Garden State

Garnering very positive word of mouth, I was apprehensive about "Garden State", would it deliver the goods?

I'm happy to say that amidst all the very funny scenes and cutaways (Braff was obviously paying attention while working on his TV show, Scrubs), there is enough dramatic meat in Zach's character's (Andrew Largeman) story as a guy in his mid-20s returning home to bury his mother, and what coming home means to his outlook on life based on his past.

Natalie Portman's role of Sam is not underwritten and Braff's script gives Portman plenty of room to provide us with a very quirky, but real character whose flaws actually solidify her value to Largeman in his short time home.

It's worth seeking out a nearby theater and seeing this film with an audience, the gags are very funny, and the film is poignant in speaking towards that mid-20's period of confusion that many of us (older) can identify with and look back on with genuine reflection.

I give it 3.5 stars, or a grade of B+.