Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

To me, this movie is perfection.

best movie i've ever seen.

A Masterpiece!

Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) returns to his hometown in order to attend his mother's funeral. Because he is an actor, many of Andrew's friends see him as a 'big shot' and upon his return home Andrew is treated as a bit of a celebrity. However, Andrew is a troubled man with a troubling past who strikes up a friendship (and eventually) a relationship with Sam (Natalie Portman) a young woman with troubles of her own.It's clear from this film that Braff is setting up a narrative that brings together two seemingly different people who aren't actually all that different. It isn't an entirely original concept, but it's one that can really pull at the heartstrings if it's executed correctly. Unfortunately, Garden State gets some things right and some things wrong...One issue I had with this film is that I never really felt that Braff offered much development to any of his characters; his friends just seemed to be a rather clichéd bunch of frat-boy doofuses which actually made the first 20 minutes or so of the picture to be a particularly painful experience. Sam is an interesting character and I really hoped that more would have been made out of her being a compulsive liar - perhaps a bit of character depth or complexity to explain away her reasons for choosing to lie. Instead of this, you end up with Sam mentioning now and again that she's a compulsive liar and then her mentioning that she doesn't know why she lies, but that's all you get. There's little insight or depth to the picture which at times makes it hard to care what's happening. I could argue the same point with Andrew; a big deal is made about his past and his reasons for disappearing, but again all these details are skimmed over rather than being analysed deeper and I couldn't help but feel that the narrative was a tad simplistic at times. There is some animosity between Largeman and his father which could have been interesting, but is barely given any focus at all resulting in their exchanges having very little bearing on the picture.The one thing running in this film's favour are that both Andrew and Sam are likable and despite the narrative and character weaknesses I did actually find their blossoming relationship believable and kind of endearing. Natalie Portman is another selling point for this film giving a wonderfully quirky and edgy performance - it's a pity really that she didn't have more of a character to work with. Braff is OK, but is no match for Portman and I think he knows it. Sarsgaard is energetic, but his character is annoying and never really feels important to the story. Holm is in this film, but isn't really given anything to do.Garden State has its moments and both Braff and Portman are likable enough and share good chemistry and yes I did find their romance believable and engaging. However, when all is said and done, I just never felt that this film was firing on all four cylinders consistently enough and I found many of the characters to be underdeveloped, underwritten and therefore, both they, and the story, were never as interesting as they could have been. As I said in my summary, it is mildly engaging, but not much more than that.

If you only saw Zach in the TV show Scrubs you might feel weird seeing him in this. And if you also knew that he directed it, you might feel (prior to watching) that he is way over his head. I don't know if or how much help he got making this movie, but I do know that this comes off as a very assured effort.This drama lives also with the other cast members. You can never go wrong with Natalie Portman, but also any of the other actors. Their ability to go through the motions and sell the slow pacing of the movie is elevating the movie. Of course you have to be able to watch Dramas and have patience, but if you don't than this isn't for you anyway. Otherwise, watch and enjoy its weird look at life/youth in the early "noughties"

Whenever conversations ensue about television or cinema the name Zach Braff eludes people, he is merely known as the 'guy from Scrubs'. But this charming, beautifully made romantic comedy tears this label away, he has cemented himself as not only a diverse actor but as an intelligent storyteller. Zach Braff doesn't own all the spotlight, everyone in the film is outstanding. Natalie Portman like usual is flawless in her 'girl next door' sweetheart and Peter Sarsgaad is also brilliant. this idea of having no particular villain within the characters but rather life in general, it is a very mature theme for someone, at the time, had a label of immaturity and 'child-like' quirks. People use their debuts in writing and directing to push their talents and explore new ways of making a film. Although Zach Braff may not of made the most original piece of cinema known to man, Garden State still pushes your emotions, certainly from a personal point of view Garden State left an permanent scar on my look of life. To really live your life to its fullest is to experience freedom. Garden State is full of interesting characters who are well developed and have no problem showcasing their chemistry with each other. The best directional debut in a very long time, Zach Braff has proved himself as a young pioneer of storytelling and the language that is cinema. A definite must-see you will never look at Zach Braff as the 'guy from Scrubs' ever again.

This is typically the kind of film I despise, I call them Sundance film, they are the Canada Dry of art film, it looks like an art film, it smells like an art film but it's just another rubbish ROM com that wants really badly to be hip. It borrows a bit of the Wes Anderson aesthetics to be quirky (wow his jumper matches the sofa) but all the characters are clichés and lame, it wants desperately to be the document of a generation ( listen to the shins, it will save your life ermmmmmmm, it's not Bob Dylan or Public Enemy). A bit of cutesy folk there for emotion, some Coldplay (wow very marginal). It's contrived, cheesy and wants to be controversial (drugs! Great, the corporate lawyer that lives next to my flat takes drugs, and he's anything but cool, interesting or deep). And worst of all, that scene where Zack Braff (it's not a character really is it, it's him wanting the world to be miserable, the ultimate victim) wants to makes us cry using the brother that died when he was a kid, he feels guilty because he didn't save him, so right he's all messed up and all. Well it didn't happened to you, write it for a character, but not for lachrymal power. I felt truly disgusted by this scene, mostly because you can tell there's no ethics behind, no meaning, and Zack Braff not being a good drama actor makes it awkward. And casting Nathalie Portman so you can kiss the hot chick is very pathetic.