Garden State is an amazing little movie that deserves much more praise than it has ever recieved. Zach Braff's debut film is far from perfect but it's so loveable and so real that it is an amazing romantic comedy that actually achieves that status of being a romantic comedy. We meet Andrew Largeman as he's late for work and emotionally detached from the world not really caring about anything, even his job. We see him in his room trying to sleep but he simply can't; his room is a blank white colour and totally boring, this is a perfect depiction of Andrew's life and where he's coming from. Oh yes, by the way we get a quick glance at his medicine cabinet as it's filled with every kind of prescription drug. He then gets a call from his father telling him that his mother just died. This is the best thing that's ever happened to Andrew. We then go back home with him and meet his friends and his former life and then we meet her. Sam is played by Natalie Portman and catches Largeman's eye right away. This chemistry between these two characters is unlike anything we've ever seen in a movie. Where he is reserved and to himself she is totally blunt and honest about how she lies all the time. We have two really honest characters who flourish throughout the movie because of each other; it's beautiful.
This movie is so well done too; the direction is impeccable and Braff spends just enough time with his humour as well as the development of the romance between the main characters. He also creates a social commentary on what home really is and why we long to have a place called home.
This is a great little movie that paints a beautiful picture of what love looks like in real life Largeman is surounded by different forms and kind's of love, romantic love, brotherly love, and love from a family; he rediscovers what life is all about and begins to 'feel' life again rather than being numb to the whole idea of life. He rediscovers this because of a girl named Sam; and that is the most romantic notion of any romantic comedy I have ever seen.
