Garden State

On the basis that it behoves all of us to keep a little nugget of our 15-year-old selves locked up in our breasts, I'm going to say this is a loveable film and that you should all go and see it to awake your inner adolescent.

Braff captures the specific, self-involved ennui of the aimless 20-something, and he doesn't do it from a point of smug detachment.

Smart drama for mature older teens and up.

Feels too piecemeal and ultimately inconsequential to grab the public where it counts.

This is a movie where 'sensitivity' and 'sincerity' are signposted by songs by Paul Simon and Nick Drake, which I guess says it all.

Garden State’s original sin is abandoning the original story of how to resolve the numbness of the beginning with tropes like stop taking your prescription medicine, socialize and live. Braff treats the central concept, why the protagonist is so numb

The fact that the pinnacle of this film puts the three lead characters in garbage bags yelling nonsense into the air is much more scathing than any review that could ever be written.

I found myself experiencing fits of laughter and tears for a good two hours following my viewing of Garden State.

Although flawed, Garden State is a good-natured film whose very likeability leaves you willing to overlook its shortcomings.