Garden State

Garden State Review

To most he's best known as slightly odd medic-in-training JD in TV sitcom Scrubs but it turns out Zach Braff is much more than just a decent comedy actor - he's also a pretty good writer and director too. This little gem sees him playing Andrew Largeman, a 26-year-old actor whose LA lifestyle is about as far removed from his New Jersey childhood as it's possible to be. But when his paraplegic mother dies and Andrew has to return home for the first time in nine years, the stage is set for reunions with old friends, a showdown with his estranged father (Ian Holm) and maybe just the outside chance of falling in love.

Gentle, witty and observant, Garden State is one of those rare films that can break your heart and then heal it, all in the space of 102 minutes. Braff displays a fine touch with his first feature, finding that necessary balance between the light and darker aspects of the piece, but is always able to apply an offbeat comic touch so that the subject matter never threatens to overwhelm. He also draws exemplarily performances out of his actors, perfectly casting the likes of Natalie Portman as the feisty Sam and Holm as his distant dad. A heartfelt examination of love, relationships and the need to feel alive, Garden State is very much a product of Generation X but done with a down home feel which should give it a wide ranging appeal and ensure it reaches the audience it deserves.