Growing Up and Loving

Rating: 7/10 (16 June 2008)

Zach Braff's Garden state is a successful coming-of-age story focusing on a standard personality type in early 20th century suburban America - the over-medicated dysfunctional male whose moorings are so tenuous that he appears to have no personality whatsoever. Braff depicts this creature o well that it is tempting to wonder whether or not he was acting. And Natalie Portman, his habitually lying love interest, is a perfect compliment.
Most of the plot set-up is implied, rather than explicated, and the film is just expository enough to make it all clear. Andrew Largeman (Braff) is detached from essentially everything - starting with his family and even including his own life. His mother dies, and he must return home after a very lengthy period of removal. What he finds there is a bit surprising.
Unlike most romantic films, Garden State is intelligent, unpredictable and more disturbing and ironic than it is actually funny. Although it is not a depressing film, it is neither 'feel-good' junk food.
The acting is excellent. The script and directing are a little pretentious at times, but this is hardly noticeable. The cinematography is unusually good for this genre.
Recommended.