This is Zach Braff at his Zach Braffiest.

Rating: 3/10 (10 July 2006)

While I worship him on Scrubs for the comedy God that he is and the perfection with which he delivers his lines as J.D., none of this comes through in Garden State. Even as the main character, Braff is an untapped source in this film because his comedic skills aren't used in the right way or at all--and comedy is the only thing that could save it from being fundamentally flawed movie. I didn't like it at all for the reason that it is one of those films that are desperately quirky. You feel just how hard it tries in every scene. It's almost depressing. Garden State presupposes that every person in the world is a misfit and treats all characters accordingly. It projects hopelessness of the average person, and it does it without humour or cleverness.
So, Zach Braff is Andrew Largeman--an out-of-touch actor with emo tendencies who's on meds. He returns to his family home in New Jersey (for his mother's funeral) after a decade of absence spent in Los Angeles. This self-journey in the Garden State is meant, in the film, to get Andrew back in touch with reality. Of course, he conveniently finds a girl too--a quirky girl that can save him from his sedated mental state and get him back on track. Wow, such originality. This girl is none other than the prissy, talentless Natalie Portman. It angers me that Garden State goes to such lengths to tell you that a relationship between two misfits is "OK" and just what is needed. We already knew that. There was never a problem or conflict to begin with. It is absolutely unnecessary to build a story on a plot like that.
From the choice of wallpaper, dialogue, puzzling detours and choice of music, Garden State tries to convince the viewer that it is a quirky, original film. In fact, it almost pounds it in your head toward the end. This is cool and all, but it needs much more humour to function. Unlike smart dramas of the same nature and purpose as Garden State, like Ghost World, it simply is not funny. I cannot remember laughing once. I barely smiled as it tediously played on with its "sensitive" music (not that I don't love The Postal Service).