A Review of Zach Braff's Garden State

Garden State is Zach Braff's writing and directing debut. Zach is best known for playing J.D. on the television series Scrubs.

Garden State is the story of an actor, Andrew Largeman (played by Braff) who has to go home for his mother's funeral. He hasn't been back to New Jersey in nine years, since he went to California to make it as an actor.

Despite the fact that he hasn't seen his father (played by Ian Holm) in the intervening years, he is still subdued by his father's wishes; his dad is his psychiatrist. Supposedly numb from all the lithium and anti-depressants he's been on for years, he decides to leave his meds in California.

At his mother's funeral he runs into some old high school friends who are working as grave diggers. This starts his continual avoidance of his father as he hooks up with old friends to party and hang out.

Complaining of headaches, which are like little lightening storms, Largeman's dad makes him an appointment with a neurologist. While in the waiting room, Largeman meets Sam (played by Natalie Portman), a girl who happens to be a compulsive liar.

It is also during this scene that one of the many unexplained and awkward comedic attempts is placed: a Seeing Eye dog humps Largeman's leg for a unnervingly long time while he makes minimal protest. Sam gives him her novel advice to "kick him in the balls".

The neurologist finds nothing wrong and makes the recommendation to find a psychiatrist who isn't his dad. Largeman ponders what effect his life long medication has, and is having, on him.

I suppose being the writer and director comes with perks. Or maybe it is to make up for having his leg humped by a dog. Either way, Largeman has several scenes where he gets to make out with lovely young women.

While telling the story of how his mom died to his friends and Sam, Largeman makes a comment that contradicts the premise of her death. He says that his mother was quadriplegic, and that she slipped and drowned in her bathtub.

When he explains how she became quadriplegic, he states that she hit her neck and became paralyzed from the waist down. If that were the case she'd be paraplegic, and she probably could have pulled herself up in the tub using her arms and not drowned.

As his return flight to California draws nearer he doesn't know if he should go or not, as he and Sam have bonded deeply during their three days together.

A mushy kissing and crying scene at the airport, which is mysteriously vacant, finish up the movie. I won't completely divulge what happens, in case you want some element of surprise.
Overall it is an entertaining movie. However, the attempts at humor throughout feel somewhat forced and tacked on in spots.

The jokes are reminiscent of the style of those in Harold and Kumar go to White Castle. I think if you want a light comedy or a light romance/drama, then you won't be disappointed with Braff's Garden State.