A Mediocre Film

Rating: Null/10 (4 August 2004)

This is the first time I've written a critique on IMDb and I was motivated to do so because I was surprised by the number of glowing reviews this movie has received. Essentially, "Garden State" felt like a glossy film school project--written by an angst-ridden, jejune 20-something--in which, as one astute reviewer wrote, "real problems make cameos." The poorly structured script is just a series of contrived vignettes, which, despite displaying glimpses of Braff's talent and comic timing, ultimately ring hollow and too cute for their own good. He's trying too hard to be profound. Natalie Portman is lovely, but I felt like wringing her neck! It seems as though early fame and fortune has dampened any real emotional connection she may have to what most people her age go through - I just did not buy her as the epileptic misfit with the wacky mother, and none of her precious mannerisms and speech patterns ("oh my god, I can TOTALLY see you freakin' out right now, you so want to leave don't you?") came across as remotely authentic. And being able to turn on the tears in one two many scenes does not make you a good actress.
And the great Ian Holm? What was he doing in this movie? Did he read a different script than the one that ultimately was produced? His character had no arc, no layers, no nuthin'.
Braff obviously has talent but he needs someone with a good bull*$#! detector to read his next script--someone who won't be swayed by the hyperbolic praise that has been heaped prematurely upon his shoulders.