There is so much depth in the story and characters that it gives you a lot to think about.

Rating: 8/10 (29 August 2004)

Garden State is one of the best films of 2004. There are no car chases, explosions, or cgi effects. This film just has a great story and great acting. Zach Braff does an excellent job for his first directing effort and the script shows he really cared about the story.
Natalie Portman plays one of the most original characters in recent filmdom as Zach's love interest, Sam. Portman's acting makes the quirky Sam so natural and believable that it seems we are watching a home movie rather than a feature film.
Peter Sarsgaard, plays Zach's friend from his younger days, Mark. Although he is a grave digger, his character was just as natural and believable as Sam.
Braff, as Andew Largeman, who is estranged from his family, is summoned back to New Jersey after his mother pass away. To say he has issues is an understatement. He decides to take a vacation from the medications he has been on for years so he can reconnect with his family and home. He meets Sam at a Doctor's office one day and they hit it off.
Largeman's friends are still pretty much living the lives they lived when they were in high school as an early drug and sex party reveals. Andew can be seen as being out of place which would be common for someone who had been gone as long as he had been.
I thought that this movie would be a rip off of Zach's character from his TV show but I'm glad I was wrong. Although "J.D." does come out from time to time, this is Zach's movie.
Ian Holm plays Andrew's father but it seems Zach let this relationship and the confrontation that is hinted at disappear for no real reason. Jean Smart makes a great cameo as Mark's mother who still thinks she is a teenager and wants a hit off her son's bong. There is also a funny running bit involving all the various pets owned by the various people in the movie.
Although a great movie, besides the unresolved son/father issue, the film also dropped the issue with Mark robbing graves. Also the pat Hollywood ending while not totally destroying what came before did seriously damage the uniqueness of this film.
I still felt that watching this film was much like reading a novel. There is so much depth in the story and characters that it gives you a lot to think about.