A New Jersey State of Mind!

Rating: 9/10 (26 May 2007)

Garden State is the state motto. Zach Braff was born, raised, and lived in South Orange, New Jersey which is home to celebrities like Kelly Bishop and Andre Braugher. South Orange is an upscale suburb of New York City and neighboring Newark, New Jersey. Zach Braff is perfect as the director, writer, and leading actor in this film which I heard about when he hosted Saturday Night Live. His loving homage to his home state makes you wonder what really goes on in New Jersey. There are multiple sides to life in New Jersey. I just couldn't believe that he got the wonderful Sir Ian Holm to play his father. Natalie Portman is truly believable as the girl of his dreams. Jean Smart is unforgettable as Carol, one of his friend's unconventional mothers. Life in New Jersey varies from the very rich to the very poor, rural, suburban, and urban. His story begins with a phone call from his father informing him that his invalid mother drowned in the bathtub. He returns home to New Jersey for the funeral and reunites with old friends. His character is an aspiring Hollywood heterosexual actor who works as a waiter in a Vietnamese restaurant until he gets another acting job. In Hollywood, he's one of thousands aspiring actors out there. I love how he compares Natalie's family to his own.