don't bother

Rating: 4/10 (9 August 2005)

I am getting tired of faux-indie films. Films that pretend to be 'hip' and 'indie' but are, in fact, following Hollywood formula and wearing their hipness like a badge. Garden State is a perfect example of this tendency. The characters are all overtly emotional, dry characters who are just trying to understand how to fit into this cruel world. They all have unsubstantial, forgettable conversations about family and friendship and the past and growing up. And while I appreciate films that have plenty of dialogue, like some of Woody Allen's flicks, the dialogue really needs to be strong, powerful and hard-hitting. This film feels soft and tired and forgettable.
Natalie Portman's character seems to be created to be the quintessential 'quirky, alternative girl', kind of like the kids who litter films like 'Empire Records', except more self-consciously 'quirky'. She is quirkier than a three dollar bill, does things that are unpredictable and cries for no reason. It is hard to see why Braff's character falls for her at all, and there seems to be zero chemistry.
It all feels so contrived, and the movie itself plummets deeper and deeper into this false, smug, faux-indie, supposedly earnest dialogue and forced sentiment until the final, over-the-top, very very familiar father and son talk scene, which really takes the cake. It caps off this messy, wanna-be-alternative flick with such forced, banal sentiments...
Not to mention there is no real conflict and the characters are all so sweet with each other and just a bunch of oppressed twentysomethings trying to get along and understand life. It is very very familiar and was done much much better with Reality Bites. Although RB also felt, at times, a little over the top, it seemed much more sincere and had some brilliant dialogue and brilliant scenes... it also had the romantic 'subplot' which serves the 'love conquers all' theme, but at least the film as a whole was much more believable and well-written.