate each other for one reason or another and, finally, they come to the realization that they are meant to be together and find their way back to one another. This cookie-cutter nonsense finds audiences ironically choked up as the absurdities that take place within the film rarely reflect anything they have ever experienced. Braff flips the script on its head and takes the traditional rom-com to levels far superior to nearly every one that came before as he finds ways to reach audiences on a deep emotional level. Like other romantic comedies many of the events that unfold throughout Garden State are not ones that viewers are deeply familiar with, however, the scenarios brilliantly represent other moments that those viewers have had to fight through at some point in their lives.
As Andrew deals with death and the other harsh realities of life, viewers are able to project their dislikes, discomforts, emotions and understandings of the world around them onto the character. Garden State, in more ways than one, is a film about healing. Sam, Andrew and his friend Mark (Peter Sarsgaard) deal with life’s hardships and work together to not only accept what has happened, but also to move on. The healing process that Sam, Andrew and Mark experience throughout Garden State finds its way into the hearts and minds of those watching, allowing them the opportunity to experience that same relief. Garden State provides viewers the ability to face their demons and come out of the viewing with a new appreciation for life. As the film progresses Andrew's story develops more depth and viewers grow more fond of his backstory and his character’s development.
Braff reminds me of a much more calm Dane Cook, and while I’m not entirely sure that this is fair to him, his presence in the film resembles Cook’s on stage as he is able to fill the space around him and engage audiences in unique ways. Braff’s ability to draw in audiences and keep them engaged throughout a story that, having been guided by another actor may have fallen flat, is a testament to how versatile he is and what he brings to the table. Beyond his acting ability, his writing and his direction makes Garden State one of the best romantic comedies that I’ve ever seen. The brilliantly emotional script attracts audiences and forges bonds between them and the multi-dimensional characters. Garden State is a breath of fresh air in the realm of romantic comedies.
Written & Directed by Zach Braff. Starring Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm, Michael Weston, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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