Good Observation of the Banality of Suburban Life

Rating: 7/10 (8 September 2004)

A good start to Zach Baraff's writing and directing career. Andrew Largeman returns to his native New Jersey suburb for the first time in nine years and finds that nothing has changed.
His buddies are trapped in a cycle of teenage excess and even money does not help them escape.
The subplot examines why Andrew ran-off to LA, his feelings of guilt and his relationship with his parents.
All goes well until the search for the trinket at which point the film veers off in the direction of sentimentality. A more interesting ending could have made this a great debut instead of just a good one.
Is Natalie Portman's portrayal of a 20-ish New York area native based on personal experience, good research or good direction? I know girls just like her (and yes, some of them still have their security blankets). Even the accent was perfect.
The film was obviously very personal to Zach Braff who is a very talented writer and director. It will be very difficult for him to top this. Perhaps a series on HBO beckons.