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Garden State
Actors: Zach Braff, Christopher Carley, Amy Ferguson, Jill Flint, and Gary Gilbert
Rated: R (Restricted)
Retail Price (not our price): $14.98
Release Date: 2004-12-28
Theatrical Release Date: 2004
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Run Time: 102 minutes
Format: Array
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Discs: 1


Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):

1) Amazon.com
Zach Braff (from the TV show Scrubs) stars in his writing/directing debut, Garden State--normally a doomed act of hubris, but Braff pulls it off with unassuming charm. An emotionally numb actor in L.A., Andrew (Braff) comes back to New Jersey after nine years away for his mother's funeral. Andrew avoids his bitter father (Ian Holm, The Sweet Hereafter) and joins old friends (including the superb Peter Sarsgaard, Boys Don't Cry) in a round of parties. Along the way he meets a girl (Natalie Portman, Beautiful Girls) with demons of her own; bit by bit the two offer each other a little healing. Plotwise, Garden State is familiar stuff, a cross between The Graduate and a Meg Ryan movie, but Braff has an eye for goofy but resonant visual images, an ear for lively dialogue, and a great cast. The result is surprisingly fresh and funny. --Bret Fetzer

2) Description
Writer/Director Zach Braff delivers "an Oscar®-worthy performance" (CBS-TV Chicago) opposite a "wacky and endearing" (Newsweek) Natalie Portman in this quirky, coming-of-age comedy. Twentysomething, emotionally detached Andrew "Large" Largeman (Braff) hasn't been home to New Jersey in nine years. Now, as Large attempts to re-connect with a variety of odd acquaintances - including his father - he decides to risk getting high on the most potent and unpredictable drug there is…life! Co-starring Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm and Method Man, Garden State is "marvelous fun" (Rolling Stone)

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5

1) A story meant for everyone.   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
This is an amazing movie that is easily worth $5. Buy this movie for a love story that is an aexperience like none other. The soundtrack is also top-notch.

2) Great flick!   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Being 20-somethings, my husband and I absolutely LOVE this film. It's a treat to see Zack Braff in a different light (and think about him working behind the camera as well as in front of it!) and Natalie Portman is spectacular, as always. For folks who enjoy thinking about the different paths we choose in this life and enjoy a healthy dose of quirky along with that, this is your film!

3) two thumbs up   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
This is a very good movie. Zach Braff's characer in this is much different from his character in Scrubs and it's very interesting to see him in a role where he is highly medicated and a lot more calm. Natalie Portman's character was also very interesting.

4) Biggest disappointment I have ever experienced at the theater...   [Rating: 1 out of 5]
When I first saw the preview for Garden State, I was in awe. I thought it would give me the same melancholy satisfaction and joy as did The Royal Tenenbaums. But what I got was a terrible performance from Zach Braff, with a terrible script, and some of the most unlikable characters I've ever had the misfortune to see on the big screen. One star is far too generous. There really was not much acting involved, Braff decided to simply state all of the emotions and experiences we are supposed to see acted out. Perhaps the most frustrating part of my Garden State experience were the excellent reviews and recommendations. I've never had such an urge to tear apart the screen. The characters only seem to be capable of "finding happiness" through drug-use, stealing, and ignoring their problems with the aforementioned. I'm one of the most open-minded film goers in existence: I love everything from John Waters trash to sensitive French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet, from Tim Burton to Quentin Tarantino and silly stuff from Will Ferrell and John Candy. But never have I seen something advertised as a beautiful, sensitive film about self-discovery only to find out it's nothing more than a bunch of idiotic future-alcoholics and addicts partying to forget about the things that should really matter. If you loved The Royal Tenenbaums, Punch-Drunk Love, or Adaptation, don't be fooled by the trailers you might have seen for Garden State; rent it before you buy it!

5) Never picks up speed.   [Rating: 2 out of 5]
Garden State starring Zach Braff and Natalie Portman is somewhat entertaining for the first half hour but the movie shifts and suddenly becomes a silly comedy! Braff wrote and directed this film and his performance as a numb Hollywood actor is quite good but he isn't the one who messes up the acting, that honor goes to Portman. Her performance is so childlike and idiotic, you just want her to hide under a rock. The story isn't golden or groundbreaking, the film travels through too many dynamics, I don't even know how to catergorize this film, whiny drama or pathetic dark comedy. Stay clear from this "it's never too late to go back home" sometimes it is too damn late!