Doesn't live up to Sundance buzz, but decent enough

Rating: 5/10 (29 July 2004)

Overall, it's an okay film. Certain portions of it felt beautiful and genuine, while other parts are disappointingly incoherent and out of place. Nothing as special as the folks at Sundance would want you to believe. Braff does show some promise as a filmmaker though. And Portman lights up the screen and overshadows Braff in her supporting role.
However, don't get me started on Braff's character and his withdrawal from lithium. Life is more complex than that. People are more complex than that. Its depiction of one's psychological mindset is as deep as "A Beautiful Mind" [insert a tone of indifference here]. Call it a cross between "Harold and Maude" and "The Graduate", but with way fewer emotional truths. I give it a B-/C+.