Illuminates a young man's overdue coming of age with unexpected depth and grace.
Comment
07/28/04
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Garden State (2004)
86
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:181
Fresh:155
Rotten:26
Average Rating:7.4/10
Consensus: Charmingly warm-hearted and quirky.
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release:Jul 30, 2004 Limited
Box Office: $26,706,668
Synopsis: Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) shuffled through life in a lithium-induced coma until his mother's death inspired a vacation from the pills to see what might happen. A moderately successful TV actor... [More]
Starring: Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Ian Holm, Peter Sarsgaard
Director: Zach Braff
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Reviews for Garden State
Top CriticZach Braff's small, smart, off-kilter comedy is too self-conscious by half, but its struggle to revitalize a cliche; by turning it inside out is a worthy one.
07/28/04
Top CriticIt's a hilarious and heartfelt ode to twentysomething angst.
07/28/04
Top CriticA spunky romantic comedy about an enthusiastic young woman who transforms her lover with the good medicine of her personality.
07/28/04
It's to Braff's credit as a first-time filmmaker with a suburban- laughing-boy soul that his story is as warm and unforced as it is.
07/28/04
Top CriticBraff does not use flashbacks to get his point across; instead, he opts for the ancient art of ‘storytelling.’
07/28/04
A simplistic and insincere character piece with elements of smug comedy.
07/27/04
Stormy twentysomething emotions seethe under a deft quirkfest.
07/27/04
It's a forgettable film featuring a throw-away story with unmemorable characters and unremarkable performances.
07/27/04
Top CriticIt's easy to connect with and enjoy such a universal story about pain, loss, love and overcoming roadblocks.
07/27/04
Freedom is not having the obey your father.
07/24/04
Garden State is a beaming, unforgettable little masterpiece, creatively alive and emotionally intimate at the same time.
07/10/04
There are a few films each year that sneak up out of nowhere and totally knock you out; this is one. Amazing!
07/03/04
[Writer/Director] Braff deftly avoids Author Intrusion by understanding how to imbue his ideas into the fabric of his characters.
06/15/04
A flawed but funny and heartfelt film that suggests: maybe you can go home again—even if that means coming back to Jersey.
06/09/04
At once exquisitely clever and devastatingly poignant.
05/23/04
Garden State is a great movie, full of bizarre wit and winning moments, laden with excellent performances and even a few good-natured morals.
02/13/04
Zach Braff's appeal ... is his ability to underplay the comedy, to appear befuddled and intimidated as madness surrounds him.
01/24/04
While Braff's script may suffer from long-windedness, his direction - of both cast and camera - is so confident that this debut could well mark the start of a major career.
01/20/04
An extremely well-modulated and mature work, especially for a first-time filmmaker.
01/19/04
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March 02, 2006:
Dr. Dorian Prepares for "Open Hearts"
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