Description: Writer/Director Zach Braff delivers "an Oscar®-worthy performance" (CBS-TV Chicago) opposite a "wacky and endearing" (Newsweek) Natalie Portman in this quirky, coming-of-age comedy. Twentysomething, emotionally detached Andrew "Large" Largeman (Braff) hasn’t been home to New Jersey in nine years. Now, as Large attempts to re-connect with a variety of odd acquaintances – including his father – he decides to risk getting high on the most potent and unpredictable drug there is…life! Co-starring Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm and Method Man, Garden State is "marvelous fun" (Rolling Stone)
Amazon.com: Zach Braff (from the TV show Scrubs) stars in his writing/directing debut, Garden State--normally a doomed act of hubris, but Braff pulls it off with unassuming charm. An emotionally numb actor in L.A., Andrew (Braff) comes back to New Jersey after nine years away for his mother's funeral. Andrew avoids his bitter father (Ian Holm, The Sweet Hereafter) and joins old friends (including the superb Peter Sarsgaard, Boys Don't Cry) in a round of parties. Along the way he meets a girl (Natalie Portman, Beautiful Girls) with demons of her own; bit by bit the two offer each other a little healing. Plotwise, Garden State is familiar stuff, a cross between The Graduate and a Meg Ryan movie, but Braff has an eye for goofy but resonant visual images, an ear for lively dialogue, and a great cast. The result is surprisingly fresh and funny. --Bret Fetzer
If I could, I'd give it 10 stars... I absolutely LOVE this movie. If I were asked to named my current favorite movie, it has to be this film. The music, the mood of the entire movie, the humor, it all works beautifully. Zach Braff did a wonderful job with this picture. He wrote, directed, and starred in this and that is an amazing accomplishment, especially when the outcome is a film as beautiful as this is. I love it. LOVE IT.
One of my favorite movies This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I don't usually like these kind of flicks but Zach Braff is amazing and the style of comedy is a welcome change from most similar movies. Its very well written and has a great plot and overall theme althought at times it can seem like another overated indie movie to some, I thinks its a refreshing change from the romantic comedy norm, particularly with the romance being a constant undertone until the very end.
Very Watchable The DVD cover hails it as a coming of age comedy, so I'll think of it that way. It addresses the concerns I seem to recall having as a teenager, it handles everything very well, and I laughed more than once. Yep, I can certainly see it being beloved by some teens.
I'm knocking on 50, folks. I saw some bits that were very effective, and some humor that worked quite well. It seemed a bit surreal at first, but that's explained to everyone's satisfaction plot-wise eventually. But my memory of my teen years was that they seemed surreal even as they were happening, no plot point necessary.
So yeah, a fine movie, and I'm not even in its demographic.
Great! Great movie! There are so many little things to pick up on after watching a few times. You don't have to be into "indie" films to love this movie. It's very cute and funny and witty and clever.
Quirky Romance I love how this movie focuses on the relationship that builds between two incredibly odd people. It is definitely a different romantic comedy/drama. The movie has a great soundtrack that is perfectly woven into each scene like in Time and Tide. Watch this movie and get the soundtrack.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
