An enjoyable 'quirky' debut

Rating: 7/10 (25 July 2007)

I've found that a lot of the hate generated at this film is in direct retaliation to the films praise it is getting. Garden State does not deserve neither the extreme hate or the extreme praise. Many people dislike the film for trying to pass itself off as deeper than it is and trying to mask its fairly unoriginal story with Wes Anderson style quirkiness. This is true to an extent, however this did not stop me from enjoying the film and getting something out of it.
Essentialy the film is a typical 'lost boy finds love and changes his way' movie but it is pulled off greatly with some great scenes, funny moments, good acting and a likable love interest. The film is wrongly held as a masterpiece by Braff fan-girls/boys who really have not seen any of the films that Garden State is trying to emulate and therefore hail it as something amazingly and overwhelmingly original when it really isn't. However the film is very enjoyable and definitely worth a watch for anyone considering watching it.