'Maybe that's what family really is. A group of people who miss the same imaginary place'

Rating: 8/10 (27 March 2013)

If you want a feel good film then maybe this is not for you. The reasons being despite the romance, the relationships and the positives all of the character struggle through a real and believably cold and depressing existence looking for moments of happiness.
Zachary Braff really has created something unique, his character is sad, lonely and believable. The broken family relationships, the loss of childhood and sense of home mean that you do pity his feeble empty life. This film reminds me of George Orwell's book 'coming up for air' where returning to your home town brings back all sorts of emotions often what could have been, better times and how things when reflecting on them have not turned out how you would have expected.
Coldplay and Shins help suit the flow of the movie with it being generally soft and light. It's very easy watching and when Braff starts to connect with his father and Portman it's uplifting. Ian Holm is excellent as Braff's emotionally repressed Dad.
It's a great film if you can connect with it. Not everyone will but for those who do you will get a lot out of it.