You can go home again. Can't you?

Rating: 8/10 (11 December 2010)

Garden State is about Andrew Largeman, a young man who after many years away returns home to rediscover himself. Or maybe discover himself for the first time. On an abundance of psychiatric drugs since childhood Andrew goes through life in an almost catatonic state. He feels nothing. And his life is going nowhere. He lives in California, an actor without much work who makes ends meet by waiting tables. When his mother dies he heads back to New Jersey for her funeral. In Andrew's case home is definitely not where the heart is. We will soon see that there are very good reasons he has cut himself off from his home life, from the world he once knew and has no desire to return to. But a funny thing happens. Off his meds for the first time in ages Andrew's world begins to open up. He's feeling things again. Home begins to feel like home, but not because of his family or friends. It is a girl he has just met who changes everything, who opens Andrew up to the possibilities of finally finding out who he really is and living a life all his own.
This is a coming of age story with great charm and the most credit for that of course goes to Zach Braff. This movie is his baby, he's the writer, the director, the star. As a writer he plotted out a great story. As a director he framed that story beautifully. And as a star he brings to life an incredibly compelling character. Andrew Largeman has never really had a life to speak of but when he returns home everything changes in a matter of days. And Braff wonderfully captures the feeling as Andrew takes his tentative first steps out into the world. Braff is certainly helped by the fact he has a wonderful performer to play off of in Natalie Portman. She plays Sam, the quirky girl who changes Andrew's life. Andrew falls for her immediately and why wouldn't he? She's the type of girl who once you get a hold of you never want to let her go. But will Andrew allow himself to embrace the possibilities presented by this new relationship? Or has he been scarred too much to ever really love at all?
All in all Garden State is a thoroughly enjoyable movie. It's fascinating to watch Andrew try to finally construct a little life for himself. It's emotional as you watch him try to come to grips with his past. And it's heartwarming as you watch him begin to love this young woman who comes out of nowhere to change his life. Braff is very good in playing Andrew but it's Portman who is really the scene-stealer. Sam is a strange young girl, a compulsive liar who somehow is still relentlessly charming. And at least she admits she's a liar and apologizes for it. Sam is vulnerable, she just chooses to protect herself in a different way than others might. Portman captures all this girl's myriad quirks beautifully and creates a truly memorable character. Braff plays off of her and the chemistry between the pair is probably more than anything else what really makes the movie work. At its heart the movie has that great coming of age story. And Braff shoots the film beautifully, a visual love letter to his home state. The collection of songs Braff chose to use in the film fit so well, the soundtrack ultimately picking up a Grammy Award and serving as the final perfectly fitted piece to a very well-constructed film. In the end Garden State is a charming, entertaining and thoroughly satisfying film.