Garden State (2004)

 

Synopsis: Underachieving Cold fish slowly begins to understand how psychiatry and antidepressants pretty much ruined the last two decades of his life. 

Blurb From the DVD jacket: “Twentysomething, emotionally detached Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) returns home to New Jersey after nine long years.” 

What Did I Learn?: 1) Wow….Natalie Portman is a pretty good actress. I didn’t get that impression from those tedious Star Wars prequels. 2) If you can’t laugh at yourself, life is going to seem a whole lot longer than you’d like. 3) Sidecars are for bitches. 

You Might Like This Movie If: You want to learn everything you can about the Garden State. 

Really?: 1) Wow…Andrew is back in town for what: a day, and he meets a cute girl who really, really likes him. That happens to me all the time! 2) Is it just me, or is Andrew pretty emotionally well-adjusted for a guy who decides on a whim to stop taking his anti-depressants, and verbally confront his estranged father? 

Rating: I wasn’t too sure what to expect when I popped Garden State into my DVD player (most likely something similar to Outside Providence), but I have to admit that I was impressed. Garden State is a bit meandering for my taste, but it's also an intelligent, and genuinely touching comedy-drama that’s worth a look. 8/10 stars. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0333766/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0